The Rashīdī History 94: MANSUR KHAN (MAY HIS SINS BE PARDONED !)
The Tarikh-i-Rashidi (Elias, Ross) 94
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MANSUR KHAN (MAY HIS SINS BE PARDONED !)
94.1
He was the eldest son of Sultan Ahmad Khan, who, when he went to join his brother Sultan Mahmud Khan in Tashkand, set up Mansur, as Khan, in his own stead. This was in the year 909, when Mansur Khan was nineteen years of age. At his father's death, his uncle, Sultan Mahmud Khan, left Aksu and came into Moghulistan. Mansur Khan then established his court in Aksu, where a dispute arose between himself and Mir Jabar Birdi, such as is wont to arise between rival heirs; and Mir Jabar Birdi's life became imperilled. The only means he could devise for saving himself, was to send off a messenger to Mirza Aba Bakr [to ask him to come to his aid]. This was exactly what the Mirza would have prayed God for; so he set out for Aksu with an army of 30,000 men. Mir Jabar Birdi hastened out to receive Mirza Aba Bakr. The advance-guard and scouts of the Mirza's army were in readiness.
94.2
When news of this reached Mansur Khan, he fortified Aksu, and, leaving a garrison in its fort, repaired to Bai and Kusan. Mir Jabar Birdi, as a mark of confidence, delivered over to Mirza Aba Bakr the fort of Uch, which was his own residence and domain. They entered Aksu together, took the fort by storm, and laid hands on all the treasure and hidden wealth which Sultan Ahmad and his people had amassed during twenty-five years. This, together with the people of Aksu, both Moghul and peasant [rayat], they despatched to Kashghar, Mir Jabar Birdi sending his own family in front of all the rest, to prove his entire trust in Mirza Aba Bakr: for he looked upon a show of confidence as his source of safety. Mirza Aba Bakr asked him if that were his family. He replied: "There might be difficulties in the way of taking them in the rear of the party, so they can go now. I will stay here a few days to pillage and plunder the surrounding neighbourhood; then I will load your army with booty, and will bring back both the booty and the army to you, in Kashghar." The Mirza was pleased with this boast of Mir Jabar Birdi, whose family he took, with the rest of the people of Aksu, to Kashghar; while he left, with the Mir, an army of 10,000 men, who were to bring on whatever had been left behind.
94.3
Mir Jabar Birdi led the Mirza's army against Bai and Kusan, making several raids into those territories, and carrying off the horses. When he calculated that the Mirza had arrived in Kashghar, he abandoned the army of the Mirza, which, frustrated and disappointed, returned to Kashghar, while Mir Jabar Birdi remained in the province of Aksu. These events were disastrous to Mansur Khan, and his position became very weak. He repented of having persecuted [attempted to take the life of] Mir Jabar Birdi, who was his maternal uncle, the brother of his mother Sahib Daulat Begum. In the meantime, news of Mir Jabár Birdi reached him. He thereupon sent messengers to him, offering apologies. Having made a covenant with him, he brought him back and bestowed upon him even greater favours than his father, Sultán Ahmad Khán, had done before him.
94.4
After the return of Mir Jabár Birdi to the court of Mansur Khán, the affairs of the latter assumed a more favourable aspect. At that time the people of the different tribes were engaged in hostilities with one another, and these, as far as was possible, he pacified. This is a long story, and I do not recall further details. In short, while these things were passing, news arrived of the discord, in Moghulistán, between Sultán Mahmud Khán and Sultan Said Khán and Sultán Khalil Sultán. Thereupon Mansur Khan entered Moghulistan, and again met his paternal uncle Sultán Mahmud Khán. At this audience he also met Sultán Said Khán and Sultan Khalil Sultán, who were his younger brothers. After this division had occurred, Sultan Mahmud Khán was no longer able to remain in Moghulistán, being incapable of directing his affairs there: so he repaired to Mavará-un-Nahr (as has been told) and was there slain. When Mansur Khán heard of Sultán Mahmud Khán's expedition into the [wiláyat] country [of Mávára-un-Nahr], he marched against his brothers, who were in Moghulistán with the Kirghiz and the rest of the Moghuls, who had stayed behind. On his arrival, a battle took place in Chárun Chálák. The fight was a fierce one, and ultimately Mansur Khan came off victor. The two brothers fled to "the viláyat." On reaching Andiján, the governor of that place put Sultan Khalil Sultan to death: but his brother, Sultán Said Khán, escaped to Kábul; all of which is related in Part II.
94.5
Mansur Khán carried off to Chálish and Turfan, all those of the Kirghiz, and other Moghul tribes, whom he found in Moghulistan. As the Kirghiz were the originators of all the revolts in Moghulistán, he put most of them to death by stratagem. A few of them, however, fled to Moghulistán. After this he made inroads on the Kálmák and was, as a rule, victorious. Thus the affairs of the Khán prospered; though from time to time, he met with opposition from the side of his brothers. One of them, Aiman Khwája Sultán, twice rose against him and was twice subdued, without more being said; however, on the occasion of his revolting a third time, he was seized and handed over to Yáráka Atáka, who received orders to put him to death. But instead of obeying, he hid Aiman Khwája Sultan, telling the Khán that he had carried out his commission. A year after this, Babajak Sultan, another brother of the Khan, fled from him, and betook himself to Bai and Kusan.
94.6
These two places, since their destruction [viran] by Mirza Aba Bakr and Jabar Birdi, had fallen into desolation and ruin. But Babajak came and cultivated the ground, and restored the fort which had been destroyed. Then Mansur Khan came against Babajak Sultan, and in the first place, tried to bring him to terms of peace, but Babajak said : " How can I put any trust in you ? Aiman Khwaja Sultan was also your brother, and you slew him like an enemy : I have no longer any faith in you." Then Mansur Khan repented of having killed Aiman Khwaja Sultan, and could make no reply. But Yaraka Ataka interposed : " I had the presumption to act in opposition to your orders, and kept your brother alive." Mansur Khan was very grateful, and on account of this action, raised Yaraka Ataka to a very high rank. He then sent Aiman Khwaja Sultan to Babajak Sultan, who thereupon came and offered submission to the Khan, and made terms of peace. In the meanwhile, news arrived of the victory Sultan Said Khan had obtained over Mirza Aba Bakr, and of his conquest of Kashghar. Babajak Sultan sent Aiman Khwaja Sultan to Said Khan, who was rejoiced at his coming. (Babajak Sultan and Mansur Khan were born of the same mother ; as were also Sultan Said Khan and Aiman Khwaja Khan.) This is related more fully in Part II.
94.7
Mansur Khan stood in great fear of Sultan Said Khan, because he had been the cause of the death of Sultan Said Khan's own brother, Sultan Khalil, and many violent disputes arose between them. Mansur Khan was convinced that this would cause an eternal enmity between them, but contrary to his expectations, Sultan Said Khan sent an ambassador, with an escort, to his elder brother Mansur Khan, and begged for an interview. The meeting took place between Aksu and Kusan in the year 912, in which Sultan Said Khan declared his submission and obedience to Mansur Khan, and ordered the Khutba to be read in the latter's name ; thus a complete reconciliation was brought about between the two brothers, as a result of which their countries, during a period of twenty years, enjoyed the most perfect peace and security. Any one, for example, could travel alone from Kamul, in Khitai, to Andijan, without having any duties levied upon him; and would be taken every night, as a guest, into some house [on the road]. May God place these two just and righteous brothers in the Garden of Paradise!
94.8
During these twenty years, Mansur Khan made several holy wars against Khitái, and always returned mansur [victorious]. In one of these holy wars, Mir Jabár Birdi met his death, as did also Bandagi Khwája Tajuddin Muhammad. This latter was one of the Khwajas of Kusan, and was descended from Mauláná Arshad-ud-Din, who converted the Moghuls to Islam, as has been already related. He made his studies under Mauláná Ali Gharrán of Tus (upon whom be mercy), and also spent much time in the company of that Axis of Axes, Khwaja Nasiruddin Ubaidullah, and participated in the benevolent glance of his Holiness. I once heard from the lips of Khwaja Tajuddin the following: "I was one day visiting his Holiness, and was seated near him, when he remarked that it was necessary to abstain from 'doubtful morsels.' I looked round the company, and saw they were all men of piety; I was the only one present who was not an abstainer [an ascetic], and I took an oath that, from that time forward, I would eat no food that was not pronounced absolutely lawful by him. So have me excused if I touch not any food at your table."
94.9
I have mentioned this to show what a pious and abstinent man Khwaja Tajuddin was. He was in attendance on Sultan Ahmad Khan and Mansur Khán for fifty years, or rather these Khans were his disciples. And he accepted, during all this period, neither offering nor gift, whether it were from the Kháns or the Sultáns or the generals of the army, or from peasants or merchants. The Khwája occupied himself, also, with commerce and agriculture. And from these occupations there accrued to him, by the blessing of the Most High God, great wealth. And what urbanity did he not show, every year, towards the Khans and the Amirs! The poor and indigent—nay, more, the peasant, the villager, the artisan, and the merchant, all profited [by his wealth]. For this reason no one denied him anything, and all the affairs of the kingdom were laid before him in detail. He was, in very truth, a great and loving—a generous and zealous man. In one of the holy wars against Khitái, he was slain before Mansur Khán's eyes. (May God's mercy be upon him.) When Mansur Khán had disposed of these holy wars in Khitai, he fought a pitched battle with the Uzbeg Kazák at a place in Moghulistán called Arish, where he was defeated; and Sufi Mirza, who was a Begjik and the chief minister of the Ilkhan, was killed. After this event [Mansur] made fewer expeditions from Chalish and Turfan. Subsequent to the death of Sultan Said Khan, he marched against Aksu.
94.10
Twice he failed and was obliged to retire, and in the year 950 he died (may God illumine his proof !) at the age of about sixty years. Except Yunus Khan, no other Khan of the Chaghatai line attained such an age. He ascended the throne, in the year 907, at the age of sixteen, and reigned forty-three years. No other Chaghatai Khan ever reigned as long as this. Nor did any of the Moghul Khans enjoy so long a life and reign. He adorned his days from the first to the last with blessings and charitable gifts. He passed the whole of his time in the study of the holy law, or the reading of the Koran. I have heard from his intimates that he used to spend about one-fifth of his time in directing the affairs of the State, and all the rest in perusal of the Koran [tilavat], prayer [davat], the prescribed prayers [namaz], and in reciting the names of God [izkar]. It would be hard to find any one among the Padishahs, or even among the most pious men [ahl-i-suluk], who disposed of their time better than he did. And in consequence of this he was blessed with a long life and earthly happiness, such as no one but he, of his line, has ever enjoyed. May God bless his heavenly life as he did his days upon earth ! Amen. Oh God of both worlds !
94.11
He excelled in the conduct of life, in intelligence and prudence, and was skilled in state management and the control and organisation of armies. By his nature he was not at all addicted to the customs and ceremonies of kings, or to the grandeur and magnificence of Khans, but rather tried to do without ceremony, and to live as simply as possible. In no way whatever did he make any distinction between himself and the rest of his people. He knew the Koran by heart, and had a very accurate Reader, who was better versed in the Koran than any one else in the country. His name was "Hafiz Magas-i-sag." But in his innermost nature, this man was so unbalanced and his acts were so revolting, that to mention them would be a reason for withdrawing behind a curtain! It was under this man that Mansur Khan learnt by heart the Kalam-Ullah. Some of his officers one day suggested, in private, to the Khan that Hafiz Magas was not worthy to be his teacher, seeing that his mind was totally unsound. . . Thus it is evident that Mansur Khan was a religiously inclined monarch. He spent the whole of his life in the practice of Islam. He left behind him two sons, Shah Khan and Muhammad Sultan, and one daughter, whom Sultan Said Khan took for his son Rashid Sultan, as is mentioned in Part II.