The Book of Akbar 40.1

40.1

While the Emperor was engaged in the siege of Chitor, Sulaiman Kirani of Bengal again had the Emperor’s name recited in the khutba, and made a wolf-like peace with Mun’im Khan Khan-khanan. The facts of the case are as follows:—When Mubariz Khan, better known as ’Adali, set up pretensions to royalty (in Bengal), Taj Khan Kirani with his brothers fled to Bihar. There he pursued an artful and wily course, both in the days of Muhammad Khan, ruler of Bengal, who had rebelled, and afterwards also in the days of Bahadur Khan, until the time when ’Adali was slain fighting against Bahadur Khan. When, after some time, the latter died, his brother Jalalu-d din advanced his claim to the sovereignty of Bengal and Bihar. Taj Khan and his brothers were sometimes opposed to him, sometimes in league with him. He also made an artful and hypocritical friendship with Khan-zaman. When Jalalu-d din died, Taj Khan obtained possession of Bengal and Bihar. He shortly afterwards died, and his younger brother Sulaiman succeeded, and established his authority over the two provinces. Sulaiman kept up a sort of friendship with Khan-zaman, and looking sharply after his own interests, he strengthened his position. Numbers of roving Afghans gathered round him, and he amassed wealth and gathered together many elephants. After Khan-zaman had received the punishment due unto his deeds, the Emperor appointed Mun'im Khan Khan-khanan to the government of Jaunpur.