[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Dark Ages](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages) › [General histories](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general) › [Tārīkh-i Firishta](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tarikh-i-firishta) › [History of the Rise of the Mahomedan Power in India (Briggs)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tarikh-i-firishta~en-briggs) › 119.5 # Firishta's History (Gulshan-i Ibrāhīmī) 119.5 History of the Rise of the Mahomedan Power in India (Briggs) 119.5 - **Language:** English ### [119.5.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tarikh-i-firishta~en-briggs.119.5.1) "The temple of the infidels has fallen into our hands." After the reduction of Rajmundry, the King sent orders to Ruffut Khan to prosecute his conquests, and proceed to the establishment of the Mahomedan authority in Cossimcota. Accordingly the army moved towards Orissa; but as the country was full of woods and impenetrable forests, he gave orders to his soldiers to cut away and burn in all directions. In their progress they found the infidels collected under Venkutraj, who with twenty thousand infantry prepared to repel the Mahomedans. An action took place, wherein the Hindoos were defeated with great loss, their leader making his escape with difficulty, and the two forts of Gopalpilly and Veeragootum fell to the Mahomedan troops; from whence they proceeded to Cossimcota. Surwaraj and his brother Bhaybulundur, two of the principal rajas of those countries, hearing of the advance of the Mahomedans, and of the fate of the other forts, sent ambassadors to Ruffut Khan to negotiate with him. A peace was concluded; and it was agreed that the younger brother, Surwaraj, should proceed, and remain at Golconda, while the elder, Bhaybulundur, should rule his country as a tributary of the King. From thence the army proceeded to the country of Gopal Ooriar, or Wooreea, who fled to Bengal, leaving his territory an easy conquest to the Mahomedans, so that it was occupied by the King's forces. ### [119.5.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tarikh-i-firishta~en-briggs.119.5.2) Ruffut Khan now proceeded to the country of Vidiadry, governed by Velluparaj, who fled on the approach of the Mahomedans to Devvpooral, a hill-fort situated in the territory belonging to Vidiadry. This place was close on the sea-shore, and almost inaccessible on account of the woods. The Mahomedans were opposed by twenty thousand infidels in the plain. These were defeated, and fled to the fortification, which was closely invested for four months, till at length Velhiparaj, consenting to become tributary, ceded the country of Vidiadry to the King of Golconda. From thence Ruffut Khan proceeded to Chundurbar, in possession of two brothers named Nursing and Soorsing, who had occupied a strong fort in a pass, with ten thousand infantry, where they had thrown up a breast-work, dug a ditch, and placed artillery to oppose the enemy. Ruffut Khan halted till his guns could be brought up the pass, when he levelled the breast-work; and forcing his way through, he attacked the infidels, and the two Hindoo brothers were taken prisoners; after which the country submitted to the King of Golconda. ### [119.5.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tarikh-i-firishta~en-briggs.119.5.3) As Ruffut Khan had been successfully employed during the last two years in reducing many of the forts and districts of Rajmundry and Cossimcota, he now resolved to attack Veij Nat Dew, the most formidable of all the rajas of that country. He commenced his operations by the capture of the hill-fort of Potnoor, wherein was taken the brother of the Raja. From thence he proceeded to Kundoo-Deva Pully, the principal hold of that chief; which also fell to the prowess of the Mahomedan arms; but the time occupied in these sieges afforded Veij Nat Dew an opportunity to collect his army; and he accordingly marched to oppose the invader at the head of five thousand cavalry, fifty thousand infantry, and five hundred elephants. Ruffut Khan was not backward to come to action; and a battle ensued, in which the Mahomedans were completely victorious, and the Raja fled to his capital ; and soon after he sent out his eldest son to Ruffut Khan as ambassador, to conclude a peace ; in which it was stipulated, that the Raja should pay annually thirty-thousand hoons as a tribute to the Kootb Shahy state, and make an offering of forty elephants. To these terms Ruffut Khan was glad to accede, as a considerable disaffection and discontent prevailed in his army, and as he had already reduced the whole of the districts along the sea-coast as far as Rajamurda. Let us now return to the affairs of the kings of the Deccan. ### [119.5.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tarikh-i-firishta~en-briggs.119.5.4) The Queen-dowager of Ahmudnuggur had by her conduct excited universal discontent among all the officers of the government, who conspired against her, and persuaded the young King, Moortuza Nizam Shah, to seize and confine her in the fort of Dowlutabad ; while her two brothers, the King's uncles, Ein-ool-Moolk and Taj Khan, fled from the capital. Their departure and the seizure of the Queen threw affairs into the utmost confusion, and the young King was not of an age or of a temper to act with much discretion. Ally Adil Shah, the ancient enemy of the house of Nizam Shah, taking advantage of the moment, deputed his general Kishwur Khan Lary, with twenty thousand horse, to lay waste and occupy as much of the Ahmudnuggur territory as he could seize. He first of all devastated the country of Kondana, and then proceeded to Moortuza Nizam Shah, unable alone to cope with Ally Adil Shah, had recourse to Ibrahim Kootb Shah for aid, who proceeded with his army first to Bidur, and having induced Ally Bereed Shah to unite in the confederacy, they marched together to join Moortuza Nizam Shah, whom they met at the town of Nagdurry, where they swore to stand by each other. The oaths were taken upon a Koran in the possession of the latter, said to be written by Ally, the cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet. On this occasion it was agreed that they should proceed and attack the Beejapoor territories without delay. ### [119.5.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tarikh-i-firishta~en-briggs.119.5.5) Ally Adil Shah, suspecting that his minister, Shah Abool Hussun, the son of the late famous Shah Tahir of Ahmudnuggur, had promoted this confederacy, put him into confinement. Syud Moortuza, a nobleman of the Nizam Shahy court, was at this time in the Beejapoor camp. He had fled during the late revolution from Ahmudnuggur, and came over to Ally Adil Shah, where he renewed his friendship with Shah Abool Hussun. On the present occasion, Syud Moortuza, desirous of effecting the release of the minister, applied to Ally Adil Shah to be allowed to proceed in character of envoy to the confederates, and through his influence negotiate a peace, a measure which the King had at heart. Syud Moortuza was accordingly deputed to proceed to the Nizam Shahy camp, and having had an audience of Moortuza Nizam Shah, laid his head on the King's feet, and vowed he would not rise till his Majesty promised to obtain the release of the son of the late Shah Tahir, to whom the house of Ahmudnuggur was under such obligations; declaring, at the same time, that nothing but concluding a treaty of peace with Ally Adil Shah could effect this object. Moortuza Nizam Shah at once forgot his enmity to Ally Adil Shah, and consented to listen to terms, on condition that Shah Abool Hussun should be released, and be employed as ambassador to conclude the treaty. Shah Abool Hussun accordingly proceeded with magnificent presents to the camp of the confederates. ### [119.5.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tarikh-i-firishta~en-briggs.119.5.6) While in the camp, he persuaded Moortuza Nizam Shah to attack Ibrahim Kootb Shah's forces as well as those of Ally Bereed Shah, and by thus making a bold stroke at first, follow it up, and reduce the countries of Tulingana and Bidur. Moortuza Nizam Shah, young, thoughtless, and impetuous, eagerly adopted the proposition, and attacked his allies, who defended themselves with bravery, and contrived to retreat to Bidur, whence Ibrahim Kootb Shah proceeded to Golconda. On the return of Ibrahim Kootb Shah to his capital, he resolved to be revenged on Moortuza Nizam Shah for his late treachery; and as the latter always obtained assistance from the Berar court, he determined to anticipate that step by sending an envoy to Toofal Khan, the Regent of Berar, inviting him to an alliance against Moortuza Nizam Shah, to whom he could owe no friendship, since the invasion of his country, and the siege of Gavul. Toofal Khan, glad of an opportunity of revenging himself on Moortuza Nizam Shah, readily acceded to the proposed alliance, and despatched his son, Shumsheer-ool-Moolk, with three thousand cavalry to join Ibrahim Kootb Shah; who having collected his own army, proceeded, under the pretence of hunting, towards Bidur, when he was joined, between that city and the town of Kowlas, by the Berar auxiliaries, as well as by Ally Bereed Shah. Thence they deputed ambassadors to Ally Adil Shah, inviting him, also, to join the confederacy. ### [119.5.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tarikh-i-firishta~en-briggs.119.5.7) Moortuza Nizam Shah, far from being idle, also collected his army, and determined to prevent the junction of Ally Adil Shah, either by force or stratagem. He accordingly moved towards Beejapoor with his whole force, deputing his minister, Chungiz Khan, with large presents, to the Adil Shahy camp, in order to prevent its union with the confederates; but, at any rate, to make such good use of his money among the courtiers as to detain the King of Beejapoor for some time, till he should hear of the approach of the Nizam Shahies. Chungiz Khan overtook Ally Adil Shah at the fort of Nuldoorg, where he displayed so much diplomatic skill as to induce the King to give up the idea of joining the allies at all, and to consent to meet Moortuza Nizam Shah on friendly terms. Ibrahim Kootb Shah, alarmed at this sudden alteration in the measures of the Adil Shahy court, broke up the confederacy, dismissing the Berar auxiliaries with handsome rewards, and recommending Ally Bereed Shah to repair to the fort of Bidur; at the same time promising his aid in case of invasion and attack. Upon his arrival at Golconda, he pitched the royal pavilion on the plain, and directed all the Naigwary infantry of the realm to repair to his standard. These preparations were not unnecessary; for Moortuza Nizam Shah having made a convert of Ally Adil Shah to his cause, they both marched with the determination of reducing the kingdoms of Tulingana and Bidur; ### [119.5.8](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tarikh-i-firishta~en-briggs.119.5.8) to which latter city they proceeded, the Adil Shahies encamping in the neighbourhood of the Houz-i-Kumt'hana, while the Nizam Shahies invested the fort of Bidur. Ibrahim Kootb Shah no sooner heard of the attack on Bidur than he made preparations for the defence of Golconda. On this occasion he ordered pavilions to be pitched on the bastions, and adorned them with rich brocades and silks from China and with velvets of European manufacture, giving himself up to the gratification of listening "to the "enchanting vocal and instrumental music of heart-"alluring damsels and fairy-faced virgins." At the same time he detached a force of four thousand cavalry and ten thousand light infantry, under Sulabut Khan, to hover round the enemy, and to make night-attacks on the besiegers at Bidur. The Munewar infantry were eminently successful in all directions, and at all hours, bringing nightly between three and four hundred noses and ears from the enemy's lines; and they received for each nose a hoon, and for each ear a purtab. During the day, the cavalry made their attacks at favourable moments on the besiegers, who were distressed for want of supplies, and weary for want of sleep, owing to the constant assaults both of the cavalry and infantry. ### [119.5.9](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tarikh-i-firishta~en-briggs.119.5.9) Determined to raise the siege, but apprehensive least Ibrahim Kootb Shah should attack them if they separated, Ally Adil Shah deputed Kamil Khan with fifteen thousand horse, and Moortuza Nizam Shah sent Mirza Yadgar with an equal number, to remain in the neighbourhood of Kowlas. Moortuza Nizam Shah then proceeded to punish Toofal Khan for the assistance he had given in the preceding year to Ibrahim Kootb Shah; and Ally Adil Shah marched to the south against Bunkapoor and the Hindoo territories dependent on Beejanuggur. --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tarikh-i-firishta~en-briggs.119.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tarikh-i-firishta~en-briggs.119.5) · Pramāṇa