Siyar al-mutaʾakhkhirin 4.6
A Translation of the Seir Mutaqherin (Haji Mustafa) 4.6
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4.6.1
In a confusion so sudden, Djehandar-shah himself having missed his accustomed elephant, got upon the first that came to hand and had no canopy, wrapped himself up with a large sheet, and bid the driver carry him across the enemy's troops, and under colour of his carrying a woman, to find his way to Zulficar-khan. The man did as he was bid; and no opposition being made to a woman's voiture, Djehandar-shah got safe to his general, just as cries of victory were filling the air in the enemy's troops. Zulficar-khan amazed to see Djehandar-shah in such a condition, became anxious about the fate of the day; he called aloud to a body of choice musqueteers attached this long while to his person, and throwing gold by handfuls amongst them, he told them that the day was come to render him an important service; that it was the only one he asked of them; and that one once performed, they would see what his gratitude was capable of, and what their good fortune had prepared for them. "You see," added he, "that Djehan-shah is now surrounded by multitude of officers and soldiers, who are presenting him their Nazurs in compliment to his victory. Let "some hundreds of you mix with that crowd under the same pretence, and then let them fire at once all altogether upon him. This is easy, and all that I want of you." As soon as he had done speaking, three or four hundreds of them, with their officers at their head, mixed with the crowd;
4.6.2
and whilst Djehan-shah was talking to the people about him, and receiving Nazurs, and looking at the troops who pillaged Muezzeddin's camp, they fired altogether at him, laid him sprawling in his blood, and gave an unexpected victory to their master. This prince, so unexpectedly victorious, no sooner saw the enemy retreat, than he retired with his mistress to his quarters, where he spent the night in drinking wine, and in looking at his dancing-women, whilst the troops fatigued by such a journey, were taking some repose on the field of battle, every one where he found himself. The next morning at day-break the Prince Refi-al-cadr sent the principal eunuch of his seraglio to compliment him on his victory; but the victor who had passed the whole night in drinking delicious liquors, was now fast asleep, and there was no awakening him; but his eunuchs hearing of the message, which the Prince's man was bringing, fell a laughing, and told him "that he was a great fool indeed to bring such a message; the more so as his master having but just seen what had been Azim-ush-shan's and Djehan-shah's fate, had no occasion for any further warning." This answer having convinced the messenger of his master's mistake, he made haste to return, and to give notice of what had happened. This intelligence afforded at once an immense deal of information to Refi-al-cadr;
4.6.3
like a man waking from a dream, he ordered the Nagara or great kettle-drum to be beat, and listening only to his own despair, he mounted and went forward, his troops and friends following as fast as they could. These motions having put Zulficar-khan upon his guard, he ranged his army in battle array, and sent a trusty eunuch with orders to drag Djehandar-shah out of the women's apartment, and to get him mounted by any means whatever upon an Imperial elephant. But Djehandar-shah was now in the height of intoxication, bare-headed, with his clothes in the utmost disorder, and with hardly any knowledge of what was about him; and it is in that condition he was put upon his elephant and brought to the field of battle, where the Generalissimo was already marching to Refi-al-cadr. This Prince advanced on a full gallop, and charged the troops of his rival with an heroical valor that deserved a better fate. He penetrated through the thickest of the enemy, and fell covered with wounds, after having shown throughout this bloody action a great deal of presence of mind. The few troops he had about his person being mostly slain, or wounded, and himself being left nearly alone, he took up his sabre and buckler, jumped down from his elephant, and after having performed prodigies of valor, he drank undauntedly the bitter draught presented him by death.
4.6.4
This victory having put Djehandar-shah in an undisputed possession of the Empire, he sent notice of his accession throughout all the provinces. Moving at the same time from Lahor, he marched to Shah-djehan-abad, where he made his entry with all the pomp of an hereditary monarch, and all the pride of a victor. It was on a Monday, the fourteenth of the first Djemady, of the year 1124, about three hours before sunset. On his passage through Badely, he was received by Mahmed-yar-khan, Governor of the province, who went so far on purpose to pay his homage to the Emperor, as he was passing on his elephant. Four days after, at about noonday, the sun being then in the meridian, the Emperor made his entry in the citadel, and took possession of the Imperial palace.
4.6.5
And now the new Sovereign being seated on his throne, confirmed Assed-khan in the high dignity of Vekil-mootlac, or his Lieutenant-General, all over the Empire, and Zulficar-khan, his son, in that of Vezir, But here he commenced embruing his hands in blood. Sultan Kerimeddin, eldest son of Azim-ush-shan, was seized at Lahore through the management of Hedaiet-kesh-khan, and brought to the Emperor's presence, where he was instantly put to death. Nor were the other princes, of the blood, all sons of Aazem-shah or of prince Cambuqhsh, treated much more favourably. Those unfortunate youths, who lived quietly, without suspecting any thing of their impending fate, were all seized at once and rigorously confined. History, melted by the misfortunes of so much innocence, has conserved their names. It was Aaly-tebar, son to Aazem-shah, and Muhi-et-tessa, and Firozmend, the two sons of Cambuqhsh. There was a third son, whose name is not certainly known. All these precautions being over, the Emperor thought only of raising his relations to dignities and honors, and of rewarding his friends to the utmost of his power. His milk-brother, Cocal-tash-khan, was promoted to the highest offices, and his name was changed into that of Qhan-djehan-bahadyr.
4.6.6
His beloved mistress, Lal-coar, was decorated with the title of Imtiazmahal-begum, or the Exalted Princess of the Sanctuary or Seraglio, and distinguished with the privilege of riding close to her master on an elephant covered by an umbrella: an honor affected to the Imperial person only. He was equally lavish to his milk-brother, whom he raised to the office of Emir-ul-omrah, or Prince of Princes, which was now the third dignity in the Empire. He even became so very fond of him, that he would add everyday something to his influence and emoluments; but his partiality for Lal-coar became now boundless. He seemed solely intent on pleasing her. Her brother, Qhoshall-qhan, was made a Hest-hezary, or a Commander of Seven Thousand Horse; and her uncle, Naamet-khan, received the command of five thousand. Not content with that, he intended to dispossess an illustrious Nobleman of the Viceroyalty of Ecber-abad, in order to bestow it on Qhoshall-khan; but here that man's sudden rise, as well as the Emperor's partiality, met with an unexpected check. The Vezir on casting his eyes on the patent he produced, refused to pass it the seals, unless he also brought the fees of office, which, in derision of the new Governor's former calling, he fixed at five thousand guitarres, and seven thousand timbrels. Qhoshall-khan, stung to the quick by such a merciless sarcasm, imparted his resentment to his sister, who had a thorough command over the Emperor's mind.
4.6.7
The Emperor, who owed the highest obligations to the Generalissimo, now his Vezir, commanded his attendance, and in a mild tone of voice, recommended Qhoshall-khan's affair to him, adding, that the strange kind of fees he had asked, was doubtless by way of joking. "No joke at all," answered the Minister, in serious tone; "no pleasantry in the matter—please your Majesty, I was in earnest. For, as the nobility, your servants, are, from father to son, in possession of serving the crown in Viceroyalties, Governments, and such other employments; and the custom of your Imperial ancestors has been only to amuse themselves with dancers and singers, whose merits it was customary to reward only by pensions and bounties; so soon as these last shall aspire to dignities and Governments, and shall contrive to take possession of them, there shall remain then no other party for your nobility but that of betaking themselves to the profession just forsaken by the dancers and singers. For, after all, they must have, as well as these, some calling, by which they may support life. When, therefore, I have asked from this gentleman so many thousand guitarres, with as many timbrels, it was with a view to distribute them to your dispossessed Governors and Generals, who certainly have a right to earn their bread as well as any others." This answer struck the Emperor dumb. He hung his head; but said not a word. The new Viceroy lost his promotion.