The Book of Akbar (Shaykh Ilāhdād Faiḍī Sirhindī) 7.3
Akbar-náma, of Shaikh Illahdád Faizí Sirhindí (Elliot & Dowson, extracts) 7.3
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7.3.1
All expectation of Bahadur’s submission being now given up, Abu-l Fazl, who had waited to see the result of the interview, proceeded to join the Emperor. Having first directed his attention to the occupation of the country, the closing of the roads, the way into and out of the fortress, the forming of the trenches, and other matters connected with the siege, Shaikh Farid sent a detachment to Burhanpur, to arrest the officers of Bahadur, and to occupy the city. But on arriving there, it was found that the governor had already made his submission to the Emperor. Some experienced officers thought it desirable that a force should be stationed there, * * and Shaikh Farid finally decided that 1000 horse should be stationed between Burhanpur and Asir. This force took up a position about two kos from the fortress, and cut off all communication between it and the city. Next day Shaikh Abu-l Barakat, brother of Shaikh Abu-l Fazl, joined the besieging force with the elephants and artillery which had been sent under his command. The army now removed to a more favourable position, and it was resolved to form trenches in every suitable place near the fort, and to close the roads and entrances. Another letter was received from Bahadur Khan, * * to which Shaikh Farid replied. * * But Bahadur Khan trusted in the strength of his fort, and thought that its height and strength were such that no mortal force could take it.
7.3.2
One day when the commander rode towards the fort to examine it, a large gun was fired at him. It is related that some of the battlements of the tower on which it was placed fell down, and the gun itself also fell. This was received as a good omen by the Imperial army. Mir Sadr-i Jahan, who had returned to the Emperor, now came back, charged with an Imperial message. Next day Miyan Saiyid went round and looked after many things in the construction of the trenches, so that they might afford protection to the men, and enable them to stay there day and night. The Emperor’s mind was intent upon this undertaking. Letters constantly arrived from him with instructions and urgent directions. Every day some one of his officers came to inspect and report upon the business of the siege. * *
7.3.3
Having received orders to wait upon the Emperor, Shaikh Farid proceeded on the 18th to the royal camp at Burganw, seven or eight kos from Asir. He was received very kindly, and he related all the details of the siege. He remained there the next day, and on the following day the Imperial camp moved towards Asir. On the 21st Farwardin, or 25th Ramazan, it reached the city of Burhanpur, and the Emperor took up his abode in the palace of the old rulers. Intent upon the siege, he then marched on, attended by numerous amirs, and arrived under the fort on the 3rd Shawwal. Shaikh Farid then received orders to attend to his own duties as Bakhshi, and wait upon His Majesty, and to appoint the other amirs to the direction of the trenches, so that he might be ready, upon emergency, to lead a force in any direction.
7.3.4
The trenches were then allotted to the different amirs. The first to Khan-i ’Azam, * * another to Nawab Asaf Khan, another to Mirza Jani Beg of Tatta * A fourth trench he placed in charge of his brethren and adherents, and having well examined it, he gave it into their charge, while he himself proceeded with a chosen force to attend upon the Emperor. It was impossible to dig mines or construct sábáts; so the men in each trench endeavoured to bring the investment as close as possible. At the end of the month, 'Azam Khan and Asaf Khan reported that the garrison kept up a fire from different kinds of guns all night and day, with object and without object, necessary and unnecessary; and that the besiegers endured it with great bravery.
7.3.5
In the early days of Zi-l ka'da, Bahadur sent out of the fortress sixty-four elephants, along with his mother and son, to the Emperor, and begged forgiveness of his offences. The Emperor replied, that if he desired pardon, he must come out at once to make submission, and trust to the Emperor's mercy. * * On the 16th Zi-l hijja a sortie was made, in which many of the garrison lost their lives in a desperate struggle. When they were driven back, a little hill called Koriya fell into the hands of the besiegers. This eminence is so close to the fortress as to have command over it. The besiegers then saw that by occupying this commanding position, and by getting possession of another which was strongly fortified, they might overawe the garrison. The former masters of the place had seen the importance of this position, and had scarped the rock so that no one could climb up. * * * After hard fighting, this position was carried. * * *
7.3.6
On the 21st Safar news arrived of the capture of Ahmadnagar on the 18th. The fortress had long been defended by Chand Bai, the sister of Nizamu-l Mulk, and when formerly besieged, dissensions among the Imperial amirs averted its capture. Prince Daniyal, assisted by some of the great amirs, had now taken it by assault. The siege had now been carried on for nearly six months, and a constant fire had been kept up without effect. Khan-khanan thought that mining must be resorted to, and the other amirs coinciding with him, a mine was formed. It was charged with 180 mans of gunpowder, and was exploded on the 20th Shahryur, in the 45th year of the reign. A bastion was blown up with seventy or eighty gaz of the wall. Khan-khanan, Raja Jagannath, and the other amirs exerted themselves to incite their troops, and gave orders that the troops were to rush in and finish the work directly after the explosion. This order was duly executed; and a force under Yusuf Khan scaled the wall, by means of a mound, in another place. The assailants pressed on, and after a severe fight, in which 1000 of the besiegers fell, the fortress was captured. The grandson of Nizamu-l Mulk was taken prisoner, and carried to the Emperor. * *
7.3.7
A few days after, Bahadur sent Sadat Khan and Shaikh Pir Muhammad Husain, two of his chief men, to the Emperor, with ten elephants and an entreaty for forgiveness. Two days afterwards Shaikh Pir Muhammad was sent back into the fortress, and Sadat Khan was kept as the guest of Shaikh Farid. The escort which had come out with him was ordered to return with Pir Muhammad; but the men, about a hundred in number, declared that they would not return into the fortress and become prisoners (asir) in Asir. Permission to remain was given to those who could give some bail that they would not run away, otherwise they were to be put in confinement. In the end some found the required bail, and some went back into the fortress. Among the causes which brought about the surrender of the fortress was the impurity of the atmosphere, which engendered two diseases. One was paralysis of the lower extremities, from the waist downwards, which deprived the sufferer of the powers of motion; the other was weakness of sight. These maladies greatly distressed and discouraged the men of the garrison, so that men of all ranks and degrees were of one mind and voice in urging Bahadur to capitulate. At their instance he wrote to the Emperor offering to surrender. The siege thus ended.
7.3.8
When Bahadur came out, the Emperor held a grand darbar, at which all the great men were present, and Bahadur was amazed at the splendour and state. Mukarrib Khan, and several other of Bahadur’s nobles, were sent into the fortress, in advance of Shaikh Abu-l Fazl, to inform the garrison of the surrender, and to require the giving up of the keys. When they approached, Mukarrib Khan’s father mounted the top of the fort, and reviled him for having thrown his master into bonds and surrendered the fort. Unable to endure his abuse, the son stabbed himself two or three times in the abdomen, and a few days afterwards he died. On the 17th Safar the royal forces were admitted, and the keys were given up. * * * Khan-khanan, who had come from Ahmadnagar, went into the fortress and placed the royal seal on the treasure and warlike stores, which were then placed in charge of responsible officers. Just at this time Mirza Jani Beg of Tatta died.
7.3.9
On the 8th Sha’ban the Emperor bestowed great honours on Shaikh Abu-l Fazl, including a banner and kettle-drums; and a hundred amirs were placed under his orders to assist in the subjugation of the Dakhin. Khan-khanan was sent to Ahmadnagar, and the general conquest of the Dakhin was committed to him. The Emperor went in and inspected the fortress. All the treasures and effects of Bahadur Khan, which had been collected by his ancestors during two hundred years, were brought out, and the wives and women of Bahadur, two hundred in number, were presented. The Emperor stayed in the place three days, and then proceeded to Burhanpur. * * On the 28th Shawwal all the country of the Dakhin, Birar, Khandesh, Malwa, and Gujarat were placed under the rule of Prince Daniyal.]