The Book of Akbar 323: THE ARRIVAL OF NEWS OF THE SEDITION-MONGERING OF HEMU, AND THE MARCH OF THE ARMY OF FORTUNE TO QUELL THE STRIFE OF THAT EVILLY-ENDING MISCREANT.
The Akbarnama (H. Beveridge), vols. I–II 323
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THE ARRIVAL OF NEWS OF THE SEDITION-MONGERING OF HEMU, AND THE MARCH OF THE ARMY OF FORTUNE TO QUELL THE STRIFE OF THAT EVILLY-ENDING MISCREANT.
323.1
As yet the arranging mind was not at rest about the doings of Iskandar, and it was watching the commotion at Kabul, when news came to Jalandhar on 31 Mihr, divine month—8 Zi-Hajja (18th October, 1556), of the arrival of Hemu, in whose brain the ambition of sovereignty was stirring, and of whom some account has been already given; of his engaging in battle with the great officers, of their want of steadiness, and of his having taken possession of Delhi. The short account of these events is as follows: Battles took place between Hemu and Ibrahim, who was a claimant for the Sultanate, and the former was always victorious. Sultan Muhammad, who had assumed the kingly title in Bengal, was also defeated, and was made to tread the land of annihilation. Hemu also engaged in conflicts with Taj Kararani and Rukn Khan Nuhani and defeated them. He fought two and twenty battles with the opponents of Mubariz Khan, and was victorious in all of them. His victories impressed him with evil ideas, and he did not perceive that the victory of a futile person over one more futile than himself is no reason for being bold enough to tilt against a mountain of iron. At the time when H.M. Jahanbani, with the assistance of the armies of God, conquered India, Hemu was otherwise engaged, and his vain imaginings did not show themselves. Now that the masnad of the Caliphate was resplendent from the personality of H.M.
323.2
the Shahinshah, he turned his attention from his rivals and, with a large force of men and war-elephants from the eastern districts, marched towards Delhi, leaving Mubariz Khan, of whom some account has been already given, in Cunir. The officers who had been deputed to those provinces assembled at Delhi. Tardi Beg Khan became the arranger of the different bodies, and made preparations for giving battle. He heartened every man by language which might give comfort to the disconcerted. Many brave and zealous men came in from the districts, but ‘Ali Quli Shaibani, who was engaged in Sambal in putting down some despicable Afghans, could not join the imperial servants. The short account of this is that Shadi Khan, one of the chief officers of Mubariz Khan, had many parganas of Sarkar Sambal in his possession, ‘Ali Quli Khan proceeded this year, which was the beginning of the Divine Era—may it for ever be conjoined with auspiciousness!—to put him down. He sent before himself several of his own officers such as Muhabbat Khan, Latif Khan, and Ghiasu-d-din, in order that they should cross the Ruhab and wait for his arrival. The wine of courage withheld this force from plan and precaution, which are the first stage of prudence. Shadi Khan suddenly fell upon them and routed them. These incapable ones fought without method and let slip the reins of steadiness. Latif Khan and a number of others were drowned.
323.3
‘Ali Quli Khan on hearing of this misfortune proceeded with a body of his troops, with whom were Mahdi Qasim Khan, Baba S‘aid Qibcaq, and Muhammad Amin Diwana, to attack Shadi Khan. On the morning of the day that he had determined on crossing the river, a letter arrived from Tardi Beg Khan stating that Hemu was coming with large preparation, that the crushing of that wretch was the most important matter, and that he should come immediately. ‘Ali Quli Khan withdrew his hand from his enterprise and marched towards Delhi, but before he arrived, the officers had fought and lost a great battle, and Delhi, the capital of India, had fallen into Hemu’s hands, thus furnishing materials for his intoxication, and for the increase of his arrogance. This happened by fate for purposes known to God alone, or it was brought about by evil designs on the part of Maulana Pir Muhd. Shirwani. Away! Away! the cause rather was that the vaunting, self-praising officers might not lay the Lord of the earth under any obligation; or rather it was to show the supreme power of this Lord of the throne of fortune, and that the new conquest of India might be due to the arm of him who was helped by heaven. The brief account of this instructive disaster is as follows: The