Padshah-namah 13: Death of Khan-Jahan Lodi.

13

[p. 348.] The unhappy Khan-Jahan was greatly distressed and dismayed by the death of Darya Khan. Having no hope except in evasion, he fled and sought obscurity ; but the royal forces pursued him closely. On the 28th Jumada-s sani, on arriving at the village of Nimi, in the country of Bhinder, the royal army learned that Khan-Jahan was about eight kos from that place. The long march they had made, and the company of many men who had been wounded in Jag-raj's action, prevented the royal forces from marching very early, but they drew near to the rebel. Khan-Jahan, on hearing of their approach, sent off some of his Afghans, whose horses were knocked up, with the little baggage that was left ; while he himself, with nearly a thousand horse, prepared to encounter Muzaffar Khan. The fight was sharp, great valour was exhibited, and many fell on both sides. * * Khan-Jahan was wounded, his son Mahmud was killed with many of his followers, and further resistance was useless ; so he again fled. Being hard pressed, he was every now and then obliged to abandon an elephant, so that before reaching Kalinjar twenty elephants had fallen into the hands of the pursuers, and some were caught by Raja Amar Singh of Bandher. When Khan-Jahan approached Kalinjar, Saiyid Ahmad, the commandant of that fortress, came out to attack him. He killed several men, and took some prisoners. Hasan, another son of Khan-Jahan, was made prisoner ; with him were captured twenty-two of the royal elephants, which Khan-Jahan had taken at Sironj. Khan-Jahan lost his tugh and banner, and fled with a handful of followers. By great exertion he travelled twenty kos that day, and reached the borders of Sahenda, where he was to end his mortal life. 'Abdu-lla Khan Bahadur and Saiyid Muzaffar Khan pursued him closely with their forces in array.
Khan-Jahan was much afflicted at the loss of his sons and faithful followers. All hope of escape was cut off ; so he told his followers that he was weary of life, that he had reached the end of his career, and there was no longer any means of deliverance for him; he desired, therefore, that every man should make off as best he could. A few determined to stand by him to the last, but many fled. The advanced forces of the royal army under Madhu Singh now came up. Khan-Jahan, with his son 'Aziz, who was the dearest of all, and Aimal, and the Afghans who remained constant, placed their two remaining elephants in front, and advanced to meet Muzaffar Khan. They made their charge, and when Khan-Jahan found that they were determined to take him, he alighted from his horse and fought desperately. In the midst of the struggle Madhu Singh pierced him with a spear, and before Muzaffar Khan could come up the brave fellows cut Khan-Jahan, his dear son 'Aziz and Aimal, to pieces. About a hundred of his adherents fell, and their heads were cut off, but a party escaped. A grandson of Saiyid Muzaffar Khan and twenty-seven other royalists were slain. The heads of Khan-Jahan, 'Aziz, and Aimal were sent to the Imperial Court. Farid, a son of Khan-Jahan, was taken and placed in confinement. Another son, named Jan-i Jahan, had fled and taken refuge in Sahenda with the mother of Bahadur Khan. 'Abdu-lla Khan sent for him, and then despatched him in custody to Court. * * * The heads of the rebels were placed over the gate of the fort. After their victory, 'Abdu-lla Khan and Saiyid Muzaffar Khan came to Court, and received many marks of favour. The former was advanced to a mansab of 6000 and 6000 horse, and he received the title Firoz-Jang. Saiyid Muzaffar Khan was promoted to a mansab of 5000 and 5000 horse. He received the title Khan-Jahan.