[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Dark Ages](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages) › [General histories](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general) › [Ṭabaqāt-i Akbarī](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tabaqat-i-akbari) › [Tabakat-i Akbari of Nizamu-d din Ahmad (extracts)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tabaqat-i-akbari~en-elliot) › 1.1 # The Akbarī Generations 1.1 Tabakát-i Akbarí of Nizámu-d dín Ahmad (extracts) 1.1 - **Language:** English ### [1.1.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tabaqat-i-akbari~en-elliot.1.1.1) When the Emperor Babar departed from this fleeting world at Agra for his everlasting abode in Paradise, Muhammad Mukim Harawi, father of the author of this history, was one of the officials of his late Majesty, and had been promoted to the position of diwan of the household. Amir Nizamu-d din 'Ali Khalifa was chief administrator of the State, and in consequence of some things which had occurred in the course of worldly business, he had a dread and suspicion of the young Prince Humayun, and was unfriendly to his succession. And if he was not content with the accession of the eldest son, neither was he favourable to the promotion of the younger. Mahdi Khwaja was son-in-law of the late Emperor, and was a generous and liberal young man. He was very friendly with Mir Khalifa, who had promised to raise him to the throne. This fact became generally known, and several of the nobles took part with Mahdi Khwaja. He also fell in with the idea, and began to assume kingly airs. It happened that one day Mir Khalifa went to see Mahdi Khwaja, who was in his pavilion. Mir Khalifa and Muhammad Mukim, the father of the author, were the only persons present with the Khwaja. When the Mir had sat for a moment, his late Majesty, in the pangs of his disease, sent for him. After he had gone, Mahdi Khwaja continued standing in the pavilion, and the author's father remained standing with due respect behind him. ### [1.1.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tabaqat-i-akbari~en-elliot.1.1.2) The Mahdi was considered to be a man of suspicious temperament, and being unaware of my father's presence, when Mir Khalifa had gone, he stroked his beard, and said to himself, "Please God, I will flay thee!" As soon as he had said this, he perceived my father, and being greatly moved he took him by the ear, and said, "O Tájik, the red tongue uses its sharp point to no purpose." My father took leave and departed. He went with all haste to Mir Khalifa, and said, "Notwithstanding the existence of such intelligent princes as Muhammad Humayun Mirza and his brothers, you have shut your eyes against loyalty, and desire to transfer the sovereignty to another house; the end of all this will be this." He then told him what Mahdi Khwája had said. Mir Khalifa instantly sent off to fetch Prince Humayun, and he sent an officer to Mahdi Khwája with an order in His Majesty's name, directing him to retire to his house. The officers hastened to the Khwája, who was just about to sit down to dinner, and without any ceremony sent him off to his house. Mir Khalifa then issued a proclamation that no one was to visit or hold communication with Mahdi Khwaja, and that he was not to attend the darbár. ### [1.1.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tabaqat-i-akbari~en-elliot.1.1.3) On the death of the Emperor Bábar, Prince Humáyún, who arrived from Sambal, ascended the throne at Agra, with the support of Amir Nizámu-d din 'Ali Khalifa, on the 9th Jumada-l awwal, 937 H. (29th January, 1530). The date of his accession is found in the words Khairu-l mulúk. The officers expressed their devotion, and the chiefs and nobles were treated with great kindness. The mansabs and offices which were held under the late sovereign were confirmed, and the royal favour made every one happy and content. On the same day Mirza Hindál arrived from Badakhshán, and was received with great kindness. He was gratified with the grant of two of the treasures (do khazána) of former kings, and as the gold was divided by coffers (kishti), the date was found in the words kishti-zar. The territories were then divided. Mirza Hindal received the district of Mewat in jagir. The Panjab, Kabul, and Kandahar were settled as the jagir of Mirza Kamran. Sambal was given to Mirza 'Askari. Every one of the amirs also received an increase of his jagir. ### [1.1.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tabaqat-i-akbari~en-elliot.1.1.4) After arranging the affairs of the State, His Majesty proceeded to Kalinjar, the Raja of which place expressed his fealty, and ranged himself among the supporters of the throne. In those days Sultan Mahmud, son of Sultan Sikandar Lodi, with the assistance of Baban Bayazid, and the Afghan nobles, had raised the standard of opposition, and had taken possession of Jaunpur and its dependencies. Humayun now marched to subdue him, and having achieved successes, he returned victorious to Agra. There he held a great festival, and all the nobles and chiefs were honoured with robes and Arab horses. It is said that 12,000 persons received robes at that feast, and 2000 of them were presented with outer garments of gold brocade with gilt buttons. ### [1.1.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tabaqat-i-akbari~en-elliot.1.1.5) At this time Muhammad Zaman Mirza, son of Badi'u-z Zaman Mirza, son of Sultan Husain Mirza Baikara, who had originally come from Balkh to seek a refuge with his late Majesty, now set himself up in opposition, but he was taken prisoner, and was sent as a warning for rebels to the fort of Bayana, and in the custody of Yadgar Taghai. An order was given to deprive him of sight, but the servants of Yadgar Beg saved the pupils of his eyes from the effects of the operation. After a short time he made his escape, and fled to Sultan Bahadur of Gujarat. About the same time Muhammad Sultan Mirza, with his two sons Ulugh Mirza and Shah Mirza, went off to Kanauj, and there raised a rebellion. His Majesty sent a person with letters to Sultan Bahadur of Gujarat, demanding the surrender of Muhammad Zaman Mirza, to which he returned a haughty refusal, and then showed signs of rebellion and resistance. This excited the anger of the Emperor, and he resolved to march against Gujarat and chastise Sultan Bahadur. He proceeded to Gwalior, and there passed two months in making excursions and hunting. ### [1.1.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tabaqat-i-akbari~en-elliot.1.1.6) At this time Sultan Bahadur had marched with the forces of Gujarat and Malwa to besiege the fort of Chitor, and was carrying on war against Rana Sanka. He had sent Tatar Khan Lodi, one of his chief nobles and a very brave officer, to effect the conquest of the fort of Bayana and the dependent territory. Having reduced the fortress, he threatened Agra, whereupon the Emperor sent Prince Hindal against him. On learning the approach of the Prince, the greater part of Tatar Khan's forces deserted him and dispersed. With 300 men who remained he advanced against the Prince, and made a fierce onslaught upon the Prince's own division, in which he and every one of his followers perished. Bayana and its dependencies then reverted to the possession of the Emperor. When Sultan Bahadur heard of this, he was greatly alarmed and confounded. The Emperor being determined to chastise still further his enemy, he marched from Agra, and at the same period Sultan Bahadur laid siege a second time to Chitor. \[Victory of Prince Kamran at Kandahar.\] ### [1.1.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tabaqat-i-akbari~en-elliot.1.1.7) When Sultan Bahadur was informed of the march of the Emperor, he held a council of war. Many of the officers advised the raising of the siege, but Sadr Khan, who was the chief of his nobles, observed that they were warring against infidels, and that if a sovereign of Musulmans were to attack them while so engaged, he would in effect assist the infidels, and this would remain a reproach against him among Musulmans until the Day of Judgment. He therefore advised the continuance of the siege, and would not believe that the Emperor would attack them. When the Emperor had passed through Málwa, and had come to Sárangpur, he was informed of this; so he rested there. Sultán Bahádur carried on the siege of Chitor at his ease, and finally took it by storm, and secured an immense booty. In celebration of the victory, he gave a great feast, and divided the spoil among his soldiers. Then he turned his front towards the Imperial army. ### [1.1.8](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tabaqat-i-akbari~en-elliot.1.1.8) When the Emperor heard this, he marched forward, and the two armies faced each other at Mandisor, one of the dependencies of Málwa. The tents were hardly pitched, when Saiyid 'Alí Khán and Khurásán Khán, who commanded Sultán Bahádur's advanced guard, were defeated by the royal forces, and fell back upon their main body. The army of Gujarát was greatly dispirited, and the Sultán called a council of war. Sadr Khán advised giving battle on the morrow, as the troops were elated by the conquest of Chitor, and their eyes had not yet been seared by the sight of the Mughals. Rúmí Khán, who commanded the artillery, was adverse to a pitched battle, because the guns \[top) and rockets (tufang) were of little use (in the field). They were very strong in artillery, and except the Emperor of Rúm, no other potentate could equal them. He therefore counselled the entrenching of the army and the carrying on of warfare daily. If the Mughals advanced, they might be met with a discharge of the guns and rockets and a large number of them would be killed. Sultán Bahádur acquiesced in this view, and ordered an entrenchment to be formed round his camp. --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tabaqat-i-akbari~en-elliot.1.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tabaqat-i-akbari~en-elliot.1.1) · Pramāṇa