The Akbarī Generations 6: Second year of the Reign.
Tabakát-i Akbarí of Nizámu-d dín Ahmad (extracts) 6
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Second year of the Reign.
6.1
The beginning of this year corresponded with Tuesday, the 9th Jumada-l awwal, 964 H. (10 March, 1557). Intelligence arrived that Khizr Khan Khwaja had been defeated by Sikandar Afghan; the Emperor therefore set out for Lahore, to oppose the victor. When he reached Jalandhar, Sikandar fell back to the Siwalik hills, and the royal forces pursued him to Disawa, and from thence to Damhari. It now became obvious that Sikandar meant to retreat, and had no intention of fighting. A party of distinguished nobles was sent in pursuit, and by rapid marches came up to the camp of Sikandar. He then shut himself up in the fort of Mankot. The Imperial army followed, and laid siege to the fort. Day by day the batteries were advanced, and the garrison was closely pressed. At this time Her Highness Mariam Makani, mother of the Emperor, with other royal ladies, arrived in Hindustan from Kabul, to the great satisfaction of the Emperor. Muhammad Kuli Birlas, Shamsu-d din Muhammad Khan Atka, and the other great nobles who had been sent to assist Mun'im Khan at Kabul against Mirza Sulaiman, at the same time returned to Hindustan to the service of their master. When the ladies were about the distance of a stage from the Imperial camp, the Emperor left Bairam Khan in command of the army, and went forth to meet them, his heart receiving great comfort from the reunion.
6.2
After a prolonged siege, Sikandar Afghan, being hard pressed, requested that some confidential noble might be sent in to arrange terms with him. The Emperor commissioned Atka Khan to perform this duty. When he entered the fortress, Sikandar addressed him in very deprecatory terms, confessing that he had been very bold and presumptuous, and that he knew he had no chance in resistance. He begged that he might be permitted to retire to Bengal, promising to remain faithful in his allegiance, and offering to leave his son as a hostage. Atka Khan returned, and reported these proposals, through Pir Muhammad Khan, to the Khan-khanan, and upon his communicating them to the Emperor, they were graciously approved. Sikandar accordingly sent his son, 'Abdu-r Rahman, along with Ghazi Khan Sur, and he also sent with them several war-elephants and various articles of tribute. So on the 27th Ramazan, 964, the fort was surrendered to the royal forces. On the 2nd Shawwal the army marched on its return towards Lahore. After four months and fourteen days the army marched from Lahore on its return to Dehli.
6.3
One day, while the army was lying before Mankot, His Majesty had two elephants, named respectively Fatuba and Bakhsha, brought out to fight for his amusement; and as the animals pressed each other, they approached very close to the tent of Khan-khanan. It so happened that the Khan was ill, and confined to his bed with boils. The suspicion came into his mind that the elephants were perhaps directed thither by the royal servants, and this idea was encouraged by the people who were around him. So he sent a person to the Emperor to inquire what fault his detractors had imputed to him, that he should have been subjected to this mark of the royal displeasure. After returning to Lahore Khan-khanan still harped upon this matter; and sending for Shamsu-d din Muhammad Atka, he told him his suspicion, that this unkind action of His Majesty had been instigated by him. When Atka Khan heard this charge, he was much distressed; so he took all his sons with him to the house of Khan-khanan, and by taking an oath upon the Kuran removed his suspicions.
6.4
After four months and fourteen days, the army marched from Lahore to Dehli. Upon reaching Jalandhar a halt was made, and Khan-khanan was married to Sultan Begam, daughter of Mirza Nuru-d din, who was a son of the sister of the late Emperor Humayun. The Emperor Humayun, during his lifetime, had promised her to the Khan-khanan, and now, under the orders of the Emperor Akbar, the union was accomplished. Khan-khanan gave a splendid banquet, to which he invited His Majesty, who was graciously pleased to honour it with his presence. The Khan was profuse in his generosity on the occasion. At the beginning of the third year of the Ilahi, the army recommenced its march for Dehli.