The Akbarī Generations 1.3
Tabakát-i Akbarí of Nizámu-d dín Ahmad (extracts) 1.3
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1.3.1
After this the Emperor bestowed Ahmadabad and its dependencies upon Mirza 'Askari in jagir, Nahrwala Patan upon Mirza Yadgar Nasir, and Broach upon Mirza Hindu Beg. Tardi Beg received Champanir, and Kasim Husain obtained Baroda. Khan-jahan Shirazi and other nobles also received grants. The Emperor proceeded after these successes to Burhanpur, and from thence to Mandu. After a time one of the nobles of Sultan Bahadur prepared a fortified position in the neighbourhood of Nausari, which is near to Surat, and proceeded to collect forces. He took possession of Nausari, and having associated Rumi Khan of Surat with Khan-jahan Shirazi, they marched against Broach. Kasim Husain, being unable to withstand them, fled to Champanir. The Gujaratis then rose and carried on offensive movements on every side.
1.3.2
One night Mirza 'Askari in a convivial party took too much wine, and giving license to his tongue, exclaimed, "I am a King, and the shadow of God." Ghazanfar, who was one of his companions, and foster-brother of Kasim Khan, said in an under-tone, "So thou art; but not for thyself." The convives smiled, and the Mirza having found out what they were laughing about, got angry, and threw Ghazanfar into prison. In a few days he made his escape, and went and joined Sultan Bahadur, whom he incited to attack Ahmadabad, assuring him that he was acquainted with all the plans of the Mughals, who were anxious to retreat, and only wanted a pretext for so doing. He advised him to make the Mirza prisoner, and march against the Mughals; and he expressed his willingness to submit to punishment if they made any real resistance. Sultan Bahadur, with the assistance of the zamindars of Surath, got together a force and marched against Ahmadabad.
1.3.3
Just at this period Amir Hindu Beg had counselled Mirza 'Askari to have the khutba recited and coin struck in his name, and to set up his claim to independence, expecting that the troops in hopes (of reward) would devote themselves to his service. Mirza 'Askari did not accept this advice. After much debate and deliberation, it was determined that Mirza 'Askari, Mirza Yadgar Nasir, Amir Hindu Beg and some other nobles should leave Ahmadabad, and form a camp in the rear of Asawal, opposite Sarganj. Sultan Bahadur also came down to Sarganj and faced his enemies. By chance a cannon ball from the camp of the Mirza knocked down the tent of Sultan Bahadur. This greatly disturbed him, and he summoned Ghazanfar to his presence, intending to bring him to punishment. Ghazanfar asked that his punishment might be postponed until the Sultan had set his army in array, for he had heard that Mirza 'Askari intended to retreat during the night. When night came Mirza 'Askari, with the approval of the amirs, retreated towards Champanir, leaving everything superfluous behind them. They halted at ten kos distance, and Sultan Bahadur pursued and came up with them. Mirza 'Askari and the amirs mounted and made a show of fighting, and then retired.
1.3.4
When they reached Champanir, Tardi Beg exhibited hostility towards them, and shutting himself up in the fort, sent a messenger to Humayun, to inform him that Mirza 'Askari had hostile intentions, and was about to march upon Agra and proclaim himself King. But before Mirza 'Askari retreated from Ahmadabad, the newswriters and reporters had communicated to the Emperor the proposition which Mir Hindu Beg had made to the Mirza for his assuming the crown, and although he had not assented thereto, they reported that he entertained hostile designs. The Emperor set off with all speed from Mandu to Agra, and was met upon the road by Mirza 'Askari, who waited upon him, and told him the facts of the matter. Sultan Bahadur obtained possession of the fort of Champanir by the capitulation of Tardi Beg. At the beginning of this year, Shah Tahmasp, in revenge of Sam Mirza, marched to Kandahar, and Kalan Beg evacuated the fort and proceeded to Lahore. It is said that Kalan Beg had built for himself a Chinese house of great elegance, and when he fled it was furnished with fine carpets and beautiful vases. This greatly pleased the Shah. Leaving Kandahar in charge of his nobles, the Shah proceeded to 'Irak. After this, Mirza Kamran marched from Lahore against Kandahar, and the Turkomans, being unable to resist him, evacuated the place and went to 'Irak. Kandahar thus once more fell into his hands.
1.3.5
The Emperor Humayun remained for a year at Agra and took his pleasure. When Sultan Bahadur was defeated, he sent away Muhammad Zaman Mirza to Hind, in order that there might be no difficulty about him, and when Mirza Kamran marched against Kandahar, Zaman Mirza laid siege to Lahore, but upon hearing of the Emperor's return, he went back again to Gujarat. Sher Khan Afghan, who had got possession of the provinces of Bihar and Jaunpur and the fort of Chunar, greatly increased his power and forces while the Emperor was engaged in Gujarat and Malwa. To curb his proceedings, the Emperor marched against him on the 14th Safar, 942 H. (12th August, 1535). When he pitched his tents before the fort of Chunar, Rumi Khan, who had quitted the service of Sultan Bahadur, and had been received into that of the Emperor, undertook the reduction of the fortress. He received full authority to do whatever he deemed necessary for the capture of the place, and every assistance was to be given to him. Rumi Khan reconnoitered the fortress, and found that every part of the place which abutted on the land was exceedingly strong and quite impregnable. He therefore turned his attention to the river, and prepared a large vessel on which he began to build a scaffold. When the structure was finished, he found that the vessel would not carry it, so he had two other vessels lashed one on each side of it. Still they were insufficient to convey the scaffold.
1.3.6
The help of another vessel was obtained, and the scaffold being now movable, it was brought close up to the fort, and the place was captured. When the officers of the garrison saw that the place was no longer tenable, they made their escape at night in boats. Rumi Khan received many rewards. The gunners of the fort were maimed by His Majesty's orders. At this time, Sher Khan Afghan was carrying on war against the ruler of Bengal, who fled wounded before him, and sought refuge with the Emperor Humayun. The Emperor then marched against Bengal. Sher Khan then sent his sons Jalal Khan and Khawas Khan to secure Garhi, which was situated on the road to Bengal. This Garhi is a strong place. On one side of it there is a high mountain and a large jungle quite insurmountable, and the river Ganges runs near to the other side. The place stands between Bihar and Bengal. The Emperor sent Jahangir Beg Mughal against Garhi. Hindal Mirza accompanied the Emperor to Mungir, and afterwards he was sent towards Agra against Muhammad Sultan Mirza, Ulugh Mirza, and Shah Mirza, who had fled from His Majesty, and were creating disturbances in the country. Muhammad Zaman Mirza, when he found that he met with no success in Gujarat, sent ambassadors to the Emperor at Agra, suing for pardon.
1.3.7
When Jahangir Beg arrived at Garhi, Jalal Khan, son of Sher Khan, and Khawas Khan marched forth and defeated Jahangir Beg as he was descending (the defiles). Jahangir Beg was wounded, and returned to join the Emperor, who marched in person to the gates of Garhi. Unable to make further resistance, Jalal Khan and Khawas Khan fled. The Emperor then left Garhi, and continued his march into Bengal. Sher Khan was unable to resist him, so he went off by way of Jharkand to Rohtas. The Emperor remained three months in Bengal, and changed the name of the city of Gaur to Jannatabad. In the year 943 (1536 A.D.), Mirza Hindal, finding opportunity at Agra, was induced by turbulent advisers to set himself up in opposition to the Emperor. He killed Shaikh Bahlol, one of the great Shaikhs of the time, and learned in theology, to whom the Emperor was much attached. He was executed upon the pretence of his being in league with the Afghans, but in reality it was brought about by the leaders of the revolt in order to widen the breach between Mirza Hindal and the Emperor. The khutba was now read in the name of Hindal. When the Emperor heard of this defection, he left Jahangir Beg in charge of Bengal, with a reinforcement of 5000 chosen men, and set off for Agra.
1.3.8
At this time Muhammad Zaman Mirza, son of Badi'u-z Zaman Mirza, returned from Gujarat with great contrition, and waited upon the Emperor, who forgave him, and did not utter a word of reproach. Long marches and the unwholesome climate of Bengal destroyed the horses of the soldiers, and the Emperor's army arrived quite destitute of provisions at Chaunsa. The amirs who had been left in Jaunpur and Chunar came to wait upon the Emperor. Sher Khan, having got intelligence of the distress of the army, came and placed himself in front of the Emperor, and the armies remained confronting each other three months.