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Firishta's History (Gulshan-i Ibrāhīmī) 233: MULLIK NUSEER, ENTITLED NUSEER KHAN FAROOKY,

History of the Rise of the Mahomedan Power in India (Briggs) 233

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MULLIK NUSEER, ENTITLED NUSEER KHAN FAROOKY,

233.1

Treacherously obtains possession of Aseer — deprives his brother of the fort of Talnere, and attacks the districts of Sooltanpoor and Nundoorbar, belonging to Guzerat — is compelled to sue for terms — builds the city of Boorhanpoor, and fortifies Aseer — gives his daughter in marriage to the heir-apparent of the Bahmuny kingdom — supports the fugitive Raja of Julwara against the King of Guzerat, and induces the King of the Deccan to do so likewise. — The Guzerat King proves victorious. — Nuseer Khan supports some rebellious chiefs of the Deccan in Berar against their King — he is compelled to fly from Boorhanpoor. — The battle of Lulling, in which he is defeated. — His death. In the reign of Mullik Nuseer this family greatly extended its power. Mullik Nuseer Khan also assumed the ensigns of royalty. Learned men were invited from all parts, and literature was much promoted. He received from the King of Guzerat the title of Khan, and caused the public prayers to be read in his name, realising the wish that his father carried with him to the grave, namely, that of assuming the royal pavilion and canopy. He also seized the fort of Aseer from Asa Aheer. As the story relative to the family of the original possessor of Aseer is interesting, I shall give it at full length. On the summit of a high hill in Kandeish lived a herdsman who possessed much agricultural wealth. He was, in reality, one of the principal landholders in that country.

233.2

His ancestors had for nearly seven hundred years retained the estates, and at an early period built a wall round the hill of Aseer, in order to protect their numerous herds of cattle from the bands of robbers, which infested the mountains. Asa succeeded to his father’s property: being a thrifty person, his herds increased to the number of five thousand buffaloes, five thousand cows, twenty thousand sheep, and one thousand brood mares, independently of which he had two thousand retainers, who were employed in all purposes of husbandry, as well as for his protection. The farmers, both of Gondwana and Kandeish, whenever they were in distress, always found relief by applying to Asa Aheer, or the herdsman, for so he continued to be called, in spite of his wealth and power. It happened that a short time before the arrival of Mullik Raja at Talnere famine raged in Kandeish and in Gondwana, and not more than two or three thousand individuals of the Koly or Bheel tribes escaped its effects. Asa had at this time many storehouses, both in Gondwana and Kandeish, which his agents opened in order to sell the corn; but his wife, who was of a charitable disposition, prayed her husband to allow the grain to be served out to the poor without payment, and by that means secure to himself a good name in this world, and eternity in the next.

233.3

It was to assist them, also, that he was induced to have the old walls of the town of Aseer levelled, and to cause a fort to be built of masonry, by which means he employed many labourers. He also distributed food to the aged and decrepid, who were unable to perform manual labour. This work went by the name of the fort of Asa Aheer, and was afterwards called Aseer. Upon the assumption of the authority of all Kandeish by Mullik Raja, Asa, being a peaceable and unambitious man, was the first of all the landholders to acknowledge fealty to him; and, moreover, presented him with many things which he required on the establishment of his family. Mullik Raja very soon saw that a fortification like that of Aseer, in the hands of an ambitious chief, in the centre of his province, would enable such a person to shake the very foundation of his government; but he felt himself under too many obligations to Asa to wrest it by force out of his hands. Mullik Nuseer, also, when he succeeded to the government, received many personal favours from Asa, and knew from his peaceable disposition that he never would give him a plea to attack him. He, however, resolved to seize Aseer, and to make it his capital, and adopted the following plan to carry his scheme into effect: — He sent a letter to Asa, saying, that the Rajas of Buglana and Antoor had collected large forces, and that they did not conduct themselves to him in the manner they had done to his father, the late Mullik Raja.

233.4

The Raja of Kehrla also threatened him. The fort of Talnere, he said, agreeably to his father’s will, was in the possession of his brother, Mullik Iftikhar, and that of Lulling was situated too near his enemies to offer him a safe retreat; he begged, therefore, that his family might be received into Aseer. Asa willingly consented; and ordering suitable apartments to be fitted up for the reception of Mullik Nuseer’s ladies, directed that every attention should be paid to them. On the first day several dolies with women came into the place, and were visited by Asa’s wife and daughters. On the second day a report arrived that two hundred dolies, filled with the wife, mother, and the rest of Mullik Nuseer’s family, were coming. Asa accordingly ordered the gates to be thrown open to receive them, and went with all his sons a considerable way from the female apartments to meet them; but what was his astonishment, when, instead of women, he found the dolies filled with armed soldiers, who leapt out and murdered him with the whole of his family, not leaving a male child of his race. The inhabitants of the fort were so dismayed that they fled with their families from a scene of such horror. Mullik Nuseer, who was at this time in the fort of Lulling, on hearing of the success of his plan, repaired to Aseer, and employed himself in strengthening the fortifications.

233.5

It is, however, a well authenticated fact, that the property of Asa was never appropriated by any of the Farooky dynasty to their own use; and all the money and jewels taken on this occasion fell into the hands of Akbur Padshah, when he marched to the southward, and took the fortress of Aseer, two centuries afterwards.

233.6

The moment that this news reached Sheikh Zein-ood-Deen of Dowlutabad, the tutelary saint of the family, he proceeded towards Kandeish to congratulate Mullik Nuseer on his success against the infidels; and the latter, with all his family, marched to meet the holy personage, and encamped on the western bank of the river Tapty. Sheikh Zein-ood-Deen arrived with a number of his disciples, and they pitched their tents on the eastern bank. Mullik Nuseer went over the river, and endeavoured to persuade the Sheikh to return with him to Aseer; but he declined doing so, as he said he had not permission to cross the Tapty. After remaining some time in their respective encampments on the western and eastern banks, the Sheikh desired to take his leave; but Mullik Nuseer begged that he would condescend to accept of an estate in Kandeish. The Sheikh answered, that dervishes had no occasion for estates; but begged of Mullik Nuseer to build a town on the eastern bank of the river, and call it after himself, Zeinabad, and a city on the western, where he was himself encamped, to be called Boorhanpoor, in honour of the famous Sheikh Boorhan-ood-Deen of Dowlutabad; and he recommended, also, that he should make the latter his capital: both of which towns were accordingly built; and Boorhanpoor afterwards became the capital of the Farooky dynasty.

233.7

There is an old but a very true saying, that 'a rug will contain ten dervishes, but a kingdom is too small for two rulers.' So was it with that of Kandeish; for as soon as Mullik Nuseer obtained possession of Aseer he cast a jealous eye upon his brother’s estate of Talnere; and in order to secure it he induced the King of Malwa to assist him. To this end, Mullik Nuseer marched, in the year 820, towards Talnere with a force, and procured the aid of his brother-in-law, Sooltan Hooshung of Malwa. Mullik Iftikhar, astonished at the approach of his brother’s army, remonstrated with him, and wrote, but in vain, to Ahmud Shah of Guzerat for assistance. Ghizny Khan, the son of Sooltan Hooshung, and nephew to Mullik Nuseer, arrived with a force of five thousand horse from Malwa, to support Mullik Nuseer; and by their united efforts, in a short time the fort of Talnere fell, and Mullik Iftikhar was taken prisoner, and sent to the fort of Aseer. After the capture of Talnere, it was agreed that the allied forces of Kandeish and Malwa should march and occupy Sooltanpoor in the name of the King of Malwa; for which purpose they absolutely moved and invested the fort of Sooltanpoor. On this, Ahmud Shah of Guzerat marched the whole of his army to the south, and sent a very considerable detachment under Mullik Mahmood Toork in advance. On hearing this, Ghizny Khan of Malwa fled to Mando, and Mullik Nuseer retreated to Talnere, wherein he was closely besieged by Mullik Mahmood Toork.

233.8

Meanwhile, Ahmud Shah arrived at Sooltanpoor. Mullik Nuseer, thus deserted by the Prince of Malwa, was reduced to the extreme of distress in Talnere; and made overtures to some of Ahmud Shah’s ministers with such success, that that monarch not only accepted the presents which he sent him, but in return bestowed on him the white canopy and scarlet pavilion, and honoured him with the title of Khan, which he assumed ever afterwards. Some years after this event, Ahmud Shah Bahmuny of the Deccan, desirous of forming a respectable connection for his son, deputed ambassadors to Nuseer Khan, soliciting the hand of his daughter in marriage for the Deccan prince, Alla-ood-Deen. Nuseer Khan, who perceived that this connection would strengthen his power, readily assented; and the Kandeish bride was conveyed by the ambassadors in great state from Boorhanpoor to Ahmudabad Bidur.

233.9

In the year 833, Raja Kanha, Ray of the district of Julwara, fled from the power of the King of Guzerat, and arrived at Aseer, where he presented to Nuseer Khan some elephants and other valuables, begging of him to assist him in recovering his country. Nuseer Khan replied, that he really had not the means to cope with the King of Guzerat; but that if he chose to apply to the King of the Deccan he would perhaps exert himself in his favour, and Nuseer Khan promised to give him a letter to that monarch on the subject. Ahmud Shah Bahmuny, at the instance of Nuseer Khan, put a small force at the disposal of the Raja to recover his country. When this detachment arrived at Nundoorbar it plundered the district, and the King of Guzerat ordered a force to oppose it. An engagement ensued in consequence, in which the Deccanies were entirely defeated, and many slain. This disaster naturally involved the King of the Deccan in a war with Guzerat; for he conceived it necessary to retrieve the character of his arms. He accordingly deputed a large force to march under the command of the Prince Alla-ood-Deen for that purpose. When this army reached Dowlutabad it was joined by Raja Kanha and Nuseer Khan, and the whole proceeded towards Guzerat. Another battle ensued, and the Deccan troops were again defeated, and Raja Kanha was compelled to take refuge in the Kandeish hills.

233.10

In the year 840, Nuseer Khan received accounts from his daughter that she experienced ill treatment from her husband, Alla-ood-Deen Shah; in consequence of which her father suspended all amicable intercourse with him; and in the year 841, at the instance of the King of Guzerat, invaded his country. He first entered Berar; and being supported by many malecontent Deccany chiefs caused the public prayers to be read in his name. He next invested the fortress of Narnala; but Alla-ood-Deen Shah having deputed Mullik-oot-Toojar with a large force to oppose him, Mullik Nuseer, accompanied by the Deccan officers, was compelled to fly. He was pursued by Mullik-oot-Toojar as far as Boorhanpoor, which city he completely sacked. Nuseer Khan then took refuge in the fort of Lulling, and solicited the assistance of the kings of Guzerat and Malwa. Mullik-oot-Toojar, determining to attack Nuseer Khan before reinforcements could arrive, pushed on by forced marches to Lulling, and reached that place with a select body of archers, amounting to about three thousand men. Nuseer Khan had with him only two thousand soldiers, but he attacked Mullik-oot-Toojar. After a severe action he was compelled to retreat, and with difficulty reached the fort. In this engagement he lost about twenty elephants and all his baggage; which disaster weighed so heavily upon his mind that he died in a few days after, on the 20th of Rubbee-ool-Awul, in the year 841, after a reign of forty years.

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Nuseer Khan was buried by his son in the family-vault at Talnere by the side of his father, Mullik Raja.

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