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Firishta's History (Gulshan-i Ibrāhīmī) 88.2

History of the Rise of the Mahomedan Power in India (Briggs) 88.2

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88.2.1

When the hooma of prosperity had spread the shadow of her wings over his head, Yoosoof Adil Khan, as well as Mullik Ahmud Bheiry, in the year 895, according to the verse in the Holy Koran, "The sword for him who can wield it, and dominion to him who conquers," caused the Khootba to be read in his name, and assumed the canopy of royalty, at which time the foreigners unanimously acknowledged him King. After this event, he wrested many forts from the governors of Mahmood Shah, and subdued all the country from the river Beema to Beejapoor, the inhabitants of which territory submitted to his authority; and being subsequently joined by many Deccany officers, who had formerly deserted him on his retiring from Ahmudabad Bidur, his power daily increased.

88.2.2

Kasim Bereed Toork, who had himself entertained hopes of founding a kingdom at Beejapoor, wrote to the Ray of Beejanuggur, that Mahomed Shah was willing to cede to him the forts of Moodkul and Rachore, if he would wrest them from Yoosoof Adil Khan; at the same time letters were addressed to Bahadur Geelany, who possessed Goa and all Dureabar, (the tract which, in the language of the Deccan, is called Concan,) inviting him to invade the country of Yoosoof Adil Khan. Timraj, the general of the Ray of Beejanuggur, having crossed the river Toongbudra, laid waste the country as far as Moodkul and Rachore; and Bahadur Geelany reduced the fortress of Jumkindy. Yoosoof Adil Khan was too weak to repel these attacks by force. He accordingly made peace with Timraj, and expelled Bahadur Geelany from his dominions; but without attempting to recover Jumkindy, led his army, composed of eight thousand foreigners, towards the capital, against Kasim Bereed.

88.2.3

Kasim Bereed applied for aid to Mullik Ahmud Bheiry, together with Khwaja Jehan Deccany, governor of Purenda, who joined him. The troops with Mahmood Shah Bahmuny II. marched from the capital, and were met by Yoosoof Adil Shah in the vicinity of Nuldroog, where an action was fought. Duria Khan commanded the right wing, Fukhr-ool-Moolk Toork the left, and Yoosoof Adil Khan led the centre of his army, while his foster-brother, Ghuzunfur Beg, commanded a separate corps of a thousand foreign bowmen, to assist wherever there might be occasion. Kasim Bereed fled with the King at the first onset; upon which Yoosoof Adil Khan and Mullik Ahmud Bheiry, discontinuing the fight, entered into a treaty on the field, and each retired to his own dominions. This action is, however, differently related by the Bahmuny historian, who states, that Mullik Ahmud was not in the field, but his general Khwaja Jehan only; that Yoosoof Adil Khan was defeated, and retired to Beejapoor, where he shortly after obtained peace with his enemies; and then, on learning that dissensions prevailed in Beejanuggur, he marched to retake Rachore.

88.2.4

On reaching the banks of the Krishna, Yoosoof Adil Khan amused himself for some time in hunting; but having brought on an ague and fever by exertion, he was confined to his bed for two months; during which time, his foster-brother, Ghuzunfur Beg, directed all public affairs. In this interval Timraj the minister, having composed his disputes with the young Ray of Beejanuggur, advanced at the head of an army to Rachore, which struck terror into that of Yoosoof Adil Khan, for whose recovery fervent prayers were offered up by his subjects. Not long after, Yoosoof recovering, distributed sixty thousand rupees among holy men and syuds of Medina, Kerbulla, and Nujuf. He also intrusted a considerable sum to Khwaja Abdoolla Hirvy, who had come with him to Hindoostan in the same ship, directing him to build a mosque at Sava, and to give the surplus of the money among the poor of that city. Meanwhile intelligence was received that Timraj, having crossed the Toongbudra, was advancing to Beejapoor. Yoosoof Adil Khan mustered his troops, and found them to consist of eight thousand Doaspa horse and two hundred elephants of all sizes. Addressing himself to Ghuzunfur Beg, Mirza Jehangeer, and Dawood Khan Lody, his favourite officers, he said, that he trusted he should be able to defeat the enemy with this force, and communicated his determination to advance towards him.

88.2.5

Next day he accordingly marched, and encamped at a little distance from Timraj's army, and then dividing the ground among his officers to the best advantage, he threw up entrenchments round his camp to prevent surprise. Several days passed inactively, till on Saturday, in the month of Rujub, 898, both armies drew out; and in the beginning of the action nearly five hundred of Yoosoof Adil Khan's troops being slain, the rest fell back in disorder. Fortunately, at this moment, one of his officers who had been taken prisoner made his escape, and represented, that the enemy were busily engaged in plunder, and might be attacked with advantage. The King, rallying his troops, prepared to renew the action; when Timraj, not having time to collect his whole army, drew up seven thousand horse, a considerable number of foot, and three hundred elephants to oppose him. Yoosoof Adil Khan charged this body with such impetuosity, that Timraj, unable to stand the shock, fled, leaving two hundred elephants, and a thousand horses in the hands of the victors, besides sixty lacks of hoons, with many jewels and other valuable booty. Timraj and the young Ray fled to Beejanuggur. The latter died on the road of wounds received in the action, and Timraj seized the government of the country; but some of the principal nobility opposing his usurpation, dissensions broke out, which gave Yoosoof Adil Khan a respite from war in that quarter.

88.2.6

Dustoor Khan relates, that the victory was gained by the following stratagem: Yoosoof Adil Khan, after the disorder of his troops, sent a messenger to Timraj entreating peace, and offering to acknowledge allegiance to the Ray for the country he held; upon which the minister and the Ray came, attended by three or four hundred followers and their principal nobility, to a conference in the field, when Yoosoof Adil Khan fell upon them by surprise with his whole army and routed them, killing seventy persons of rank. Their troops, alarmed at the death of their chiefs, fled, and left the camp to be plundered by the victors. Yoosoof Adil Khan, after his success, conferred on Raab Jung Bahadur Khan fifty elephants, with one lack of hoons, and detached him with a force to reduce the forts of Moodkul and Rachore; which having effected in the space of forty days, the King returned to his capital of Beejapoor. This victory added greatly to his wealth, strengthened his power, and confirmed his authority. It is said, however, that he paid Mahmood Shah the compliment of sending to him two splendid vests, the borders of which were adorned with precious stones, two horses shod with gold, and saddles and bridles set with jewels, with an official report of his success.

88.2.7

Yoosoof Adil Khan was preparing to march against Jumkindy, which Bahadur Geelany had taken from him, when Mahmood Shah, in consequence of complaints from the King of Guzerat resolved to march in person against the latter chief; on which occasion Yoosoof Adil Khan sent his general, Kumal Khan Deccany, with five thousand horse, to attend the Bahmuny monarch. Jumkindy being taken, was delivered over to Yoosoof Adil Khan, and Bahadur Geelany was slain in action. When Mahmood Shah returned from this expedition, Yoosoof Adil Khan went forth to meet him ; and having conducted him into Beejapoor, then newly surrounded with a wall of stone, entertained him for ten days with great splendour. On his departure, he presented him with twenty elephants, fifty horses, four bracelets set with jewels, and other rare and valuable articles to a large amount Mahmood Shah having made choice of one elephant sent back the other articles, with a private message, that as they would be seized by his minister Kasim Bereed, he returned them, to be kept for him in trust, till such time as Yoosoof Adil Khan, like a faithful servant, should deliver him from his trammels.

88.2.8

Yoosoof Adil Khan, though he had it in his power to effect this object at once, did not think it desirable to do so; and answered, that such an undertaking could not succeed, unless Mullik Ahmud Bheiry of Ahmudnuggur should agree in promoting it, as also Imad-ool-Moolk of Gavulgur; and he promised, that when Mahmood Shah reached his capital he would prevail upon those chiefs to join with him in punishing the obnoxious minister. Mahmood Shah, satisfied with this declaration, departed for his capital; but before he left Beejapoor, Yoosoof Adil Khan conveyed to him privately a large sum of money, and also made considerable presents to Kasim Bereed and Kootb-ool-Moolk, who had attended the King in the campaign.

88.2.9

In the year 901, Dustoor Deenar, the Abyssinian eunuch, who held the districts of Koolburga, Sagur, Alund, and other forts and districts between the river Beema and Tulingana, aspired to establish his independence. For this purpose he opened a communication with Mullik Ahmud Bheiry; observing, that as Futteh Oolla Imad-ool-Moolk had, in concert with Yoosoof Adil Shah, assumed royal titles in Berar, it would be consistent with his friendship to support him in doing the same. Dustoor Deenar was the adopted son of Nizam-ool-Moolk, the father of Mullik Ahmud Bheiry, and thought, in consequence, he had claims on his support. Accordingly the eunuch, having adopted the regal canopy, seized many districts dependent on the capital of Ahmudabad Bidur, and expelled the officers of Kasim Bereed.