[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Dark Ages](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages) › [Kashmir](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.kashmir) › [Tārīkh-i Rashīdī](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.kashmir.tarikh-i-rashidi) › [The Tarikh-i-Rashidi (Elias, Ross)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.kashmir.tarikh-i-rashidi~en-ross) › 138 # The Rashīdī History 138: CHAPTER XXVII. · SHORT ACCOUNT OF MIRZA ABA BAKR. The Tarikh-i-Rashidi (Elias, Ross) 138 - **Language:** English ### CHAPTER XXVII. · SHORT ACCOUNT OF MIRZA ABA BAKR. ### [138.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.kashmir.tarikh-i-rashidi~en-ross.138.1) Amir Sayyid Ali, my great-grandfather \[vatanh jadd\] whose history will, God willing, be told in the First Part, had two sons: Saniz Mirza, whose mother was of the line of the Jaras Amirs, and Muhammad Haidar Mirza, my grandfather, whose fortunate and blessed name has devolved upon me. His mother was an aunt \[amma\] of Sultan Yunus Khan. On the death of the great Amir Sayyid Ali, his elder son, Saniz Mirza, according to the ancient Moghul custom, succeeded to his father's throne. After seven years, he went to join his father in the next world, leaving two sons, the first Aba Bakr Mirza and the second Omar Mirza. The mother of these children was married \[afterwards\] to Muhammad Haidar Mirza, in conformity with the Moghul custom of Yangalik. By her, Muhammad Haidar Mirza also had two sons: the first was my father Muhammad Husain Mirza, and the second my uncle Sayyid Muhammad Mirza. After the death of Sániz Mirza, the government of all the districts of Kashghar devolved upon Muhammad Haidar Mirza, who for a period of twenty-four years ruled with perfect justice and impartiality. He was a prosperous man, for he had inherited great riches; he always realised his desires, and examined into details; \[he experienced no trials or troubles\]. But those young men in whose conduct, indications of bravery and intelligence were traceable, he failed to encourage. ### [138.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.kashmir.tarikh-i-rashidi~en-ross.138.2) Most of those experienced and wise men whom Amir Sayyid Ali had gathered round him, during a space of eighty years, had died by the end of Muhammad Haidar Mirza's life, or if they were not actually dead, they were only decrepit old men \[shaikh-i-fani\] whose hands and intellects were no longer capable of guiding or controlling. Their sons \[had developed into incapable young men\] quite unworthy of their parents. At this time, Mirza Abá Bakr was about twenty years of age, and was in the service of his guardian \[aku-l-mâdá\] uncle \[Sayyid Muhammad Mirza\]. He mixed and associated, in the most friendly way, with the princes and youths \[of the court\], while they, for their part, from equality of age and from fellow service, became very devoted to him. Mirza Abá Bakr was so open handed and generous, that in a few days he distributed all his property and household possessions, as if they were plunder \[bataraj dádá\]. One day, one of his followers, hearing of some spoil, came in great haste, but found everything gone, and that others had already exhausted the booty. So he came and laid hold of the skirt of Mirza Abá Bakr, who was standing at the door of his own house, saying: "Although I have come the last \[and am disappointed of booty\], nevertheless I have found a good pledge \[which I will not give up until a ransom is paid\]." At these words Mirza Abá Bakr laughed, and bought himself free from the man with a large sum. ### [138.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.kashmir.tarikh-i-rashidi~en-ross.138.3) In a word, his liberality was so unbounded, that all men flocked to him. At this period he went to Aksu and Moghulistán, and paid his respects to Dust Muhammad Khán, son of Isán Bughá Khán. Dust Muhammad Khán treated him with honour, and after giving him his own sister in marriage, allowed him to depart. It would take too long to tell this story, and the details would carry us too far afield. In short, he managed, by one means or another, to reduce Yarkand, which is one of the most renowned cities of the province of Káshghar, and is distant four days' journey from the town of that name. To-day Yarkand is the capital of Káshghar. He had collected 3000 men in his following, who had to oppose 30,000. When his troops reached that district, he openly sounded the drum of ascendency, and rang the bells of independence. Muhammad Haidar Mirza went out to meet him with an army of 30,000 infantry and cavalry, but he was defeated and fled. He sought refuge with Yunus Khan, who was his cousin. The Khan also undervalued the strength of Mirza Aba Bakr, and did not take his whole army. He came against him with 30,000 armed men. Muhammad Haidar Mirza again made ready his forces, as best he could, and set out \[with Yunus Khan\]. This time, also, \[Mirza Aba Bakr\] sallied forth from the gates of the citadel of Yarkand with 3000 chosen men, and defeated and scattered these two armies; and Yunus Khan and Muhammad Haidar Mirza both retired, crestfallen, to Kashghar. ### [138.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.kashmir.tarikh-i-rashidi~en-ross.138.4) The Khan passed into Moghulistan, and in the following year returned with the whole of his troops. On this occasion, Mirza Aba Bakr had made fuller and better preparations. He strengthened his cavalry by embodying with it lightly-armed archers on foot, as he had done on two former occasions, and engaged in such a battle \[as the tongue of the reed is incapable of describing\]. His men then again became bold, and showed more steadiness \[and courage\] than ever, so that they easily put to rout that numerous army; and the Khan, with Muhammad Haidar Mirza, returned once more, defeated, to Kashghar. But this time it became impossible for Muhammad Haidar Mirza to remain in Kashghar, so taking his household with him, and accompanied by Yunus Khan, he went to Aksu. Meanwhile Mirza Aba Bakr gained complete domination over the whole of the kingdom of Kashghar. After this, he put out the eyes of his full \[shakzada\] brother Omar Mirza, and then banished him from his territories. Omar Mirza went and lived in Samarkand. \[Subsequently\] when \[Sultan Said\] Khan took Yarkand and Kashghar, Omar Mirza returned to Kashghar, where the Khan paid him unbounded honour and attention, until his death. The affairs of Muhammad Haidar Mirza and of Yunus Khan will be related in the First Part; the object of this chapter is to give a brief account of Mirza Aba Bakr. ### [138.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.kashmir.tarikh-i-rashidi~en-ross.138.5) For forty-eight years he remained firmly established and successful in Kashghar, exercising always absolute authority \[istila\]. During this period \[he was attacked\] on one other occasion, when Sultan Ahmad Khan, son of Sultan Yunus Khan (and known as Alacha Khan), in the course of the year 905, came against Kashghar. But his army likewise was put to rout, as will be mentioned in the First Part. After the above mentioned victory over Sultan Ahmad Khan, Mirza Aba Bakr began to extend his conquests on all sides. In the first place, he sent an army into Tibet. It gained glorious victories, subdued most of the districts of Tibet as far as the frontiers of Kashmir, and carried such desolation into those countries, that nobody was left to withstand him. He next sent armies in the direction of Balur, which gained decisive victories and carried off untold booty. After this, he sent a force into Badakhshan, where he subdued most of the Hazara of Badakhshan. At the time when Shahi Beg Khan was making the whole world tremble, Mirza Aba Bakr despatched an army to Andijan and reduced Jani Beg Khan to great straits. He took Ush, Madu and Uzkand from the Uzbeg, and reduced the whole of Moghulistan to such a condition, that not a single Moghul was able to remain in the country, as already mentioned in the history of the Khan. The reason of their \[the Moghuls\] passing into Andijan has been explained. ### [138.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.kashmir.tarikh-i-rashidi~en-ross.138.6) All the Moghuls who were in Moghulistan fled in different directions before the prowess of his army. Even the Kirghiz, who are the ravening lions of Moghulistan, were no longer able to stay there, but had to join Mansur Khan in Chalish. After the death of Ahmad Khan, and the arrival of Sultan Mahmud Khan in Moghulistan, Mirza Aba Bakr went to Aksu, which he seized, together with Uch, and carried off all the people from the neighbourhood of the latter place. He also left a garrison in the fort of Uch. My object in relating the prowess and valour of Mirza Aba Bakr, and the extent of his conquests, is to show what a great warrior Sultan Said Khan was, to have defeated such a man, as he did, at the battle of Tutluk. --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.kashmir.tarikh-i-rashidi~en-ross.138](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.kashmir.tarikh-i-rashidi~en-ross.138) · Pramāṇa