Muntakhab al-lubab 128: Prince Kam Bakhsh.

128

[Text, vol. ii. p. 569.] A few words now about Prince Kam Bakhsh. After leaving his venerable father, he went to the fort of Parenda, forty or fifty kos distant. There he received the sad news of his father's decease. Muhammad Amin Khan, with a number of persons, went off to wait upon A'zam Shah, without the leave or knowledge of Kam Bakhsh. Great division and contention arose in his army in consequence of this defection. Ahsan Khan, otherwise called Mir Sultan Hasan, supported by the sympathy and good feeling of many who remained, exerted himself and set off with the intention of taking possession of the fort of Bijapur. On arriving near the place, he sent a kind and flattering message to Niyaz Khan, the commandant, to induce him to deliver up the fortress. Niyaz Khan refused, and set about putting the fortifications in order. Intrenchments were then thrown up opposite the gate. Rumours of the death of Aurangzeb had been floating in the air before the arrival of Kam Bakhsh, and were now confirmed. Negociations were opened, and through the exertions and skilful management of Ahsan Khan, the keys of the fortress were given up by Saiyid Niyaz Khan, who waited on the Prince and made submission. At the end of two months the city and environs were brought into a state of order. Ahsan Khan was made bakhshi, and the portfolio of wazir was given to Hakim Muhsin, with the title Takarrub Khan. * * Other adherents were rewarded with jewels and titles. The Prince then assumed the throne. He was mentioned in the khutba under the title of Din-panah (Asylum of the Faith), and coins also were issued with this title.
Prince Kam Bakhsh then assembled some seven or eight thousand horse, and marched to subdue the fort of Wakinkera. After a march or two, Saiyid Niyaz Khan left his tent standing, and fled in the night to Muhammad A'zam Khan. On reaching Kulbarga, the Prince took possession of the fort, and, on the recommendation of Ahsan Khan, placed it under the command of Saiyid Ja'far, one of the Saiyids of Barha. He then marched on to Wakinkera, which, since the death of Aurangzeb, had again fallen into the hands of Parya Naik. On arriving there, lines were formed, and the siege commenced under the direction of Ahsan Khan. Parya Naik defended the place for fifteen or twenty days, when it surrendered, through the mediation of Ahsan Khan. An officer was placed in command, and the army marched on to further conquests. There was a great rivalry between Takarrub Khan and Ahsan Khan. The former removed Saiyid Ja'far from the command of Kulbarga, and appointed another person to the charge. When Kam Bakhsh returned to Kulbarga, he restored Saiyid Ja'far. * * After pacifying Ahsan Khan, the Prince sent him to lay siege to Karnul, and directed his youngest son to accompany him as a check (tora). The commandant was unwilling to surrender, and, after some negociations and siege work, he presented three lacs of rupees to Ahsan Khan for the use of the government, and so induced him to move away. * *