The Nāṣirī Generations 152.1
Tabakat-i-Nasiri 152.1
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152.1.1
Trustworthy persons have stated, after the following manner, that Sultan Ghiyas-ud-Din, and his brother, Sultan Mu'izz-ud-Din, were both born of one mother; and that Ghiyas-ud-Din was the elder of Mu'izz-ud-Din by three years and a little more. Their mother was the daughter of Malik Badr-ud-Din, Kidani, both of the lineage of Banji, son of Naharan, and also of the seed of the Shansabanis. The Malikah, their mother, used to call Ghiyas-ud-Din [by the name of] Habashi; and Mu'izz-ud-Din, Zangi; but, originally, the august name of Ghiyas-ud-Din was Muhammad, and the name of Mu'izz-ud-Din was also Muhammad. In the dialect of Ghur they call Muhammad, Ahmad. When Malik Baha-ud-Din, Sam, died within the limits of Kidan, and Sultan ’Ala-ud-Din, Husain, ascended the throne of Firuz-koh, he commanded that his two nephews, Ghiyas-ud-Din and Mu’izz-ud-Din, should be imprisoned in the fortress of Wajiristan, and fixed but a small allowance for the supply of their wants. When Sultan ’Ala-ud-Din departed from this world, Sultan Saif-ud-Din directed that they should be released from that fortress, and he allowed them entire liberty of action. Ghiyas-ud-Din took up his residence at the Court of Firuz-koh in amity with Sultan Saif-ud-Din, and Mu’izz-ud-Din, his brother, proceeded to Bamian to the presence of his paternal uncle, Malik Fakhr-ud-Din, Mas’ud.
152.1.2
Ghiyas-ud-Din accompanied Sultan Saif-ud-Din, serving along with the army, on the expedition against the Ghuzz tribe ; but he had, however, but a small following through want of means and scantiness of resources ; but every one, among the old servants of his father and of his mother, used clandestinely to afford him some little help.
152.1.3
Ghiyas-ud-Din continued always in the service of Sultan Saif-ud-Din up to the time when the heavenly decree arrived, and Sultan Saif-ud-Din was removed from the throne of life imperial to the bier of premature death ; and the army of Ghur, discomfited, came out of the district of Rud-bar and the borders of Dajzak towards Gharjistan by way of Asir Darah and La-wir [or Lu-ir ?], and passed beyond Afshin, which was the capital of the Shars of Gharjistan ; and, when they reached the town of Wadawajzd, the Sipah-salar, Abu-l-’Abbas, son of Shis, who had unhorsed Sultan Saif-ud-Din with his spear, there presented himself in the presence of Ghiyas-ud-Din; and such of the most powerful and illustrious personages, and the Amirs and Maliks of the troops of Ghur and Gharjistan as were present, he assembled and brought together, and they all gave their allegiance to the sovereignty and dominion of Ghiyas-ud-Din, and they raised him to the throne, and congratulated him on his accession to the supreme power. Command was given to erect a castle there [where this occurred], and up to this time, wherein the calamity of the infidel Mughals arose, that town and castle was inhabited. From thence they conducted him to the city of Firuz-koh, and, when they reached the city, they placed Ghiyas-ud-Din on the throne.
152.1.4
Previously to this, his title was Shams-ud-Din; and his brother’s, Shihab-ud-Din; but, after he had been on the throne some time, his own title was changed to Sultan Ghiyas-ud-Din; and, after the successes in Khurasan, his brother Malik Shihab-ud-Din’s title became Sultan Mu’izz-ud-Din. When his brother, Mu’izz-ud-Din, became cognizant of his brother Ghiyas-ud-Din’s situation, he proceeded to the presence of his uncle, Malik Fakhr-ud-Din, Mas’ud, and asked his permission, and came to Firuz-koh, and he was invested with the office of Sar-i-Jandar [or chief armour-bearer], and he used to be always in attendance on his brother, Sultan Ghiyas-ud-Din. The territory of Istiah and Kajuran were entrusted to his charge.
152.1.5
When the [Sultan's] pavilion was brought out of the city of Firuz-koh, and conveyed towards Ghur, the contumacious of Ghur began to manifest opposition. The Sipah-salar, Abu-l-'Abbas, son of Shis, who had raised him to the throne, possessed great authority and influence, and the refractory of Ghur used to shelter themselves under his protection. Both the brothers continued to nourish revenge in their hearts against him [Abu-l-'Abbas], on account of his having killed their cousin, Sultan Saif-ud-Din, and they both concerted a design [against him]. It was determined between them, that one of their own immediate Turkish followers should carry it out [in the following manner]:—When Abu-l-'Abbas should enter the audience-hall, and should stand up in the assembly to make his obeisance, and Sultan Mu’izz-ud-Din should raise his hand to his cap, the Turk should strike off Abu-l-'Abbas’ head; and such was done.
152.1.6
After Abu-l-’Abbas had been put to death, Ghiyas-ud-Din acquired strength, and the grandeur of the realm increased. The uncle of the brothers, Malik Fakhr-ud-Din, Mas’ud, of Bamian, being the eldest of the seven Sultan brothers, and there being neither one of them remaining [but himself], he became ambitious of acquiring the territory of Ghur and the throne of Firuz-koh. Malik 'Ala-ud-Din, Kimaj [a noble] of the Sanjari dynasty, who was Malik [ruler] of Balkh, he sought aid from, and despatched envoys to Malik Taj-ud-Din, Yal-duz, of Hirat, and asked assistance from him also. Subsequently, the troops of Bamian and the forces of Balkh and of Hirat advanced from different directions towards Firuz-koh. Malik Fakhr-ud-Din, Mas’ud, of Bamian, being the uncle of the Sultans, and there being a great number of the Amirs of Ghur in his service, and he claiming the territory of Ghur by right of heritage, set out at first, and Malik ’Ala-ud-Din, Kimaj, the Amir [ruler] of Balkh, began to follow after him, at the distance of some leagues, by the route of Upper Gharjistan, while Malik Taj-ud-Din, Yal-duz, marched to Firuz-koh with his army from Hirat, it being the nearest route by way of the Hariw-ar-Rud or valley of the Hari river.
152.1.7
Sultan Ghiyas-ud-Din and Mu'izz-ud-Din came out of Firuz-koh, and proceeded to a place which is called Ragh-i-Zarir [the Zarir plain] and the forces of Ghur there assembled around them. Taj-ud-Din, Yal-duz, of Hirat, used the utmost expedition, being ambitious of this, that perhaps the capture of Firuz-koh and the destruction of the Ghurian army might be achieved by him. When he arrived near to the position of the Ghurian forces, and both armies confronted each other, and preparations were being made for coming to action, so that only about the distance of half-a-league intervened between them, and the ranks of either army could be seen by the other, two Ghurian warriors from the midst of the army formed a compact, and came to the front of the [marshalled] ranks, and presented themselves before the Sultan, dismounted from their horses, and, bowing their faces to the ground, said, “We two your servants will disperse the army of Hirat;” so by command they mounted, and, rousing both their horses, they drew their swords, and, like the fierce blast, and the flying cloud, they approached towards the ranks of the Turks of Hirat, crying out, “Where is Malik Yal-duz? We seek Malik Yal-duz!”
152.1.8
Malik Taj-ud-Din, Yal-duz, was standing beneath his canopy, and his troops all pointed towards him, so that those Ghurian warriors knew which was Yal-duz; and both of them like hungry lions and rampant elephants fell upon Yal-duz, and brought him from his horse to the ground by the wounds inflicted by their swords. When the troops of Hirat beheld this heroism, boldness, and intrepidity, they gave way and took to flight. As Almighty God had brought those two Sultans, Ghiyas-ud-Din and Mu'izz-ud-Din, beneath the shadow of His kindness, He made such a victory and triumph as this a miracle of theirs. The next day a body of horse, lightly equipped and ruthless, was nominated to proceed against the force of Kimaj of Balkh. They fell upon his army unawares, put it to flight, took Kimaj, and slew him, and brought his head to the presence of the Sultans together with his standard. Then the head of Kimaj was placed in a bag, and entrusted to a horseman’s charge, and they sent him to meet their uncle, Malik Fakhr-ud-Din, Mas’ud. The latter had arrived near at hand; and, when they [the Sultans] had despatched the head of Kimaj, they put their forces in motion to follow, and pushed on towards their uncle, Malik Fakhr-ud-Din.
152.1.9
When that horseman brought the head of Kimaj to the presence of Malik Fakhr-ud-Din he determined upon returning, and made his troops mount; and, by the time they had become ready prepared to begin their retreat, the two Sultans had come up [with their forces] and had occupied all the parts around. On reaching the place where their uncle was, Sultan Ghiyas-ud-Din and Mu’izz-ud-Din at once dismounted from their horses, and proceeded to receive him, and paid him great attention and consideration, and said, “It is necessary that your lordship should return and they conducted him to their camp and seated him on a throne, and both those sovereigns stood up before him with their hands stuck in their girdles [in token of servitude]. From this Malik Fakhr-ud-Din became filled with shame and compunction, and, overcome with humiliation, he spoke to them some words of rebuke, arose, and said, "You mock me!" They mollified him by many apologies and excuses, and accompanied him one stage, and sent him on his return back to Bamian; and the territory of Ghur was left vacant to Sultan Ghiyas-ud-Din.