The Rashīdī History 112.1
The Tarikh-i-Rashidi (Elias, Ross) 112.1
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112.1.1
BEGINNING OF THE STORY OF SULTAN SAID KHAN, SON OF SULTAN AHMAD KHAN, SON OF SULTAN YUNUS KHAN, AND THE SUFFERINGS AND HARDSHIPS HE ENDURED AT THE OUTSET OF HIS CAREER. [Here follows a somewhat lengthy dissertation on the advantages of misfortune, into which is introduced an anecdote in verse concerning Moses, taken from the " Salsalat-uz-Zahab " or " Golden Chain" of Abdurrahman Jami, and also an account, in prose, of the Education of Nushirwán the Just.] Wherever in this Epitome the Khán, in an absolute sense, is mentioned, Sultán Said Khán is meant. This Khán had many wonderful adventures. As one of the chief objects of this Epitome is to set forth the virtue and ability of the Khán, I shall enter into detail.
112.1.2
His most noble lineage has already been given. From the time of his birth to the age of fourteen, he spent his days under the fond care and kind protection of his father. When he reached the age of fourteen, his father, Sultán Ahmad Khán, better known as Alacha, wished to go to the assistance of his elder brother, Sultán Mahmud Khán. He therefore appointed his eldest son, Mansur Khán, to fill his place on the throne, and took with him to Táshkand, two sons who were younger than Mansur Khán, namely, Sultán Said Khán and Bábájak Sultán. The Khán was with his father at the battle of Akhsi, in which the Kháns were captured, as has been mentioned. When the army was thrown into disorder and every man was trying to save his own life, the Khán also took flight, but at that moment he was struck in the thigh by an arrow, which, piercing his armour, struck the bone. As his father's army was routed he had no means of escape. Some men of the district captured him, and as he was, at the time, unable to walk, they refrained from carrying him as a present to anybody, but took care of him for a few days. Shahi Beg Khán returned in haste to settle his affairs in Táshkand. By the time the Khán had recovered his strength, Shaikh Báyazid had taken upon himself the government of Akhsi. The Khán, as soon as he was sufficiently recovered to be moved, was brought before him, and by his orders was thrown into prison, where he remained a whole year.
112.1.3
When Shahi Beg Khán arrived [in Táshkand] he seized and put to death Tambal, and gave the government of Andiján to Jáni Beg Sultán. When this latter came to Akhsi, the Khán was brought before him. Jáni Beg Sultán recommended him to the favour of Sháhi Beg Khán, who received him with compassion, kept him in his fatherly care, and denied him nothing. He, moreover, took the Khán with him on the expedition in which he conquered Hisár and Kunduz. I have heard the Khán relate, in terms of wonder and admiration, that when Sháhi Beg Khán had conquered Hisár, news was brought of the taking of Kunduz by Mahmud Sultán. Sháhi Beg Khán, having entrusted Hisár to Hamza Sultán and Chaghánián to Mahdi Sultan, set out quietly on his return. "As the pass of Darband-i-Ahanin [The Iron Gate] was very difficult [continued the Khan], and as the army was much burdened with booty, they made the journey, farsakh after farsakh, by way of Buya and Tirmiz. While the victorious army was encamped at Buya, I was sitting once, at midday, in the royal tent [majlis]. The hour for the assembly had not yet arrived, and only a few of the king's intimates were present, when somebody with a terrified countenance and wild appearance came in great haste, and laid a letter at the foot of the royal throne. As [Shahi Beg] perused the contents of this letter a great change came over him, and before he had finished reading it, he rose up and went in to his haram, giving orders for his horse to be brought.
112.1.4
He remained for some time in the haram; but after midday prayers came out again and mounted his horse. He was attended by a great number of people. Then it was made known that Mahmud Sultan had died a natural death in Kunduz, and that his body was on the way [to the camp]. When Shahi Beg Khan had got some distance away, we saw a great crowd in pitch-black clothes, such as captives wear. Having placed the bier upon the ground, they drew up in two lines behind it. When [Shahi Beg Khan] saw this, he made a sign for all the Sultans and others to dismount and follow in his train. These, having obeyed, began to raise cries of grief and lamentation, and we, in the camp, also commenced to utter moans and wailings. When those attending the bier approached, he ordered all who were with him to draw up in a line; while he himself rode forward until his horse's head was just above the bier; he then gave a sign for everyone to keep silence, and thereupon those who were with him ceased from rending their garments and tearing their beards. He then called one of the Amirs of Mahmud Sultan, and said to him such things as are usual on occasions of condolence. After this he remained silent for a while, never showing the slightest change in his countenance, nor shedding a tear.
112.1.5
At the end of an hour he raised his head and said: 'The death of Mahmud is a good thing: men have been wont to say that the power of Shahi Beg Khan was upheld by Mahmud: let it now be known that Shahi Beg Khan was in no way whatever dependent upon Mahmud. Carry him away now, and bury him.' Having said this, he turned away, and all present were astounded at his boldness and composure." The death of Mahmud Sultan was a great loss to the Moghuls, for he was, in every respect, a thorough Moghul [and they recalled all he had done for them].
112.1.6
When Sháhi Beg Khán reached Samarkand, Sháh Begum arrived from Moghulistán. The details are briefly these: Shah Begum was the mother of the Khans, was daughter of Shah Sultán Mahmud, King of Badakhshán, and of the race of Iskandar Zulkarnain. She had accompanied her son, Sultan Mahmud Khan, into Moghulistán. But those base advisers, of whom I have already spoken, provoked a quarrel between the mother and her son — a son who had been so obedient to her, that he had never even mounted for a ride without her permission. Between these two, they contrived to raise the dust of vexation and wrath. For they — cunning advisers that they were — decided to send Sháh Begum to Sháhi Beg Khán to solicit a country for herself, because she found living in Moghulistan distasteful. Such was the impracticable mission upon which they sent Sháh Begum. Now, as the Begum was a very sensible woman, she went under this pretext, and thus left her son, before those base advisers could bring about an open rupture, which would cause endless scandal and reproach to herself. The rumour was that she had gone to entreat [Shahi Beg Khán], while she was [in reality] in Samarkand enjoying the company of her children. At this same time [Sháhi Beg Khan] led an army into Khwárizm, and my father fled to Khorásan, as shall be presently related.
112.1.7
The Khan told me: "After the Mirzá's flight we were so overcome with apprehension, that sixteen of us having banded together, we fled from Samarkand, and journeyed by way of Khutuk and Kara Tukai to Sairam. Thence we went on to Moghulistan by way of Uzun Ahmad, and arrived at Haft Deh, which is better known as Yatikand, where Sultan Mahmud Khan was living at the time." It has been already related that after the death of Sultan Ahmad Khan, Sultan Mahmud Khan came into Moghulistan. The latter was a weakly prince and very lax and careless in the affairs of State. Now Moghulistan is a country which does not admit of any such negligence and callousness in its administration, and for this reason Sultan Mahmud Khan was not able to remain there long, but came, with a desire to live a civilised life, to Yatikand, where there is [indeed] some cultivation. When he had been there a short time, the Khan went and attached himself to his uncle, Sultan Mahmud Khan. The Khan passed some time in the service of his uncle; but he was an energetic and enterprising man, and being unable to endure the negligence and indolence of his uncle, he fled from his court. Sultan Mahmud Khan sent a party after him to bring him back. After three days' march he was overtaken, when a fight ensued.
112.1.8
In the heat of the action, a certain Maksud Ali, one of the courtiers of Sultan Mahmud Khan (and a man skilled in instrumental music and singing), displayed great valour, and the Khan seeing that the brunt of the battle was supported by him, rode up to attack him. Thereupon Maksud Ali turned and fled, but while retreating faced round and shot an arrow, which struck the Khán in the left shoulder. The collar-bone was broken, and passing under his left shoulder blade the arrow reached his right shoulder blade. [In this state the Khán tried to overtake Maksud Ali], but in spite of his efforts, his hand would not wield the sword, and his enemy got away in safety. The Khán then turned back [from the pursuit]. His wound proved very serious, and during two years he was deprived of the use of his right eye and his right arm.