The Rashīdī History 120: CHAPTER XII. · BRIEF ACCOUNT OF BÂBAR PÂDISHÂH'S SOJOURN IN KÂBUL, AND A FEW STORIES CONNECTED THEREWITH.
The Tarikh-i-Rashidi (Elias, Ross) 120
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CHAPTER XII. · BRIEF ACCOUNT OF BÂBAR PÂDISHÂH'S SOJOURN IN KÂBUL, AND A FEW STORIES CONNECTED THEREWITH.
120.1
It has been already related that the Emperor, in the year 909, conquered Kâbul from Mukim, son of Zunnun Arghun. [On this expedition] he was accompanied by nearly 20,000 men of the army of Khusrau Shâh. Now as Kâbul was unable to support so great a host, the Emperor resolved to invade Hindustân. But on that expedition, from ignorance of the roads, they frequently came to places where provisions were scarce, and most of their cattle perished. Although there was not a single battle in that campaign, yet the army suffered a severe reverse. On their return to Kâbul, many of Khusrau Shâh's men deserted him. At this crisis Shâh Begum and my father arrived in Kâbul, and the Emperor proceeded to Khorâsân (as has been related above). After we went to Kandahâr, in consequence of all that had passed, the people were reduced to the most afflicting want and distress. In addition to this, Jahângir Mirzâ, who was at that time the stay and support of the Emperor's government, died. After the occurrence of these events, he [the Emperor] wished to strengthen his power by whatever means were available, in order that he might be firmly and securely established in Kabul. To this end, he sent an envoy to Shah Beg in Kandahar. Shah Beg was the son of Zunnun Arghun, who was one of the greatest Amirs of Mirza Sultan Husain, under whom he had, during thirty years, conducted the affairs of Kandahar and Zamindawar.
120.2
Although he was a brave and intelligent man, yet by denying himself everything, he amassed great wealth. He had gone in person to Khorasan to assist the Mirzas. When Shahi Beg Khan attacked Herat, he alone went out to oppose the advance of the Uzbeg army, and in the engagement which ensued, he was slain. He was succeeded, in Kandahar, by his son Shah Beg. [As has been stated] the Emperor sent an envoy to Shah Beg, saying: "Since the children of Mirza Sultan Husain have been extirpated, it is fitting that the gates of obedience and service should be opened, and at this time there is no one in the palace of our sovereignty, who is more worthy than yourself of occupying the highest post." But in spite of all the Emperor's assurances and promises, Shah Beg refused; for he had higher views of dignity than that of entering into a state of dependence. To be brief, this refusal led to an outbreak of hostilities. The Emperor marched to Kandahar, in the neighbourhood of which town a battle was fought, and that a very bloody one. Finally victory declared for the Emperor; the dust of flight filled the eyes of Shah Beg's men, and they were thrown into such confusion that they were unable to enter the fort of Kandahar. Thus, without baggage, they crept on towards Shal, and his good fortune was changed to desolation. So much treasure fell into the Emperor's hands, that [the gold and jewels] and Shahrukhi were divided among the army by the shieldful.
120.3
Mirza Khan, who had stayed in Kandahar, now joined the Emperor, who returned to Kabul laden with much spoil and treasure, having left Sultan Nasir Mirza, younger brother of Jahangir Mirza, in charge of Kandahar. On his return to Kabul [important] news came from Badakhshan. When the country of Khusrau Shah was annexed by the Uzbeg, some of the people of Badakhshan refused to submit, and on several occasions put the Uzbeg army to flight, wherefore every commander of 1000 men [mir hazár] attained the rank of Sardar, and placed the heads of the Uzbeg on their pikes. Their leader was Zobir Rághi. Sháh Begum laid claim to Badakhshán, saying: "It has been our hereditary kingdom for 3000 years. Though I, being a woman, cannot myself attain to the sovereignty, yet my grandson Mirzá Khán can hold it. Males descended from me and my children will certainly not be rejected." The Emperor assented, and Sháh Begum and Mirzá Khán departed for Badakhshán. My brother Muhammad Sháh, who was in the service of the Begum, accompanied them. As they approached Badakhshán, Mirzá Khán was sent forward to announce to Zobir Rághi the arrival of the Begum, and to explain her intentions.
120.4
No sooner had Mirzá Khán left them, than the army of Abá Bakr marching from Káshghar came upon them. All the men and the Begum, and all who were of the party, were seized and carried off [to Káshghar]. An account of Abá Bakr will shortly follow. Mirzá Khán [hearing of this event] hastened to Zobir Rághi. At first Zobir treated him with respect and honour, but afterwards paid so little attention to him, that he allowed only one or two servants to wait on him. When things had gone on a short time in this way, Yusuf Ali Kukildásh Divána, one of Mirzá Khán's old retainers, conspired with eighteen other persons, and one night fell on Zobir, slew him, and set Mirzá Khán upon the throne. From that date, 913, till the end of his life, Mirzá Khán reigned over Badakhshán. After the conquest of Kandahár, Bábar remained in Kábul. Those Moghuls of Khusrau Sháh's army who had stayed behind, to the number of about 3000, now raised Abdur Razzák to the throne, and declared against the Emperor, who had only 500 men left with him. However, with these 500 men, he met them in a pitched battle. This was one of the Emperor's greatest battles. After much giving and taking of blows and countless hand-to-hand fights, the Emperor broke and routed the foe. In that action he personally, and alone, engaged five different champions of the enemy: Ali Sayyid Gur, Ali Sinar, and three others, and with brave strokes and sword cuts, put them all to flight.
120.5
In this same battle, Abdur Razzák Mirzá fell into the Emperor's hands, but was treated with generosity and set at liberty. After these events, the affairs of the Emperor began to march favourably in Kábul, where he remained until the year 916 [1510], when Sháhi Beg Khán was slain, as will be mentioned below.