[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) › 92.3 # Firishta's History (Gulshan-i Ibrāhīmī) 92.3 History of the Rise of the Mahomedan Power in India (Briggs) 92.3 - **Language:** English ### [92.3.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tarikh-i-firishta~en-briggs.92.3.1) These remarks had their full effect upon Hoossein Nizam Shah, who, pleased with the communication of Moostufa Khan, treated him with unreserved confidence, so that he had every opportunity he could wish of promoting the object of his mission. After some days it was agreed, that Hoossein Nizam Shah should give his daughter Chand Beeby in marriage to Ally Adil Shah, with the fortress of Sholapoor as her dowry; and that he should receive the sister of that Prince, named Huddeea Sooltana, as a consort for his eldest son Mooturza; that a treaty of eternal friendship should be entered on between both states, and that they should unite sincerely to reduce the power of Ramraj; for which purpose it was resolved to march against him at the earliest practicable period. These points being settled, Moolla Inayut Oolla accompanied Moostufa Khan as ambassador on his return to Beejapoor; on which occasion the political treaties and marriage agreements were drawn out, and mutually confirmed by the most solemn oaths. It was agreed, also, that on the same day, nuptial rejoicings and festivals should be held at Beejapoor and Ahmudnuggur, and the two princesses be sent to their separate courts. Hoossein Nizam Shah, Ally Adil Shah, Ibrahim Kootb Shah, and Ally Bereed Shah, now began to make active preparations for the campaign against Ramraj. ### [92.3.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tarikh-i-firishta~en-briggs.92.3.2) Ally Adil Shah, preparatory to declaring war, and in order to afford himself a pretence for breaking with Ramraj, despatched an ambassador to his court, demanding restitution of Etgeer, Bagrakote, Rachore, and Moodkul, which had at different times been wrested from him. Ramraj, as was expected, expelled the ambassador with disgrace from his court; and the united sovereigns made this circumstance a plea for hastening their preparations to crush the common enemy of Islam. In the year 972, the four princes, at the head of their respective armies, met on the plains of Beejapoor, and on the 20th of Jumad-ool-Awul of the same year marched from that neighbourhood. After some days they arrived at Talikote, and the armies encamped near the banks of the Krishna; where, as the country on the north bank belonged to Ally Adil Shah, he entertained his allies with great splendour, and sent strict orders to all the governors of his dominions to forward supplies of provisions from their districts regularly to the camp. Ramraj, though he saw this formidable union of the Mussulmans against him, did not descend in the least from his former haughty language, but treated the Mahomedan ambassadors with scorn, regarding their enmity as of little moment. In the first instance he detached his youngest brother Yeltumraj, with twenty thousand cavalry, five hundred elephants, and one hundred thousand foot, to occupy the right bank of the Krishna, and secure all the passages of the river. ### [92.3.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tarikh-i-firishta~en-briggs.92.3.3) He also sent his second brother Venkatadry with another equally large army, himself following by slow marches with the whole power of his dominions. The allies, finding that all the known ferries and fords were thus pre-occupied by the enemy, despatched spies to explore the river, in hopes of finding some place at which they might be able to cross their troops: it was at length fully ascertained that the only safe passage for the army was directly in the enemy's front, which was in his possession, and who had constructed field-fortifications, strengthened by cannon and fire-works, on the opposite bank. On obtaining this information the allies held a council, when it was determined that they should march to another part of the river, as if with the intention to cross, in hopes that the enemy might be induced to quit his position and follow, when the Mahomedans might return suddenly, and throw part of the army across at the desired ford without interruption. Agreeably to this plan, the army of Islam moved on the next morning, and continued to march for three days successively, which completely deceived the enemy, who quitted all his posts, and manoeuvred along the opposite bank of the river. The allies, on the third night, suddenly struck their camp, and moved with such rapidity, that during the next day, they gained the ford which the enemy had deserted, and crossed the river without opposition. ### [92.3.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tarikh-i-firishta~en-briggs.92.3.4) On the next morning they made a forward movement to within ten miles of the camp of Ramraj; who, though somewhat astonished at their activity, was by no means dismayed, but commanded his brothers to fall back and join him. The allies now drew up their army in order of battle. The right wing was intrusted to Ally Adil Shah, the left to Ally Bereed Shah and Ibrahim Kootb Shah, and the centre to Hoossein Nizam Shah. The artillery, fastened together by strong chains and ropes, was drawn up in front of the line, and the war elephants were placed in various positions, agreeable to custom. Each prince erected his particular standard in the centre of his own army, and the allies moved in close order against the enemy. Ramraj intrusted his right wing to his brother Yeltumraj, to oppose Kootb Shah, and his left wing to his other brother Venkatadry, against Ally Adil Shah, while he himself commanded the centre. Two thousand war elephants and one thousand pieces of cannon were placed at different intervals of his line. About noon, Ramraj mounted a sing'hasun, in spite of the remonstrances of his officers who wished him to be on horseback, as much safer; but he said, there was no occasion for taking precaution against children, who would certainly fly on the first charge. Both armies being in motion soon came to battle, and the infidels began the attack by vast flights of rockets and rapid discharges of artillery, which did not discourage the allies. ### [92.3.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tarikh-i-firishta~en-briggs.92.3.5) On this, the action became general, and many were slain on both sides. Ramraj, experiencing a very different reception to what he expected, descended from his sing'hasun, and seating himself on a rich throne set with jewels, under a canopy of crimson velvet, embroidered with gold and adorned with fringes of pearls, caused his treasurer to place heaps of money around him, that he might confer rewards on such of his soldiers as merited the distinction; rich ornaments of gold and jewels were also placed before him for the same purpose. The infidels, inspired by the generosity of their prince, charged the right and left of the allies with such vigour, that they were thrown into temporary disorder; and Ally Adil Shah and Ibrahim Kootb Shah began to despair of victory, and even to prepare for retreat. Hoossein Nizam Shah, however, remained firm in the centre, and pushed on so ardently, that the division of Ramraj was thrown into confusion, on which the Ray, although seventy years of age, again mounted his sing'hasun, which was soon after abandoned by the bearers on the approach of a furious elephant belonging to Hoossein Nizam Shah; and before he had time to recover himself and mount a horse, a party of the allies took him prisoner, and conducted him to Chuleby Roomy Khan, commanding the artillery. ### [92.3.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tarikh-i-firishta~en-briggs.92.3.6) This officer brought him before Hoossein Nizam Shah, who ordered his head to be instantly struck off, and caused it to be placed on the point of a long spear, that his death might be thus announced to the enemy. The Hindoos, according to custom, when they saw their chief destroyed, fled in the utmost disorder from the field, and were pursued by the allies with such success, that the river was dyed red with their blood. It is computed, by the best authorities, that above one hundred thousand infidels were slain during the action and in the pursuit. The plunder was so great, that every private man in the allied army became rich in gold, jewels, tents, arms, horses, and slaves, the kings permitting every person to retain what he acquired, reserving the elephants only for their own use. Letters with accounts of this important victory were despatched to their several dominions, and to the neighbouring states, while the kings themselves, shortly after the battle, marched onwards into the country of Ramraj, as far as Anagoondy ; and the advanced troops penetrated to Beejanuggur, which they plundered, rased the chief buildings to the ground, and committed every species of excess. When the allies had destroyed all the country around, Venkatadry, who escaped from the battle to a distant fortress, sent humble entreaties to the kings, to whom he agreed to restore all the places which his brother had wrested from them ; ### [92.3.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tarikh-i-firishta~en-briggs.92.3.7) and the victors being satisfied, took leave of each other at Rachore, and returned to their respective dominions. The kingdom of Beejanuggur since this battle has never recovered its ancient splendour ; the city itself was so destroyed, that it is now totally in ruins and uninhabited ; while the country has been seized on by the tributary chiefs, each of whom hath assumed an independent power in his own district. ### [92.3.8](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tarikh-i-firishta~en-briggs.92.3.8) Hoossein Nizam Shah dying not long after this event, was succeeded by his son Moortuza, then a minor. Ally Adil Shah, conceiving this a favourable opportunity of extending his dominions on the south, moved with an army to Anagoondy, in order to place Timraj, the son of Ramraj, on the musnud of Penkonda, and to depose Venkatadry ; hoping, by degrees, to acquire for himself a portion of the territory of Beejanuggur. Venkatadry, informed of his designs, wrote both to Moortuza Nizam Shah and to his mother Khoonza Sooltana (who directed his affairs) for assistance. The Queen, unwilling to witness the aggrandisement of the King of Beejapoor, and acting by the advice of Moolla Inayut Oolla, took her son with her, and marched at the head of an army to Beejapoor; upon which, Ally Adil Shah was compelled to retreat expeditiously from Anagoondy, and return to protect his capital, before which he found the Ahmudnuggur army encamped. Frequent skirmishes took place between the two armies; when at length the Queen deemed it advisable to return with her son to Ahmudnuggur, without prosecuting hostilities any further. --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tarikh-i-firishta~en-briggs.92.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tarikh-i-firishta~en-briggs.92.3) · Pramāṇa