The Akbarī Generations 53: Campaign against Patna and Hájípur.
Tabakát-i Akbarí of Nizámu-d dín Ahmad (extracts) 53
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Campaign against Patna and Hájípur.
53.1.1
Sulaiman Kirani, one of the amirs of Salim Khán Afghan [Salim Shah], and ruler of Bengal and Bihar, who had always in his letters acknowledged himself a vassal of the Imperial throne, died while the Emperor was engaged in his Surat campaign, in the year 981 H. His eldest son Bayazid succeeded, but he was murdered by the amirs, and the younger son Dáúd was raised to the throne. The Emperor was informed that Dáúd had stepped out of his proper sphere, had assumed the title of king, and through his morose temper had destroyed the fort of Patna, which Khan-zaman built when he was ruler of Jaunpur. A farmán was immediately sent to Khán-khánán, directing him to chastise Daud, and to conquer the country of Bihar. At that time Daud was at Hájípur, and his chief noble, Lodi, who was in open hostility to him, was in the fort of Rohtas, and set up a claim to independence. Khán-khánán Mu'nim Khan marched with the Imperial forces against Patna and Hájípur. Lodi, knowing the destruction of the Afghans to be certain, notwithstanding his hostility towards Daud, made a sort of peace with Khan-khanan. The old friendship and respect which Khan-khanan had for the late Sulaiman Kirani led him to agree that, upon the payment of two lacs of rupees in money and one lac in stuffs as a tribute, the Imperial forces should be withdrawn. Then having sent Jalal Khan Krori, he entered into a peace with Daud.
53.1.2
But Daud was a dissolute scamp, and knew nothing of the business of governing. At the instigation of Katlu Khan, who had for a long time held the country of Jagannath and of Sridhar Hindu Bengali, and through his own want of judgment, he seized Lodi his amiru-l umara, and put him in confinement under the charge of Sridhar Bengali. When in prison, Lodi sent for Katlu and Sridhar, and sent Daud this message, "If you consider my death to be for the welfare of the country, put your mind quickly at ease about it; but you will be very sorry for it after I am dead. You have never given me any good wishes or advice, but still I am willing to advise you. Act upon my counsel, for it will be for your good. And this is my advice: After I am killed, fight the Mughals without hesitation, that you may gain the victory. If you do not do so, the Mughals will attack you, and you will not be able to help yourself. Do not be too sure about the peace with the Mughals, they are only biding their time."
53.1.3
The power of Daud and of all the Afghans was on the wane: it was God's will that they should fall, and that the power of the Emperor should be established over the country of Bengal. So Daud resolved to put Lodi out of the way, and by so doing to establish his authority to his own satisfaction. Katlu Khan and Sridhar Bengali had a bitter animosity against Lodi, and they thought that if he were removed, the offices of vakil and wazir would fall to them, so they made the best of their opportunity. They represented themselves to Daud as purely disinterested, but they repeatedly reminded him of those things which made Lodi's death desirable. Daud, in the pride and intoxication of youth, listened to the words of these sinister counsellors. The doomed victim was put to death, and Daud became the master of his elephants, his treasure, and his troops. But he was puffed up with conceit and folly, and took no precautions for combating his enemies, and relying upon that unsatisfactory peace which Lodi had concluded, he banished all care.
53.1.4
When the death of Lodi was reported to Khan-khanan and his circle, which was full of amirs of renown, he at once set his heart upon the conquest of Bengal and Lakhnauti, and marched against Patna and Hajipur. In high spirits he arrived in the vicinity of Patna. Daud now deeply regretted the murder of Lodi, who, by his wisdom, and judgment, and devotion, had kept the affairs of Bengal in order. He marched towards Patna, and was at first resolved upon battle; but he afterwards recoiled from trying an action, and resolved to take shelter in his fortifications. Khan-khanan was delighted when he was informed of this resolution, and he already foresaw the conquest of Patna and Hajipur. Daud, without drawing a sword or shooting an arrow, retired precipitately into the fort of Patna, and set about repairing the works.
53.1.5
Khan-khanan, with the concurrence of the amirs, proceeded to invest Patna. Upon hearing this, the Emperor determined to personally direct the operations against Patna and Hajipur. After resting for a few days at Fathpur, he sent off his camp and elephants by land under the command of Mirza Yusuf Khan Rizwi one of his chief amirs. He placed Agra in charge of Shahabu-d din Ahmad Khan Naishapuri, and embarked on board a boat on Sunday the last day of Safar, 982 H. The young princes went with him. The boats carried all his equipments and establishments, armour, drums, treasure, carpets, kitchen utensils, stud, etc., etc. Two large boats were specially prepared for his own accommodation, in which he embarked with his attendants. The boats required by the amirs for themselves and their establishments were in the rear of the royal boats, and so they started. On arriving at the village of Ratambh, one of the dependencies of Agra, he stopped and sent a letter to Khan-khanan Mu'nim Khan, to give information of his approach. On the 1st Rabi'u-l awwal the expedition proceeded. Every day he left the boat and went hunting on shore. Every day he was joined by fresh parties of troops. [Punishment of a brahman guilty of incest with his daughter.]
53.1.6
On the 23rd of the month the Emperor reached Illahabas, which is situated at the confluence of the Ganges and Jumna. This is a great place of pilgrimage for the Hindus, and contains some fine buildings. It is celebrated in all parts of the world as a holy place of the Hindus, who resort thither from all parts. On the 25th he reached Benares, from whence he sent on Sher Beg Tawachi in a boat to Khan-khanan Mu'nim Khan, to apprise him of the Emperor's arrival at Benares. At that city he remained three days taking rest. On the 28th he reached the village of Kori, a dependency of Saiyidpur, at the confluence of the Gumti and Ganges, and there anchored. Here he was waited upon by Mirza Yusuf Khan, who had brought down the army by land. He now determined that until he received accurate intelligence from Khan-khanan, he and the young prince and his wives would go and stay at Jaunpur. So he left the army at this encampment, and went up the Gumti in boats to Jaunpur.
53.1.7
On the 2nd Rabi'u-s sani he reached the village of Yahyapur, a dependency of Jaunpur. Here a despatch arrived from Khan-khanan, urging him to march on with all speed. So on the 3rd he sent on the young prince and ladies to Jaunpur, and then departed on his campaign against Bengal. On the 4th the boats fell down the Gumti to the Ganges, and Mirza Yusuf Khan, the commander of the army, waited on His Majesty. It was now arranged that the army should keep within sight of the royal flotilla. On the 6th it encamped in the plain of Ghazipur, and the Emperor went hunting. * * * On the 7th he halted at Gangadaspur, and here he was met by the eunuch 'Itimad Khan, a distinguished noble, who had been rendering good service in the siege of Patna, and who now made a full report of all the occurrences to His Majesty, and urged him to hasten forward. His Majesty thereupon directed Saiyid Mirak Ispahani, one of his principal attendants, who was learned in charms, to seek an augury in his books by sortilege. The augury was favourable, and a few days proved its truth.
53.1.8
On Tuesday, the 8th Rabi'u-s sani, he encamped at the ferry of Chaunsa, and here a despatch arrived from Khan-khanan, reporting that 'Isa Khan Niazi, an Afghan renowned for his courage, had made a sortie with elephants and a large force from Patna, and had attacked the besiegers, 'Isa Khan was slain by Lashkar Khan, one of the Emperor's men, and a great number of Afghans fell. This news was sent on to the princes. On the following day Dilawar Khan was ordered to transport the army over at the ferry of Chaunsa, and on the 10th the army encamped at the village of Domni, belonging to Bhojpur. Kasim 'Ali Khan, was now sent to inform Khan-khanan of the near approach of the Emperor, and to inquire what he advised to be done. The Khan advised the Emperor to advance as hitherto, himself by boat and his army by land; and he requested that some horses might be sent to replace those that had been rendered useless by the rains. Horses and arms were accordingly sent. Khan-khanan and the other amirs advanced two kos from Patna to meet His Majesty, who, on the 16th Rabi'u-s sani, reached his destination, and took up his abode in the tents of Khan-khanan. Great rejoicings followed, and rich offerings were made.
53.2.1
On the 17th Akbar called a council of war in the tents of Khan-khanan, when he observed that the siege had now lasted a long time, that he was resolved upon reducing the place, and upon crushing the defenders, so that they should be unable to make any further resistance either in the city or in the country. He thought that the best course to pursue was to first reduce the fort of Hajipur, which rendered very material assistance to the garrison of Patna, and that their operations must be directed to that object. The Khans greatly applauded this scheme. At that same council Khan-'alam was sent off with three thousand men in boats, with the materials required for a siege. Raja Gajpati, the zamindar of that country, who had many armed adherents, was directed to support Khan-'alam.
53.2.2
Next day, the 18th, Khan-'alam crossed the river, embarked immediately, and went to lay siege to Hajipur, while the troops marched by land. In order to see the field, His Majesty mounted a battery of Shaham Khan Jalair, which was upon a hill on the bank of the Ganges, and from which Hajipur was visible. As, however, he could get no certain information of what was passing, in the evening he sent a party of men in three boats toward Hajipur to gain intelligence. When the enemy saw these boats approaching, they sent eighteen boats full of fighting men against them. But the three Imperial boats prevented them from advancing, and by hard fighting cut their way through, and joined Khan-'alam. Victory now declared in favour of the Emperor. Fath Khan Barha, commander of Hajipur, and many Afghans, were slain, and the place fell into the hands of Khan-'alam. The head of Fath Khan Barha and the heads of other Afghans were thrown into boats, and sent to the Emperor. After offering his thanksgiving for this victory, he sent the heads of Fath Khan and of the others to Daud, that he might see with his own eyes what had befallen his officers, and might be led to reflect upon his own position. When Daud's eyes fell upon these heads, he was plunged into dismay, and set his mind upon flight.
53.2.3
On the same day, the 16th, the Emperor went out upon an elephant to reconnoitre the fort and the environs of the city, and he ascended the Panj-pahari, which is opposite the fort. This Panj-pahari, or "Five domes," is a place built in old times by the infidels with burnt bricks in five stages. The Afghans, who were on the walls and bastions of the fortress, saw the Emperor and his suite as he was making his survey, and in their despair and recklessness they fired some guns at the Panj-pahari, but they did no injury at all to any one. When Daud saw the Imperial forces swarming in the plain, and when he was informed of the fall of Hajipur, although he had 20,000 horse, abundance of artillery, and many elephants, he determined to fly, and at midnight of Sunday, the 21st Rabi'u-s sani, he embarked in a boat and made his escape. Sridhar the Bengali, who was Daud's great supporter, and to whom he had given the title of Raja Bikramajit, placed his valuables and treasure in a boat and followed him.
53.2.4
Gujar Khan Kirani, who was Daud's minister, brought the elephants out, and fled by the rear of the city. On that dreadful night, a foretaste of the day of judgment, the inhabitants were in a state of bewilderment and despair. Some endeavoured to escape by the river, but through the crowding and struggling many of them were drowned. Others endeavoured to fly by land, but were crushed under the feet of elephants and horses in the narrow lanes and streets. Some in their despair cast themselves down from the walls, and others perished in the moat. When Gujar Khan came to the Punpun river, he passed his elephants over the bridge; but the fugitives in his rear so pressed and crowded upon the bridge that it broke down, and numbers were precipitated into the water. Those who came up afterwards threw away their arms and clothes, and cast themselves naked into the river. Late at night, when the flight of Daud was reported, the Emperor gave thanks to heaven, and as soon as it was light Khan-khanan having assured himself of the fact, the royal forces, entered the city with great display. Fifty-six elephants, which the enemy had been unable to carry off, were found in the city and paraded before His Majesty. The date of the fall of Patna, which was indeed the conquest of Bengal, is found in this line, "Mulk-i Sulaiman zi Daud raft" (983).
53.2.5
The Emperor remained in the city till four hours of the day had passed, and having made a proclamation of amnesty to the inhabitants, he left Khan-khanan in command of the army, while he himself dashed off with a detachment in pursuit of Gujar Khan and the elephants. When he reached the Punpun, he swam over on horseback, and the amirs and soldiers followed his example. Then he gave orders for every officer and man to press on with all his might in the pursuit of the enemy, and he himself spurred forward. The amirs, driving Gujar Khan before them, secured Daud's elephants, and brought them to His Majesty. On reaching the pargana of Daryapur, twenty-six kos from Patna on the banks of the Ganges, they drew rein, and it was found that nearly 400 elephants had been taken. His Majesty halted at Daryapur, but ordered Shahbaz Khan Mir-bakhshi and Majnun Khan Kakshal to continue the pursuit. They went on to the river Balbhund, seven kos from Daryapur. There they learned that Gújar, worn out and half dead, had passed over the river, and that some of his men had been lost in the water. Shahbáz Khán and Majnún Khán then returned.
53.2.6
On Monday, the 21st, Khán-khánán, according to orders, came by water to wait upon His Majesty, bringing with him the royal boats and attendant establishments. The Emperor stayed at Daryápur six days. He appointed Khán-khánán to the government of Bengal, and left him an additional force of 20,000 horse. He increased his military allowances twenty-five or thirty per cent., he gave him all the boats which he had brought down from A'gra, and invested him with full power and authority. Then he raised the standard of return, and dismissed Khán-khánán and the other amírs. Next day he marched to the town of Ghiyáspur on the bank of the Ganges. There he rested four days, employed in the pleasing occupation of viewing the elephants captured from Dáúd and his Afgháns. From thence he determined to go on to Jaunpur rapidly. Leaving the command of the army as usual with Mírzá Yúsuf Khán, he started at midnight of the 2nd Jumáda-l awwal, 982, mounted upon an elephant. In the morning he halted at an encampment of the royal forces between Daryápur and Ghiyáspur, where he witnessed some elephant fights.
53.2.7
At this stage Muzaffar Khán, who was formerly a clerk, but now an amír of reputation, was sent along with Farhat Khán, one of the late Emperor's slaves, and now enrolled in His Majesty's service, to besiege the fortress of Rohtás, a very lofty and strong place. And he gave orders that after its capture it should be placed under the command of Farhat Khán, and that Muzaffar Khán should return to Court. On Friday, 3rd Jumáda-l awwal, he proceeded to Patna, and spent a short time in examining the buildings of Daud. From thence he started to make the best of his way, and on Saturday, the 4th, he reached the village of Fathpur Sahina, which is twenty-one kos distant, and on Monday, 6th Jumada-l awwal, at mid-day, he arrived at Jaunpur. Mirza Yusuf Khan arrived with the army on the 7th. The Emperor remained at Jaunpur thirty-three days, devoting his time to making arrangements for the army and the government of the country. He placed Jaunpur, Benares, the fort of Chunar, and sundry other mahals and parganas directly under the royal exchequer, and he gave the management of them to Mirza Mirak Rizwi and Shaikh Ibrahim Sikri. On the 9th Jumada-s sani, 982, he departed from Jaunpur, and went to Khanpur, where he stayed four days. Here he was waited upon by Kazi Nizam Badakhshi, who [being graciously received and appointed to office] afterwards achieved a high position among the nobles.
53.2.8
A despatch now arrived from Khan-khanan, reporting the capture of the fort of Garhi. When Daud fled from Patna, he went to Garhi. Leaving some trusty men there, he proceeded to the town of Tanda. He made such efforts to strengthen the fort of Garhi that in his vain idea it was impregnable. Khan-khanan marched against Tanda, and arrived near Garhi. As soon as the eyes of the terrified Afghans fell upon his army, they fled and abandoned the fort, so that he obtained possession of Garhi without striking a blow. This intelligence greatly pleased the Emperor, and he sent letters of commendation to Khan-khanan and the other amirs. Continuing his journey, and hunting as he went, he arrived, on the 8th Jumada-s sani, at the town of Iskandarpur, where he received intelligence of the fall of Tanda.
53.3.1
After taking possession of the fort of Garhi, the Imperial forces marched on towards Tanda, which is the capital of the kingdom (of Bengal). Khan-khanan's explorers at first reported that Daud intended to make a stand there, and had made his dispositions. Khan-khanan thereupon summoned his amirs, and took every precaution for the security of his array. Next day he marshalled his forces, and advanced in great force against Tanda. When Daud's spies carried him the intelligence of Khan-khanan's advance, he and his associates thought of the black night of Patna, and fled in dismay, abandoning the town. Thus on the 4th Jumada-s sani, the capital of Tanda was won for the Emperor without fighting, and a proclamation of protection was issued to the people.
53.3.2
Again the Emperor was delighted with this good news. He determined to go on to Dehli, and he arrived there on the 1st Rajab. He made a pilgrimage to the tombs of the saints and holy men; he also visited the tomb of his father, and he dispensed his bounty among the needy, and offered up prayers suitable to his position. To give his escort rest he remained at Dehli some days, and employed himself in hunting. In the beginning of Sha'ban he started for Ajmir, and hunted as he went. At the town of Narnaul he was waited upon by Khan-jahan, who came from Lahore to see him. The Emperor was much pleased to see the Khan, and gave him some princely marks of his approval. A few days afterwards 'Azam Khan also came from Ahmadabad expressly to offer his congratulations. In the beginning of Ramazan, the Emperor reached Ajmir, and hastened immediately to pay his visit to the tomb. Out of the spoils of Bengal he presented to the nakara-khana of the Khwaja a pair of drums which had belonged to Daud. He also dispensed the usual gifts.
53.3.3
It now came to his knowledge that Chandar Sen, son of Mal Deo, was oppressing the raiyats in the neighbourhood of the forts of Joudhpur and Siwanah, and was creating disturbances. His Majesty sent Tayib Khan, son of Tahir Khan Mir-i faraghat the governor of Dehli, and Subhan Kuli Turk, with a suitable force, to chastise him. When they approached, the rebel withdrew with his followers into dense jungles and places hard of access. But some of the fugitives were caught and put to the sword, and the royal troops returned with considerable spoil. In the middle of Ramazan the Emperor started on his return to the capital, and on the same day Khan-i 'azam departed for Gujarat. The Emperor arrived at Fathpur on the last day of Ramazan.
53.3.4
It had become manifest that much of the cultivable land of Hindustan was lying uncultivated; and to encourage cultivation, some rule for dividing the profits of the first year between the Government and the cultivator seemed to be required. After careful consideration, it was arranged that the various parganas should be examined, and that those which contained so much land as being cultivated would yield a kror of tankas, should be divided off and given into the charge of an honest and intelligent officer, who was to receive the name of krori. The clerks and accountants of the Exchequer were to make arrangements with these officers, and send them to their respective districts, where, by vigilance and attention, in the course of three years the uncultivated land might be brought into cultivation, and the revenues recovered for Government. To carry out these views, a number of the most honest and trustworthy servants of the State were selected, such as * * and appointed to the office of krori. The amirs also were called upon severally to appoint kroris, who were sent into the country upon their responsibility.
53.3.5
At this time Shah Kuli Khan Mahram, Jalal Khan Korchi, and some other amirs, were sent to effect the reduction of the fort of Siwanah, belonging to the son of Rai Mal Deo. The fort was besieged for a long time, and Jalal Khan Korchi, one of the officers of the Court, was killed there. After that Shahbaz Khan Kambu was sent there, and he took the place in a very short time. A statement was now received from the ministers (wukala) of Sultan Mahmud of Bakar, reporting that Sultan Mahmud was dead, and that they had no confidence in Muhibb 'Ali Khan and Mujahid Khan. If, therefore, his Majesty would send one of his officers, they would render up the fort into his charge. His Majesty accordingly sent Mir Kisu Bakawal-begi, who had received the title of Kisu Khan. In this year a great pestilence (waba) and famine occurred in Gujarat, and lasted for nearly six months. From the severity of these calamities, the inhabitants, rich and poor, fled the country, and were scattered abroad. For all this, grain rose to the price of 120 tankas per man, and horses and cows had to feed upon the bark of trees. Khwaja Aminu-d din Mahmud, Khwaja-jahan, who was wazir-i mustakill of the territories of Hindustan, died at Lucknow.