Siyar al-mutaʾakhkhirin 42.24
A Translation of the Seir Mutaqherin (Haji Mustafa) 42.24
- Language
- English
42.24.1
And here I must inform the reader that in citing that historian so often, and in availing myself so much of the matter afforded by his book, I have only pretended to set in a proper light Soltan Abool-hassen's character. The resignation, firmness, and magnanimity, with which he parted from so high a rank, and so exalted a station, and the calmness of temper, with which he endured so sudden a revolution, and one so capable of unhinging the mind of even a Fakir, and a poor man, (people naturally inured to patience and resignation from habit and principle), deserve the highest admiration. May the merciful God have vouchsafed to forgive and console him! And, in fact, he wore the robes of sovereignty with as much indifference as a Fakir does his cloak. Nor is it a small token of Divine favour upon him, that his throne chanced to be supported by a servant of such heroical prowess, and so eminent military talents, as his General, Abdol-rezac, whose unshaken attachment and indefatigable zeal became the more conspicuous and admirable, as the besiegers themselves had long ago ceased to entertain any hopes of success and salvation.
42.24.2
In a time so discouraging, at the very moment of the places being surprised, to expose one's life so prodigally to succour an ill fated master, and to thirst so ardently after that bitter cup of wounds which death was tendering everywhere: these are exertions that seem to go beyond the power of humanity, and that will at all times challenge the admiration of mankind. After that, let the reader cast an impartial eye on the obstinacy, covetousness, endless artifices, and perpetual double-dealing of Aoreng-zib's conduct; on his unrelenting vindictive temper, his unsatiable ambition, and the public lessons by which he continually encouraged faithlessness, perfidy, and treason, on one hand; and on the other, let him consider the valuable qualities which shine in Abool-hassen and in Abdol-rezac's characters; and then let him choose for himself, and determine what he ought to imitate in those two exalted characters, and what to reject, and to execrate in that vile conduct so conspicuous in Aoreng-zib; for this world, after all, is but transitory, and must pass, and that Prince's punition is doubtless in reserve in the other life. Abool-hassen and Abdol-rezac, with their firmness and magnanimity, are gone; Aoreng-zib is gone likewise; and nothing has remained, or will remain, but what the recording page of history has said and will say.
42.24.3
And although that Emperor carried his attention and foresight so far as to forbid the analysts and historians of his time from writing the history of the latter part of his life, nevertheless, his endeavours have been of no avail, and the detail of his viles and infamy has been handed down to the latest posterity. But supposing that such a detail could have remained concealed from its knowledge, how could it escape the scrutinising eye of the Almighty Observer of hearts, or the probe of that Omnipotent Searcher of secrets ? of that Being I say, which knows intuitively the recesses of every one's conduct ? But let us cease to anticipate the reader's reflections by our own ; and let us return to our own narrative. As the Monarchy of Haider-abad was put an end to in the person of Abool-hassen, who was the last of the C8t8b-shahian's family, it shall not be unacceptable to our readers to hear some further particulars of that unhappy Prince in this place. They shall be amazed to hear how he rose, how he acquired a kingdom, how Providence drew for him from its inexhaustible treasury the sweets of high dignities and the glories of so exalted a rank, with all the happiness attending absolute dominion and length of reign ; and the by-stander's imagination will be confounded on observing how he was, by an event almost unparalleled in history, placed upon the throne of Haider-abad.
42.24.4
This is the more proper, as otherwise the lovers of history would have reason to complain, that after having raised their curiosity to a pitch by recounting the singular conversation that passed between the dethroned King and the Generalissimo, conversation in which that Prince spoke mysteriously of his former Fakyr's garb, and of his present Royal attire, I left them to their own surprise and astonishment, without having so much as attempted to afford ease to their feelings by solving the knots of an enigma, so uncommon and so amazing. Abd811ah-c8t8b-shah, who reigned about sixty years, having no son, and God Almighty having given him only three daughters, he bestowed one of them on Seyd Nizam-eddin-ahmed, the Husseinian, who was an undoubted Seyd of the illuminated city of Medina, being of the race of that oracle of learning, Emir-ynaïet-eddin-mansoor, the Shirazian, (whose spirit may God have sanctified ! ) ; for the number of learned men, produced by that illustrious family, cannot be unknown to those that love history. The most eminent amongst them, are that Prince of philosophers, Emir-sadr-eddin-mohammed-destghi, the Shirazian, and Seyd Mubarec-shah, as well as Mir-asyl-eddin, and Mir-djemal-eddin-muhdess, without mentioning so many others. He was born in the illuminated city of Medina, from whence he came to Shiraz, in Iran, and settled in that theatre of learning.
42.24.5
Having acquired an estate and some lands in the territory of that city, he lived with dignity and splendour for a number of years, when he thought proper to return to Hedjaz ; and it is in that country that his son, Seyd aaly-qhan was born. After that he quitted Arabia and went to Hindia, where he took up his abode at Haider-abad, in Decan ; where in time he became the King's son-in-law, as we have already mentioned. This Prince, observing abilities and talents in him, gave him the management of several parts of the administration, and raised him to high dignities and employments. Some years after, there came another illustrious Seyd, from Arabia, a Seyd Soltan, a learned man, who had studied under the former Seyd's father, the learned and venerable Seyd Ahmed. King Cootoob-shah took this Seyd also in favour, raised him to dignities and honours, and betrothed his second daughter to him ; and he seemed to take a pleasure in producing him to the world. Unfortunately a jealousy arose between the two Seyds ; that is, between Seyd Nizam-eddin-ahmed, who was already become the King's son-in-law, and Seyd Soltan, who was designed into the King's Palace.
42.24.6
But such is the pitch to which the veneration of Indians for all kinds of foreigners, and for Arabian Seyds in particular, can rise at sometimes, that this transaction looks full as strange, as if a Dutch Minister, just landed from the Texel, should at once be admitted into the British King's Palace, and espouse one of his daughters, and then become the principal Peer of the kingdom. But such is India ; and a Persian or Tartar adventurer would have been as much welcomed in the Palace of Haider-abad. Nor are there in India any men artists of their own fortunes, but such foreigners. Nizam-el-mulk was son to a Tartar ; Saadet-qhan and Abool-mansoor-qhan were Persians ; but Haider-naic is an exception to the general rule. Although an adventurer, he was Indian born. for that honour. Once it happened that the King asked the latter whether he had any knowledge of the ancestors of Seyd Ahmed? The other answered that he had, and that he was a learned man, son to a learned man, and grandson to a learned man; which last had been his own master and teacher (to Seyd Soltan). As this answer, which after all was nothing but truth, was pronounced with a certain air, it made an impression on Seyd Ahmed, who from that moment became averse to him; and this aversion was kept up by a number of tale-tellers, who took care to furnish fresh fuel to it every day. Insomuch that they became enemies to each other;
42.24.7
and their enmity was upon the increase, when preparations commenced for the nuptials of the late King's second daughter, already betrothed. Seyd Soltan espoused the Princess; and rejoicing and feasting became universal all over the city, where every market, as well as every door and gate, exhibited a scene of festivity and decoration, that surprised and charmed the beholder. On the very night when Seyd Soltan was to be carried to his bride, another offensive expression dropped from his mouth, and an improper action took place; which so displeased Seyd Ahmed, that he went to Cotob-Shah, and with a solemn oath told him that if the marriage should take place, he would himself quit his Court, from which he hoped he would dismiss him. — He had at the same time taken measures for quitting Haider-abad. In vain did the old King, in vain did his Ministers endeavour to pacify him, and to bring the two Seyds to terms of decency and mutual forbearance; their efforts proved fruitless, and their endeavours, abortive. But as Seyd-ahmed's influence had taken root this longwhile both at Court and within the sanctuary, and Cotob-shah's principal consort had openly espoused his concerns, together with all the ladies of the Seraglio, and all the King's private friends were also on his side, the old King was confounded at this general opposition, and found himself at a loss how to act, even after consulting his Ministers and favourites.
42.24.8
At last they fell upon this expedient, that the Princess should be bestowed, not on the man to whom she had been betrothed, and who had come to carry her to his home, but on Abool-hassen, a young nobleman, very nearly related to the King on the mother's side. But this Abool-hassen having from his tenderest youth conceived such an inclination for the company of Fakirs, as to assume their very garb and manners, and this new kind of life having communicated to his words and actions a strange levity which had rendered him disagreeable to the King, he had fallen into a total neglect; nor could he be prevailed to drop so much as a look upon his person. Hence the young man finding no resource in the world, still more strongly addicted himself to that strange way of life; and he was now living under the roof of a Fakir called Seyd-radja, whom he had chosen for his saint and director, and whose lessons he was actually hearing, when the King's messengers after much search found him out, and announced to him his good fortune. They carried him to a bath, dressed him with elegance and magnificence, put a crown of pearl upon his head, and mounting him upon a superb horse, that carried a saddle enriched with jewel-work, enamelled, they carried him to the Palace, where the bride, the costly presents, and the high dignities that had been prepared for Seyd Soltan, were at once bestowed upon him;
42.24.9
insomuch that the festivity and nuptials, that had commenced in another's name, were continued in his. The bride was put in his hands; he was acknowledged Prince of the blood; and from that moment fortune became so favourable, that he rose in estimation, and was thought equal to any dignity and any office in the State. But by this time Seyd Ahmed was become so proud of his own high extraction, as well as of his having espoused the eldest Princess, and he had become so haughty and overbearing, as to make no account of any Lords of the Court, nor of any Grandees of the State, save Seyd Morteza who drew his pedigree from the Kings of Mazenderan, and was become a man of consequence in the kingdoms of Decan, and one of the principal Commanders of the troops. Such haughty pretensions naturally estranged all the Ministers from him; but above all they lost him the hearts of the ladies of the seraglio, by whose assistance he had always carried his point. No wonder then, if all the hearts should naturally turn towards Abool-hassen, now Soltan Abool-hassen, who, without familiarising himself with any one, behaved with so much condescension and so much sweetness of temper to all, that people were quite at their ease in his company, where they were always treated with a brotherly civility, and an easy politeness.
42.24.10
Soltan Cotob-shah dying at this very time, and dissensions arising at Court, as well as disputes in the city about a successor to the Crown, Seyd Ahmed shewed himself in arms in the palace, with a number of troops, ready to oppose any pretender; and on the other hand the Soltana Zer-o-mah, the principal consort, shewed herself with a sabre in her hand, at the head of a number of Tartarian and Habeshinian female slaves, armed. The Grandees of the Kingdom meanwhile disagreeing likewise, tumult and war were making their appearance in every part of the city; and God knows how far the flames of civil dissension might have spread, had not Seyd Morteza, the principal General of the troops, vigorously interposed. By his mediation, and the able management of his two agents, Madina and Enganna, two brother Brahmans, who had his confidence, all the Grandees and Ministers agreed to confer the Crown on Soltan Abool-hassen, and to reject Seyd Ahmed, who was vanquished and driven away. But the tumults and dissensions did not end here.