Muntakhab al-lubab 186: Defeat and Death of 'Alam Khan.
Muntakhabu-l Lubáb, of Kháfí Khán (Elliot & Dowson, extracts) 186
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- English
Defeat and Death of 'Alam Khan.
186.1
[Text, vol. ii. p. 885.] Intelligence now arrived that 'Alam 'Ali Khan and many of his officers had been killed. The author has not obtained exact information of this matter; but he will relate what he has gathered from different accounts given to him by trustworthy men. After the death of Dilawar 'Ali Khan two or three thousand Barha horse * * were glad to make their escape to 'Alam Khan. This officer, when he heard that Dilawar Khan was approaching, went out of Aurangabad (to join him) with thirty thousand horse. He had reached the pass of Fardapur, half-way to Burhanpur, and was engaged in getting his artillery through, when he received the unwelcome news. Several of the Mahratta sardars and his own associates advised him to return to Aurangabad, or to go to Ahmadnagar, and await the coming of Husain 'Ali Khan. Under the protection of the walls he might enlist men, and carry on the war with discretion, while the Mahrattas might be sent out to ravage and plunder in the vicinity of Nizamu-l Mulk's army, and to carry on that Cossack warfare for which the people of the Dakhin are so famous. 'Alam 'Ali Khan, in his pride, paid no heed to these counsels, but went down with his whole force. After the defeat of Dilawar 'Ali Khan, Nizamu-l Mulk went and encamped at Burhanpur. When he heard of 'Alam 'Ali Khan's approach, he sent to him the coffins of Dilawar 'Ali Khan and Saiyid Sher Khan;
186.2
and he wrote a few words of noble advice for 'Alam Khan to send to his two uncles, deprecating any further shedding of the blood of Musulmans. But this had no effect. Nizamu-l Mulk then marched from Burhanpur to the river Purna, sixteen or seventeen kos west of that city. 'Alam 'Ali Khan was encamped near the tank of Hartala, close to the Purna. Continuous rain, mire and mud, the flood of waters and the want of boats, prevented both armies from crossing the river, and compelled them to wait awhile. Nizamu-l Mulk, to change his ground, escape the mire, and find a ford, made a move of two kos in the direction of Berar, and encamped on the bank of the river, until, through the guidance of the zamindars, and the exertions of 'Iwaz Khan, a ford was discovered fourteen or fifteen kos away in the direction of Balapur.
186.3
In the middle of Ramazan, Nizamu-l Mulk crossed the river with his whole army. This passage was looked upon as a good omen, and inspirited his men. 'Alam 'Ali Khan was disturbed when he heard of the crossing; but he set his forces in motion to meet his adversary. Nizamu-l Mulk waited a day to allow the rear of his army and his baggage to cross. In some places the water was up to the waist, in others to the breast, but all got over in safety without loss to life or property. Next day he marched to fix upon a position in which to give battle. He encamped at Siiganw, in the suba of Burhanpur [where his army suffered greatly from heavy rain, want of provisions, and the skirmishing of the Mahrattas]. At length the rain ceased awhile, and he marched to a ruined village three kos from Balapur. The Mahrattas were very daring and troublesome, and 'Iwaz Khan, Muhammad Ghiyas Khan, and Rambha Nimbalkar were sent to punish them. A fight ensued, in which the Mahrattas were put to flight, and a great spoil of mares, spears, etc., fell into the hands of the victors. Sufficiency of fodder and grain not being procurable, another march was necessary, and they had to bury some heavy guns, which the mud and the weakness of the bullocks prevented them from moving. After remaining three days to rest and recruit near Balapur, where sufficient grain was found, on the 5th Shawwal the army marched to the chosen battle-field, two or three kos distant. Nizamu-l Mulk made his disposition of his forces.
186.4
* * 'Alam Khan also made his arrangements. * * On his side were Santaji Sindhia, Khanduji Daphariya Senapati, Sankaraji Malhar, Kanuji, and other Mahrattas of repute, on the part of Raja Sahu, with seventeen or eighteen thousand men, who all called themselves faithful adherents of Husain 'Ali Khan. * * On the 6th Shawwal, 1132 A.H. (1st August, 1720 A.D.), the battle was fought. * * 'Alam 'Ali Khan received a severe wound, but for all that he kept the field. * * The elephant which carried him, unable to bear any longer the arrows and sword-cuts that he received, turned tail. 'Alam 'Ali Khan, dripping with blood from his wounds, turned his face towards the army of Nizamu-l Mulk, and cried out that the elephant had turned his back, but he had not. All his own arrows were exhausted, but such of the enemy's arrows as struck his face, or his body, or his howda, he quickly pulled out and returned. He received so many wounds in succession that he sank under them, and sacrificed his life for his uncles. He was only twenty-two years of age, but he was distinguished by all the determination and bravery of the Barha Saiyids. Seventeen or eighteen other men of renown, riders upon elephants, fell in the battle, with a large number of inferior men. After the defeat Amin Khan, * * and other men of standing came over and joined Nizamu-l Mulk. Sankaraji, one of Raja Sahu's ministers (madar), was wounded and made prisoner.
186.5
The elephants and guns fell into the hands of Nizamu-l Mulk, the rest was all plundered. Of the victorious army * * very few were killed or wounded. * * The wives and dependents of Husain 'Ali Khan, who were at Aurangabad, went with their property and belongings into the fort of Aurangabad. * * Mubariz Khan, Subadar of Haidarabad, and Dilawar Khan, his fast friend, with six or seven thousand horse, joined Nizamu-l Mulk.