The Akbarī Generations 32: March of the Army to Lahore.
Tabakát-i Akbarí of Nizámu-d dín Ahmad (extracts) 32
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March of the Army to Lahore.
32.1
When the hostile proceedings of Mirza Muhammad Hakim became known to the Emperor, his countenance showed the anger which he felt, and he gave orders for the preparation of the army. Leaving Mu'nim Khan Khan-khanan in charge of Agra, the capital, and Muzaffar Khan in direction of the diwani, on the 3rd Jumada-l awwal, 974 H., he began his march. In ten days he reached Dehli, and went to visit the shrines of the saints who there repose, and bestowed his royal bounty on the poor and needy. From thence he proceeded by regular marches to Sirhind. He was greatly pleased with the bazars of this town, and commended Hafiz Rakhna, who was the shikkdar, and placed the sarkardari of that place in his charge. After crossing the Jumna, he received intelligence of the flight of Mirza Muhammad Hakim, but he went on joyfully to Lahore. Upon approaching the city, the great amirs, who had exhibited their loyalty and devotion, came forth to meet him, and received distinguished marks of royal favour. In the month of Rajab he arrived at Lahore, the daru-s saltanat, and took up his abode in the house of Mahdi Kasim Khan, in the citadel. By command of His Majesty, Kutbu-d din Muhammad Khan and Kamal Khan Gakhar went in pursuit of Mirza Muhammad Hakim, and advanced beyond the pargana of Bahra. There they learnt that the Mirza had crossed the Indus, so they returned.
32.2
When Mirza Muhammad Hakim heard that Mirza Sulaiman had gone back to Badakhshan, he made haste to Kabul. It has been related in a former page how Mirza Sulaiman left his daughters in his camp at Kabul, and went off in haste to seize upon Mirza Muhammad Hakim at Karabagh. Next day Muhammad Ma'sum Koka, whom Mirza Muhammad Hakim had left in command at Kabul, sent out a force to attack the besiegers' camp, and defeated them. Muhammad Kuli Shaghali, who was in command, gave up his baggage to plunder, and went off with the daughters of Mirza Sulaiman to Chahar-diwar Bagh, a place in the vicinity, and there entrenched himself. The Kabul forces surrounded the place, and sought to make him and Mirza Sulaiman's daughters their prisoners; but Ma'sum Koka, considering it unseemly to make prisoners of the ladies, recalled his men. Mirza Sulaiman returned unsuccessful from Karabagh, and again laid siege to Kabul, but Ma'sum Koka had grown bold and daring. Every day he sent out parties of men, and sorely troubled the besiegers. The weather grew very cold, so Mirza Sulaiman became desirous of peace. Ma'sum Koka was aware of his distress, and was anxious to fight, so he would not make peace. Finally, Mirza Sulaiman sent in Kazi Khan Badakhshi, who had been tutor of Ma'sum Koka, and prevailed upon him to send the Mirza a small present. Peace was thus made. The Mirzá first sent on his wife, and then followed her to Badakhshán.
32.3
When the Imperial Court arrived at Lucknow, many of the zamíndárs of the country came in to pay their allegiance, and were graciously received. Those who were unable to come themselves sent their representatives with presents and offerings, and their assurances of loyalty. Among them, Muhammad Báki Tarkhán, son of Mírzá 'Ísa, ruler of Sindh, sent his ambassadors to Court, to say that his father, who had been one of the dependents of the Imperial throne, was dead, and that he, the successor, considered himself among the vassals of the Emperor. Sultán Mahmúd, the governor (wáli) of the fort, supported by the Kazilbáshis of Kandahár, was making attacks upon his territories, and he therefore besought the Emperor to prevent these molestations. In compliance with this application, the Emperor sent a farmán to Sultán Mahmúd, directing him to keep within his own boundaries, and not to attack the territories of Muhammad Báki. During the stay at Lahore, a letter arrived from Ágra, from Mu'nim Khán Khán-khánán, with the intelligence that the sons of Muhammad Sultán Mírzá and Ulugh Mírzá, by name Ibráhím Husain Mírzá, Muhammad Husain Mírzá, and Sháh Mírzá, who held jágírs in the sarkár of Sambal, had broken out in rebellion. And when he, Khán-khánán, had marched as far as Dehlí to punish them, they had heard of his approach, and had gone off towards Mándú.
32.4
This Muhammad Sultán Mírzá was son of Wais Mírzá, son of Baikará Mírzá, son of Mansúr, son of Baikará, son of 'Umar Shaikh, son of Amír Tímúr Gurgán Sáhib-kirán. His mother was a daughter of Sultán Husain Mírzá. After the death of Sultán Husain Mírzá, he came to the Court of the Emperor Bábar, and was honourably received. The Emperor Humáyún also treated him with consideration during the days of his reign. His sons, Ulugh Mírzá and Sháh Mírzá, were also in the service of Humáyún. These men had several times been guilty of rebellious actions, and their offences had been forgiven. Ulugh Beg was killed in an attack upon the Hazara country, and Shah Mirza was killed by the arrows of robbers in the pass of Ma'mura, about ten parasangs from Kabul. Ulugh Beg left two sons, Sultan Muhammad Mirza and Sikandar Mirza. His Majesty [Humayun] treated them kindly, and to Sikandar Mirza he gave the title of Ulugh Mirza, and to Sultan Muhammad Mirza the title of Shah Mirza. When the Emperor Akbar succeeded to the throne, Muhammad Sultan Mirza had grown old, so he was excused service, and the pargana of 'Azampur, in Sambal, was settled upon him for his maintenance. Several sons were borne to him in his old age—Ibrahim Husain Mirza, Muhammad Husain Mirza, and 'Akil Husain Mirza. To every one of these the Emperor gave suitable jagirs, and advanced them to the dignity of amirs. They were constantly in attendance upon His Majesty, rendering their services.
32.5
When the Emperor returned from his Jaunpur campaign, they repaired to their jagirs, and remained in Sambal. But when His Majesty went to Lahore, to repress the attempt of Mirza Muhammad Hakim, Ulugh Mirza and Shah Mirza, in concert with their uncles Ibrahim Husain and Mirza Muhammad Husain, broke out into rebellion, and attacked several parganas. But the jagirdars of the neighbourhood gathered together and attacked them, so that they had to fly to Malwa, as will be related in the sequel.