The Nāṣirī Generations 149.1
Tabakat-i-Nasiri 149.1
- Language
- English
149.1.1
When Sultan Baha-ud-Din, Sam, son of [’Izz-ud-Din,] Al-Husain, who was marching an army against Ghaznin. in order to take revenge for [the slaying of his brothers], Sultan Suri and the Malik-ul-Jibal, died on the way thither, have occurred in the fifth month of the year 543 H. [October, 1052 A.D.], and by Fasih-i in 542 H. [October, 1051 A.D.], but, as the father only died it is said in 545 H., both cannot be correct. On the way back his brother, Sam, died of inflammation of the brain [phrensy, according to some, a tumour, or small-pox, according to others]. In the following winter Bahram returned from Hind with a numerous army and several elephants, and appeared before Ghaznin. Suri came out with 300 Ghuris and 1000 Ghuzz Turks, and endeavoured to reach Ghur, but the Ghuzz deserted to Bahram, and Suri was taken, paraded on a bullock through the city, and hung along with his Wazir. This occurred in 543 H. according to Fasih-i, but in 544 H. according to several other trustworthy authors. 'Ala-ud-Din, Husain, again marched to Ghaznin to avenge Suri, again took the city, plundered, and fired it, then abandoned it, and returned to Firuz-koh, destroying all the buildings raised by the Mahmudi family, on his way back. This is said to have taken place in 547 H., but such cannot have been the case; it must have been towards the end of 544 H., or early in 545 H., at the latest. Alfi says in 547 of the “Rihlat” [death of Muhammad, not the Hijrah], which would make it as late as 558 H.
149.1.2
Most of the authors from which the above is taken contend that ’Ala-ud-Din, Husain, was the first of the family who attained to independent sovereignty, that the dynasty consisted of five sovereigns, and continued for a period of sixty-four years. It terminated in 607 H., so must have commenced in 543 H. 'Ali, Chatri, and 'Ala-ud-Din, Husain, were defeated by Sultan Sanjar in 545 H. [some say in 544 H.], but Fasih-i says in 547 H., just before he [Sanjar] marched against the Ghuzz in 548 H., which will be referred to farther on. Fanakati says, and somewhat astonishing it is, that Husain, brother of Sam, was put to death by Bahram Shah’s orders, and he [Husain] went to Sultan Sanjar and solicited aid. Sanjar assisted him with an army and he then fought a battle with Bahram Shah, who was defeated and retreated into Hindustan. After this, the same author states—and the Jami’-ut-Tawarikh agrees—that Husain [’Ala-ud-Din] left his brother Sam in charge of Ghaznin, and returned himself to Ghur. He then agrees with the statements of other writers as to the hanging of ’Ala-ud-Din’s brother, but says it was Sam [Baha-ud-Din], not Suri, that Bahram Shah took and hung after his return from Hindustan. Husain returned, made a general massacre, and devastated the place, and 70,000 persons were slain. On this Sultan Sanjar resolved to proceed against him, and, in a battle, Husain was taken prisoner. For further particulars regarding this see page 357, and notes 2 and 3 page 358.
149.1.3
The second account is, that Husain ['Izz-ud-Din], the father of the seven sons, raised to the rulership of Ghur by Mas’ud-i-Karim, having died in 545 [540 H. ?] was succeeded by the most prominent of his sons, ’Ala-ud-Din, Husain, who rebelled against Bahram Shah, marched against Ghaznin, took it, during Bahram's absence, and set his brother, Suri, upon the throne of the Mahmudi’s. Soon after Bahram returned, and hung Suri. The remainder of the account agrees pretty well with the first. The third is, that Bahram Shah was dead before ’Ala-ud-Din reached Ghaznin the second time, and in this statement a number of the most trustworthy authorities agree, and further that Khusrau Shah, his son, had succeeded just before ’Ala-ud-Din’s advance, and, on his approach, Khusrau Shah at Kidan, Sultan ’Ala-ud-Din ascended the throne of the dominion of Ghur, and assembled the forces of Ghur, of the capital, Firuz-koh, and of Gharjistan, and determined to march against Ghaznin.
149.1.4
When Sultan Yamin-ud-Din Bahram Shah, became aware of this matter, and of his ['Ala-ud-Din’s] intention, he caused the troops of Ghaznin and of Hindustan to be got ready and organized, and led them from Rujhakh and Tigin-abad, in the district of Garmsir, towards Zamin-i-Dawar. As Sultan ’Ala-ud-Din, with his forces, had [already] reached Zamin-i-Dawar, Sultan Bahram Shah despatched envoys to him, saying, Return again to Ghur, and in thy ancestral possession remain in quietness, for thou wilt not be able to resist my forces, for I bring elephants [along with me].” The envoys having delivered the message with which they were entrusted to Sultan ’Ala-ud-Din, he replied, saying, "'If thou bringest elephants, I will bring the Kharmil; but, God knows, indeed, thou fallest into error, that thou hast put my brothers to death, and I have not slain any person belonging to thee. But hast thou not heard what Almighty God says? — “Whosoever is slain unjustly, we have given his heir, or next of kin, power [to avenge him] ; but let him not exceed bounds in putting the slayer to death, because he likewise will be assisted and avenged
149.1.5
When the envoys returned, both armies were marshalled in ranks and made ready for the conflict. Sultan 'Ala-ud-Din called unto him two Pahlawans [champions] of his own, who were the leaders of the army, and famous warriors of the kingdom of Ghur, and both of them were named Kharmil. One was Kharmil-i-Sam, Husain, father of Nasir-ud-Din, Husain-i-Kharmil ; and the other Kharmil-i-Sam, Banji ; and both of them were famed in their day for their valour and prowess. He said unto them: — “ Bahram Shah has sent a message, saying, ‘ I bring elephants [against thee] and I have sent a reply, ' If thou bringest elephants, I bring the Kharmil.' This day it behoveth that each one of you champions should overthrow and bring an elephant to the ground.” They both kissed the ground and retired [to their posts] ; and, at a place which they call Kotah-baz, the two armies came to an encounter. When the battle commenced, both these champions dismounted, fastened up the skirts of their coats of mail, and entered the fight. When the elephants of Bahram Shah made a charge, each of those champions attacked an elephant, and got beneath the armour of the animals, and, with their poniards, ripped open the bellies of the elephants. Kharmil-i-Sam, Banji, remained under his elephant, and it fell upon him, and he and the elephant perished together. Kharmil-i-Sam, Husain, brought his elephant to the ground, and got away in safety, and mounted [his horse] again.
149.1.6
When the battle was duly ordered, Sultan ’Ala-ud-Din after he had arrayed himself in all his panoply, commanded that a surcoat of crimson-coloured satin should be brought to him, and he put it on over all his armour. His kinsfolk and his intimates inquired: — “What device is this of the king’s, that he covers his armour with a crimson surcoat?” He answered: — “For this reason, that, in case my body should be wounded by arrow, lance, or sword, the redness of my blood, by means of the crimson surcoat, will not show upon my armour, so that the hearts of my followers may not become dejected.” The mercy of the Almighty be upon him ! The troops of Ghur have a method, in the practise of fighting on foot, of making a certain article of one fold of raw bullock-hide, over both sides of which they lay cotton, and over all draw figured coarse cotton cloth after the form of a screen [or breast-work], and the name of that article of defence is karwah. When the foot-soldiers of Ghur place this [screen] upon their shoulders, they are completely covered from head to foot by it; and, when they close their ranks, they appear like unto a wall, and no missile or arms can take any effect on it, on account of the quantity of cotton with which it is stuffed. When the engagement was fairly begun, Daulat Shah son of Bahram Shah, with a body of cavalry and an elephant, made a charge.
149.1.7
Sultan 'Ala-ud-Din directed that the foot-soldiers should open their rank of kar-wahs, in order to allow Daulat Shah to enter with his whole division. They opened their ranks accordingly. When Daulat Shah, with his body of horse and the elephant, entered, the infantry closed the breach in their ranks again, and completely surrounded that Prince on all sides; and he, with the whole of that body of horse, were martyred, and the elephant was brought to the ground, and also killed. When the troops of Bahram Shah witnessed that disaster and slaughter, they fell into disorder and gave way. Sultan 'Ala-ud-Din followed in pursuit, from stage to stage, as far as a place which they call Josh-i-Ab-i-Garm [the jet of hot-water], near to Tigin-abad, where Sultan Bahram Shah faced about, and a second time prepared to renew the engagement; and the whole of the forces then assembled under him again gave battle, but were defeated and put to the rout, and only stopped at the gate of Ghaznin. Sultan 'Ala-ud-Din followed in fierce pursuit, so that Bahram Shah, for the third time, assembled the troops of Ghaznin, the men of the city, and a large levy of footmen, and gave battle for the third time; but he was unable to overcome [the enemy], and was again defeated. 'Ala-ud-Din took the city of Ghaznin by storm, and, during seven nights and days, fired the place, and burnt it with obstinacy and wantonness.