The Rashīdī History 202: CHAPTER LXXXI. · CAUSES OF THE RUPTURE BETWEEN THE KHAN AND AIMAN KHWAJA SULTAN.
The Tarikh-i-Rashidi (Elias, Ross) 202
- Language
- English
CHAPTER LXXXI. · CAUSES OF THE RUPTURE BETWEEN THE KHAN AND AIMAN KHWAJA SULTAN.
202.1
The details of this affair would be tedious and irrelevant; but it was briefly as follows. Mirza Ali Taghái, whose name appears in the lists made at Káshghar, was exceedingly jealous of my uncle, but this did not show itself outwardly. Although he tried hard [to injure him], slander and detraction could gain no hearing in the service of the Khán. As was mentioned above, the Khán gave my uncle's daughter to Aiman Khwája Sultán in marriage, and from this connection had come many fine children; thus a bond of union [which should have lasted till the day of judgment] was formed between my uncle and the Sultán.
202.2
But seditious thoughts suggested themselves to Mirzá Ali Taghái. Since the spirit of jealousy had no effect on the Khán's relations with the Mirzá, he tried to beguile Aiman Khwája Sultán, and stir up the dust of dissension between the brothers. He would thus, he thought, gain his end. For if Sayyid Muhammad Mirzá took the part of his son-in-law and the latter's children, he would have, of necessity, to break with his maternal uncle, which would suit his [Mirzá Ali Taghái's] purposes well. If, on the other hand [the Mirzá] sided with the Khán, he would be closing the eye of fatherly affection on Aiman Khwája Sultán, and his children. In this event likewise [the Mirzá] would suffer, for the cause of Aiman Khwája Sultán would be ruined, and the power of the Mirzá, in a measure, broken. Acting upon these mischievous calculations, he, by a series of misrepresentations and suggestions, made the Khán and Aiman Khwája Sultán mutually apprehensive of one another.
202.3
The details are briefly these: At the time when the Khán marched against Andiján, [Mirzá Ali Taghái] said privately to Aiman Khwája Sultán: "I perceive that the Khán has changed [in his conduct] towards you, on account of my loyalty; he wishes to set up his son Rashid Sultán in your place, and give him the province of Aksu. You must now look well to your own interests, and trusting my words, act upon them." While to the Khán, he was for ever saying: "Aiman Khwája Sultán is afraid of you without right or reason. It is very probable that he will appeal to your enemies for aid [and stir up a revolt]. But the Khan does not credit my words, and says they are the outcome of mere delusion. His evidence is that this year Aiman Khwaja Sultan is committing such and such acts." [Then Mirza Ali Taghai] sends secretly to the Sultan, saying : " The right time is now come for you to do so and so." In his artlessness and stupidity [the Sultan] does what has been suggested. Then Mirza Ali Taghai represents to the Khan : "I told you that Aiman Khwaja Sultan would do such and such a thing this year. My words have come true."
202.4
From the time of the Khan's march against Andijan until his death, a period of some six years, this sort of intrigue was continually going on. And finally the Khan became altogether estranged from Aiman Khwaja Sultan. It was in vain that my uncle and I reproved Aiman Khwaja Sultan; when we asked him why he acted in this way, he could give no satisfactory reply, but persisted in his course ; his motives were unknown to us. At last we discovered that it was all the work of Mirza Ali Taghai. When Mirza Ali Taghai remarked the great change in the Khan's feelings towards Aiman Khwaja Sultan, he took advantage of the opportunity, and represented as follows to the Khan : "Since Aiman Khwaja Sultan's presence in Aksu may lead to a revolt, it will be better to set up Rashid Sultan in his place, and send him to govern some district of Badakhshan. This would be greatly to your advantage. But I am fearful lest the Mirzas become angry with me. If they consent [to the arrangement] you will find it most advantageous ; but it will be a difficult thing to mention to the Mirzas." (By the Mirzas, he meant my uncle and myself.)
202.5
The Khan told me of this ; I replied : " In what way is Aiman Khwaja Sultan preferable to your Highness' [other] servants, that this change should be necessary for the good of the State ? I do not consent to it. His relationship to your Highness is [only] equal to ours. If my uncle's daughter is of his household and has children [by him], the daughter of my paternal uncle is in your haram, and these two amount to precisely the same [degree of relationship]. Rather there is the advantage [on our side] that I have been in your service for twenty-three years, and you have always singled me out for your fatherly care and brotherly love. How then shall I exchange the Khan's cause for that of the Sultan? I will forward any measure that may be for the benefit of your State, by all the means in my power." The Khan spoke also of this matter to my uncle, who said: "[Your Highness'] opinion is always enlightened ; I am ready to do your bidding on every occasion. . . . Although I did not know that [the Sultan] could harm you, yet I trust your hitherto infallible judgment, and will do whatever is most fitting in the matter."
202.6
These discussions being terminated, the Khan explained to us his proposals. He ordered me to take Rashid Sultdn [to Aksu], and after sending Aiman Khwaja Sultán away from there, to place Rashid Sultan upon the throne. Aiman Khwaja Sultan was to come to [the Khan's] court, and to remain there until the country should be reduced to order. All must be done to advance the affairs of Rashid Sultdn. To my uncle he said : "Let all be carried out as I have ordered." I said : "With all willingness I undertake the task."
202.7
Two days later I started for Aksu. On reaching Uch I was received by Shah Baz Mirza, who was also mentioned in the lists at Kashghar. After leaving Uch, I was met [istikbál] by all the men of Aiman Khwája Sultán, who sent a message to me asking : "What has happened? How would it be for us, having set aside all considerations of relationship, to meet [in consultation] ?" But I would not consent [to an interview] and said: "As there is nothing to be gained by an interview, it is not worth while to have one." I then sent a person to [the Sultan] with all the necessary provisions for a journey, and also some trusty men to accompany him. [After that I set myself] to encourage the soldiers and populace [of Aksu] and to settle their affairs in the most profitable manner ; I passed the necessary orders to the old servants of Rashid Sultan, and arranged the government of the province by dividing it equally into villages and districts. Thus all the people were reassured. I stayed there six months. Rashid Sultán was satisfied with all that was done, and there grew up between us the strongest attachment. During my sojourn, we were never apart for a moment. There was not the slightest disagreement between us. All that he did was pleasing in my sight ; and all that I performed met with his approval. Whatever I had suffered in being separated from my old friends, that is to say, Shah Muhammad Sultan and Baba Sultan, was atoned for in my friendship with Rashid Sultan.
202.8
One day Rashid Sultan said to me : "Although formerly in Moghulistán, in accordance with the Moghul usage, and by the Khan's express command, there existed between us close friendship, and we used to give each other horses, nevertheless this fellowship was not confirmed by any vow. I am now desirous of renewing the old friendship and of ratifying it by solemn oaths." I too showed my willingness, and the conditions of our covenant were that, on my side, as long as the Khán should live, I would remain in his service ; but if the Khan were to die, I would serve no one but him [Rashid Sultan] — and serve him in the Khan's place, as he had served the Khan. Rashid Sultan said : "After the Khan, I look upon you as my eldest brother. If, in public, you reverence me in the place of the Khan, I in private will honour you as you deserve, and will show you even greater kindness and favour than did the Khan. I will give such offices to your uncle and relations as you may judge best." And all this we confirmed with binding oaths. [Two couplets]. . . .
202.9
This matter being concluded, he bade me farewell, and I returned to the Khan, who was in Yángi-Hisár. He received me in a most flattering manner, and would not hear of my going back to my home in Yarkand; but instead, took me with him on a hunting expedition to Tuyun Bashi—one of the frontiers of Moghulistan. On reaching the hunting ground, we were joined by the Sultan, who came from Aksu. Soon after this the Khán had a return of his old chronic illness, which took the form of flatulence, or wind in the belly and stomach, fits of shivering, and partial paralysis. Often, after hunting, he got a chill on the stomach, and his malady returned. But on this occasion the symptoms were worse than they had ever been before. My uncle was immediately sent for from Kashghar; but by the time he arrived the doctors of the royal camp had succeeded in curing the disease, by means of effective remedies.
202.10
Still, this time the Khán was much concerned about his illness. He sent for my uncle and Rashid Sultán, and said to them: "This illness has made me very anxious. I have frequently had such attacks before; for several years they have happened annually, but this year I have been seized twice, and the second time more severely than the first. My wish now is that there should be a covenant between you (meaning my uncle) and Rashid Sultan. In Mirza Haidar's case there is no need of renewal, for not only did I establish them on a friendly footing in Moghulistán, but they have lately again, in Aksu, concluded a satisfactory agreement." Then, addressing them both in the Turki language, the Khan continued: "Oh, Sayyid Muhammad Mirza, if anything should happen to me, look upon Rashid Sultan as standing in my place. And you, Rashid, look upon the Mirza as in my place also." He said many kind things besides, all of which it would be tedious to repeat here. The Khan took up his winter quarters in Yangi-Hisár, while I went to Yarkand. Previously, when I had come from Aksu I had found the Khán busily engaged in reading with, and learning under [iradat] Hazrat Makhdumi Nurá.