The Akbarī Generations 9: Fifth year of the Reign.
Tabakát-i Akbarí of Nizámu-d dín Ahmad (extracts) 9
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Fifth year of the Reign.
9.1
The beginning of this year was Saturday, 16th Jumada-l akhir, 967 H. (10th March, 1560 A.D.). The general management of Imperial affairs was under the direction of Bairam Khan; but there were envious malignant men, who were striving to ingratiate themselves in His Majesty's favour, who lost no opportunity of speaking an ill word to pervert the mind of the Emperor. Prominent among these men was Adham Khan, who, being the son of Maham Anka, held a higher position than all the other courtiers. In accord with his mother, he constantly showed his malice; but Khan-khanan's wisdom and ability were so manifest, that Adham's ill-natured observations did not meet with the royal approval. But at length, on the 8th Jumada-s sani, 967 H., His Majesty crossed the river Jumna on a hunting expedition, and Khan-khanan remained behind at Agra in charge of the government. His Majesty reached the town of Sikandar, half way to Dehli. At this time Shahabu-d din Ahmad Khan Naishapuri held the government of Dehli, and Her Highness Mariam Makani, mother of the Emperor, was in that city. Maham Anka, who was related to Shahabu-d din Ahmad Khan, settled in her own mind that the best thing she could do was to incite the Emperor to proceed to Dehli, where, in collusion with Shahabu-d din Ahmad, she (Anka) might settle what was the best course to pursue. In furtherance of this plan, she represented to the Emperor that Her Highness Mariam Makani was in a weak ailing state, and had a great desire to see him.
9.2
This statement distressed the Emperor, and he determined to go on to Dehli. Shahabu-d din came out in state to meet His Majesty, and was graciously received. Maham Anka, in agreement with Shahabu-d din, seized every opportunity of saying something to set the mind of the Emperor against Bairam Khan. Thus, she insinuated that so long as Bairam Khan was in power, the Emperor would have no will of his own over the affairs of State, — that the whole power was in the Khan's hands, and His Majesty was under his control. At length she said that when Khan-khanan discovered that she had been the cause of the Emperor's proceeding to Dehli, he would have a grudge against her, and that she was quite unable to contend against his animosity. She therefore begged His Majesty to give her leave to proceed to Mecca, so that at the holy city she might offer up prayers for His Majesty in absence, instead of serving him in presence. The assiduous attention of Maham Anka had won the regard of the Emperor, and he would not listen to the suggestion of separation from her. He said he would request Khan-khanan to overlook her offence, and he sent a message to the Khan to this effect : " As I have come all this way without consulting you, my attendants have fallen under your suspicion. Now you must make yourself quite at ease about them, so that you may continue to serve me with a tranquil mind." Shahabu-d din Ahmad was very vigilant and cautious in his proceedings.
9.3
He began to strengthen the fortifications, and took every precaution to get a control over State affairs: all the while exerting himself, in concert with Maham Anka, to set the attendants of the Emperor against the minister. Khan-khanan, on receiving the Emperor's message, sent Khwaja Aminu-d din Mahmud Haji Muhammad Sistani and Tarsun Beg, who held important offices, to Dehli, to wait upon His Majesty, with this statement: "The devotion and loyalty of your servant would never allow him to do anything to any servant of the State against His Majesty's wishes; for nought but kindness and favour is due to all those who faithfully discharge their duties." The royal ears had been filled with injurious stories and statements against Khan-khanan, so the Khan's message did not receive His Majesty's approval, and the messengers were sent back. When the report of His Majesty's displeasure with Khan-khanan became public, all men turned their backs upon him, and their faces towards the Emperor. Among the first who were admitted to royal favour was Kiya Khan Gang. Shahabu-d din Ahmad Khan, with the assistance of Maham Anka, inspired every one who came to Court with the hope of receiving dignities and jagirs suitable to their condition.
9.4
Khan-khanan had long entertained a desire to go on pilgrimage to the holy places. He informed the amirs and khans who still held to him of the project he had formed, and then quitted the Imperial service. He sent along with these men Bahadur Khan, whom he had called from Malwa, and leaving Agra, he proceeded towards Nagor on his pilgrimage to the holy places. When he arrived at Bayana, he set at liberty Muhammad Amin Diwana, who was there confined, and sent him to Court. As soon as intelligence of Khan-khanan's departure from Agra arrived, Shahabu-d din Ahmad Khan and Maham Anka represented to His Majesty that he had left Agra with the intention of attacking the Panjab. His Majesty then sent Mir 'Abdu-l Latif to the Khan-khanan with this message: "As I was fully assured of your honesty and fidelity, I left all important affairs of State in your charge, and thought only of my own pleasures. I have now determined to take the reins of government into my own hands, and it is desirable that you should now make the pilgrimage to Mecca, upon which you have been so long intent. A suitable jagir out of the parganas of Hindustan shall be assigned for your maintenance, the revenues of which shall be transmitted to you by your agents."
9.5
When Mir 'Abdu-l Latif communicated this message to Khan-khanan, he listened attentively, and having parted from the Mir, he left Mewat on his way to Nagor. Of all his followers there now remained with him only Wali Beg Zu-l Kadar, his sons Husain Kuli Beg and Isma'il Kuli Beg, who were relations of his, Shah Kuli Mahram, Husain Khan his sister's son, and his son-in-law Mahdi Kasim Khan. Upon reaching Nagor, he sent his banner, kettle-drums, and all other marks of nobility, to the Emperor by the hands of Husain Kuli Beg. The Emperor had left Dehli, and was proceeding towards the Panjab. He had reached the pargana of Jhajhar when Husain Kuli Beg waited upon him. Among the persons present (with the Beg) was Shah Abu-l Ma'ali, who, being mounted on horseback, endeavoured to overtake His Majesty. This greatly offended the Emperor, who ordered the culprit into confinement, and placed him in the custody of Shahabu-d din Ahmad. The surrender of the banner and the other insignia of nobility gratified the Emperor.
9.6
Pir Muhammad Khan Shirwani, whom the Khan-khanan had banished from the country and sent to Mecca, had waited in Gujarat for the proper season (of sailing). On hearing of the disgrace of the Khan-khanan, he returned to Court with all possible speed. He met with a very gracious reception, and was honoured with the title "Násiru-l Mulk," as well as with a banner and kettle-drums. He was then sent with a force to hasten Khán-khánán's departure for Mecca, and accordingly marched after him. After this His Majesty returned to Dehlí, and a farmán was issued, summoning Mun'im Khán from Kábul. As Mál Deo Rája of Joudhpur held a strong and threatening position in the way to Gujarát, with the intention of attacking Bairám Khán, the Khán delayed his movements, and eventually marched from Nágor towards Bíkánír. Rái Kalyán Mál and his son Rái Sing, who were the zamíndárs of that country, received him with great kindness, and treated him most hospitably. After staying there a few days, and resting from the fatigues of the journey, he learnt that Pír Muhammad Khán had been sent to pursue him, and this greatly annoyed and distressed him. Some evil-minded persons, having found their opportunity, played upon the feelings of the Khán-khánán, and inciting him to rebellious acts, he went towards the Panjáb.
9.7
When he arrived at the fort of Tabarhindh (Sirhind), which was the jágír of Sher Muhammad Díwána, one of his old servants, to whom he had shown great kindness, in full confidence of his faithfulness, Khán-khánán left there his son Mirzá Khán ['Abdu-r Rahím], who was then in the third year of his age, but who is at the present day exalted to the dignity of Khán-khánán and sipáh-sálár (commander-in-chief). He also left his females and property, and proceeded on his course. Sher Muhammad thereupon appropriated all the property, and treated the dependents of the Khán-khánán with great indignity. The Khán-khánán was in the pargana of Dípálpúr when he was informed of these proceedings. He sent his díwán Khwája Muzaffar 'Alí (who afterwards became Muzaffar Khán) along with Darwesh Muhammad Uzbek to expostulate and intercede with Sher Muhammad, but the latter seized Muzaffar 'Ali, and sent him prisoner to the Emperor. Sorely troubled by these acts, the Khan went on to Jalandhar.
9.8
On the Emperor being informed of Khan-khanan's advance towards the Panjab, he despatched Shamsu-d din Muhammad Khan Atka, his son Yusuf Khan, Husain Khan a relation of Shahabu-d din Ahmad Khan, and a body of nobles to the Panjab. When the royal forces reached the town of Dagdar, and proceeded from thence to the pargana of Kona, they hemmed in Khan-khanan, so that he was obliged to fight. Compelled to action, he drew up his forces, and confronted the royal army. A sharp action ensued, with considerable loss to both sides, and Khan-khanan, being defeated, fled towards the Siwalik hills. Wali Beg Zu-l Kadar and his son Isma'il Kuli Beg (who now holds a position among the great nobles), Ahmad Beg, Ya'kub Beg Hamadani, and all his brothers, were taken prisoners, and great booty fell into the hands of the royal troops. This victory was gained in the fifth year of the Ilahi, agreeing with 967 A.H.
9.9
After Shamsu-d din Muhammad Khan Atka had marched for the Panjab, the Emperor left Khwaja 'Abdu-l Majid Harawi (who had been admitted to the position of a minister (silk i wuzara), and had been honoured with the title of Asaf Khan, in charge of Dehli, and on the 2nd Zi-l ka'da, 967, himself marched to the Panjab. He placed Husain Kuli Beg, son of Wali Zu-l Kadar, by way of precaution, in custody of Asaf Khan, with directions to treat him generously, and do him no harm. When the Emperor reached Jalandhar, Mun'im Khan, who had been summoned from Kabul, arrived, and was accompanied by Mukim Khan, sister's son of Tardi Beg Khan, and several other amirs. Mun'im Khan was raised to the dignity of minister (wakalat), and received the title of Khan-khanan, and the nobles in his company received favours and honours suitable to their respective positions. At this place Akbar received the intelligence of the victory gained by Shamsu-d din Muhammad Khan. Those who had been taken prisoners in that engagement were brought into the royal presence captive and forlorn, and were committed to safe custody. One of the number, Wali Beg, who had received a severe wound, died in prison. So his head was cut off and sent to Dehli. The Emperor then marched onwards toward the Siwalik hills, in pursuit of the Khan-khanan. He reached the neighbourhood of Talwara, a district in the Siwalik, belonging to Raja Gobind Chand, where the Khan-khanan had sought refuge.
9.10
A party of adventurous soldiers dashed forward into the hills, and surrounding the place put many of the defenders to the sword. Sultan Husain Jalair was killed in the action. When they brought his head into the presence of the Khan-khanan, in a burst of feeling he exclaimed, "This life of mine is not worth so much, that a man like this should be killed in my defence." Depressed and anxious, the Khan instantly sent one of his followers, Jamal Khan, to the Emperor with this message: "I deeply repent my deeds, which have not been entirely under my own control; but if I am favoured with the royal clemency, I will throw the veil of oblivion over my misdeeds, and will present myself in your presence, and hope for your forgiveness." When this message was brought to the ears of the Emperor, the recollection of old services rose up in his memory, and he gave orders that Maulana 'Abdu-lla Sultanpuri, who had received the title of Makhdumu-l Mulk, should proceed, with several other attendants of the Court, to Khan-khanan, and having assured him of the Emperor's kindly feeling, should bring him to his presence. When the Khan-khanan approached the royal camp, all the amirs and khans went out, by the Emperor's order, to meet him, and conducted him to the Emperor with every mark of honour. On his coming into the royal presence, the Khan placed his sad countenance upon the ground of supplication, and craved forgiveness for his offences.
9.11
The Emperor received him with the most princely grace, and presented him with a splendid robe of honour. Two days afterwards, he gave him permission to depart on a pilgrimage to Mecca and the holy places. The royal camp then moved on its return to Dehli, and the Emperor went towards Hisar-Firozah hunting. Khan-khanan, with his people, took the road to Gujarat. He reached the city of Pattan, in Gujarat, and there rested for some days. This city was then under the government of Musa Khan Lodi Puladi. Khan-khanan went about examining the city, and one day he went out to the Kolabi (lake), a place within sight of the city, and famous for Sahasnak. They call it in the Hindi language Nara. A temple Randmand, like a thousand temples, stood there, and gave it celebrity. After visiting this place, he went about (the lake) in a boat. When he disembarked and returned home, an Afghan, named Mubarak Khan Lohani, whose father had been killed in an action with the Mughals, came to wait upon the Khán-khánán, with the intention of wreaking vengeance upon him. When they were shaking hands, he assassinated him with his dagger. The words "Muhammad Bairam" contain the date of this murder. Some scoundrels then plundered the encampment of the deceased.
9.12
Muhammad Amin Diwana and Bábá Zambur, with several of the eunuchs, rescued from the fray Mirza 'Abdu-r Rahim, the son of the Khan-khanan, who was then a child of only four years of age, but in these days has been exalted to the dignity of Khan-khanan. They conducted the boy to Ahmadábád, and from thence they carried him to the Court of the Emperor, in the hope of obtaining his protection. The Emperor received the child with the most princely favour, and the good qualities which he exhibited so won upon the Emperor's mind, that his prosperity went on growing until he attained the dignity of Khan-khánán. When the Khan-khanan (Bairam Khan) went to Gujarat, the Emperor proceeded towards Hisár-Firozah on a hunting excursion, but the army was sent on to Dehli, the capital, by the direct route. Having hunted with some leashes of a kind of leopard, which is called chita in Hindi, on the 4th Rabi'u-l awwal, 968 H. (9th Nov., 1560), he arrived at Dehli, and there stopped awhile for a little rest and enjoyment. On the 2nd Rabi'u-s sani he started for Agra by boat, and arrived there on the 12th of the same month.