Muntakhab al-lubab 188: Death of Amiru-l umara Husain 'Ali Khan Barha by the Sword of Retributive Justice.
Muntakhabu-l Lubáb, of Kháfí Khán (Elliot & Dowson, extracts) 188
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- English
Death of Amiru-l umara Husain 'Ali Khan Barha by the Sword of Retributive Justice.
188.1
[Text, vol. ii. p. 901.] When Saiyid 'Abdu-llah Khan, on the 7th Zi-l hijja, had reached a stage forty kos from Dehli, a camel express arrived, despatched by Ghairat Khan (sic), with a letter from Ratan Chand, announcing the slaughter of Husain 'Ali Khan, Ghairat Khan, and Nuru-llah Khan. The facts of this strange and marvellous matter are these. When the representatives of the House of Timur lost the control of the State, the great and the small of all classes were disgusted with the arrogance of the two brothers, and by the fact of the general control of civil and revenue affairs being under the direction of Ratan Chand. For excepting men of Barha and the shop-keeping class, no one found any favour. The nobility of every province carried on their existence in disgrace and distrust. I'timadu-d daula Muhammad Amin Khan Chin Bahadur was convinced that, notwithstanding his covenants and protestations, Husain 'Ali Khan would, whenever it suited his designs, perform his engagements in the same way as he had kept them with the late martyr Emperor, Farrukh Siyar. So I'timadu-d daula was always scheming the overthrow of the Barhas, but he did not think it prudent to seek assistance of his friends and acquaintances in this dangerous project.
188.2
Sa'adat Khan, otherwise called Mir Muhammad Amin, a Saiyid of Naishapur, * * a close and trusted friend of I'timadu-d daula, joined heartily in the plot, and so also did the artilleryman Haidar Khan Kashghari, a Chaghatai Turk, descended from Mir Haidar, the author of the Tarikh-i Rashidi. He bore the hereditary title of "Sword-bearer." * * * All these three were agreed upon cutting the thread of Husain 'Ali Khan's life, and bound themselves together to effect their purpose, and to keep their design secret to themselves. So strict were they in their secrecy, that neither the Emperor, nor Kamru-d din Khan, son of I'timadu-d daula, knew anything of it. Excepting the mother of the Emperor, and Sadru-n nisa, a protegee (dast-girifta) of Saiyid 'Abdu-llah Khan, no one knew anything of the plot. On the 6th Zi-l hijja, in the second year of the reign, the royal army was encamped at Tora, thirty-five kos from Fathpur.
188.3
I'timadu-d daula having accompanied the Emperor to his tent, made a show of being unwell, and retired to the tent of Haidar Kuli Khan. When the Emperor entered his private apartments, Husain 'Ali Khan also retired. As he reached the gate of the royal inclosure, Mir Haidar Khan, who had a speaking acquaintance with him, approached. Washing his hands of life, he placed a written statement in the hands of Husain 'Ali Khan, and complained of I'timadu-d daula while his victim read it. When Mir Haidar found him off his guard, he stabbed Husain 'Ali in the side with a dagger, and this one wound despatched him. Nuru-llah Khan, son of Asadu-llah Khan, and nephew of the murdered man, accompanied his palki on foot. He cut down Mir Haidar Khan with his sword. It is said that Mir Mushrif then came up and finished him. He also killed another Mughal, and was wounded himself, but escaped alive. Mughals assembled from every side, who killed Nuru-llah, and having cut off the head of Husain 'Ali, carried it as an offering to the Emperor. The eunuch, Makbul Khan, nazir of the Saiyids, fought strenuously, and so severely wounded two or three of the assailants, that they died a few days afterwards. A water-carrier and a sweeper of Husain 'Ali Khan showed great devotion and courage. Raising loud cries, they fell sword in hand upon the crowd, cut their way through, and got into the oratory, where they fell under many balls and arrows discharged by the Mughals.
188.4
Mustafa Khan, bakhshi of Muhkam Singh, had with him a party of his master's men. When he heard of the affray with Husain 'Ali, without ascertaining the fact, or giving information to Muhkam Singh, he went to the gate of the royal inclosure. The crowd was so great that he could not get in; but in another part he broke into the diwan-i khass, and entered sword in hand uttering cries. They fought fiercely, but two or three fell severely wounded under the balls and arrows of the Mughals, and the rest made their escape. Some of the artillerymen of Husain 'Ali Khan gathered round the royal tents, and began to fire muskets and ramchangis. 'Izzat Khan, nephew of Husain 'Ali, had gone to his tent and had loosened his belt to eat bread. When he heard the startling news, he was roused to the highest pitch. Without waiting to collect the scattered soldiers, but displaying all his resolution, he instantly mounted an elephant, and went with four or five hundred horsemen towards the royal quarters.
188.5
Haidar Kuli Khan Bahadur, notwithstanding the information given to Saiyid 'Abdu-llah, had not been from the first a participator in the conspiracy formed for taking revenge of Husain 'Ali, but he saw that the Emperor had no power in the government of the State, and that everything was directed by Ratan Singh, and other vile infidels. The two Saiyids, the real rulers, thought themselves masters of the pen and masters of the sword in Hindustan, and as opposed to their judgment and the swords of the Barhas, the Mughals of Iran and of Turan were as nobodies. They did not remember that these Mughals had come a thousand or two thousand miles from their native countries, and that by their courage and sound judgment the wide realm of Hindustan, with its great kings and famous rajas, had by hard fighting been won for the Emperor Babar. For two hundred years they had lived in the favour of the House of Timur, and they now felt the ignominy of seeing their Emperor without any power in his own State. Pride, courage, and honour, continually spurred this lion-hearted noble to make an end of this state of things, and to take revenge. But he waited for the day to come.
188.6
Now that it had pleased Heaven to exact vengeance, and to befriend the young inheritor of the throne, he stepped boldly forward, ready to show his loyalty and devotion in vigorous action. When the noise of contention rose high in every quarter, Sa'adat Khan, under the direction of Haidar Kuli Khan and the orders of I'timadu-d daula, obeyed them and the dictates of his own courage. He went boldly into the inner apartment, where the Emperor had retired. He got there just at the time when the partisans of the two brothers were raging with violent designs against His Majesty. The Nawab Kudsiya (the Emperor's mother), in her motherly love, forbad the entrance of the brave Sa'adat Khan. Assuring the inmates against harm from their enemies, he threw a shawl over his face and went boldly in; then with the utmost devotion he took the hand of the Emperor and led him out. I'timadu-d daula mounted him on his own elephant, and sat behind him as his attendant.
188.7
On the arrival of the Emperor at the chief gate, the soldiers and guards and the amirs had gone to their own abodes, according to their custom every day. The noise of the struggle had frightened away many men well disposed and ill disposed; the royal elephants and horses and the amirs were dispersed. Muhammad Amin Khan Chin (I'timadu-d daula), Kamru-d din Khan, forty or fifty Mughals, and some gunners, altogether amounting to a hundred or two hundred men, were all that were present to form the Emperor's retinue. Haidar Kuli Khan sent for the elephants and horses of the royal equipage, and to summon the men of the artillery. With the limited band of devoted men who were round the royal presence, and with the aid of Kamru-d din Khan and Sa'adat Khan, he awaited the onslaught of that raging lion of the Barhas, 'Izzat Khan. The noise of the strife rose high. On one side the braves of Barha rushed boldly into the fray; on the other the valiant men of Iran and Turan came from every side eager for the fight. * * * Plunderers began to pillage the bazars and stores, and set fire to the tents of Husain 'Ali, but victory inclined to the royal side. Samsamu-d daula Khan-dauran Bahadur Mansur-Jang arrived with his followers and joined in the fight. * * * 'Izzat Khan, who had already received two wounds from arrows, was struck by a musket-bullet and killed. The partisans of the Barhas then fled, and on every side shouts arose proclaiming the victory of Muhammad Shah.
188.8
* * After His Majesty had returned, Haidar Kuli Khan sent for Muhkam Singh, promising him the royal pardon and favour, with a mansab of 6000, ultimately raised to 7000. I'timadu-d daula sent several kind messages to Ratan Chand, who, vainly hoping to save his life and honour, descended from his proud elephant and went off much frightened in a palki towards the royal quarters. A mob of Mughals, vagabonds of the markets, and idlers, who were as full of fury at his oppressive actions as the seeds of a pomegranate are full of blood, fell upon him, dragged him from the palki, beat him with sticks, punched him, kicked him, tore the clothes from his body, and stripped him stark naked. They then carried him to I'timadu-d daula, of whom he begged for protection, and that noble gave him some clothes, and ordered him to be put in a collar and in chains. Rai Siroman Das, a Kayat by caste, and an old agent of Saiyid 'Abdu-llah, made the best use of his opportunity in the strife, shaved off his beard and whiskers, marked his forehead with ashes, and assuming the appearance of a fakir, he left his furniture to be plundered, carried off some money and valuables and hid himself for some days in the tent of his friend, until he managed to escape and join Saiyid 'Abdu-llah. * *
188.9
The corpses of Husain 'Ali Khan, 'Izzat Khan, and Nuru-llah Khan, were placed in coffins covered with gold brocade, and after the funeral service was read over them they were sent to be buried at Ajmir, near the tomb of 'Abdu-llah Khan. The common report is that Saiyid 'Abdu-llah repeatedly stated in public that no bearers were found to carry the coffins, that the covers of the coffins were stolen, and that the coffins remained lying on the ground, and were not buried. Common report says that they were eventually buried at Ajmir. * * [vol. ii. p. 911.] The mansab of I'timadu-d daula was increased to eight thousand and eight thousand do-aspahs. He received a kror and fifty lacs of rupees as in'am, and was appointed wazir, with the addition to his titles of Waziru-l mamalik Zafar-Jang. Samsamu-d daula was made bakhshi, with an increase to 7000 and 7000 horse, and the title of Amiru-l umara. Kamru-d din Khan was made second bakhshi and darogha of the ghusl-khana. He was named to other offices, and he received an increase of 1000 with 1000 horse. Haidar Kuli Khan received an increase to 6000 and 6000 horse, do-aspahs and yak-aspahs, and he was entitled Nasir Jang. Sa'adat Khan was advanced to 5000 and 5000 horse, with the title of Sa'adat Khan Bahadur, and the privilege of kettle-drums. Zafar Khan, and every one of the old adherents and of the new corps of Wala-shahis, received liberal rewards according to their services and deserts.
188.10
Saiyid 'Abdu-llah Khan was greatly distressed by the grievous news of his brother's death, and his eyes filled with tears; but he knew that there was no remedy but resignation. Thinking that there was nothing to be gained by delay, he proceeded on his journey to Dehli. On the arrival of the mournful news, some of his friends advised him to hasten with all speed and heat (against the Emperor), before he was joined by the provincial troops, and before the forces of Husain 'Ali were won over. But Saiyid 'Abdu-llah did not approve of this course. He knew the Emperor was firmly established, while his own army was dispirited, and it was very inexpedient to march against the enemy without toras. He thought it best to proceed to Dehli, there to assemble soldiers and win the support of the amirs. So he went on to Dehli.
188.11
As the news (of Husain 'Ali's death) spread, the Mewattis and the turbulent zamindars rose up and gathered round Saiyid 'Abdu-llah on every side. They attacked the baggage and tents in the rear, and plundered whatever they could lay hands on. A A detachment of the discouraged army was sent against them, but without success. A party of men who were with the Saiyid's tent equipage were killed along with their commanding officers. A convoy that was coming from Dehli, with property belonging to Husain 'Ali Khan, was attacked at the sarai of Jahana, two or three kos from Saiyid 'Abdu-llah's army, and it and the property and the wives of the men all fell into the hands of the marauders. In the jagirs belonging to Saiyid 'Abdu-llah, and in those of all the Saiyids, and of the officials and collectors of the two brothers, wherever the news came, the rent-paying raiyats and the turbulent zamindars seized the opportunity and turned out the collectors of the jagirdars. Before order was restored in the State, the produce of the kharif harvest had for the most part gone into the hands of the raiyats.
188.12
Saiyid 'Abdu-llah sent Shuja'at 'Ali Khan and Murtaza Khan to the capital, and he also wrote to Najmu-d din 'Ali Khan, Subadar of Dehli, for the purpose of raising soldiers. On the 8th Zi-l hijja the news reached Najmu-d din. But before the news became public, he first put forth a statement the opposite of the information he had received, and sent a body of men, horse and foot, under the Kotwal, to the house of I'timadu-d daula, and the work of investing it went on for a watch or two of the night. The people in the house, who had received news beforehand, threw up defences and showed themselves resolved to defend it. The news spread and became the common talk in every street and market.
188.13
A letter now came from Saiyid 'Abdu-llah forbidding all injury to the family and establishment of I'timadu-d daula, or else the Subadar thought better of his futile proceeding and recalled his men. On the day of the 'I'd-i kurban Najmu-d din 'Ali Khan went in tears to the prayers, and when he returned he sent the envoys of Saiyid 'Abdu-llah Khan to the residence of the sons of Jahandar Shah, to make provision for the government of the State. The young men had the door shut against the envoys Murtaza Khan and Shuja'atu-llah Khan; but after a good deal of pressing, they admitted them and asked the reason of their coming; and when they were informed of it, they gave a sharp answer, flatly refusing. It is reported that after the envoys returned unsuccessful, they went to Neku Siyar, and received the same answer. Next they went to Sultan Ibrahim, son of Rafi'u-sh Shan, and urged him to accept the proposition, saying that his acceptance would save the lives of the party of the Saiyids. After some conversation he consented.