The Akbarī Generations 5: First year of the Ilahi.
Tabakát-i Akbarí of Nizámu-d dín Ahmad (extracts) 5
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First year of the Ilahi.
5.1
The Ilahi is a true solar year beginning with the Nau-roz. The first year of this auspicious era corresponded with Monday, the 27th Rabi'u-l akhir, 963 H. (10 March, 1556 A.D.). Among the prominent events of the early days of the reign was the rebellion of Shah Abu-l Ma'ali. This young man was a descendant of the Saiyids of Turmuz, and was remarkable both for his beauty and intelligence. The late king had a great partiality for him, and this fostered his pride so that presumptuous ideas got the mastery over him, and his conduct was marked by some unseemly actions. The Khan-khanan arrested him, and was about to execute him; but the young Emperor was mercifully disposed, and was unwilling that the beginning of his reign should be stained with the execution of a descendant of the Saiyids before any crime had been proved against him. So he placed him in the custody of Pahlawan Kal-gaz kotwal, and sent him to Lahore. Abu-l Ma'ali escaped from custody, and the pahlawan, in shame for his fault, committed suicide.
5.2
So long as Sikandar Afghan was in the field, the officers of the Emperor were unable to take any measures for the capture of the fugitive, but sent all their regular forces against Sikandar. The Imperial forces encountered the Afghans near the Siwalik mountains, and gained a victory which elicited gracious marks of approval from the Emperor. Sikandar took refuge in the mountains and jungles, and the Imperial forces were engaged for six months in hunting him about and endeavouring to capture him. Raja Ram Chand, Raja of Nagarkot, was the most renowned of all the rajas of the hills, and he came and made his submission. In consequence of the heavy rains, His Highness left these parts, and went to Jalandhar, where he stayed for five months. Tardi Beg Khan, who was one of the most famous of the nobles of Humayun's reign, and held an exalted place in that monarch's estimation, in the same week that the Emperor died, caused the khutba to be read in Dehli in the name of the Emperor Akbar. He also, with the help of Khwaja Sultan 'Ali, wazir and mir-munshi, who was also mir-i 'arz and mir-i mal, kept under control the affairs of Dehli, and of Mewat and other parganas which had but lately been brought under royal authority. He sent Mirza Abu-l Kasim, son of Prince Kamran, along with the effects and establishments and war-elephants of the late Emperor, to his successor, the Emperor Akbar.
5.3
When Humayun marched to Hindustan, he consigned the government of Kabul and Ghazni to Mun'im Khan, one of his chief nobles, and he also made him guardian (atalik) of his son, Mirza Muhammad Hakim. He also left there all his ladies. The city of Kandahar and its dependent territories were the jagir of Bairam Khan Khan-khanan. By the kindness of His Majesty the government of Badakhshan was consigned to Mirza Sulaiman, son of Khan Mirza, son of Sultan Mahmud, son of Mirza Sultan Abu Sa'id Gurgan. When the intelligence of the facts (of the death) of Humayun reached Mirza Sulaiman, ambitious designs took hold of him, and, with his son Mirza Ibrahim, he marched against Kabul, and laid siege to it. Mun'im Khan wrote a full report of all the facts of the matter, and sent it to the Emperor. But before his despatch arrived, Akbar had sent Muhammad Kuli Birlas, and some other nobles, to Kabul, to fetch the ladies who had been left there. When the news of the siege of Kabul arrived, an imperative farman was issued, directing these nobles to make all haste to Kabul, and to raise the siege. When these nobles passed the Nilab (Indus), Mirza Sulaiman saw that he could effect nothing by hostile means, so he employed as an intermediary Kazi Khan Badakhshi, who was one of his confidential nobles, and one of the holy men of the time, to inform Mun'im Khan that if his name were recited in the khutba, he would take his departure.
5.4
Mun'im Khan knew that the garrison of the fort was suffering from the protracted siege, so he consented that the name of Mirza Sulaiman should be mentioned in the list of the titles (zail i alkáb) of His Majesty the Emperor. When Mirza Sulaiman was informed of this concession, he immediately departed for Badakhshan.
5.5
Soon after the accession of the Emperor, 'Ali Kuli Khán received the title of Khán-zamán and marched towards Sambal to repress Shadi Khan Afghan, one of the nobles of Sultan Muhammad 'Adali. When he reached the banks of the Rahab, he sent some of his men over the river with 2000 or 3000 horse to reconnoitre the enemy. This detachment crossed the river without care and circumspection, and Shadi Khan, perceiving his opportunity, suddenly fell upon them. Many of Khan-zaman's men were killed, and many were drowned in the river. When the Khan received intelligence of this, he consulted with the nobles who were with him, such as * * *, upon the propriety of crossing the river to avenge this disaster. Just at this juncture, letters arrived from Tardi Beg Khan and other nobles who were in Dehli, stating that Himun, the vakíl of Muhammad Khan 'Adali, had approached Dehli with a large force and many elephants, intent upon battle, and that they should bring up their forces with all possible speed. Khan-zamán and all the faithful and prudent nobles marched off instantly towards Dehli; but before they arrived, Tardi Beg Khan had been defeated. This matter has been recorded among the incidents of the reign of Sultán 'Adali, and there is no need to repeat it here.
5.6
When Himun approached Agra, Sikandar Khan Uzbek, the governor of that city, was obliged to evacuate the place and join Tardi Beg Khan. 'Abdu-lla Uzbek, Lál Sultan Badakhshi, 'Ali Kuli Andarabi, Mirak Khán Kolabi, Haidar Muhammad Akhta-begi, and Mirza Kuli Beg Khan assembled. Maulána Pir Muhammad Shirwani also came to Tardi Beg on a mission from Bairam Khan. These all brought reinforcements with them. As Himun drew near to Dehli, the great nobles led their forces out of the city, and marshalled them in the field in sight of the enemy. Sikandar Khan and 'Abdu-lla Khan Uzbek and Lal Sultan Badakhshi, who were on the right wing, defeated the forces opposed to them. Then Himun, with a reserve which he had and some fierce elephants, made an attack upon the Mughals, and Tardi Beg Khan, being unable to repel this assault, was obliged to retreat. But although Himun had thus, by his tactics and artifice, prevailed over Tardi Beg Khan, he did not think of pursuing him. That portion of the enemy's army which had been defeated, finding themselves, to their surprise, unmolested, returned to the scene of action, and then learned that Tardi Beg Khan had been discomfited and put to flight. Himun then occupied Dehli, and Tardi Beg Khan and the other nobles proceeded to the Emperor. Khan-zaman joined them at the town of Sirhind.
5.7
The Emperor and his followers were engaged at Jalandhar in counteracting the efforts of Sultan Sikandar. When the intelligence of this disaster reached him, he appointed Khwaja Khizr Khan, who belonged to the lineage of the Mughal Sultans, and had married Gulbadan Begam, the aunt of the Emperor, to oppose Sultan Sikandar, while he himself marched to Dehli. Upon his reaching the town of Sirhind, the defeated nobles waited upon him. But Khan-khanan, who had the general direction of state affairs, had deemed it desirable to destroy Tardi Beg Khan. So he had summoned him to his tent, and had caused him to be put to death. He had also placed in confinement Khwaja Sultan 'Ali and the Mir Munshi and the Khanjar-beg of Tardi Khan. When the royal tents were pitched, 'Ali Kuli Khan and * * * were sent forward with the advanced forces, and the Emperor followed to confront the enemy.
5.8
Himun had greatly vaunted his achievements at Dehli, and had taken to himself the title of Raja Bikramajit. He had gathered under his command a mighty force, and had fifteen hundred war-elephants. With these he hastened to meet the Imperial army. He had sent on his artillery in advance, and a detachment of the Emperor's army, which had gone forward, fell in with the artillery at Panipat, and took it at the point of the sword. When Himun was informed of this disaster, he was much depressed, but he promised his officers an increase of their emoluments, and gave to each one an elephant on which to ride and exhibit his devotion. He himself mounted an elephant named Hawal (wind), and went forth with scowling brow to meet his royal adversary.
5.9
On the morning of Friday, [2nd] Muharram, 964 H. (5 November, 1556), the intelligence of his march was brought in from the advanced guard, and the generals marshalled their forces to receive the attack. Husain Kuli Beg and * * * * other brave officers fought bravely, and defeated their adversaries. Himun then advanced with his elephants, and made such a determined charge on the Imperial army that the left wing was shaken. But by the exertions of the brave archers and by resolute use of spear and sword, firmness was restored. Himun then drew off his forces, and made an assault upon the centre, which was under the command of Khan-zaman. He led all his elephants against the Khan's men, who received him with showers of arrows. An arrow pierced the eye of Himun, and came out at the back of his head. When those who were fighting under him saw his condition, their hands were paralyzed, and they broke. The Imperial forces pursued them, and cut many to pieces.
5.10
The elephant on which Himun was riding, when Himun fell wounded in the howda and its driver was killed, made off towards the jungle. It so happened that Shah Kuli Khan fell in with this elephant, and made his own driver mount it. The driver then perceived that there was a man lying wounded in the howda, and upon examination this person proved to be Himun himself. Shah Kuli Khan, fully alive to the importance of his discovery, drove the elephant, along with several others which had been captured in the field, to the presence of the Emperor. Bairam Khan Khan-khanan then put Himun to death with his own hand. Sikandar Khan Uzbek, according to orders, pursued the fugitives to Dehli, and sent many of them to hell. Next day the army marched from Panipat, and without halting anywhere went straight to Dehli. All the inhabitants of the city of every degree came forth to give His Majesty a suitable reception, and to conduct him with due honour into the city. He remained there one month. Intelligence was brought in that all the children and dependents of Himun, with his treasures and effects, were in Mewat: so Maulana Pir Muhammad Shirwani was sent thither. He captured all the persons, and took possession of all the treasures and valuables, and conducted them to the foot of the throne.