Pramāṇa · Search · About · API

Siyar al-mutaʾakhkhirin 33.11

A Translation of the Seir Mutaqherin (Haji Mustafa) 33.11

Language
English

33.11.1173

It was in this same year that Baladji-rao, the Marhatta, advanced upon the frontiers of Aoreng-abad, with intention to avail himself of the rising broils, so as to have a pretence for quarreling. But the conjunctures upon which he had reckoned had already ceased; and Nizam-aaly, having left his apparent Lord, Selabet-djung, to defend the city of Aoreng-abad, came out himself with his brother, Mir-mushref, and advanced upon Baladji-rao, whom he lead beating, as far as Sund-gur, which is at thirty cosses from Aoreng-abad; but there he thought proper to come to an accommodation in which he consented to give Baladji-rao throughout all Decan, a Djaghir of thirty-seven lacs of rupees. After this he returned to Aoreng-abad. But Mosshur Bussy, who commanded an independent body of troops, having taken umbrage at this absolute authority assumed by Nizam-aaly, conceived the design of breaking his rising power (although in fact he only accelerated the ruin of Nizam-el-mulk's family), as he conceived that so long as Nizam-aaly should be at the head of so great a force, the influence of the French would become only a secondary object. By the means of some underhand management, conducted by Haider-djung, who, as we have said, was everything in his affairs, he debauched from Nizam-aaly's service his best officers, and amongst others Hibrahim-qhan, the Gardi, an officer of character, attached this longwhile to that young Prince, whom he served with a body of his own troops. He debauched in the same manner some other Commanders and troops, which he took in his own service, making good from his own treasury eight lacs of rupees, which were due to them by Nizam-aaly upon their arrears. By such an artful management he reduced the young Prince to the condition of a bird which has lost its feathers. He at the same time laid hold of Shah-nevaz-qhan, and got him confined. Being now satisfied on those two important articles, he conceived a third scheme, which was that of confining Nizam-aaly in the fortress of Golcondah, under pretence of carrying him to Haïder-abad, and giving him the government of that Province; which removal once effected, he conceived that he should remain master of the Government to all intents and purposes. This scheme was laid with great secrecy; but Nizam-aaly having by dint of penetration guessed the whole of its drift, he resolved to be beforehand with Mûshur Bussy, by killing his Minister, Haïder-djung. Having imparted his design to a few trusty persons, he fixed on the third of Ramazan, in the year 1171, for its execution. That very day Haïder-djung was coming to Nizam-aaly's quarters for some business, and having observed some movements that did not please him, he wanted to go back, when he was set upon instantly and had his throat cut in a moment. Nizam-aaly after striking such a blow, threw himself upon a horse, and fairly made his escape; the whole French army with their artillery, in order of battle, standing astonished and dismayed, as if they had been an army of statues and pictures, set upright in a plain. This was a daring intrepid action, that equalled any thing done by Rustem or Ispent-yar, and where it seemed that Mooshur-Bussy, and all his officers were out of their senses. In this confusion, some of Haider-d Jung's people ran to Shah-nevaz-qhan, and his son, Mir Abdol-nebi-qhan, and put them both to death, together with another nobleman of consequence, called Amin-ed-dowlah. The tumult being over, Selabet-djung, Mir Mushref, and Mooshur-Bussy, returned to Haider-abad. As to Nizam-aaly, he took to the road of B8rhanp8r, found means to regain his old servant, Hibrahim-qhan-gardi; and after that action, he marched with him in that city, where they put under contribution the rich men of the country, and amongst others Mahmed-anvar-qhan, the B8rhan-p8rian. This nobleman had acted as mediator in the treaty which had once taken place between the Marhatta General, Sancradji-malhar, and the Viceroy, Hossein-aaly-qhan; by which the latter had consented to pay the Marhattas, a Cho8t, or a tribute. This nobleman incensed to find himself so tormented for money, said farewell to his own existence, and was buried in the Garden of Shah-yssa, alias Djund-allah. These contributions having put it in Nizam-aaly's power to raise a good body of troops, he marched from B8rhanp8r, and took up his quarters at Bassem, a principal town of the dependencies of Barar. There he had many disputes and several engagements with the Mucasdar, or Marhatta Governor of that Province, who was Djano-dji, son to Ragho-dji-bhosselah, with whom he at last concluded an agreement. After this he marched to Haider-abad, where great disputes and dissensions arose between the three brothers. At last it was agreed that Selabet-djung and Nizam-aaly should remain and live together; but that Mir Mushref should immediately proceed to his Government of Bidjapoor.
Whilst the brothers were disputing amongst themselves, Seda-shi8, a relation of the Marhatta Baladji-rao, intrigued so well with the Governor of Ahmed-nagur, that this fortress, once the Capital of the Kings of Nizam-shah's family, — that fortress which had cost so much time and trouble to Abdol-rahim-qhan, the General of the Imperial Prince Soltan-danial, and which since Soltan-acbar-shah's reign, had always been in the possession of its particular Governors, was surrendered in a day, and became annexed to the Marhatta Empire. This city and fortress had been built in the year nine hundred by Ahmed-nizam-shah, King of Bidjapoor, who gave it his own name. He built the city in two years, and it afforded a fine prospect. Two years after, having found a proper opportunity, he built the fortress, likewise, making up the walls with clay and stone, and it continued in the hands of his successors, when in the year 1090 it fell in the hands of the Emperors of the House of Babr, in whose power it remained, until it passed to the Marhatta Empire, in the year 1173.

33.11.p2

It was about this time that broils having arisen between the English and French, the latter abandoned Selabet-djung's service, and returned to the centre of their dominions, Pûlcherry. From that moment Selabet-djung's preponderance seemed to verge to its ruin; and his national enemies having conceived high-flown designs, they aimed not only at reducing his person to nothing, but likewise at snatching from Nizam-el-mulk's family, all the dominions of Decan. They even engaged Bibrahim-qhan-gardi to take service with them; a man from the dregs of the people, who having served for a length of time under the French, and learned their way of managing their cannon and musketry, was actually at the head of a body of such musketeers, and such an artillery of his own, that made him courted by all parties. He was now gone to Pûnah, in company with Seda-syo; but it was not for any length of time. The twenty-second of the month of Djemady in the same year, he came out of Pûnah in conjunction with the Marhatta army, which encountered the two brothers, Selabet-djung and Nizam-aaly, in the territory of Owdghir. Unfortunately for them they had but seven thousand horse with them at that moment, having parted from their main some hours ago. The Marhattas had sixty thousand cavalry. The two brothers wanted to march forwards in order to effect a junction with those of their troops that had remained at Dehaver; but this was opposed by the Marhattas, who, although they have no other way of fighting than that of repeated skirmishes, and no other industry than that of distressing the enemy for want of forage, victuals, water, and other necessaries, nevertheless availed themselves of so marked a superiority on their side, and made nothing of engaging nearer, and of coming to hand-blows with their long swords and short spears. So that the Hindoostanies had no other resource, but that of marching slowly in a body surrounded by their cannon. But even this resource failed them. Their artillery was heavy and unmanageable, whereas the Marhattas had now in the Sepahies of Hibrahim-qhan a body of musketry always ready to oppose the enemy's march, and in his cannon, which was much lighter and better mounted, an expeditious artillery, which advanced and wheeled round just as the managers pleased. The two brothers laboured likewise under a further disadvantage. As their troops marched in a body together, the enemy's cannon never failed to send amongst them some balls that always did some havock; whereas the Marhattas marching in small dispersed troops, were seldom struck by any cannon, or if struck, received but little damage; and when upon a halt they were attacked by the Hindoostanies, they always found in the quickness of Hibrahim-gardie's fire, a sure resource for repelling the enemy. In consequence of all these disadvantages the two brothers lost in their retreat a number of men. Nevertheless, the sixth day of march, they found an opportunity of coming to hand-blows with the enemy, especially with Hibrahim-qhan's people; and falling amongst them, sword in hand, they made a great slaughter, and took eleven colours from the latter; and in this manner they continued their march, as far as the Fortress of Haosah, which is only at ten cosses from Dehaver. The Marhattas conceiving that, if once a junction was effected between the two brothers, they would prove an undermatch, resolved to make a last effort to prevent it. With forty-thousand horse they attacked Selabet-djung's van, which consisted of no more than three thousand, and after a sharp action, they destroyed it totally. This check, by humbling the family of Nizam-el-mulk, prepared its ruin; and the two brothers, finding that a junction was impossible, thought only of an accommodation, and it was concluded in such terms as proved only the seed of future mischiefs and disputes. The Marhattas by this peace obtained, under the name of Djaghir, the cession of a country of sixty lacs a year. It consisted of the territory of Aoreng-abad, (that city excepted,) and the Districts of Houily, Hursool, and Setrah. The remainder was made up with the Provinces of Beder and Bidjapoor, as well as with the Fortresses of Doolet-abad, Assir, and Bidjapoor, places of consequence, that had been anciently the Capitals of so many powerful Kingdoms, and had cost so much blood and treasure. These latter lands served for demesnes to the two brothers, and had hitherto afforded appanages and a plentiful subsistence to a number of mansobdars, and officers, and noblemen of high rank; who being now deprived of such a certain livelihood, were reduced as low as their Sovereigns and Lords, the Prince of Princes of the house of Nizam-el-mulk. Nor did anything remain to this family, but the Province of Haider-abad, with some Districts of that of Barar and Bidjapoor, and a small portion of that of Beder; and even this did not remain to them without being saddled with a chöat, a slight tribute imposed by the victors, which did not amount to a quarter of the real revenue, but which they never fail to improve and to nurse up, as soon as they have committed the young plant to the ground. Nevertheless, in spite of so many disgraces the project of the enemies of that illustrious family did not take place, and it continued to enjoy dominion and sovereignty in Decan. But as we have just been mentioning the name of the three fortresses, as having been the Capitals of so many powerful Kingdoms, we imagine that some account of them may prove acceptable to our readers.