Firishta's History (Gulshan-i Ibrāhīmī) 117: JUMSHEED KOOTB SHAH.
History of the Rise of the Mahomedan Power in India (Briggs) 117
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JUMSHEED KOOTB SHAH.
117.1
Accession of Jumsheed Kootb Shah. — Revolt of his brother Ibrahim, whose cause is espoused by Kasim Bereed, King of Bidur. — Account of the origin of Ramraj, who afterwards ascended the throne of Beejanuggur. — War with the King of Bidur. — Death of Jumsheed Kootb Shah. Immediately upon the death of Sooltan Koolly, his murderer, Meer Mahmood, returned to Golconda; and having released the Prince Jumsheed, proceeded with a party direct to the palace of the Prince Kootb-ood-Deen, the declared heir-apparent, and caused him to be blinded. Thence going to the King's palace, Jumsheed was formally crowned under the title of Jumsheed Kootb Shah: his name was read in the public prayers throughout the kingdom of Tulingana, and he received congratulatory letters on his accession, from all the other monarchs of the Deccan.
117.2
When Jumsheed had put out the eyes of his elder brother, he immediately sent orders to Devurconda, in order that his younger brother Ibrahim, who commanded the fortress, might be seized and sent to court. The Prince, informed of this order, proceeded to Bidur, and claimed the protection and assistance of Kasim Bereed Shah, by whom he was graciously received. Kasim Bereed, having collected his army, marched, accompanied by the Prince, to attack Golconda, where he arrived without opposition. The sudden march of Kasim Bereed against Tulingana at once alarmed the other kings of the Deccan, especially Boorhan Nizam Shah, who, aware of his ambitious views, was fearful of his aggrandisement, and immediately marched an army to the relief of Jumsheed Kootb Shah. On his arrival at Koheer, then in possession of Kasim Bereed, he attacked and carried it by storm; and from thence advanced to Golconda. Kasim Bereed Shah, unable to cope with the united efforts of the Nizam Shahy and Kootb Shahy forces, retreated in the direction of Beejapoor; but on the road, taking advantage of the situation of the Prince Ibrahim, he so far forgot the rights of hospitality as to attempt to seize the elephants and private property belonging to him. The Prince discovering his intention immediately left him, and retreating to Beejanuggur claimed the friendship of Ramraj, formerly a dependent of Sooltan Koolly Kootb Shah, and who had now ascended the throne of Beejanuggur.
117.3
The origin of Ramraj's elevation in life is thus related: — When the late king marched towards the Beejanuggur territories, and reduced some districts on the confines, he was unwilling to leave a Mahomedan detachment there, he therefore deputed Ramraj, a Hindoo of noble family, to the charge of the districts, and himself returned to Golconda. Three years afterwards Ramraj was expelled by some Adil Shahy troops who had been sent out on a plundering expedition, and who invaded and laid waste the estates in question, from whence Ramraj fled to the late Sooltan Koolly Kootb Shah, who considering his flight a proof of his cowardice ordered him instantly to quit the court. Ramraj, thus disgraced, took the route of Beejanuggur, and entered the service of Krishn Raj, who, shortly afterwards, forming a high opinion of him, gave him his daughter in marriage. At length his father-in-law died. The heir to the throne was a child in arms; and being, therefore, unfit to manage his own affairs, Ramraj first assumed the office of protector, and subsequently usurped the throne, taking pains to strengthen his power by the reduction of many troublesome neighbours, and the elevation of his own adherents and relatives. Such was the condition of the Beejanuggur state when the Prince Ibrahim, accompanied by Syud Hye, Reihan an Abyssinian, entitled Humeed Khan, and Kanajee a bramin, besides a few personal attendants, left Kasim Bereed Shah's camp and proceeded to Beejanuggur.
117.4
On the Prince's arrival he was received according to his rank, and treated with the utmost respect and attention. Some time after, during his residence in that city, a circumstance occurred which is worthy of notice. It happened that at some former period Mullik Ein-ool-Moolk Geelany having offended Ibrahim Adil Shah left his service and entered that of Ramraj, with a force consisting of four thousand cavalry. Ein-ool-Moolk had on many occasions so distinguished himself by his bravery that the Raja used to call him brother. One day, returning from visiting the Raja with his troops, he met the Prince Ibrahim, accompanied by his attendants, among whom were Syud Hye and Humeed Khan. As the road was narrow, each insisted upon the other's making room, till at length the Prince's party, being on horseback, charged that of Ein-ool-Moolk with drawn swords, and made good their way; after which, the Prince prosecuted his visit to Ramraj. After the departure of Kasim Bereed Shah from Golconda, and on the near approach of Boorhan Nizam Shah of Ahmudnuggur, Jumsheed Kootb Shah, relieved from all apprehensions for his capital, marched to meet his ally. Boorhan Nizam Shah offered to confer the royal insignia on Jumsheed, and to crown him in due form; but the latter declined the ceremony, by saying, that if he could not maintain his right to the crown in the field he was unworthy of wearing it.
117.5
After this, Boorhan Nizam Shah having induced Jumsheed Kootb Shah to unite with him and Alla-ood-Deen Imad Shah against the King of Beejapoor, the allied armies marched to reduce the fortress of Sholapoor. When Ibrahim Adil Shah heard of this attack, he moved, accompanied by Kasim Bereed Shah, towards Purenda, on the Nizam Shahy frontier, in order to create a diversion, as he was unable to cope with the three confederate armies. On his arrival, he laid siege to that fortress. This measure had the desired effect of withdrawing the allies from Sholapoor, and causing them to march to Purenda. Ibrahim Adil Shah, hearing of this movement, attacked them unexpectedly at the village of Khaspoor, where a bloody action ensued, in which Jumsheed Kootb Shah distinguished himself greatly. The King of Beejapoor was defeated, and abandoned to the confederates all his heavy baggage and camp equipage. Jumsheed Kootb Shah availed himself of this opportunity to take revenge on Kasim Bereed, whom he pursued to the very gates of Bidur, and enriched himself and his troops by the plunder of his enemy, after which he returned direct to Golconda. Kasim Bereed Shah, on finding that Jumsheed Kootb Shah had abandoned the confederacy, and gone to his capital, marched with a force of eight thousand cavalry, besides a large body of infantry, to attack him.
117.6
It was not before Kasim Bereed arrived at Chilkoor, a village situated at four coss distant from Golconda, that Jumsheed received any intimation of his approach. Panic-struck with this news, he evacuated his capital, leaving a garrison for its defence, while he endeavoured to collect his nobles, who were residing on their different estates. In order to distract the attention of the enemy also, he made a movement towards Bidur, and having reached Kumtana, plundered the surrounding district. The moment Bereed Shah heard of this circumstance he abandoned the siege of Golconda, and retreated to protect his own capital. Jumsheed Kootb Shah met him on his return towards Bidur, with three hundred cavalry, and attacked his camp in the neighbourhood of Puttuncheroo, which ended in the two kings mutually agreeing to retire to their respective capitals. On Jumsheed Kootb Shah's arrival at Golconda, he spent some time in raising money, and in collecting troops from all quarters, when he again marched towards Bidur. On reaching Kowlas, he dispersed his army to plunder and to lay waste the country. Kasim Bereed Shah moved out from Bidur with eight thousand cavalry, besides infantry, to oppose him. Jumsheed Kootb Shah consulted his officers as to his future operations. Jugdew Row Naigwary proposed to take possession of the heights above Kowlas, and fortify them as a depôt, from whence it might be easy to prosecute the predatory warfare.
117.7
Jumsheed Kootb Shah, adopting this advice, left a strong party with Jugdew Row to build the depot, and marched to oppose Kasim Bereed Shah at Narainkehra, where an action took place, which terminated in a drawn battle; and the two armies encamped for some time within sight of each other, till a messenger from Jugdew Row arrived, announcing the completion of the fort, to which place the King proceeded with a small escort. In the mean time, Kasim Bereed Shah falling on the Golconda camp, completely sacked it, and the fugitives joined the King at Kowlas. Kasim Bereed Shah, neglecting to follow up his success, retreated to Bidur, while Jumsheed Kootb Shah took quiet possession of the districts of Kowlas, Narainkehra, and Ahsunabad, which were made over in charge to Jugdew Row. During the late war, Jumsheed Kootb Shah had always kept his ally Boorhan Nizam Shah acquainted with the events as they occurred; and after the defeat of his troops, during his absence at Kowlas, he wrote to that monarch informing him of the circumstance, and inviting him to join in the war. Boorhan Nizam Shah, ever ready to avail himself of such an opportunity, immediately marched towards Owsa and Oodgeer, informing Jumsheed Kootb Shah that his own troops and those of Berar were on the road to join, and recommended him, in the mean time, to attack such places belonging to the enemy as lay contiguous to his kingdom.
117.8
Jumsheed Kootb Shah, accordingly, marching by the route of Kowlas, joined the allies while in the act of besieging Owsa. It was now agreed that the siege of Owsa should be continued by the allies, while Jumsheed Kootb Shah should recover the fort of Meduk, of which Kasim Bereed Shah had lately obtained possession. Upon his arrival at Meduk, Jumsheed Kootb Shah closely invested the lower fort, which, after a long siege, he carried by storm, and the governor of the hill-fort surrendered at discretion. Meanwhile the allies were successful in reducing both Owsa and Oodgeer. These events induced Kasim Bereed Shah to apply for assistance to the court of Beejapoor; and Ibrahim Adil Shah despatched Yekhlas Khan with five thousand cavalry to his support. With this reinforcement, Kasim Bereed Shah moved from Bidur to Kowlas. Jumsheed Kootb Shah intercepted him at Narainkehra, and thus disposed his troops. He himself took post in the centre, and gave command of the right wing to Seif Khan Ein-ool-Moolk, and the left to Jugdew Row. Kasim Bereed also remained in the centre of his army, placing the Adil Shahy auxiliaries on the right wing, and confiding the left wing to his own brother Khan Jehan. After a long and sanguinary contest, the victory was gained by the gallantry of Seif Khan Ein-ool-Moolk, who turned the enemy's left. On this occasion Kasim Bereed Shah lost many of his bravest officers and soldiers, who were either made prisoners or killed.
117.9
After the action Jumsheed Kootb Shah returned in triumph to Golconda. Kasim Bereed Shah, who was frequently engaged in wars with Boorhan Nizam Shah, thought it politic to secure the alliance of Ibrahim Adil Shah, for which purpose he constantly sent presents, and feigned a sort of allegiance towards him. In order to dissolve this connection, Jumsheed Kootb Shah, on his return to Golconda, wrote to Boorhan Nizam Shah, stating that as Kasim Bereed Shah was in the habit of committing depredations on the territories of his neighbours, it appeared advisable for the other kings of the Deccan to unite and reduce him altogether ; for which purpose he recommended that overtures should be made to Ibrahim Adil Shah of Beejapoor, to induce him to become a party to a confederacy, in order to reduce and to make a division of Kasim Bereed's country.
117.10
Boorhan Nizam Shah, accordingly, wrote to Ibrahim Adil Shah, who entered heartily into the scheme, when it was agreed that the former should attack the country of Bereed Shah, leaving the latter unmolested in any attack he might choose to make on the Raja of Beejanuggur. Accordingly Boorhan Nizam Shah, proceeding eastward, attacked and carried by storm the fort of Kand'har. Kasim Bereed Shah, alarmed at this proceeding, and unaware of the secret treaty which had been formed, left a strong garrison to defend Bidur, and fled to his old ally Ibrahim Adil Shah, by whom he was seized and confined. Ibrahim Adil Shah then marched to the southward, where he succeeded in adding greatly to his territories by conquests from the Hindoo state of Beejanuggur. Boorhan Nizam Shah, hearing of the vast acquisition of territory gained by Ibrahim Adil Shah, was afraid that his strength would completely overthrow that balance of power which it had always been his policy to preserve in the Deccan; and, therefore, without farther warning, he took advantage of the unprotected state of the northern part of the Beejapoor territory, and attacked the fort of Sholapoor, which had so frequently been a point of contention between those two monarchies. This step induced Ibrahim Adil Shah to countermarch, and direct his arms towards his new enemy on the north. Both kings sent ambassadors to Golconda, courting the alliance of Jumsheed Kootb Shah;
117.11
who, seeing that it would be advantageous for him to join one or other party, marched and took up a position on the plain of Sholapoor, immediately between the two contending armies, from each of which he continued to receive overtures, without openly declaring for either. At the same time he received secret messages from Kasim Bereed Shah, who promised to cede any portion of his country he might choose to take, if he would procure his release. Jumsheed Kootb Shah sent for the ambassador of Ibrahim Adil Shah, and told him, that he could hold no further communication with him if his master did not release Kasim Bereed Shah, and send him over to his camp as a proof that he was at liberty. He also required that the King should send his charger, named Subah-ool-Kheir, and two particular elephants, the one called Nanreza and the other Chunchul, when he agreed to join him against Boorhan Nizam Shah. Ibrahim Adil Shah immediately complied with the terms, by sending the horse and elephants, and by releasing Kasim Bereed Shah, to all of which Jumsheed Kootb Shah merely sent a complimentary acknowledgment. He now called together his council, and resolved to abide by their advice in this critical juncture of affairs. He stated that Boorhan Nizam Shah, who was also suing for his alliance, had been always his friend, and that it did not appear politic to join Ibrahim Adil Shah against him ;
117.12
nor would it be honourable in him now to join Boorhan Nizam Shah against Ibrahim Adil Shah after his late conduct. He, therefore, at the recommendation of his ministers, broke up his camp, and directed his march to Bidur, where he replaced Kasim Bereed Shah on his throne. Kasim Bereed on this occasion sent a number of beautiful singers and dancers to proceed with Jumsheed Kootb Shah to Golconda, to whom he gave large quantities of the jewels of the Bahmuny family, which had fallen into his hands. Upon his arrival at Golconda the King gave himself up entirely to the luxuries of the table. He continued within the seraglio, and nothing was seen of him for months together. At length he was seized with a severe illness, which increasing, ended in his death in the year 957, and he was buried alongside of his illustrious father, after a reign of nearly seven years.