[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) › 31 # The Akbarī Generations 31: Mírzá Sulaimán's fourth attempt upon Kábul. Tabakát-i Akbarí of Nizámu-d dín Ahmad (extracts) 31 - **Language:** English ### Mírzá Sulaimán's fourth attempt upon Kábul. ### [31.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tabaqat-i-akbari~en-elliot.31.1) It has been related in a former page how Mírzá Sulaimán led his army against Kábul, and how the Imperial forces were sent to the assistance of Mirza Muhammad Hakim. Mírzá Sulaimán, unable to resist, retreated to Badakhshán, and the Imperial nobles, having taken leave of Mírzá Muhammad Hakim, returned to Hindústán. Sulaimán being now informed of the return of the Emperor's forces, assembled his army in Badakhshán, and marched with his wife Khurram Begam to effect the conquest of Kábul. Mírzá Muhammad Hakim left Kábul in charge of Ma'sum Koka, who was in his confidence, and had a reputation for courage. He himself went with Khwája Hasan Nakshabandi and the army into the valley of the Ghorband. Mírzá Sulaimán advanced to Kábul, and invested the fortress. When he found that he was not likely to capture it, he took counsel, and sent his wife Khurram Begam into Ghorband to Mirza Muhammad Hakim, in order to delude him with a show of kindness and friendship, and to prevail over him by plausible representations. Khurram Begam accordingly left Mirza Sulaiman before Kabul, and went towards Ghorband. She sent forward some persons to assure Mirza Muhammad Hakim of her great affection for him, that having no son of her own, she looked upon him as her son, and that the great object of her journey was to bring about concord and unity. ### [31.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tabaqat-i-akbari~en-elliot.31.2) Mirza Muhammad Hakim, in consequence of this message, determined to have a meeting with Khurram Begam at Karabagh, which is about ten kos from Kabul; and he sent messengers to her to inform her of his intention, and to receive from her satisfactory assurances. Khurram Begam showed great joy at the prospect of a meeting, and affirmed with strong oaths that she had no deceitful or treacherous designs, and that her sole object was unanimity. The messengers listened to these words and returned. They had not gone far, when that stupid woman sent off messengers in hot haste to Mirza Sulaiman, informing him of the intended meeting at Karabagh, and advising him to come there secretly with all speed, and await his opportunity. Mirza Sulaiman left Muhammad Kuli Shaghali, a man of courage and one of his confidential nobles, with 1000 men, in charge of his daughters, who were with him in his camp at Kabul. With the rest of the army he made a forced march to the neighbourhood of Karabagh, and there took post in ambush. ### [31.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tabaqat-i-akbari~en-elliot.31.3) The messengers sent by Mirza Muhammad Hakim to Khurram Begam returned to him, and reported all her assurances and pledges. They strongly urged him to meet her, and Khwaja Hasan Nakshabandi exerted his influence to the same end. But Baki Kakshal was opposed to the Mirza's going, and said the woman was intent upon some stratagem and deception. Mirza Muhammad Hakim, however, having promised to meet Khurram Begam, would not listen to Baki Kakshal's objections, and proceeded with a few trusty followers towards Kará-bágh. When they reached the appointed place, some of Mirzá Sulaimán's soldiers, who had got separated in the night, came in and made known the fact of Mirzá Sulaimán having come, and of his lying in concealment. As soon as he was informed of this, Mirzá Muhammad Hakím returned, and Sulaimán, being informed of his departure, set off in pursuit. In the pass of Sanjad-darra they overtook some of Mirzá Muhammad Hakím's men, and made them prisoners. They also plundered the Mirzá's baggage, etc., which was in the rear, and they stopped in the pass. The Mirzá himself, along with Muhammad Hakím, reached Ghorband. From thence they went to Jalálábád, and afterwards to the banks of the Indus. ### [31.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tabaqat-i-akbari~en-elliot.31.4) As soon as he crossed the river, the Mirzá wrote a letter to the Emperor, and sent it by his envoys. They reached the Court at the time it was at Nagar-chín, and were honoured with an interview. They presented the Mirzá's letter, in which he set forth the unfortunate state of his affairs. Intelligence of the distractions at Kábul had reached the Court before their arrival, and the Emperor had appointed Farídún Khán, maternal uncle of the Mirzá, and a noble of the Imperial Court, to go to his assistance. He now sent Khush-khabr Khán, one of the royal heralds, with money, goods of Hindústán, and a horse and saddle, to the Mirzá; and he wrote a farmán, in which he said that if the Mirzá required assistance, he would send the amírs of the Panjáb to support him. ### [31.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tabaqat-i-akbari~en-elliot.31.5) When Khush-khabr Khán approached the camp, the Mirzá hastened out with due ceremony and respect to receive the farmán. After the arrival of Khush-khabr Khán, Farídún laboured to instigate the Mirzá to hostile attempts, representing that it would be easy for him to effect the conquest of Lahore. Hostilities having been resolved upon, he tried to persuade the Mirzá to seize Khush-khabr Khán. But although the Mirzá had been led away by his foolish persuasions, he was too honourable to consent to the detention of Khush-khabr Khán; so he invited the Khan to his presence secretly, and sent him away. Sultan 'Ali, a clerk who had fled from the Court, and Hasan Khan, brother of Shahabu-d din Ahmad Khan, who was in Kabul, helped to excite the hostile spirit, and added their voices to Faridun's. ### [31.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tabaqat-i-akbari~en-elliot.31.6) Won over by their persuasions, the Mirza broke into open revolt, and marched against Lahore. Upon coming into the neighbourhood of the city, he began to plunder. Some of the nobles of the Panjab, such as Mir Muhammad Khan-i Kalan, Kutbu-d din Muhammad Khan, and Sharif Muhammad, hearing of these proceedings, assembled in Lahore. They looked to the safety of the fort, and wrote an account of the Mirza's rebellion and hostile acts to the Emperor. On arriving near Lahore, the Mirza encamped in the garden of Mahdi Kasim Khan, which is in sight of the city. Several times he marshalled his forces, and advanced to the foot of the fortifications; but the amirs of the Panjab repulsed him with the fire of their guns and muskets. At length, when intelligence came of the advance of the royal forces, the Mirza, feeling unable to offer resistance, took to flight. --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tabaqat-i-akbari~en-elliot.31](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tabaqat-i-akbari~en-elliot.31) · Pramāṇa