The Book of Akbar 128: CHAPTER XVII.
The Akbarnama (H. Beveridge), vols. I–II 128
- Language
- English
CHAPTER XVII.
128.1
Baysanghar Mirza, son of Sultan Mahmud Mirza; secondly, from Shaibak (Shaibani) Khan in 906 (autumn of 1500); and thirdly, after Shaibak Khan had been killed in 917 (October 1511). As God’s plan was the revealing of that unique pearl, his Majesty the king of kings, and designed that the country of Hindustan should be acquired and that his Majesty should proceed to a strange land and there arrive at greatness and felicity,—he caused the gates of trouble to be opened in his own native land which is the meeting place of faithful servants, so that in no way could that be fit for him. He was compelled to proceed with a small force towards Badakhshan and Kabul. When he reached Badakhshan, all the people of Khusru Shah who was ruler there, accepted his service. And the ruler himself was compelled to do so, though this wretch was ring-leader of the unjust ones and had martyred Bayasanghar and blinded Sultan Mas'ud Mirza, which two princes were his Majesty’s cousins. He (Khusru) also showed signs of pitilessness and inhumanity when at a time of calamity, his Majesty’s army was passing into Badakhshan.
128.2
Now when he beheld the face of his deeds in the mirror of recompense, and fortune had turned away her countenance from his worthless self, his Majesty from perfect humanity and excessive generosity, did not exercise retaliation, but gave orders that he should carry away as much of his property as he desired and go off to Khurasan. So he took five or six strings of mules and camels, laden with jewelry and gold ornaments and went off to Khurasan. And his Majesty Giti-sitani Firdaus-makani having put Badakhshan into order, went to Kabul. At that time Muhammad Muqim, son of Zu-n-nun Arghun had taken Kabul from 'Abdu-razzaq Mirza, son of Ulugh Beg Mirza, son of Sultan Abu Sa'id Mirza, who was his Majesty's cousin. On hearing the noise of the coming of the victorious standards, he fortified himself, but after some days he sought for peace and obtained permission to go to his brother Shah Beg in Qandahar with his property. Kabul fell into the hands of his Majesty's servants in the end of Rabi'u-l-awwal 910 (beginning of October 1504). After that his Majesty proceeded in 911 to capture Qandahar, and Qilat (Khelat) which is a dependency of Qandahar was conquered. After that, for reasons of state policy, he abandoned the taking of Qandahar and went south and having attacked the Afghan tribes of Sawasang and Alatagh, returned to Kabul.
128.3
In the beginning of this year there was a great earthquake in Kabul and its environs. The ramparts of the fort and many buildings in the citadel and city fell down. All the houses in the village of Pemghan fell down and there were three-and-thirty shocks in one day and for a month the earth shook two or three times day and night. Many persons lost their lives, and between Pemghan and Baktub a piece of ground a stone's throw in breadth separated itself and descended the length of a bowshot and springs burst out from the breach. From Istirghac to Maidan, a distance of six farsangs, (cir. 24 m.) the ground was so contorted that part of it rose as high as an elephant. In the beginning of the earthquake, clouds of dust rose from the tops of the mountains. In the same year there was a great earthquake in India.
128.4
One of the occurrences of this time was that Shaibak (Shaibani) Khan collected an army and proceeded towards Khurasan. Sultan Husain Mirza assembled all his sons and marched to oppose him. He also sent Sayyid Afzal, the son of Mir Sultan 'Ali Khwab-bin (vision-seer) to urge on the advance of his Majesty Firdaus-makani. Accordingly he proceeded towards Khurasan in Muharram 912 (end of May 1506). On the way he received at Kahmard the news of Sultan Husain's death. His Majesty Firdaus-makani, thinking it still more necessary to advance, went on towards Khurasan contrary to the calculations of politicians. Before his army reached Khurasan, short-sighted and inexperienced men had placed jointly on the throne the Mirza's sons, Badi'u-z-zaman and Muzaffar Husain Mirzas. On Monday, 8th Jumada-l-akhar his Majesty met the Mirzas at the Murghab and at their request came on to Herat. But as he did not perceive in them signs of guidance and dominion, he set out on his return to Kabul on 8th Sha'ban (24th Dec., 1506). While in the Hazara Hills, news arrived that Muhammad Husain Mirza Daghlat and Sultan Sanjar Barlas had drawn over to their side all the Mughals left in Kabul and had raised up Khan Mirza and were besieging Kabul. They also spread among the commonalty a report that the sons of Sultan Husain Mirza were meditating treachery against his Majesty Firdus-makam.
128.5
Mulla Bahai Bashagharl, Amir Muhibb 'Ali Khalifa, Amir Muhammad Qasim Kohbar, Ahmad Yusuf and Ahmad Qasim to whom the protection of Kabul had been entrusted, were looking after the defence of the fort. As soon as he heard this news, he made over the baggage to Jahangir Mirza who was somewhat ill, and accompanied by a few men crossed the passes of the Hindu Koh which were full of snow, under great difficulty, and descended one morning early upon Kabul. The rebels all crept into concealment at the news of his Majesty's approach. He first went to his step-grandmother (mother's step-mother) Shah Begum, who the putting forward of Khan Mirza, and addressed sitting down before her. Knowing well what her state of mind was, he spoke to her with modesty and magnanimity, and with soothing words observed to her, “If a mother have special “affection for one child, why should another child be aggrieved?, “there is no limit to her authority.” Then he said, “I have been “up long and have come a long way,” and laying his head on her lap, he went to sleep. Thus in order to reassure the Begum who was very uneasy, he behaved in a very kind manner to her. Ere he had fully fallen asleep, his aunt, Mihr Nigar Khanum, came in and his Majesty hastily arose and saluted her. arrested Muhammad Husain Mirza and brought Majesty being a mine of kindness, gave him his life and gave him permission to go to Khurasan. After that the Khanum (Mihr Nigar) brought in Khan Mirza and said, “O life of your mother!
128.6
I have brought to your guilty cousin (biradar), what is your pleasure?" His Majesty took him in his arms and spoke kindly to him. After that he left it to his option to go or stay. The Khan Mirza was so ashamed that he could not make up his mind to remain. He took leave and went to Qandahar. This happened in the same year. Next year he (Babar) proceeded to Qandahar and fought a great battle with Shah Beg, son of Zu-n-nun Arghun and Muhammad Muqim his younger brother. The Khan did good service here. His Majesty presented Qandahar to Nasir Mirza, the younger brother of Jahangir Mirza and returned to Kabul. He permitted Shah Begum and Khan Mirza to proceed to Badakhshan. After many adventures Khan Mirza put Zubair Raghi to death and became confirmed in the dominion of Badakhshan. He always retained his loyalty (to Babar). In 916 (early in December 1510) an express brought the news that Shaibani Khan was killed and that it was proper for Babar to move in that direction. Accordingly in Shawwal, he proceeded there and fought great battles with the Uzbegs. He was ever victorious and took Samarqand for the third time, in 917 (Oct. 1511). He ruled there for eight months but in Safar 918 (April 1512) he had a great battle at Kul Malik with ‘Ubaidu-l-lah Khan. Though he had won the victory, suddenly by the jugglery of the heavens, he sustained a defeat and proceeded to Hisar.
128.7
On another occasion, he along with Najm Beg, had a great battle below Fort Ghajdiwan with the Uzbegs. Najm Beg was killed and his Majesty went towards Kabul. Moreover by secret inspiration, he was led to lay aside marching to Transoxiana and to press forward to the conquest of Hindustan. Four times did he turn towards this enterprise and as often did he, from stress of circumstances, retrace his steps. The first time was in Sha'ban 910 (Jan. 1505) when he went by Badam Cashma (Almond Spring) and Jagdalik, passed through the Khaibar and halted at Jam (Jamrud). In the Wāqi'āt-i-bābarī, a Turkī book written by his Majesty himself, it is stated that when in six marches, he went from Kabul to Adinapur, he had never before seen the Garmsir (warm regions) nor the country of Hindustan. “Immediately on reaching them, I beheld a new world. The grass was different, the trees different, the wild animals of a different sort, the birds of a different plumage, the manners and customs of the people (ūlūs va ahl-i-nizhād) of a different kind. I was struck with astonishment, and indeed there was room for wonder.” Nasir Mīrza came to this stage from Ghaznīn to pay his respects. He (Babar) halted at Jam-