The Akbarī Generations 58: Arrival of Mirza Sulaiman.
Tabakát-i Akbarí of Nizámu-d dín Ahmad (extracts) 58
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Arrival of Mirza Sulaiman.
58.1
Mirza Sulaiman had been ruler of Badakhshan since the time of the Emperor Babar. He had a son, Mirza Ibrahim, a fine intelligent young man, who was taken prisoner in battle and killed by the adherents of Pir Muhammad Khan Uzbek, in the year that Mirza Sulaiman invaded Balkh. Mirza Ibrahim left a son, Shah Rukh by name, whom Sulaiman carefully brought up, and to whom, in spite of his tender age, he gave several districts of Badakhshan. When Shah Rukh arrived at years of discretion, and Mirza Sulaiman grew old, some designing people incited the youth with stories of his rights. But the Mirza's wife was a clever woman; she kept a sharp watch over Shah Rukh, and prevented any outbreak. But when she died, these same people stirred up Shah Rukh's ambition to be ruler of Badakhshan. He came from Kunduz to Kolab, and being supported by his party, the whole of Badakhshan, from Hisar Shadman to Kabul, fell into his hands, and he wanted to send his grandfather to join his father.
58.2
Mirza Sulaiman fled in great distress to seek assistance from Muhammad Hakim Mirza. But he did not meet with the reception he expected, so he begged to be sent on to the Indus. Hakim Mirza did not comply with this trifling request. He sent him a party of pretended guides, who left him at the first stage and fled to Kabul. But Mirza Sulaiman, trusting in God, continued his journey, and although he was sometimes opposed by the Afghans, and had to fight his way, and was wounded by an arrow, he at length reached the Indus. Thence he wrote to the Emperor, who sent him 50,000 rupees, horses, and necessaries, by the hand of Khwaja Aqa Khan, * * * and after some days Raja Bhagwan Das came to the Indus with an escort, and conducted him honourably to Lahore. At this time a farman was sent to summon 'Azam Khan from Gujarat, and he arrived at Court with speed and alacrity. Some cavillers and fault-finders made insinuations about his management of affairs, and the Khan, in defending himself, passed the bounds of prudence and respect, and made use of unseemly words, which brought upon him the displeasure of the Emperor. Thereupon the Khan, forgetful of his duty, retired to his garden at Agra, shut himself up alone, and refused admission to everybody.
58.3
Mirza Sulaiman, after staying a few days at Lahore, started for Fathpur. On reaching Mathura, twenty kos from Fathpur, the Emperor sent * * several nobles to meet him, and to arrange for his meeting the Emperor on the 15th Rajab, 983. All the nobles and officers were sent out to the distance of five kos from Fathpúr to receive him. And when intelligence of his having left this stage was brought, the Emperor himself went out on horseback to meet him. Five thousand elephants, with housings of velvet and brocade, with gold and silver chains, and with white and black fringes on their necks and trunks, were drawn up in lines on each side of the road to the distance of five kos from Fathpúr. Between each two elephants there was a cart (ardba), the chítas in which had collars studded with gold and housings of fine cloth; also two bullock-carts, which had animals that wore gold-embroidered headstalls.
58.4
When all the arrangements were made, the Emperor went out with great pomp and splendour. Upon approaching, the Mírzá hastened to dismount, and ran forward to His Majesty; but the Emperor observing the venerable age of the Mírzá, also alighted from his horse, and would not allow the Mírzá to go through the usual observances and ceremonies. He fondly embraced him; then he mounted and made the Mírzá ride on his right hand. All the five kos he inquired about his circumstances, and on reaching the palace he seated him by his side on the throne. The young princes also were present, and were introduced to the Mírzá, and after a great entertainment, he gave the Mírzá a house near to the royal palace. On this occasion an order was issued to Khán-jahán, the ruler of the Panjáb, to take 6000 horse and proceed to Badakhshán in attendance on the Mírzá, to recover the country and restore it to him, and then to return to Lahore.