[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) › 1.4 # The Akbarī Generations 1.4 Tabakát-i Akbarí of Nizámu-d dín Ahmad (extracts) 1.4 - **Language:** English ### [1.4.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tabaqat-i-akbari~en-elliot.1.4.1) When Mirza Kamran returned to Lahore from Kandahar, and heard of the rebellion of Mirza Hindal, of the difficulties of the Emperor, and of the growing strength of Sher Khan, he formed the design of securing Agra. Mirza Hindal proceeded to Dehli, and there Fakhr 'Ali and Mirza Yadgar Nasir shut themselves up in the fortress, and in spite of all his efforts, Hindal was unable to take the city. So when Mirza Kamran came near to Dehli, Mirza Hindal felt himself constrained to join him. Fakhr 'Ali came out on the top of the fortress, and seeing Mirza Kamran, he told him that Mirza Yadgar Nasir would not surrender Dehli, so the best thing he could do would be to go on to Agra, and if he obtained possession of that city, Dehli would be given up to him. Mirza Kamran consequently marched on towards Agra, and when he approached that city, Mirza Hindal separated from him, and went away in the direction of Alwar. ### [1.4.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tabaqat-i-akbari~en-elliot.1.4.2) The news of Mirza Hindal's rebellion, and of the arrival of Mirza Kamran at Dehli, was brought to the Emperor at Ghaunsa, and greatly increased his distress. Sher Khan now sent to the Emperor a darwesh named Shaikh Khalil, whom he called his murshid, to propose terms of peace. He offered to give up all the territory except Bengal, to swear upon the Holy Book that he would live in peace, and that the coin should be struck and the khutba read in the name of the Emperor. These proposals were received with the greatest satisfaction. But next morning Sher Khan fell upon the royal army unawares, and put it to the rout before it could be drawn up in array. Prior to the attack, the Afghans had taken possession of the bridge and had broken it. They also came out on the river in boats, and despatched with their spears every man of the royal army whom they found endeavouring to escape by water. Muhammad Zaman Mirza was drowned. His Majesty rode his horse into the water, and nearly perished; but he was helped over the river by a water-carrier, and went off towards Mirza Kamran had ere this arrived at Agra. Mirza Hindal was at Alwar in security. After the Emperor had crossed the river, he hastened on, accompanied by only a few horsemen, of whom the author's father was one, and arrived at Agra. Mirza Kámrán had received no intelligence before the Emperor arrived. ### [1.4.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tabaqat-i-akbari~en-elliot.1.4.3) The latter repaired at once to the pavilion of his brother, and on seeing each other, the eyes of the brothers filled with tears. Hindál Mirzá received forgiveness for his offences, and then came and waited upon the Emperor. Muhammad Sultán Mirzá and his sons, who had for a long time been engaged in rebellion, also came in and joined them. Consultations were held. Mírzá Kámrán was desirous of returning to Lahore, and showed unbounded expectations. The Emperor assented to all his extraordinary propositions. Khwája Kalán Beg exerted himself to bring about the return of Mírzá Kámrán. The negociations went on for six months. Meanwhile Mírzá Kámrán had been attacked with severe sickness, and some designing persons had instilled into his mind the belief that his illness was the result of poison administered to him by the Emperor's directions. So, ill as he was, he started for Lahore, having sent on Khwája Kalán Beg in advance. He had promised to leave a considerable portion of his army to assist his brother at Agra; but in spite of this promise he carried all off with him, excepting only 2000 men whom he left at Agra under the command of Sikandar. Mírzá Haidar Doghlát Kashmírí, who had accompanied Kámrán, remained with His Majesty, and was received into favour. Kámrán also took away with him many of the soldiers of Agra. ### [1.4.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tabaqat-i-akbari~en-elliot.1.4.4) Sher Khán, emboldened by the dissensions between the brothers, advanced along the banks of the Ganges, and sent a detachment over the river against Kálpí and Etáwah. Kásim Husain Sultán Uzbek, along with Yádgár Násir Mírzá and Sikandar Sultán, fought against the Afgháns in the neighbourhood of Kálpí. They killed a son of Sher Khán who was in command, and a great many men of his army, and they sent his head as an offering to Agra. The Emperor then marched against Sher Khán to the banks of the Ganges, and passed over the river at Kanauj. For one month he remained encamped in sight of the enemy. His army numbered 100,000 horsemen, while that of the Afghans did not exceed 50,000. At this conjuncture, Muhammad Sultan Mirza and his sons again exhibited their perfidy, and without reason fled from the royal army. The detachment which Mirza Kamran had left as a reinforcement also went off to Lahore. So disaffection having become the fashion, many of the troops went off and scattered over various parts of Hindustan. The rainy season came on, and the place where the army was encamped being flooded with water, it was determined to move to higher ground. While this was being done Sher Khan came forth to fight. The battle was fought on the 10th Muharram of this year \[947 H., 17th May, 1540 A.D.\]. Many of the soldiers, being dispirited, fled without fighting. A few only of the bravest went into the fight, and the day being lost, the whole army fled. ### [1.4.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tabaqat-i-akbari~en-elliot.1.4.5) Humayun became separated from his horse in the Ganges, and was helped out of the water by Shamsu-d din Muhammad Ghaznivi, who afterwards, in the reign of Akbar, received the title of Khan-i a'zam. When Sher Khan heard of his escape, he was sorry, and exclaimed, "I was in hopes he had perished, but he has got off." The Emperor fled to Agra; and when the enemy approached that city, he made no delay, but went to Lahore. At the beginning of Rabi'u-l awwal all the Chaghatai Sultans and amirs were assembled in Lahore; but Mirza Muhammad Sultan and his sons, who had come to Lahore, fled from thence to Multan. Mirza Hindal and Mirza Yadgar Nasir found it expedient to go towards Bakar and Tatta, and Mirza Kamran determined to go to Kabul as soon as the party was broken up. It was abundantly manifest to the Emperor that there was no possibility of bringing his brothers and his amirs to any common agreement, and he was very despondent. Mirza Haidar Beg, after much consultation, had been sent off with a party who had volunteered for service in Kashmir, and Khwaja Kalan Beg was ordered to follow him. When the Mirza had reached Naushahr, and Kalan Beg had got as far as Sialkot, intelligence reached the Emperor that Sher Khan had crossed the river \[Biyah\] at Sultanpur, and was only a few kos distant. His Majesty then passed over the river of Lahore. ### [1.4.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tabaqat-i-akbari~en-elliot.1.4.6) Mirza Kamran, after proving faithless to the oaths and compacts which he had made to help in whatever was decided upon, now thought it expedient to retire with the Emperor to Bahra. When Khwaja Kalan Beg heard (of this retreat), he marched rapidly from Sialkot, and joined the camp of Humayun. When Mirza Haidar reached Kashmir, he found the people fighting against each other. A party of them came and waited upon him, and through them Kashmir fell into his hands, without striking a stroke. On the 22nd Rajab he became sovereign of Kashmir, in the city of Nau-shahr, as is related in the Tabakat-i Kashmir. At Bahra, Mirza Kamran and Mirza 'Askari parted from Humayun, and went off, accompanied by Khwaja Kalan Beg, to Kabul. Mirza Hindal and Mirza Yadgar Nasir still remained with him, but after a few stages they disagreed. For twenty days they absented themselves, but falling into difficulties, on the advice of Mir Abu-l Baka, they once more came back and made their submission. On the banks of the river Sind a famine arose in the camp, and boats to cross the river were not procurable. Bakhshui Langah then brought in several boats laden with corn, and was very favourably received. The army then crossed the river, and went onwards to Bakhar, but made a halt at the town of Luhari (Lohri). Mirza 'Askari then crossed the Sind, and went to the town of Patar, because the wants of an army were easily supplied there. From Luhri, which is near Bakhar, to Patar, the distance is fifty kos. ### [1.4.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tabaqat-i-akbari~en-elliot.1.4.7) Mir Tahir Sadr was sent as ambassador to Shah Husain Arghun, ruler of Tatta; and Samandar Beg, one of the courtiers of the Emperor, was sent with him in charge of a horse and a robe. The gist of the message which they conveyed was, that the Emperor had been compelled to come to Tatta, and his object was to attempt the recovery of Gujarat. The Shah was invited to come and wait upon the Emperor, and consult with him about the conquest of Gujarat. Shah Husain Arghun temporized for six months by sending complimentary messages, and said that there could be no good in staying near Bakhar, but if the camp were nearer Tatta it would be more convenient, for five or six months might be lost while they were negociating. If the Emperor would come nearer, whatever seemed advisable should be done. Grain becoming scarce in Bakhar, the Emperor marched off to Patar, where Mirza Hindal was staying, for he had heard that Mirza Hindal intended to go to Kandahar. It was on one occasion in this year, while the Emperor was staying in the camp of Mirza Hindal, that he married Maryam-i Makani Hamida Banu Begam, the mother of the Emperor Akbar, and spent several days of happiness and pleasure in the camp of Hindal. The Emperor now forbad him to go to Kandahar, and directed him to return to Luhari. --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tabaqat-i-akbari~en-elliot.1.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tabaqat-i-akbari~en-elliot.1.4) · Pramāṇa