The Book of Akbar 161: CHAPTER XXXV.
The Akbarnama (H. Beveridge), vols. I–II 161
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CHAPTER XXXV.
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get there. Tardi Beg Khan did not consent to this, and the Mirzas plotted to seize him so that they might get hold of the whole of the treasure, and establish the sovereignty in the name of M. 'Askari. If they defeated Sultan Bahadur so much the better, but if not, as his Majesty Jahanbani liked the Malwa climate, and the territory of Agra, the capital, was undefended, they would go there. Tardi Beg Khan came down from the fort and was going to wait upon the Mirzas when he got wind of this plot. He hastened back to the fort and sent word to the Mirzas that it was not fitting for them to remain there. They sent back a message that they were leaving, but asked him to come that they might discuss sundry matters with him and bid him farewell. He knew their design and returned a suitable answer, and next morning opened fire on them. The Mirzas went off with evil intentions and proceeded by Ghat Karji towards Agra. So long as the victorious (?) army was in the neighbourhood of Campanir the Sultan did not cross the Mahindri which is 15 kos from Campanir. But when news came that the Mirzas had retreated and gone off towards Agra with evil designs, the Sultan crossed the river and came to attack Campanir. Tardi Beg Khan, in spite of the strength of the fort, and the store of preparations there abandoned the fort and took the road of safety. He reached Mandu and had the honour of paying his respects.
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He made known to his Majesty the Mirzas' evil intentions and his Majesty on being apprized thereof hastened by way of Citor so that the Mirzas might not get to Agra before him. By good fortune he came up with them on the way, near Citor. The helpless Mirzas submitted to his Majesty and he out of innate kindness and clemency did not regard their offences and made universal forgiveness, the intercessor for their faults. He made liberality to supplement forgiveness and distinguished them by princely gifts. One of the evils of the time which were the cause of his Majesty's returning from this country to Agra was that Muhammad Sultan Mirza and his son Ulugh Mirza, who had deviated from the highway of obedience and become rebellious, as has been already mentioned; emerged at this time, owing to their constitutional worthlessness, from the corner of contempt and raised the head of molestation. Thus did those who had been appointed to blind him receive a lesson. They now attacked pargana Bilgram and then proceeded to Qanauj. The sons of Khusrau Kokaltash, who were there asked quarter and yielded up Qanauj to them. M. Hindal who was in Agra, went forth to quell this disturbance, and the two armies met after he had crossed the Ganges at Bilgram. A battle ensued, and as the vogue of rebels and strife mongers is like a grass-fire the flames were extinguished in a moment by the blowing of Fortune’s gale. The north wind of victory blew and the victorious army pursued and came to Oudh.
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There Ulugh Beg M. and his sons had gathered an army and again offered battle. Meanwhile the news came of the arrival of the victorious army from Gujrat to Agra. The wretched enemy again fought and were again defeated. Mirza Hindal returned victorious and kissed the sublime threshold. When the grand army of his Majesty Jahanbani arrived at Agra Bhupal Rai, governor of Bijagada (in Nimar), finding the fort of Mandu undefended boldly entered it, and Qadir Shah returned to Mandu, and also Miran Muhammad Faruqi came there from Burhanpur. Sultan Bahadur after staying about two weeks in Champanir returned to Diu. When his Majesty Jahanbani and the invincible fortune of his family had turned away from Bahadur with glories of power and majesty, an event which he thought to be to his advantage became the cause of his ruin. For after being routed by the victorious army, and after beholding the impact of the majestic troops he sent persons with presents to the Feringhī Viceroy who was the Warden of the Ports, and invited him to come to him. At the time when M. ‘Askarī went off from Gujrāt and the Sultān had come to Diu, the Viceroy arrived there by sea with ships and soldiers. When he learned the state of affairs he grew apprehensive, lest now that the Sultān was independent of his help he would act perfidiously after an interview.
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He therefore feigned illness and sent messengers to the Sultān to say that he had come in compliance with his request and would wait upon him as soon as he was better. The Sultān left the highway of caution and on 3 Ramazān 943 (13th February, 1537), at the close of the day, went by boat to inquire after the Viceroy’s health. As soon as he arrived he saw that the illness was feigned, and reporting that he had come he immediately proceeded to return. The Feringhīs thought that “when such a prey has come into our grasp it will be well if we get some harbours out of him.” The Viceroy intercepted him and requested him to stay till some presents should be brought before him. The Sultān said “send them afterwards,” and saying this he hastily went towards his own vessel. The Feringhī Qāzī stopped him and bade him wait and the Sultān impatiently drew his sword and clove him to the waist. He then jumped from their vessel on to his own. The Portuguese boats which were round about closed in upon her and a fight began. The Sultān and Rūmī Khān flung themselves into the sea. A Feringhī acquaintance of Rūmī Khān drew him out, but the Sultān was drowned, and his attendants also perished. The chronogram is Faringiyān-i-Bahādur-kush (943 = 1537). And some used to say that he (Bahadur) came to the surface and reached the shore in safety. And subsequently there were reports in Gujrat and the Deccan of his having been seen by people.
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For instance, on one occasion a person appeared in the Deccan whom the Nizāmu-l-Mulk acknowledged, and played Caugan (polo) with. A crowd gathered round him, and the Nizam perceiving this resolved to put him to death. On that same night he disappeared from his tent, and people concluded that the Nizam had destroyed him. One day Mir Abū Turāb who is one of the Gujrat grandees, related that Mulla Qutbu-d-dīn of Shīrāz, who was Sultan Bahadur’s preceptor, was at that time in the Deccan and that he took an oath that the man was certainly Sultan Bahadur, and that he had spoken to him of certain matters only known to themselves, and had received intelligent replies. It cannot be said that in the wide kingdom of God’s power such things are impossible. In fine, when Sultan Bahadur had thus disappeared in the sea, and his officers were sitting in the dust (i.e., were in mourning).
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Muhammad Zaman Mirza put on blue clothes as mourning for the Sultan, and by hypocritical means got a portion of the treasures of Gujrat into his possession, while another portion fell into the hands of the Feringhis, and some was plundered. He also called himself the son of Sultan Bahadurs mother, and sometimes demanded from the Feringhis satisfaction for the murder, and sometimes secretly sent them large sums of money in order that they might use their influence in having him acknowledged as sovereign (lit. recite the Khutba in his name). So that for some days they read the Khutba in his name in the Safa Mosque. And he for some time went about as an adventurer till at last ‘Imadu-l-mulk brought an army against him and defeated him. From thence he being helpless and ashamed cast a glance of hope towards kissing the threshold of his Majesty Jahanbani, as will be hereafter related in its proper place. But leaving such matters, to speak of which is to indulge in amplifications and rhetoric, I proceed to my proper subject. When his Majesty Jahanbani Jannat-ashiyani arrived at the capital the audacious spirits of that neighbourhood who had raised the head of refractoriness, and extended the neck of dispute came into subjection and obedience, and made tribute the material of their own peace and safety. The dominions became adorned with repose and steadfastness.