Muntakhab al-lubab 178: The Short Reign of a few Days of Abu-l Barakat Rafi'u-d Darajat, Fourteenth in Descent from Amir Timur.
Muntakhabu-l Lubáb, of Kháfí Khán (Elliot & Dowson, extracts) 178
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- English
The Short Reign of a few Days of Abu-l Barakat Rafi'u-d Darajat, Fourteenth in Descent from Amir Timur.
178.1
[Text, vol. ii. p. 816.] After the poor injured Emperor had been set aside, the same confusion and trouble prevailed, both inside and outside the palace. On the 9th Rabi'u-l akhir, 1131 A.H., (18th Feb., 1719) Shamsu-d din Abu-l Barakat Rafi'u-d Darajat, younger son of Rafi'u-sh Shan, and grandson of Bahadur Shah, the eldest son of Aurangzeb, was made Emperor. He was twenty years of age when he was brought out of confinement, and the noise and confusion was so great and general, that there was not even time to send him to the bath, or change his clothes. In the same garments he was wearing, with only a pearl necklace thrown upon his neck for ornament, he was placed upon the throne. His accession and a general amnesty were proclaimed to stay the tumult. Kutbu-l Mulk Saiyid 'Abdu-llah, after offering his congratulations, placed his partisans and faithful servants inside the fortress. Over the doors of the public and private council chambers, and in every place, he stationed men of his own party. The eunuchs, the personal attendants, and all the servants of any importance, were men of his own.
178.2
In the council of the first day, in accordance with the desire of Raja Ajit Singh, and of the bigoted Raja Ratan Chand, an order was passed for the abolition of the jizya, and assurances of security and protection were circulated all over the country. I'tikad Khan was sent to prison with every mark of ignominy; his jagir was taken away, and his house was seized. Notwithstanding it had been disturbed, it was found to be full of jewels, cash, gold, objects of art, and vessels of silver; and an investigation was ordered for the discovery and recovery of the jewels and pearls he had received as presents. * * I'timadu-d daula Amin Khan was confirmed as Bakhshi. The subadari of Patna was given to Nizamu-l Mulk Bahadur Fath Jang. * * Two months had passed since the late Emperor had been placed in confinement. In that room he had endured all kinds of tortures, and passed his days in the deepest trouble. It is reported that the blinding operation had not entirely destroyed his sight, and in his stupidity and love of power, which destroys the lives and integrity of so many thousands, he sent messages to the rulers of the State, excusing himself for the actions of past days, and spoke of again sitting upon the throne and of directing the affairs of State with the two brothers. An Afghan, named 'Abdu-llah Khan, had been placed as a guard over him in his living tomb.
178.3
He ingratiated himself with this Afghan, promised him a mansab of 7000, and consulted with him as to the way of escaping to Maharajadhiraj Jai Singh, which he looked upon as the only means of safety. The Afghan having discovered the captive's intentions, made them known to the ministers, and the Saiyids, urged on by their friends, determined to take away his life. Poison was twice administered without effect. On the second or third occasion, when it affected him, and for all the cruelty death did not come quickly, he thought upon the harshness of the two brothers, and how they had acted in defiance of the solemn oaths they had given to him. Unable to control himself, he used bitter words against them, and asked how it was that no punishment had fallen upon these two faithless oath-breakers. Words were uttered which ought not to have been spoken. The two brothers were told of this, and they ordered that he should be got rid of quickly by strangling. When the thong was thrown upon his neck, he seized it with both his hands, and struggled violently with hands and feet ; but the executioners beat his hands with sticks, and made him leave go his hold. There is a common report that daggers and knives were used in that desperate struggle, but from what the author has heard no such weapons were used.
178.4
The coffin was borne to the tomb of Humayun, and was accompanied by two or three thousand men and women, chiefly the vagabonds and mendicants of the city who had partaken of his bounty. They cried and groaned, tore their clothes, threw dust upon their heads, and scattered their abuse. The bakhshis of Husain 'Ali Khan and Saiyid 'Abdu-llah Khan were ordered to attend the funeral, and did so with several principal men of the city. Stones were cast at them. No one would take the bread or copper coins which were offered in charity. On the third day some vagabonds and beggars met, cooked food, and distributed it among the poor, and remained assembled all night. Report says that the two brothers took possession of, and selected for themselves, whatever they pleased of the royal treasure, jewels, works of art, elephants and horses. Saiyid 'Abdu-llah Khan was very fond of women, and the common talk was that two or three of the late King's beauties pleased him, and he took them to himself, although, for the gratification of his lust and desires, he had seventy or eighty beautiful women.
178.5
The brotherly love which had existed between the two brothers now turned to hatred and to jealousy of each other's power. Although the reins of power in civil matters pertaining to the office of wazir were in the hands of the elder brother, the younger, Amiru-l umara Husain 'Ali, was a brave, experienced, generous and proud man, whose equal it was hard to find. He had drawn to himself, by his kindness and generosity, most of the brave and able nobles, and he was getting into his hands a control over all the government of the country. So it was said that there were contentions between the brothers. * * On the 9th Jumada-l akhir, 1131, the soldiers at Agra brought out of confinement in the fort, and raised to the sovereignty, a person named Neku Siyar, a son of Prince Muhammad Akbar, and grandson of Aurangzeb. His accession was announced by peals of cannon, and coins of gold and silver were struck in his name.
178.6
[Text, vol. ii. p. 829.] The Emperor Rafi'u-d Darajat was suffering from consumption (dikk). The physicians, under the orders of the Saiyids, did all they could to cure him, but without success. This monarch had not the slightest control in matters of government. * * * Sorrow increased his illness, and he became so helpless that the two brothers considered as to which of the imprisoned princes should be named successor. Rafi'u-d Darajat said that if, in his lifetime, the khutba were read, and coins struck in the name of his elder brother, Rafi'u-d Daula, it would be a great kindness, and very acceptable to him. The Saiyids consented. Three days after Rafi'u-d Daula ascended the throne, Rafi'u-d Darajat died. He had reigned six months and ten days.