The Nāṣirī Generations 128: X. SULTAN ’ALA-UD-DIN, MUHAMMAD, SON OF TAKISH, KHWARAZM SHAH.
Tabakat-i-Nasiri 128
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X. SULTAN ’ALA-UD-DIN, MUHAMMAD, SON OF TAKISH, KHWARAZM SHAH.
128.1.1
Sultan ’Ala-ud-Din, Muhammad, had five sons; the first, Har-roz Shah; the second, Ghuri Shanasti; the third, Jalal-ud-Din, Mang-barni ; the fourth, Arzalu Shah ; and the fifth, ‘Ali Sultan. He was a great and potent monarch, wise, valiant, munificent, a patron of the learned, a conqueror, and impetuous ; and, whatever qualifications it was desirable a great sovereign and just ruler should possess, the Almighty had endowed him with. During the lifetime of his father, he bore the title of Kutb-ud-Din ; and, when his brother, Malik Khan, died, his father conferred upon him the throne of Nishapur, and Malik Sharaf-ud-Din, Mas’ud-i-Hasan, was appointed to be his Ata-bak or governor ; and, after some time, the command of the forces of Khwarazm was conferred upon him. On the side of his mother, likewise, he was a prince of [the house of] Kifchak and very great, his mother being the daughter of Kadr Khan of Kifchak ; and, from the days of his boyhood, the marks of intelligence and cleverness shone clearly and conspicuously on his brow. Every expedition on which his father sent him, in the direction of Jund and Turkistan, he brought to such a successful issue as was desirable, in fact even a better than could have been anticipated.
128.1.2
At the period when death overtook his father, Sultan Takish, Muhammad was absent in the direction of Jund and Turkistan, and, when he obtained information of that circumstance, he returned to Khwarazm, and assumed the throne; and, in the year 595 H., he brought the dominions of his father under his own jurisdiction. He conferred the throne of Nishapur upon his brother, ’Ali Shah, as has been already stated; and despatched an envoy to the Courts of Ghur and Ghaznin, and sought for peace; and I, Minhaj-i-Saraj, heard from one of the trustworthy [persons] of the Maliks of Ghur the statement, that one of the messages and requests of Sultan Muhammad was this; — "I, Muhammad-i-Takish, who am their servant, make this request, that the Sultans would be pleased to accept my services; and, although I am not possessed of the worthiness of being a son, it behoveth that the Sultan-i-Ghazi, Mu’izz-ud-Din, Muhammad-i-Sam, should take to wife my mother, Khudawandah-i-Jahan, and that he should accept me, Muhammad-i-Takish, as his son and servant, in order also that I, his servant, may, by the name on the coin of that august monarch, and the Khutbah of that sovereign of exalted dignity, conquer the whole world; and, for the servants of the Court of the Sultans—the asylum of the world—draw the sword, and become one of those servants.”
128.1.3
When this overture had been delivered, the purport coincided with the inclinations of Sultan Ghiyas-ud-Din, but did not accord with the sentiments of Sultan Mu’izz-ud-Din [the person chiefly interested], and he declined to ratify it. The latter Sultan assembled his troops, and marched into Khurasan, and subdued the whole of that territory; but, when he subsequently set out on his return, Sultan Muhammad brought an army, and again recovered Khurasan. Whenever the Sultans of Ghur [and Ghaznin] used to march into Khurasan, Sultan Muhammad used to retire [as they advanced] to the distance of two or three marches before them; and when they fell back he would follow them up at the distance of two or three marches. In short, he never sustained a complete overthrow, and he used to give proofs of his skill and bravery; but, as those Sultans were monarchs of great power and magnificence, he was unable to cope with them effectually. When the Sultans of Ghur died, Sultan Muhammad, Khwarazm Shah, appeared before the gates of Hirat and Malik 'Izz-ud-Din, Husain-i-Kharmil, came out and paid homage to him; and the Sultan brought all Khurasan under his sway. When, by his command, Husain-i-Kharmil was seized by his troops, a Khwajah of Hirat, named Sa'd-ud-Din, a native of Tirmiz, succeeded in getting away from the [Khwarazmi] army, and threw himself into the city, and, for a period of eleven months, he continued to hold the place.
128.1.4
The Khwarazmi army, by a contrivance devised by Husain-i-Kharmil, dammed up the water of the river of Hirat above the city, and all round became like unto a sea ; and matters assumed such an aspect, that, if the city had not been entirely surrounded by walls, the water, which rose higher than the housetops, would have overwhelmed it. As it was, upon one or two occasions the ground opened in the middle of the city, and water issued forth from the midst, but it was diverted [and the danger obviated]. For a period of eight months hostilities continued between the defenders of the city and the Khwarazmi forces in boats ; and, when eleven months of the investment had passed, Sultan Muhammad-i-Takish arrived from Khwarazm, and gave directions that the dyke [which kept the water in] should be opened ; and, when the water flowed out, it carried along with it about three hundred ells of the walls of the city, and a breach was thereby effected; and, after fifteen days’ fighting, the city was taken by assault.
128.1.5
After this success the Sultan marched to Balkh, and gained possession of that place likewise; and Malik ’Imad-ud-Din, ’Umr, Fiwari [native of Fiwar], who was governor of the province of Balkh, on the part of the Sultans of Bamian, was sent away [as a prisoner] to Khwarazm. From thence the Sultan set out towards Mawar-un-Nahr and Turkistan; and the whole of the Maliks and Sultans of the Afrasiyabi dynasty, who held territory in the countries of Mawar-un-Nahr and Farghanah, presented themselves before him. He then turned his face towards Kulij Khan of Khita-i, and, throughout the territories of Khita-i and the country of Turkistan, as far as Bilasa-ghun and Kashghar, the Khutbah was read for him, and the coin was impressed with his name. The forces of Khita-i, which, in point of numbers, were beyond account and computation, advanced to encounter him. At the head of these forces was Baniko of Taraz, a Turk of great age and wisdom, but victorious in battle. He had fought forty-five engagements, in the whole of which he had been victorious; and he had defeated Sultan Sanjar, son of Malik Shah, and overthrown Sultan Mu'izz-ud-Din, Muhammad-i-Sam, before Andkhud; and, at this time, he was at the head of that army. When the battle ensued, Sultan Muhammad received divine succour and heavenly assistance, and overthrew the host of Khita-i, and took Baniko of Taraz prisoner, and he was converted to the true faith by means of the Sultan himself, and was treated with respect and honour.
128.1.6
A reliable person among the trustworthy has related, that, when Baniko of Taraz became a Musalman, Sultan Muhammad was wont to show him great deference and respect, and used constantly to send for him, and was in the habit of questioning him respecting the past events [in the history] of Khita-i, and the previous Maliks [kings] who had fought with him in the forty-five encounters he had been engaged in, the whole of which the Sultan made inquiry about of him. Upon one occasion, when engaged in such conversation, the Sultan inquired of him, saying:— "In all these battles which you have fought, and amid the monarchs you have defeated, which among the whole of them was the most valiant and the sturdiest in battle?" Baniko replied:— "I found none more valiant, more impetuous in battle, or more intrepid than the Ghuri; and, if he had had an army along with him refreshed and not worn out, I should never have been able to beat him; but, he had retreated before the army of Khwarazm, and but a small number of cavalry remained with him, and their horses had become thin and weak." Sultan Muhammad replied:— "You speak truly." The mercy of God be upon them! Sultan Muhammad having gained such a great success, the second year after, again assembled an army, and led a force of 400,000 effective cavalry, both horses and riders arrayed in defensive armour, into Khita-i, and completely overthrew Gur Khan, who was the Great Khan of [Kara] Khita. The whole of the horses, camels, and other
128.1.7
from all parts hastened to tender their masters’ submission; and it was at this period that disaffection showed itself at Jund among the remaining vassals of Kadir Khan, and therefore Sultan Muhammad did not rest long at his capital, but put his forces in motion and marched to Jund. After exterminating those rebels, Sultan ’Usman and his family took up their residence in Khwarazm; and some authors state that he was soon after, in the year 609 H., put to death. Having disposed of the affairs of Jund, information reached the Sultan that 30,000 of Gur Khan’s troops had appeared before Samrkand, and invested the city. The Khita-i forces used their utmost endeavours to take it, but their incessant attacks were of no avail. The Sultan was hastening his preparations to relieve it, when the Khita-i forces were recalled to act against Kojlak, the Naeman, who was now making head again. The Sultan marched to Samrkand, and, having been joined by additional forces from various parts, set out from Samrkand against A’nak [or I’nak or Ighnak?], the ruler of which was in alliance with Gur Khan. He had been summoned to submit to the Sultan upon very favourable terms, but, trusting to the strength of his fortress, refused. A force was detached against him, and he was compelled to submit.
128.2.1
The Sultan, who had heard of Kojlak’s successes, became more ambitious than ever, and Kojlak entered into secret negotiations with him, and incited him to another invasion of Gur Khan’s territory. The agreement was, that whoever could first dispossess Gur Khan of the territories of Kashghar and Khutan as far as the Jihun should have them; and, in case the Sultan did so, Kojlak was to have the remainder. Gur Khan, having obtained information respecting the Sultan’s movements, also prepared to oppose him. The Sultan had traitors also in his camp. Two of his great vassals, the governor of Samrkand, and the Asfahed [also written Asfahed, the title borne by the Maliks of Tabaristan and Rustamdar], despatched agents to Gur Khan secretly, and offered to desert the Sultan with their troops on the day of battle, if, in case of success, the former should have Khwarazm and the latter Khurasan assigned to him as the price of his treachery. This was guaranteed; and on the day of the engagement, when the ranks of the two armies were drawn up in array, the left wing of the Khita-is attacked the right of the Khwarazmis; and, as agreed upon, the two nobles with their troops, who appear to have been stationed in the right wing, retired from the field, and the Sultan’s right wing was forced back and broken. In the meantime, the latter’s left wing broke the right of the Khita-is and routed them, and the centres of both armies fell upon each other.
128.2.2
The wings on either side began to plunder, and neither party knew whether they were the conquerors or conquered. It was usual with the Sultan to disguise himself on the day of battle, by dressing in the costume of the enemy: and on this occasion, in the utter confusion which ensued, the centres of both armies having become disengaged from each other, the Sultan got mixed up with the enemy’s troops, and not being recognized by his attendants, for some days he was in the greatest danger in the very camp of the enemy. Finding an opportunity, however, he succeeded in getting away, reached the river of Fanakat, and restored fresh life to his troops. The news of the Sultan’s disappearance, however, had spread into all parts of his dominions. Some said he had been killed, some that he had been cattle, baggage, and followers of the army of Khita-i were captured, and the Great Khan retreated discomfited before him. Suddenly Kashlu Khan, the Tatar, who had come from Turkistan, fell upon Gur Khan, attacked him, and made him captive; and the whole of the dominions of Khita were left in the possession of Sultan Muhammad-i- Takish. The Sultan of Samrkand, and the Afrasiyabi Sultans, he directed should be removed from Samrkand, and some of them were martyred.
128.2.3
From thence [Samrkand?] Sultan Muhammad advanced into ’Irak, and the territories of ’Irak, Azarbaijan, and Fars fell into his hands. He took the Ata-bak Sa’d captive in battle, as has already been stated, and the Ata-bak Yuz-bak was likewise put to flight. He placed his son, Sultan Rukn-ud-Din, styled Ghuri Shanasti, on the throne of ’Irak, and appointed Ulugh Khan-i-Abi Muhammad, his Ata-bak and Lieutenant; and the Maliks of Ghur were directed to proceed into that territory. Sultan Muhammad now left ’Irak, and set out on his return to Mawar-un-Nahr; but, turning suddenly off from the banks of the river Jazar he pushed on towards Bamian, and, suddenly and unawares, pounced upon Sultan Jalal-ud-Din ’Ali, son of Sam, ruler of Bamian, seized him, and martyred him, and then returned [to Khwarazm].
128.2.4
In the year 612 H., Sultan Muhammad advanced from Mawar-un-Nahr and came to Ghaznin. and suddenly and unexpectedly possessed himself of the Ghaznin territories likewise. Sultan Taj-ud-Din, Yal-duz, retired towards Hindustan by the way of Sang-i-Surakh; and the countries of Ghaznin, Zawulistan, and Kabul, as far as the banks of the Sind, came under the jurisdiction of the Khwarazmi nobles. The Khan-salar [the Sewer of the imperial household], Kuriz, was stationed at Ghaznin: and the countries of Ghur, Ghaznin, the Bilad-i-Dawar [Zamin-i-Dawar], Jarum, and the throne of the two Sultans, Ghiyas-ud-Din, and Mu’izz-ud-Din, sons of Muhammad-i-Sam, was conferred, by the Sultan, upon his eldest son, Sultan Jalal-ud-Din, Mang-barni, after which he himself returned to Mawar-un-Nahr. In the year 615 H., he pushed on towards Turkistan in pursuit of Kadr Khan, who was the son of Yusuf the Tatar, and penetrated as far as Yighur [I-ghur] of Turkistan, so far to the north, that he came under the North Pole, and reached a tract where the light of twilight did not disappear at all from the sight; and, to the vision, in the direction of the north, the glow seemed merely to incline [change over] from the west to the east, and the light of dawn appeared and the day broke.
128.2.5
The matter was accordingly referred to the ’Ulama and Muftis of Bukhara respecting the obligation to repeat the last prayer at night, [question being asked] to this effect: — As the light of twilight did not disappear at all, whether the prayer before sleep was necessary or not? They, with one accord, wrote a reply, that the prayer before sleep was not necessary, when the prescribed time for it could not be found with the people inhabiting such regions. Kadr Khan, the Tatar, having in this expedition been overcome, the calamity of the infidels of Chin arose, and the darkness of the night of sedition and tumult showed its head from the mantle-collar of actuality, and was the beginning of dire misfortunes to the true faith, and the commencement of calamities and afflictions upon the Muhammadan people. That circumstance occurred after this manner:—Chingiz Khan, the Mughal, had a son, the eldest of all his sons, Tushi by name. At this time, this Tūshī, by command of Chingiz Khān, his father, had come out of the territory of Chīn, in pursuit of an army of Tātārs, and Sulṭān Muḥammad, from Māwar-un-Nahr and Khurāsān, had likewise pushed on in the same direction; and the two armies fell in with each other.
128.2.6
A battle ensued between them, and the fighting, slaughter, struggle, and conflict, continued and was maintained from the beginning of the day until the time of evening prayer, and the ranks of both the armies assumed the form of a circle. The right wing of the Musalman forces routed the left wing of the infidels, and pursued after them; while the right wing of the Mughal infidels routed the left wing of the army of Islam and pursued it, and, in this manner, the armies assumed the form of a circle. This battle was maintained from the dawn of day; and, when night came, the two armies separated from each other, and withdrew to a short distance. There was a small stream of water between them; and the two armies halted, facing each other, on the banks of that stream and bivouacked. When the morning broke [it was found] that the Mughal army had marched away. They had lighted great fires, and had decamped, and left them burning. Sultan Muhammad having thus witnessed and beheld with his own eyes, in this encounter, the warlike feats, the activity, and the efforts of the Mughal forces, the next day retired from that place; and fear and dread of them took possession of his heart and mind, and he never again came against them. This was one of the causes of the miseries and troubles which befell the people of Islam.
128.2.7
The second reason was this. When Chingiz Khan broke out into revolt in the land of Chin, and Tamghaj, and the Greater Turkistan, and Altun Khan of Tamghaj, who was sovereign of Upper Turkistan, and the lineal monarch of Kara Khita-i, was overcome by him, and the territories of Tamghaj, Tingit, and Yighur [I-ghur], and Tatar, all fell into his hands; the news of these successes having come to the hearing of Sultan Muhammad, his mind became filled with ambition [for the possession] of Chin, and he became desirous of obtaining authentic information respecting the forces of the Mughals, and the condition of Chingiz Khan. Accordingly, the most excellent Sayyid, Baha-ud-Din, Razi, with a party of other persons, were despatched on a mission to Chin; and, when these agents reached that country, Chingiz Khan sent trustworthy and confidential persons of his own, bearing numerous rarities as presents to Sultan Muhammad.
128.2.8
I heard from the Sayyid Baha-ud-Din — the mercy of the Almighty be upon him ! — [who said : — ] When we reached the presence of Chingiz Khan, the accursed, the Wazir of Tamghaj, and the son and the uncle of Altun Khan, were brought in, and we were summoned. Then, turning his face towards them, Chingiz said : — ‘ Behold, my affairs and my sovereignty have attained to such a pitch of grandeur. that the monarch of the [empire of the] setting sun has sent envoys unto me. In short,' said the Sayyid, 'when he sent us away, he requested that envoys on both sides, and merchants, and karwans, should constantly come and go, and bring and take away with them choice descriptions of arms, cloths, and stuffs, and other articles of value and elegance of both empires; and that between the two monarchs a permanent treaty should be maintained.'
128.3.1
He despatched merchants along with the envoys of Sultan Muhammad, with about five hundred camel-loads of gold, silver, silks, and targhu [a description of woven silk of a red colour], together with other precious and valuable commodities, that they might trade with them. They entered the territory of Islam by way of Utrar. At that place, there was a governor named Kadr Khan, and he sent an account to Sultan Muhammad respecting the importance and value of the merchandize; and solicited permission from him, in a perfidious manner, to stop the party of merchants. Having obtained permission to do so, he seized the envoys and the whole of the merchants, and slew them, and took possession of all their property, and sent it to the Sultan's presence. Of that party, there was one person, a camel-driver, who had gone to one of the [public] hot baths, and he succeeded in making his escape by way of the fire-place. He, having taken to the wilds, returned back to Chin, and made Chingiz acquainted with the perfidious conduct of Kadr Khan of Utrar and the slaughter of the party. Chingiz Khan prepared to take revenge; and he caused the forces of Chin and Turkistan to be got ready for that purpose. Trustworthy persons have related, that, at the place where he then was, seven hundred banners were brought forth, and under every banner one thousand horsemen were arrayed. Every ten horsemen were directed to take with them three dried Mughal sheep, and an iron cauldron; and he set out on his way.
128.3.2
From the place where Chingiz was at this period, to the boundary of Utrar, was a three months’ journey through the wilderness; and, along with his hosts, he despatched horses, mares, and geldings, without number, to supply them with milk, and for riding. The journey through the wilds was got over in a short time, and he issued forth on the Utrar frontier; and that fortress and city was taken, and the whole of the inhabitants were martyred. From thence Chingiz Khan marched towards Bukhara; and, on the day of the Festival of the Sacrifice, 10th of the month Zi-Hijjah, in the year 616 H., he captured the city, and martyred the whole of the inhabitants, put the ’Ulama to the sword, and gave the libraries of books to the flames. They have related that the Imam-zadah, Rukn-ud-Din—the mercy of the Almighty be upon him!—when they were martyring him, repeated the following lines:— “I said, that my heart said, ‘It is murder committed by us.’ I said, my soul said, that ‘It is the carrier away of us.’ I said, that ‘Thy powerful dog has fallen on me.’ It [my soul?] said, ‘Thou shouldst not draw breath, for it is brought upon ourselves.’”
128.3.3
Chingiz Khan, after the catastrophe of the city of Bukhara, marched towards Samrkand, in which city Sultan Muhammad, Khwarazm Shah, had stationed 60,000 horse, fully equipped and furnished, consisting of different races of Turks, Ghuris, and Khurasanis, together with the Maliks and troops of Ghur, who were all included among that body of troops. After a few days, on the 10th of the month of Muharram, 617 H., Samrkand was also captured, and the whole of the inhabitants were martyred. When the accounts of these disasters came to the hearing of Sultan Muhammad, the forces, then along with him before the gates of Balkh, consisted almost entirely of Tatar and Khita-i troops, whilst his own old soldiers and vassals had been left behind by him in Mawar-un-Nahr; and those people, on whom the most implicit trust and confidence could be placed, were also all away in those parts. The troops who were along with him [now] conspired together to seize him, and to make that act of perfidy and treachery the means of their own deliverance; and, having seized the Sultan, to take him and deliver him over as an offering to Chingiz Khan!
128.3.4
One of the party, however, presented himself before Sultan Muhammad, and told him all about the plot. The Sultan kept his own counsel; and, at night, he left the camp, in order to test beyond a doubt the perfidy of the conspirators. At midnight the party drew near to the imperial pavilion, formed a cordon about it, and completely surrounded it. Not finding him within the tent, they came upon the camp at that untimely hour, and the whole army fell into utter disorder and confusion. Sultan Muhammad was forced to fly, and set out towards Nishapur, and wrote mandates to the Amirs and Maliks in every part of his dominions, commanding them to put the fortresses of Khwarazm, Ghur, Khurasan, and ’Irak in a posture of defence; and throughout the empire of Islam disorder and tumult arose.
128.3.5
Chingiz Khan, having received information of the disorganization and dissolution of the army of Sultan Muhammad, after the capture of Samrkand, nominated a force of 60,000 Mughal horse, which was placed under the command of two Mughals, chiefs of high rank, one of whom was Yamah Nu-in, and the other Sahudah Bahadur, to proceed in pursuit of the Sultan. When this force had passed over the river [Jihun], the Sultan retired from Nishapur, and set out towards Mazandaran, and his camp was pitched at the top of the Darah or Pass of Tamishah, when the Mughal troops came upon him. The Sultan was obliged to fly from thence, and entered the hills on foot, and got away; and, going from one range of hills to another, entered Mazandaran. The son of the chief of Mazandaran, who had joined him, was in attendance on the Sultan, and his own son, Sultan Jalal-ud-Din, Mang-barni, was also with him. Sultan Muhammad embarked on the Sea of Khurz [the Caspian], and for a considerable time he continued on an island therein, in distress and affliction.
128.3.6
The Mughal troops, not finding the Sultan in the province of Mazandaran, passed out of it, and entered 'Irak, on which Sultan Muhammad, with the few horsemen who still continued with him, left the island; but he was prostrated with disease of the bowels, and melancholy supervened, and he became quite out of his mind. He urged his son, Sultan Jalal-ud-Din, Mang-barni, saying: — “Endeavour to take me to Khwarazm; for from thence was the commencement of our dominion.” These lines, also, he often repeated: — “When men become distracted about their own affairs, Than that, it will be better that the thread of life were sever’d.” When his disease increased, he was totally unable to ride on horseback, and camels were procured for him; and he was placed in a camel-litter, and they sent him off towards Khwarazm. He died on the road, in the year 617 H.: and Sultan Jalal-ud-Din brought his father’s remains to Khwarazm, and buried them by the side of Sultan Takish, his father. Sultan Muhammad’s reign extended over a period of twenty-one years. May the mercy of God and His pardon be on him!