The Rashīdī History 83: CHAPTER LVI. EARLY DAYS OF SULTÁN MAHMUD KHÁN, SON OF YUNUS KHÁN.
The Tarikh-i-Rashidi (Elias, Ross) 83
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CHAPTER LVI. EARLY DAYS OF SULTÁN MAHMUD KHÁN, SON OF YUNUS KHÁN.
83.1
As an account will be given of Sultán Mahmud Khán, it is necessary to say a few words about his early life. When Sultán Yunus Khán returned a second time from Khorásán, Amir Sayyid Ali had died, and Sániz Mirzá had sought the assistance of Yunus Khán, as has been mentioned. Yunus Khán, in those days, often went backwards and forwards to Káshghar. At that time, the Khán sent Amir Ziá-ud-Din (who was one of the most eminent Sayyids of Káshghar) to Sháh Sultán Muhammad Badakhshi, in Badakhshán, to ask one of his most immaculate daughters in marriage. Sháh Sultán Badakhshi was of the race of Sikandar Zulkarnain, Filikus Rumi. Sikandar, after he had conquered the regions of the world, consulted with his wise men, saying: "Find me a place which shall be out of the reach of the princes of the earth [Sultans of the time], in which I may place my descendants." The councillors chose Badakhshán, and they wrote a Book of Regulations [Dastur ul amal]; so that as long as the regulations were observed, no one prince could prevail in this country.
83.2
From the time of Sikandar down to the time of Sháh Sultán Muhammad, nobody had attacked Badakhshán. Thus they had ruled from generation to generation. When the kingdom passed into the hands of Sháh Sultán Muhammad Badakhshi, he discarded the "Dastur ul amal" of Sikandar. He was a prince of great natural gifts and refined taste, and he left a "Diván" which is exceedingly beautiful. His "takhallus," or poetical name, was Lali. His elegance and clearness of style were so great that he altered [the wording of] the "Dastur ul amal" to suit his own taste.
83.3
He had six daughters. He gave one of them to Sultan Masud Kabuli, who was a descendant of Amir Timur. Another he gave to Sultan Abu Said Mirza, who had, by her, a son named Mirza Aba Bakr. The Mirza, after the death of his father, engaged in war with Sultan Husain Mirza, and caused much disturbance in his kingdom (all of which is related in the Histories of Mir Khwand and of Khwand Mir, of Herat). A third daughter he gave to Ibrahim Barlas, who, by her, had Jahangir Barlas, who at the end of the Chaghatai rule [daulat] became chief minister. His fourth daughter, whose name was Shah Begum, he sent to Yunus Khan, at the request of Sayyid Zia-ud-Din Kashghari. He gave his fifth daughter to Sayyid Shah Buzurg Arhangi (who will be mentioned below) ; and the sixth to Shaikh Abdullah Barlas, who, by her, had Sultan Vais Barlas, Mizrab Barlas, and Sultan Sanjar (all of whom will be spoken of in their proper places); they are moreover mentioned in the Histories of Mir Khwand and Khwand Mir, of Herat. In short, Sayyid Zia-ud-Din brought Shah Begum back with him to Kashghar, and delivered her over to the Khan. Yunus Khan had two sons and two daughters by Shah Begum. The eldest of all was Sultan Mahmud Khan. He was born in 868. Next to him came Sultan Ahmad Khan (whom I shall mention separately). The two daughters were Sultan Nigar Khanim and Daulat Sultan Khanim (of these also I shall have occasion to speak hereinafter).
83.4
Before Sultan Mahmud Khan arrived at years of discretion, the Amirs of Moghulistan (as I have recorded) had behaved rudely and disrespectfully to Yunus Khan. By the time Sultan Mahmud Khan was grown up, most of these Moghul Amirs were dead. Yunus Khan, with the help of his son Sultan Mahmud Khan, obtained complete ascendency and control over the Moghuls, and over those of their Amirs who were still alive. On the occasion of Yunus Khan being defeated before Yarkand and retiring to Kashghar, he was not accompanied by Sultan Mahmud Khan ; for Mahmud remained behind in Moghulistan, to keep the people in order. Yunus Khan, both to quiet the apprehensions of Muhammad Haidar Mirza, and for his own pleasure, spent that winter in Aksu. They sent the son of Muhammad Haidar Mirza, Muhammad Husain Mirza, who was then twelve years of age, to Sultan Mahmud Khan, with whom he became very friendly ; the two remained on good terms, and used to call each other "Dast" [friend]. Muhammad Husain Mirza stayed in Moghulistan with Sultan Mahmud Khan, and was treated with great honour and respect.