Firishta's History (Gulshan-i Ibrāhīmī) 47.1
History of the Rise of the Mahomedan Power in India (Briggs) 47.1
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47.1.1
Succeeds his father. — Insurrection in Punjab suppressed. — The minister appointed governor. — Survur-ool-Moolk created vizier. — New insurrection in Punjab. — The King of Malwa declares war against Dehly, and lays siege to Gualiar — is compelled to retreat. — Insurrection in Mewat suppressed. — The King proceeds to Byana. — The King of Joonpoor makes war with the ruler of Kalpy. — The latter is assisted by the King of Dehly. — The rulers of Byana, Mewat, and Surhind, in open rebellion against the Dehly government. — Byana and Mewat reduced to obedience. — The ruler of Surhind invites the Moguls from Kabul to aid him. — The King of Dehly retires from Surhind to Dehly. — The Moguls are attacked, and totally routed. — Revolt in Punjab. — The King's governor taken prisoner. — The King proceeds in person, and recovers Punjab. — Appoints a new governor. — Lahore taken by the Moguls and Gukkurs. — Mullik Sikundur appointed generalissimo — expels the Moguls and Gukkurs, and returns to court. — The King becomes jealous of his minister. — The latter, apprehensive of the King, causes him to be assassinated.
47.1.2
When Khizr Khan perceived, from the nature of his disorder, all hopes of recovery were at an end, he nominated his eldest son to succeed him. Accordingly, three days after his death, Moobarik ascended the throne, and assumed the title of Moiz-ood-Deen, Abool Futteh Moobarik. He raised his cousin, Mullik Budr, to high honours, and nominated Mullik Rujub to the government of Depalpoor and Punjab. In the month of Jumad-ool-Awul he received advices that Jusrut, the brother of Sheikha Gukkur, (who had the preceding year defeated and made captive Ally Shah, King of Kashmeer, on his return from an expedition against Tutta,) presuming on his success had come to the resolution to attempt the throne of Dehly. For this purpose Jusrut Gukkur invited Mullik Toghan, who had fled to the mountains to join him, and he appointed him Ameer-ool-Omra, or general-in-chief of his troops. Their first operations were directed against Punjab; and having seized Lahore, they secured the person of Zeeruk Khan, governor of Jalindur, which they also took, and subsequently besieged Islam Khan in the fort of Sirhind. Syud Moobarik, in spite of the rainy season, which was then at its height, marched from Dehly; but on his approaching Sirhind he found Jusrut Gukkur had raised the siege and retreated to Lodhana. Here Zeeruk Khan contrived to effect his escape, and joined the King. The Dehly army now advanced towards Lodhana, where they perceived Jusrut Gukkur encamped on the opposite bank.
47.1.3
He had secured all the boats on the river, a circumstance which obliged the King to halt at Kabhoolpoor till the stream became fordable. On the 11th of Shuval, Mullik Sikundur (the Vizier), Zeeruk Khan, Mahmood Hussun, Mullik Kaloo, and other chiefs, forded the river; and the King himself following with the main body of the army, Jusrut Gukkur and his troops were thrown into confusion, and eventually put to flight. The King's forces pursued the enemy closely, slaying vast numbers, and capturing all their baggage. After this defeat, Jusrut, having crossed the Chunab, took refuge in the mountains, and Ray Bheem, Raja of Jummoo, directing the King's army to Beesul, a strong fort into which Jusrut Gukkur had thrown himself, the latter again fled; but his followers were pursued with great slaughter. Meanwhile, in the month of Mohurrum, A. H. 825, the King, having marched to Lahore, ordered the ruined palaces and fortifications to be repaired, and appointing Mahmood Hussun governor, returned to Dehly. He had scarcely reached his capital when Jusrut, collecting his scattered forces, took the field again, and invested Lahore for five months; but failing in his attempt, he raised the siege, retired to Kallanore, and attacked Ray Bheem, Raja of Jummoo, for having betrayed his retreat to the King. On this occasion, Jusrut Gukkur, being unsuccessful, retired to the banks of the Beea, in order to refresh and to recruit his army.
47.1.4
Meanwhile, Mullik Sikundur, the Vizier, having been sent to reinforce Lahore, was joined by Mullik Rujub, governor of Depalpoor, and by Islam Khan, governor of Surhind. With these troops the Vizier marched against Jusrut, and compelled him to recross the Ravy and Chunab, and to take shelter again among the mountains. The Vizier marched along the Ravee to Kullanore; and being joined on the frontiers of Jummoo by Ray Bheem, that Prince acted as guide to the Dehly troops, so that many of the Gukkurs, who were concealed, were discovered, and put to the sword; after which the Vizier returned to Lahore.
47.1.5
These successes induced the King to appoint the Vizier, Mullik Sikundur Toofa, Viceroy of Lahore, and to recall Mahmood Hussun. In the year 826, the King deprived Mullik Sikundur of the office of vizier, and conferred it on Survur-ool-Moolk, whom he sent with an army against the Hindoos of Kutehr, in order to compel them to pay the usual tribute. The King, at this time, effected an accommodation with Mohabut Khan, governor of Budaon, and intrusted him with a command against the tribe of Rahtore Rajpoots, whose country was plundered, and some of whom were made prisoners. The Raja of Etawa, alarmed at these measures, withdrew suddenly from the royal camp. Moobarik pursued, and besieged the Raja in Etawa; but at length terms were concluded with him, and the Raja's son was delivered as a hostage for his father's future good conduct into the King's hands, after which he returned to Dehly.
47.1.6
Mahmood Hussun, about this time, was appointed bukhshy of the forces, which office in those days was styled Ariz. Jusrut Gukkur, unsubdued by his misfortunes, again appeared in the field; and having defeated and slain Ray Bheem of Jummoo, raised an army of nearly 12,000 Gukkurs, with which he again made war on the kingdom of Dehly. He ravaged the countries of Lahore and Depalpoor, and acquired considerable booty. Mullik Sikundur Tohfa, the governor, advanced against him; but rather than risk a battle, Jusrut retired with his spoils to the hills, where he continued to recruit his army for another campaign. Meanwhile Jusrut Gukkur formed an alliance with Ameer Sheikh Ally, a Mogul chieftain in the service of Sharokh Mirza, governor of Kabul; and prevailed on him to make an incursion into the territories of Seestan, Bhukkur, and Tatta, by way of creating a diversion, in order that, by drawing off the King's forces from the capital, for the defence of Sind, his own views on Dehly might be facilitated. Mullik Alla-ool-Moolk, governor of Mooltan, dying about the same time that the news of Ameer Sheikh Ally's incursion was received, the King detached Mullik Mahmood Hussun with the army to Mooltan. Sooltan Hooshung, King of Malwa, also in the same year invested Gualiar, so that the King was obliged to send all his troops to his frontiers. The King marched in person into Malwa, levying contributions, on his route, from Ameer Khan, the son of Wahid Khan, governor of Byana.
47.1.7
Sooltan Hooshung of Malwa secured the usual fords of the Chumbul; but the King, having discovered others, crossed the river, and attacking Sooltan Hooshung in his camp, defeated his army, took many prisoners, and a part of his baggage. The prisoners, being chiefly Mahomedans, were released; and Sooltan Hooshung, thinking it advisable to compound matters by paying a sum of money to the King of Dehly, was permitted to withdraw without molestation towards Dhar. The King of Dehly remained for some time in the vicinity of Gualiar to levy contributions upon the neighbouring Hindoo chiefs, and returned in the month of Rujub to the capital.
47.1.8
Next year the King moved towards Kutehr, and was met by Nursing Ray, who came to the banks of the Ganges to pay his respects; but as he had not settled the revenues of his territory for three years, he was detained in camp for a few days till his accounts were adjusted, and then released. The King, having crossed the Ganges, reduced some factious tributary chiefs and returned to Dehly; but not remaining there many days, he marched towards Mewat, from whence he expelled some insurgents, and ravaging their country, returned to his capital; when having permitted his officers to retire to their estates with their troops, he abandoned himself to dissipation. The Mewatties, rendered desperate by the King's conduct towards them, took revenge on the neighbouring districts. In the year 829, therefore, the King assembling troops, marched to punish them. On his approach, Julloo and Kudroo, the grandsons of Bahadur Nahir Mewaty, retreated to the hills of Alwur, and defended the passes with much obstinacy; but being eventually reduced to great distress they surrendered, and were imprisoned. The repeated attacks on the Mewatties did not render them peaceable. The King, after a lapse of four months, was again obliged to send troops against them, who carried fire and sword through their whole country. The King now proceeded as far as Byana, where he found that Ameer Khan, the governor, was dead; and that his brother Mahomed Khan, assuming independence, had shut himself up in the town.
47.1.9
The King laid siege to Byana for sixteen days, but on the desertion of part of the garrison, Mahomed Khan surrendered at discretion, and with a rope about his neck was led into the royal presence. The King delivered over the charge of the city to Mokbil Khan, and sent Mahomed Khan and his family to Dehly. After which, making Mullik Kheir-ood-Deen Tohfa governor of Seekry (known now by the name of Futtehpoor), the King marched to Gualiar, and received the tribute from the Raja. At this time Mullik Mahmood Hussun was recalled from Mooltan, and placed in charge of Hissar Feroza, while Mullik Rujub Nadiry succeeded to the charge of Mooltan. Meanwhile Mahomed Khan of Byana effected his escape with his family to Mewat, and collecting a considerable force, recovered the city of Byana, in the absence of the King's governor, Mokbil Khan, who had gone on an expedition to Mahawun. Mullik Moobariz was now appointed to Byana, with orders to expel Mahomed Khan. The latter retiring into the fort, Mullik Moobariz took possession of the country, but after a few days' siege, Mahomed Khan, intrusting the defence of the place to some trusty followers, escaped and joined Ibrahim Shah Shurky of Joonpoor, who was then advancing with an army against Kalpy.