Siyar al-mutaʾakhkhirin 33.7
A Translation of the Seir Mutaqherin (Haji Mustafa) 33.7
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33.7.1
Whilst he was busied in that manner, Söroodj-mull, besieged in his fortress, sent up several requests both to the Emperor and to Intyzam-ed-dowlah, his Minister, representing, "That if they suffered Mir-sheab-eddin and his Marhattas to go on with his schemes, a time would come when he would turn his eyes upon the throne itself as well as upon the Vezirship, and would attempt to overturn the Government, so as to new model it to his own mind. That he therefore submitted it to the Imperial wisdom, whether in such a state of things, it would not be proper for His Majesty to come out with his Minister and army, and under pretence of bringing into order the Districts of the Imperial demesnes, and, hunting on the way, to advance as far as Sekenderah, where it would be easy to send for Abool-mansoor-qhan, a man who in such a case would not fail to join in crushing Mir-sheab-eddin and the Marhattas." This advice having been approved by both the Emperor and the Minister, the Monarch set out on a hunting party, and took with him the ladies of his sanctuary, as well as his Ministers, all the Lords of the Court, as well as his army and artillery; in the course of his hunting he, from plain to plain, advanced as far as three or four cosses beyond Sekenderah. But he was averse from the party of applying to Abul-mansur-qhan; nor was it better relished by either his mother, or the Vezir, Intyzam-eddowlah, who after Djavid-qhan's death, had leagued with that Empress.
33.7.2
In complying with this part of Suradj-mull's advice, they seemed to act with dilatoriness and reluctance. All these counsels and this irresolution having been reported to Mir-sheab-eddin, who was exceedingly alert and intent upon his own schemes, he re-called Akybet-mahmud, and sent him to the Emperor's camp, as if to give him advice that some thousands of disbanded Marhatta horse, having made their appearance in his neighbourhood, had suddenly disappeared without it being known where they would shew themselves again. The envoy having said so much, returned to his master. The slothful Emperor paid no great attention to the message, and the negligent Vezir, whose particular business it was to watch over the army, and to insure the honour of the Imperial household, as well as the safety of the Imperial person, quietly went into his tent, and fell to his afternoon's nap, after having heard the message. But the Marhatta General, Holcar Malhar, was not so sleepy. Highly incensed against the Emperor and his Minister for their denial of some heavy cannon, he had left his son, Ghandirao, to keep the Djatts in awe, and had set out himself with a view to distress the Imperial camp with respect to water and forage, and by that means to find some opportunity to lay hold of the cannon, or at least to strike some good blow; he also wished to have no sharer in this expedition, and to be left to himself.
33.7.3
Without giving any intimation of his design to any one, not even to Mir-sheab-eddin, he set out in the beginning of the night, passed the Djumna at the ford of Mahtra, and was close to the Imperial army, before any one knew of his having so much as left his camp; and, first of all, he fired some rockets to feel the pulse of the enemy. At sight of these, it was concluded in the Imperial camp that Mahmud was burning some village in the environs, and the matter appearing of no consequence, no one concerned himself in examining more narrowly into the matter, when at the latter part of the night, it was found that Holcar himself was at hand. On this intelligence the Emperor and his Ministers, both equally cowards and unexperienced, lost their presence of mind, and were equally incapable of flying with recollection, or of making a stand. The Emperor with his mother, and Semsam-ed-dowlah with the Vezir, got upon their elephants, wrapped and muffled up as if they had been women, and without so much as assembling their officers, or saying a word to any one, they fled with all their might towards the Capital, leaving their consorts, daughters, and families at the disposal of the enemy. It being rumoured, half an hour after, that they were gone, the whole army, officers, and soldiers disbanded, and fled with arms and some baggage as far as Sekenderah.
33.7.4
At day-break the Marhattas pursued them thither, and plundered and stripped every one of them, after having already plundered the Imperial camp, with the Imperial tents, and furniture. Malecka-zemani, daughter to Feroh-syur, and consort to Mahmed-shah, with other Princesses of the Imperial family, as well as a vast number of ladies of the highest distinction, fell into Holcar's hands. That General treated them with the highest respect, and even abstained from touching either their persons or even those jewels with which they were covered, to an immense amount, and this abstinence of his is an indubitable fact; but it is no less certain, that an indelible disgrace befell the honour of the Imperial house of Timur that day; and that those sublime gates, on the threshold of which Kings and Sovereigns, together with all mankind, had been accustomed to rub their foreheads in token of respect, became from henceforward an object of derision, and a standing mark for the kicks of the vilest men. But such are God's dispensations, let us submit to them. Whilst this scene was acting at Sekendera, Mir-sheab-eddin was still occupied with the blockade; but he no sooner heard of this affair, than he quitted the field, and came to the city, leaving Surudj-mull at full liberty to rid himself of the miseries he had been undergoing; for the Marhatta General was by this time gone home, and Djehi-apa, the second General, had set out for Narnol.
33.7.5
A few days after this departure, Mir-sheab-eddin had found means to gain over to his party both Semsam-ed-dowlah and all the Commanders, and all the ungrateful Colonels that were attached to the service of the Imperial artillery. He then put himself at the head of a body of Hindostanies and Marhattas, and going to the Vezir Intyzam-ed-dowlah's Palace, he of his own authority dismissed him from his office, which he took for himself, procuring at the same time the office of "Lord of Lords" for his friend, Semsam-ed-dowlah. The next morning he went to the Palace to put on his Qhylaat, and at noon he seized both the Emperor Ahmed-shah and his mother, Oodem-bhai, whom he ordered to be kept in confinement. It was the tenth Shaaban of the year 1167. Immediately after this, he sent for Aziz-eddin, son to the late Muez-eddin-djehandar-shah, and having proclaimed him Emperor, under the surname or title of Aalem-ghir sani, or Aalem-ghir the second, he installed him on the throne. Seven days after, he ordered Oodem-bhai to be blinded, by having a red hot needle drawn across her eyes, and he accused her of being the cause and contriver of all the troubles; he then served the Emperor, her son, in the same manner. Probably none of these direful events had happened, had the Emperor condescended to apply to Abul-mansur-qhan, who was then at hand, although in his Government.
33.7.6
That Viceroy, on his arrival in what he called his own ground, stopped at Mehdi-ghat, where he built himself a lodging, reviewed and completed his army, and attached himself to its discipline; preparing at the same time all kinds of stores, and seeming to mind nothing but whatever could strengthen and increase his power. He seemed intent on some project, when at once, without any previous ailment, a furuncle was perceived at his foot; and this having soon degenerated into a cancer, which baffled all the art of the physicians and chirurgeons, the evil in a little time rose to a heighth; and on the seventeenth of Zilhidj in the same year, he departed this life, and winged his flight towards the regions of eternity. His body, according to his own desire, was carried to the Monument of the King of Braves, and buried there. He was succeeded by his son, Mirza-djelal-eddin-haidyr, surnamed the Shudjah-ed-dowlah. The young Prince continued in the management of the helm that same Ismail-beg-qhan, who had been his father's principal General and trustiest Minister, and all the officers, Commanders, Governors, and Grandees or Nobles, promoted by his father, remained in possession of the offices and pensions they enjoyed. But in a little time, Ismail-beg-qhan likewise departed his life, and Temkin-qhan, an eunuch of his household, succeeded him in his office of Prime Minister. It was at this same time that Saadat-qhan died at Aud-bangla.
33.7.7
He is the same man who bore the title of Zolficar-djung also, and had cut so strange a figure in the expedition against Adjmir. But as Shudjah-ed-dowlah cuts so capital a figure in our history, the reader probably may be pleased with hearing some particulars of that Prince's character.