The Rashīdī History 140.1

140.1

UBAID ULLAH KHAN MARCHES FROM TURKISTAN AGAINST BOKHARA. IS MET AT KUL MALIK BY BABAR PADISHAH. A BATTLE TAKES PLACE, IN WHICH THE LATTER IS DEFEATED. EVENTS THAT ENSUED. When the Emperor, in Rajab of the year 917, mounted the throne of Samarkand, as has been stated above, the learned men and nobles of Mavara-un-Nahr were indignant at his attachment to Shah Ismail and at his adoption of the Turkoman style of dress. When that winter had passed and spring had set in (the plentiful drops of her rain having clothed the earth in green raiment) the Uzbeg advanced out of Turkistan. Their main body marched against Tashkand, while Ubaid Ullah went to Bokhara by way of Yati Kuduk. As the citadel of Tashkand had been fortified by Amir Ahmad Kasim Kuhbur, [the Emperor] sent him some reinforcements, under the command of such men as Amir Dust Nasir, Sultan Muhammad Duldai, and others, while he himself [the Emperor] advanced on Bokhara. When he neared the town, news of his approach reached Ubaid Ullah Khan, who [becoming alarmed] immediately drew his bridle and returned along the road by which he had just come. The Emperor pursued him, overtook him at Kul Malik, and compelled him to retreat. Ubaid Ullah Khan had 3000 men with him, while the Emperor had 40,000. Ubaid Ullah Khan having repeated to the end of the verse : "And how often has not a small force defeated a large one, by the permission of God?" [faced the Emperor], and a fierce battle began to rage.