The Nāṣirī Generations 35: TABAKAT XXI. · HISTORY OF THE SHAMSIYA KINGS OF HINDUSTAN. · 1. — Sultan Shamsu-d dunya wau-d din Abu-l Muzaffar Altamsh.
Tabakát-i Násirí (extracts) 35
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TABAKAT XXI. · HISTORY OF THE SHAMSIYA KINGS OF HINDUSTAN. · 1. — Sultan Shamsu-d dunya wau-d din Abu-l Muzaffar Altamsh.
35.1
It was destined from all eternity by the most high and holy God that the country of Hindustan should be placed under the protection of the great king, the light of the world and religion, Sultan Abu-l Muzaffar Altamsh. [The exordium goes on at some length in a similar inflated style of eulogy of the monarch and of Dehli his capital.] It is related by credible persons that Sultan Shamsu-d din was chosen by the destiny of Providence in his early age from the tribes of Albari in Turkistan for the sovereignty of Islam and of the dominions of Hindustan. His father, whose name was Yalam Khan, had numerous dependents, relatives, and followers in his employ. The future monarch was from his childhood remarkable for beauty, intelligence, and grace, such as excited jealousy in the hearts of his brothers, so they enticed him away from his father and mother with the pretence of going to see a drove of horses. His case was like that of Joseph: "They said, father, why dost thou not trust Joseph with us, for we are sincere friends to him? Send him with us in the morning, that he may amuse himself and sport, and we will take care of him." When they brought him to the drove of horses, they sold him to the dealer. Some say that his sellers were his cousins. The horse-dealers took him to Bukhara, and sold him to one of the relations of the chief judge of that city. For some time he remained with that great and noble family, the chiefs of which nourished and educated him like a son.
35.2
A credible person has related, that he heard in the gracious words of the king himself, that on a certain occasion one of the members of the family gave him a piece of money and ordered him to go to the bazar and buy some grapes. He went to the bazar, and on the way lost the piece of money. Being of tender age, he began to cry for fear; and while he was weeping and crying, a fakir came to him, took his hand, purchased some grapes, and gave them to him, saying: "When you obtain wealth and dominion, take care that you show respect to fakirs and pious men, and maintain their rights." He gave his promise to the fakir, and whatever fortune and power he obtained he always ascribed to the favour shewn him by that fakir. It is firmly believed that no king so benevolent, so sympathising, and so respectful to the learned and to elders as he was, ever rose by his native energy to the cradle of empire. From that noble and distinguished family, he was purchased by a merchant whose name was Haji Bukhari, and he sold him to another merchant named Jamalu-d din Chast Kaba, who brought him to Ghazni. No Turk equal to him in beauty, virtue, intelligence, and nobleness, had at that time been brought to that city. Mention of him was made before his majesty Sultan Mu'izzu-d din Muhammad Sam, who ordered that a price should be named for him.
35.3
He was coupled with another Turk named Aibak, and a thousand dinars in refined gold was fixed as the price of each, but Jamalu-d din Chast Kaba demurred to sell him for this price, so the Sultan gave orders that nobody should purchase him. After this, Jamalu-d din Chast Kaba stayed one year in Ghazni, and then went to Bukhara, carrying the future Sultan with him. After staying there three years, he again brought him back to Ghazni; but no one, for fear of the king's orders, ventured to purchase. He had been there one year, when Kutbu-d din returned to Ghaznin with Malik Nasiru-d din Husain, after the invasion of Nahrwala and the conquest of Guzerat. He heard an account of Shamsu-d din, and asked the permission of Sultan Mu'izzu-d din to purchase him. The Sultan said that orders had been passed that he should not be purchased in Ghazni, but he might take him to Dehli and buy him there. Kutbu-d din consigned to Nizamu-d din Muhammad the management of the business, and ordered him to take Jamalu-d din Chast Kaba with him to Hindustan that he might purchase Shamsu-d din there. According to these directions, Nizamu-d din brought them to Dehli, and Kutbu-d din purchased him and the other slave for one lac of chital. The other slave was a Turk, whose name was Aibak, but this was changed to Tamghaj, and he became chief of Tabarhindh. He was slain in the battle fought between Taju-d din Yalduz and Kutbu-d din. Altarash was made chief of the guards.
35.4
Kutbu-d din called him his son and kept him near his person. His rank and honour increased every day. Marks of intelligence were evident in all his actions, so he was elevated to the rank of Amir-shikar (chief huntsman). When Gwalior was taken he became amir of that place. After that he obtained the district and town of Baran and its dependencies. Some time after this, when the proofs of his energy, bravery, and heroism were fully displayed, and had been witnessed by Kutbu-d din, the country of Badaun was entrusted to him. When Sultan Mu'izzu-d din Muhammad Sam returned from Khwarizm, after being defeated in the battle of Andkhod by the armies of Khita, the Kokhar (Gakkar) tribes broke out in rebellion, and the Sultan marched against them from Ghazni. Kutbu-d din, according to his orders, brought up an army from Hindustan, and Shamsu-d din accompanied him with the forces of Badaun. In the height of the battle, Shamsu-d din rode into the stream of the Jailam, where that wretched rabble had taken refuge, and exhibited great bravery, galling the enemy so with his arrows that he overcame their resistance, and sent them from the tops of the waves into the depths of hell: "they drowned and entered the fires."
35.5
The Sultan in the midst of the battle observed his feats of daring and courage, and enquired who he was. When his majesty was enlightened upon this point he called him into his presence and honoured him with especial notice. Kutbu-d din was ordered to treat Altamsh well, as he was destined for great works. His majesty then ordered the deed of his freedom to be written out and graciously granted him his liberty. When Sultan Kutbu-d din expired at Lahore, the commander-in-chief, 'Ali Isma'il, who had charge of Dehli, joined with some other nobles and principal men, and sent letters to Badaun inviting Shamsu-d din. When he arrived he mounted the throne of Dehli in a.h. 607 (1210 a.d.) and established his authority. The Turks and the Mu'izzi chiefs assembled from all quarters in Dehli, but the Turks and Mu'izzi chiefs of that city did not join them. They resolved to try the effect of resistance, so they went out of Dehli, collected in the environs and raised the standard of revolt. Sultan Shamsu-d din marched out of Dehli with a body of horse and his own personal followers, defeated them in the plains of the Jumna and put most of their horsemen to the sword. Afterwards Sultan Taju-d din made a treaty with him from Lahore and Ghazni and sent him some insignia of royalty.
35.6
Quarrels arose several times between Sultan Shamsu-d din Altamsh and Malik Nasiru-d din Kubacha about Lahore, Tabarhindh, and Kahram; and in the year 614 (1217 a.d.) he defeated Kubacha. Hostilities also broke out at different times between him and the chiefs of various parts of Hindustan and the Turks, but as he was assisted by Divine favour, every one who resisted him or rebelled was subdued. Heaven still continued to favour him, and all the territories belonging to Dehli, Badaun, Oudh, Benares, and the Siwalik hills came into his possession. Sultan Taju-d din Yalduz having fled before the army of Khwarizm came to Lahore. A dispute arose between him and Sultan Shamsu-d din regarding the limits of their possessions, and a battle was fought between them at Narain in a.h. 612 (a.d. 1215) in which the Sultan achieved the victory, and Taju-d din Yalduz was taken prisoner. He was brought, according to orders, to Dehli and was sent to Badaun, where he was buried. After this another battle was fought in the year 614 h. (1217 A.D.) with Malik Nasiru-d din Kubacha, and he was again defeated.
35.7
Great events now occurred in Khurasan through the appearance of the Moghal Changiz Khan. In a.h. 615 (1218 a.d.) Jalalu-d din, king of Khwarizm, having fled from the army of the infidels came towards Hindustan, and some fighting followed on the frontiers of Lahore. Shamsu-d din led his forces out of Dehli towards Lahore, and Khwarizm Shah fled before the army of Hindustan and went towards Sind and Siwistan. After this, in 622 h. (1225 a.d.), Sultan Shamsu-d din carried his arms towards Lakhnauti, and Ghiyasu-d din 'Auz Khilji placed the yoke of servitude on the neck of submission and presented thirty elephants and eighty lacs of the current coin. He also ordered the Khutba to be read and the coin to be struck in the name of Shamsu-d din. In a.h. 623 (1226 a.d.) he marched to conquer the fort of Ranthambhor which is celebrated in all parts of Hindustan for its great strength and security. It is related in the Hindu histories that it had been invaded by more than seventy (haftad o and) kings, and no one had been able to take it. In the space of a few months in the year 623, through the favour of God, the fort fell into the hands of Shamsu-d din. One year after this, a.h. 624, he attacked the fort of Mandur in the Siwalik hills; there also God bestowed victory on him, and much plunder fell into the hands of his followers. After another year, in a.h. 625 (1228 A.D.), an army was sent from Dehli towards the cities of Uch and Multan.
35.8
The author of this book, Minhaj Siraj, had come from Ghor and Khurasan to Sind, Uch, and Multan, in the month of Rajab, a.h. 624. On the first of Rabi'u-l awwal, a.h. 625 (Feb. 1228), Sultan Sa'id Shamsu-d din reached the foot of the fort of Uch. Malik Nasiru-d din Kubacha had pitched his camp at the gate of the fort of Amrawat, and all his followers and baggage were in ships and boats moored in front of the camp. On Friday, after the time of prayer, some swift runners came from the direction of Multan and reported that Malik Nasiru-d din Aitamur had been detached from Lahore and had come to the fort of Multan; also that Sultan Shamsu-d din himself was marching towards Uch via Tabarhindh. Malik Nasiru-d din Kubacha fled with all his army in boats to Bhakkar, and ordered his minister, 'Ainu-l Mulk Husain Ashghari, to remove all the treasure from the fort of Uch to Bhakkar.
35.9
Sultan Shamsu-d din sent two of his principal generals in advance with an army to the walls of Uch. One of these was Malik 'Izzu-d din Muhammad Salar, lord chamberlain, and the other was Kazlak Khan Sanjar Sultani, chief of Tabarhindh. Four days after, the Sultan himself arrived at Uch with all his elephants and baggage, and pitched his tents there. He sent his minister, Nizamu-d din Muhammad Junaidi, with other nobles, in pursuit of Malik Nasiru-d din to the fort of Bhakkar. Fighting continued for one month under the walls of Uch, and on Tuesday, the 29th of Jumada-l akhir A.H. 625 (May, 1228), the place capitulated. In the same month Malik Nasiru-d din Kubacha drowned himself at the fort of Bhakkar in the waters of the Indus, having a few days before sent his son, Malik 'Alau-d din Bahram Shah to wait upon Sultan Shamsu-d din. After a few days the treasures were taken possession of, and the remaining forces of Malik Nasiru-d din entered into the service of the conqueror. All that country down to the sea shore was subdued. Malik Sinanu-d din Habsh, chief of Dewal and Sind, came and did homage to the Sultan. When the noble mind of the king was satisfied with the conquest of the country, he returned to Dehli.
35.10
The writer of this book had obtained an audience at the Court of that great and religious king on the first day his camp was pitched at Uch (may God preserve it!), and was received with favour. When his majesty returned from that fort, the compiler also came to Dehli (may God glorify it!) with the victorious army of that invincible king, and reached the city in the month of Ramazan A.H. 625 (August 1228). At this time messengers bringing splendid robes from the seat of the Khilafat reached the frontiers of Nagore, and on Monday, the 2nd of Rabi'u-l awwal A.H. 626, they arrived at the capital, and the city was adorned by their presence. The king and his chief nobles and his sons and the other nobility and servants were all honoured with robes sent from the metropolis of Islam. After great revelling and rejoicing, news arrived in Jumada-l awwal, 626 (April, 1229), of the death of Prince Sa'id Nasiru-d din Mahmud. Balka Malik Khilji had broken out in rebellion in the territories of Lakhnauti, and Sultan Shamsu-d din led thither the armies of Hindustan, and having captured the rebel, he, in A.H. 627, gave the throne of Lakhnauti to Malik 'Alau-d din Jani, and returned to his capital in the month of Rajab of the same year.
35.11
In A.H. 629 he marched for the conquest of Gwalior, and when his royal tents were pitched under the walls of the fort, Milak Deo, the accursed son of Basil the accursed, began the war. For eleven months the camp remained under the fort. In the month of Sha'ban of the same year the author of this book came to the Court from Dehli and obtained audience. He was ordered to preach in turn at the door of the royal tent. Discourses were appointed to be delivered three times every week, and during the month of Ramazan on every day. But in other months the rule of three times was observed. Ninety-five times religious assemblies were convened at the royal tents. On both 'Ids, viz. 'Id-i fitr and 'Id-i azha', the appropriate prayers were read at three different places in the army of Islam. At one of these, at the fort of Gwalior on the northern side, this well-wisher of the government, Minhaj Siraj, was ordered on the 'Id-i azha' to read the Khutba and the prayers, and was honoured with the reward of a costly khil'at. The same rule was observed until the fort was conquered, on Tuesday, the 26th of Safar A.H. 630 (November, 1232). The accursed Milak Deo went out of the fort in the night time and fled. About seven hundred persons were ordered to receive punishment at the door of the royal tent. After this, promotions were made in the ranks of the nobles and great officers.
35.12
Malik Ziau-d din Muhammad Junaidi was appointed chief justice, and the commander-in-chief Rashidu-d din (peace be to him!) was made kotwal, and Minhaj Siraj, the well-wisher of this government, was made law officer, and was entrusted with the supervision of the preaching, and of all religious, moral, and judicial affairs. Rich khil'ats and valuable largesses were distributed. May the Almighty aid the pure soul and generous heart of that most beneficent, heroic, and kind king ! His majesty started on his return from the fort on the 2nd of Rabi'u-l awwal in the same year, and pitched his tents that day at about one parasang towards Dehli from the walls of the fort. A halt of five days was made there. After he had reached the capital he sent, in A.H. 632 (1234 A.D.), the army of Islám towards Málwa and took the fort and city of Bhilsá. There was a temple there which was three hundred years in building. It was about one hundred and five gaz high. He demolished it. From thence he proceeded to Ujjain, where there was a temple of Mahá-kál, which he destroyed as well as the image of Bikramájít, who was king of Ujjain, and reigned 1316 years before this time. The Hindu era dates from his reign. Some other images cast in copper were carried with the stone image of Mahá-kál to Dehli.
35.13
In A.H. 636, he led the armies of Hindustan towards Banyan. In this journey his majesty fell sick and was obliged by his severe illness to return home. Wednesday morning, the 1st of Sha'bán, was fixed by the astrologers for his entrance into Dehli, the seat of his government, and he entered the city in a howda on the back of an elephant. His illness increased, and nineteen days after, on the 20th of Sha'bán, 633 H. (end of April, 1235), he departed from this perishable to the eternal world. The period of his reign was twenty-six years. [Lists of his judges, generals, relations, and victories, follow.]