Siyar al-mutaʾakhkhirin 33.10.p2

33.10.p2

The King had marched to Belem-gur, a fortress of his, at fifteen cosses from Shah-djehan-abad, and having taken it in three days by dint of cannon-ball and bombs, he put to the sword every man in the garrison. Proceeding from thence to Mahtra, which is a famous place of worship for the Hindoos, he gave his Van to Djehan-qhan, recommending dispatch to that General. The latter spurred his horse, and arriving unexpectedly in a holiday, he ruined effectually that rich city; his soldiers plundering, burning, and destroying everything they met, and carrying into captivity vast numbers of the consorts and children of the best families amongst the wretched citizens; an execution that struck such a terror throughout the country, that all the inhabitants quitted their habitations, and retired within their fortresses and strongholds. Meanwhile the Abdali-king advanced as far as Acbar-abad, but here he found some resistance. Mirza-seif-ollah-beg, who commanded from a long series of years in the citadel of that city, refused to submit, and fired his cannon to so good a purpose, that no Abdali chose to abide its reach. Djehan-qhan, meanwhile, was busy in taking one after another the Djatt fortresses, when at once a mortality broke out amongst the Abdalies which swept their people in such vast numbers, as disabled their King from prosecuting his designs. Submitting therefore to his destiny, he recalled his troops from the Djatt country, and commenced his march to his own dominions. Being arrived at the Reservoir of Macsood-abad, which is on the same line with Shah-djehan-abad, he was visited by Alemghir the Second, who wished him a prosperous return, and much complained of Umad-el-mulk. The Abdali-king paid a regard to his grievances by conferring the office of "Prince of Princes" on Nedjib-qhan, now Nedjib-ed-dowlah, then present, and by recommending to his care the Emperor and his family.
And this naturally brings to our recollection that after the confinement of Ahmed-shah, and the accession of Alemghir the Second, dissensions had arisen very high between Umad-el-mulk, the Vezir, on one hand, and the two relicts of Mahmed-shah, on the other. These were Maleca-zemani, daughter to Feroh-syur, and Sahaba-mahal, both related to, and both consorts of, Mahmed-shah.
That Prince had from this second consort a daughter of great beauty, who had been the darling of her father's heart. These two Princesses, mindful of having seen the honour of the Empire trodden under by the Marhattas, and fired with indignation at finding themselves, in every matter, at the mercy of Umad-el-mulk, resolved to quit a country where every thing went to wreck; and they sent a message to the Abdali-king, claiming his protection, as being both so nearly related to Mahmed-shah and to him. The Abdali-king, who thought himself much honoured by such a request, and hoped to be applauded by posterity, sent for the daughter which he himself married, and he gave the two other Empresses a separate encampment in his camp; after which he marched to Lahor. His son, Timûr-shah, coming to join him in his way, he appointed the young Prince Governor of Pendjab, Mûltan, and Tatta, gave him Djehan-qhan for Commandant of the troops, and turning towards his own dominions, he arrived by continued marches at Cabûl, and then at Candahar, where we shall leave him for a while, in order to take breath, and to afford ourselves time to cast a look at the affairs of Decan.
Monsieur-Bussy commanded the body of French that had taken service with Hedaiet-muhi-eddin-qhan-Muzaffer-djung, and had attached himself to Nizam-el-mulk's family. This officer availed himself so well of the credit which his post gave him, that he became extremely powerful throughout the Decan. When he came to obtain the countries of Sicacol and Radj-benderi, &c., for his Djaghir, his influence rose so high, that every affair passed through his hands, and he governed with an absolute sway; he was decorated with the surname of Seif-el-mulk, or "Sword of the State," and the title of Umdut-el-mulk, or the "Greatest of the Kingdom." This General had given so great a sway in all his affairs, public or private, to Haider-djung, a nobleman of those countries, that the latter came in fact to govern the six Soobahdaries of Decan. But the English struck with this flow of prosperity amongst the French, resolved to come in for a share of the good things and conquests of India; and with that view they joined Mahmed-aaly-qhan, son to Anvar-eddin-qhan of Gopa-mao, under whose name they possessed themselves of some Districts of the Province of Arcat. Mösher-Bussy, meanwhile, taking umbrage at Rocön-ed-döwlah's administration, got him dismissed from his office of Prime Minister, which he obtained for Shah-nevaz-qhan, a nobleman with whom he had connections. This Minister, in the four years which his administration lasted, governed with so much vigour and prudence, that the Marhattas never thought of quitting their frontiers. It is he that drew from inaction and obscurity the two Princes, Mir Nizam-aaly and Mir Mahammed-sherif, younger brothers to Selabet-djung, two young men who hitherto had both lived in their elder's Palace. This was in the year 1169. Mir Nizam-aaly (who now governs the Decan as Sovereign,) was decorated with the surname of the second Asef-dja, and sent to govern the Barar; and Mir Mushref, after having been successively decorated with the titles of Shudjah-el-mulk, and Burhan-el-mulk, or the "Valorous and Impetuous of the State," was sent to govern the Kingdom of Bidjapoor; and both brothers departed to their respective stations. But in the very next year the office of first Minister was taken from Shah-nevaz-qhan, and bestowed on Mir Mushref, who came from Bidjapoor to receive it. However he did not enjoy it; for his brother, Nizam-aaly, having marched to Aoreng-abad with a good army, requested his younger brother to take some repose, and assuming at the same time his office of Prime Minister, he became the centre of all affairs, and even changed his younger brother's title into that which had been formerly the title of their common father.