[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Dark Ages](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages) › [Mughals (1526–1857)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal) › [Later Mughals (1707–1857)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.later) › [Siyar al-mutaʾakhkhirīn](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.later.siyar-al-mutaakhkhirin) › [A Translation of the Seir Mutaqherin (Haji Mustafa)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.later.siyar-al-mutaakhkhirin~en-mustafa) › 33.10 # Siyar al-mutaʾakhkhirin 33.10 A Translation of the Seir Mutaqherin (Haji Mustafa) 33.10 - **Language:** English ### [33.10.1170](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.later.siyar-al-mutaakhkhirin~en-mustafa.33.10.1170) The Abdali-king, informed of the Vezir's insolence, and of the liberties he had taken with Mir-mannu's relict, flew to Lahor with the wings of resentment and celerity; but Adina-beg-qhan, who did not think himself a match for him, fled for shelter to the desert tract of Hansi, where he took up his residence in a fortress of difficult access, especially for want of water. The Vezir, on the other hand, conceiving fears for his own life, brought his new consort to Mir-mannu's widow, entrusted her person to her protection, and by dint of entreaties and submissions, made his peace with her. For the Abdali-king, who was flying on the wings of resentment and rapidity, was already at twenty cosses from the Capital of the Empire; and the Vezir disconcerted by so much expedition, saw no other party left to him, but that of submission, and going to the Abdali camp, he presented himself before that Monarch. The latter at first reprimanded him severely; but his cause being pleaded both by Mir-mannu's Begum, and by Shah Veli-qhan, the Abdali Vezir, who had been gained, the Monarch readily forgave him, and afterwards continued him in his office of Vezir. Nevertheless, on the seventh of the first Djemadi, of the year 1170, being a Friday, he quitted his encampment and entered the Citadel of Shah-djehan-abad, where he had an interview with the Emperor Alemghir the Second. From that day his people fell a plundering and sacking so mercilessly, and they went on dragging away people's wives and daughters with so much cruelty, that numbers overborne by the delicacy of their feelings, rather than to fall in such abominable hands, made away with themselves; and God only knows the number and quality of all the violences exercised for a month together in that ill-fated city. The late Vezir Camer-eddin-qhan's Palace and seraglio were rifled of every thing; and few houses of the nobility and better sort escaped a complete ruin and pollution. It was in the middle of so much violence and misery, that the Abdali-king betook himself to an alliance of his family with that of Babr. He married his son, Timur-Shah, to a daughter of Yz-eddin, brother to the reigning Emperor. But after having leisurely plundered that rich city for thirty days together, he sent Djehan-qhan, a Commander of character, to chastise Sordj-mull, the Djatt, and he followed himself the next day. This was the fifth time the Abdali-king had come into Hindostan. The Vezir Umad-el-mulk, having of his own motion accompanied Djehan-qhan, and proved of very great service to that General, received the Abdali-king's approbation and applause; but mention having been made by his Ministers of a present which that Monarch expected, Umad-el-mulk answered, that if they would give him one of the Timurian Princes, with an army of Abdalies, and full power to carry it wherever he should think proper, especially in the country of Anter-bid, (that is, the tract betwixt the two rivers of Djumna and Ganga) he would undertake to bring an immense sum into the Royal Treasury. The proposal being agreed to, two Imperial Princes were sent for from the Capital, and put into his hands. The one was Hedaiet-baqhsh, son to Alemghir the second; and the other, his son-in-law, Mirza-babr, son to his brother, Yz-eddin; and to these was joined a body of Abdalies, under the command of Djan-baz-qhan. We have already observed that Umad-el-mulk had conceived a violent aversion against Abul-mansur-qhan and his family, which last he had resolved to tear up by the root. Availing himself of the Abdali-king's covetousness, he, under pretence of raising immense contributions in the country of Anter-bid, or Do-ab, marched westward with an army of Durrani-Abdalies, but with not one of the necessaries for making a campaign. Being arrived in the neighbourhood of Feroh-abad, he was met by Ahmed-qhan-bangash, who after paying his respects to both the Imperial Princes and the Vezir, presented them all three with a complete equipage, consisting of tents, elephants, horses, camels, and every other necessary, and moreover added a body of Afghans to the Vezir's army. The latter being now at his ease, and reinforced by a good body of troops, crossed the Ganga, and took the road of Aud. This invasion, however, did not dismay or intimidate Shudjah-ed-dowlah, who came out of his Capital with a well appointed army, and encamped at Sandi-pai, the last place of his dominions; where some skirmishes took place betwixt the runners of the two vanguards. Saad-ullah-qhan, who was son to the late Aaly-mahmed-qhan-Rohillah, having offered his mediation, an agreement took place, under stipulation of a sum of five lacs of rupees, partly in hand, and partly payable by instalments. This negotiation, in which Saad-ullah-qhan exerted himself zealously for his friend, Shudjah-ed-dowlah, and proved of great service to both parties, totally disappointed Umad-el-mulk, who hoped for great broils and a battle, and was obliged to repass the Ganga, and to encamp at Feroh-abad again, in expectation of what the Abdali-king would do with the Djatts. It was the seventh of Shevval, in the year 1170. ### [33.10.p2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.later.siyar-al-mutaakhkhirin~en-mustafa.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. --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.later.siyar-al-mutaakhkhirin~en-mustafa.33.10](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.later.siyar-al-mutaakhkhirin~en-mustafa.33.10) · Pramāṇa