[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) › 1.2 # The Akbarī Generations 1.2 Tabakát-i Akbarí of Nizámu-d dín Ahmad (extracts) 1.2 - **Language:** English ### [1.2.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tabaqat-i-akbari~en-elliot.1.2.1) For two months the two armies remained confronting each other. Frequently during the day brave men desirous of fame sallied out in search of adventures; but the Mughal soldiers seldom ventured within range of the guns and rockets. Then the Emperor posted his troops around the position of the enemy to cut off his supplies of grain and fodder and fuel. These dispositions caused a famine to ensue in the enemy's camp. Grain was not to be procured, the grass all around was consumed, and the imperfectly armed Gujaratis, through fear of the arrows, dared not venture far from the camp. The horses and animals and many men perished from want, and the army was dismounted. When Sultan Bahadur perceived that if he remained longer he would be taken prisoner, he went off by the rear of his pavilion and fled towards Mandu with five of his most trusty adherents, one of whom was governor of Burhanpur, and the other was Kadir Shah, governor of Malwa. When his men heard of his escape, they took to flight. The date of this event is found in the words Zill Bahadur. ### [1.2.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tabaqat-i-akbari~en-elliot.1.2.2) On the Emperor being informed of the flight of his enemy, he mounted and went off in pursuit. Having come up with Sadr Khan, who was retreating with a body of men towards Mandu, he made an attack upon him, thinking that it was Sultan Bahadur himself. He had not with him more than 3000 men, for the rest were engaged in plundering. Many of the Gujaratis were slain. His Majesty hastened on to Mandu, and Sultan Bahadur was besieged in the fort. The siege was carried on for some days, till one night a party of the royal army scaled the walls and got into the fort. Sultan Bahadur was asleep when the alarm was raised. A general panic followed, and the Gujaratis took to flight. Sultan Bahadur made off with five or six horsemen towards Gujarat, and Sadr Khan and Sultan 'Alam (Lodi) threw themselves into the fort of Sungar, which is the citadel of Mandu. Next day they came out, and were conducted to the presence of the Emperor. They were both wounded. Sadr Khan was placed in confinement, and an order was given for cutting off the foot of Sultan 'Alam. Three days after, the Emperor left the fort and marched on towards Gujarat. Sultan Bahadur had much treasure and many jewels in the fort of Champanir, and these he carried off with him to Ahmadabad. When the Emperor left Champanir and marched towards Ahmadabad, Sultan Bahadur again took flight, and proceeded towards Kambayat (Kambay). The city of Ahmadabad fell into the hands of the Mughals, and being plundered yielded enormous spoil. ### [1.2.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tabaqat-i-akbari~en-elliot.1.2.3) The Emperor again started off with all speed in pursuit of Sultan Bahadur. When the latter reached Kambay, he hastily exchanged his tired horses for fresh ones, and hurried off to the port of (Diu). The Emperor reached Kambay on the evening of the day in which the fugitive had quitted it. Next day, a person came forward in a friendly way and gave information that the inhabitants of the neighbourhood were that night going to make a nocturnal attack upon the pursuers. The Emperor questioned him as to his motive for giving this information. He replied, that his son was a prisoner in the hands of the victors, and he was in hopes, if the Emperor was successful, that he might obtain freedom for him. The Emperor passed the night in the greatest watchfulness, and when it was near dawn, 5000 or 6000 footmen made an attack upon the royal forces. The men were on the alert, and came out of their tents and assembled outside the camp. What was left in the camp was plundered. When the morning dawned, the Mughals fell upon the Gujaratis on all sides, and put many of them to the sword. ### [1.2.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tabaqat-i-akbari~en-elliot.1.2.4) Jam Firoz, formerly ruler of Tatta, having been defeated by the Arghuns, had fled to Gujarat. He had given his daughter to Sultan Bahadur. When the latter was defeated, the Jam fell a prisoner into the hands of the Emperor. On the night of this attack, his guards, fearing he might escape, put him to death. Sadr Khan Gujarati, who had surrendered himself at the fort of Sungar, was also put to death on this night. Next day the Emperor marched towards Champanir, and invested the fort. Ikhtiyar Khan, the commandant of the fort, made preparations for resistance. One day the Emperor was going round the fort, when he spied a number of people who had come out of the jungle, and who, being frightened at the sight of him, fell back into the cover. He sent a party in pursuit, and captured several of them. It then appeared that, with the help of the (neighbouring) zamindars, they had conveyed grain and butter into the fort. In this place (where they had introduced the provisions) the fort was very high, perpendicular, and dangerous. But His Majesty conceived that where provisions had been passed, he also might find an entrance. He carefully examined the place, and then returned to the camp. ### [1.2.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tabaqat-i-akbari~en-elliot.1.2.5) It then occurred to him that the strength of this part of the fort was such, that the garrison probably felt quite secure about it, and took little care to guard it. He had a number of steel spikes prepared. In the day he attacked the fort on all sides, and at night he repaired with 600 men to this place. They drove the spikes right and left firmly into (the scarp of the rock), and by means of them climbed up into the fort. The garrison, being quite at ease about this part of the fort, did not observe their entrance. When thirty-nine persons, the last of whom was Bairam Khan, had gone up, His Majesty also resolutely ascended. By daybreak 300 men had got in. There they found great stores of corn and butter, and other provisions, for the people of the fort. As soon as it was light, the besieging army advanced against the fort. The Emperor and his party then came down, shouting their battle-cry. On reaching the gate they opened it, and gave admission to the assailants. So this strong fortress was taken. Ikhtiyár Khán retreated into the citadel, which is called Muliya. Great numbers of the garrison were slain, and many of their wives and children cast themselves down from the walls of the fort and were killed. ### [1.2.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tabaqat-i-akbari~en-elliot.1.2.6) Ikhtiyár Khán then came out of the citadel and surrendered. He held a high position among the Gujarátís, and was kindly received by the Emperor, who made him one of his personal attendants. The treasures of the Kings of Gujarát, which had been accumulating for many years, fell into the hands of the conquerors. The gold was divided among the soldiers, so much a head. The goods and stuffs of Rúm and Europe and China, and of every part of the world, which the Kings of Gujarát had treasured, all fell a prey to the victors. So vast was the amount of gold and effects that came into the possession of the soldiers, that no person attempted to collect revenue that year in Gujarát. ### [1.2.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tabaqat-i-akbari~en-elliot.1.2.7) The agriculturists of the country sent a person with a message to Sultán Bahádur, to inform him that as several of the districts were not occupied by the Mughal agents, they would themselves make the proper collections, if he would send an army to protect them. Accordingly, Sultán Bahádur sent one of his slaves, 'Imádu-l Mulk, who was distinguished for courage and justice. 'Imádu-l Mulk set about collecting forces, and by the time he reached Ahmadábád many soldiers of the army and of the zamíndárs had gathered round him, to the number of about 50,000 horse and foot. He encamped within sight of Ahmadabad, and began to collect the revenue. When information of this was brought to the Emperor after the fall of Chdmpanir, he made a second large distribution of gold out of the plunder of Gujardt among the soldiers. He then placed the fort of Chdmpanir in charge of Tardi Beg, and marched towards Ahmadabad. The command of the vanguard was given to Mirza 'Askari, Mirza Yadgar Nasir, and Mir Hindu Beg, and they went on one day's march in advance. In the vicinity of Mahmudabad, which is twelve kos from Ahmadabad, 'Imadu-l Mulk attacked Mirza 'Askari, and was defeated. Many men fell on both sides. ### [1.2.8](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tabaqat-i-akbari~en-elliot.1.2.8) The author of this work heard from his father, who was then wazir of Mirza 'Askari, that at mid-day, when it was intensely hot, the Gujaratis came hastily out of Ahmadabad. Mirza Yadgar Nasir had marched about half a kos on the right flank of Mirza Askari, and Mirza Hindu Beg had encamped at the same distance on his left. The Gujaratis came on with such speed that the Mirza had no time to array his forces, so he retired with a party of his men into a thorn brake, where he stood fast. Heedless of this disposition of the Mirza's, the Gujaratis dispersed in search of plunder, and gathered a large booty. Mirza Yadgar Nasir and Mirza Hindu Beg came up in due order with their forces, and the Gujaratis took to flight. Mirza 'Askari now came forth from the thorn brake, and pursued the Gujaratis to Ahmadabad. More than 2000 men were killed in the battle. --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tabaqat-i-akbari~en-elliot.1.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tabaqat-i-akbari~en-elliot.1.2) · Pramāṇa