The Nāṣirī Generations 160: XXI. SULTAN ’ALA-UD-DIN, UTSUZ, SON OF SULTAN ’ALA-UD-DIN, AL-HUSAIN, JAHAN-SOZ.
Tabakat-i-Nasiri 160
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XXI. SULTAN ’ALA-UD-DIN, UTSUZ, SON OF SULTAN ’ALA-UD-DIN, AL-HUSAIN, JAHAN-SOZ.
160.1
Sultan ’Ala-ud-Din, Utsuz, was the son of Sultan ’Ala-ud-Din, Husain, Jahan-soz, and was left by his father [at his death] very young in years; and he had grown up in the service of the two Sultans, Ghiyas-ud-Din, and Mu’izz-ud-Din, but served the greater portion of his service at the court of Ghaznin with Sultan Mu’izz-ud-Din. The chronicler relates after this manner, that, upon one occasion, Sultan Mu’izz-ud-Din was attacked by the cholic, to such degree that people had given up all hope of his recovery. The Amirs of Ghur agreed together, in secret, on this matter, that, if the Sultan should unfortunately die, they would raise Sultan ’Ala-ud-Din, Utsuz, to the throne of Ghaznin. Almighty God sent the draught of health from that dispensary, whence “indeed, when I am sick He healeth me,” to Sultan Mu’izz-ud-Din, and he recovered.
160.2
Certain informers made the Sultan acquainted with this circumstance, and this compact; and he commanded that it was necessary that ’Ala-ud-Din should be removed from the court of Ghaznin lest, through the wrath of humanity, odium might chance to touch him. ’Ala-ud-Din proceeded to the court of Bamian to his uncle’s sons; and [at that time] the throne of Bamian had passed to Sultan Baha-ud-Din, Sam, son of Sultan Shams-ud-Din, son of Malik Fakhr-ud-Din, Mas’ud. After he [Utsuz] had proceeded thither, they treated him with reverence, and the district of Nae of Bamian was assigned to his charge. After some time his [Utsuz’s] daughter was given [in marriage] to his [Sultan, Baha-ud-Din’s] eldest son, Malik ’Ala-ud-Din, Muhammad, as will subsequently be, please God, recorded in the Section on the Maliks of Bamian.
160.3
The course of the days allotted to the extent of the dominion of the Sultans, Ghiyas-ud-Din and Mu’izz-ud-Din, having run their course, and Sultan Baha-ud-Din, Sam, having likewise died, Malik ’Ala-ud-Din, Utsuz, proceeded from the court of Bamian to the presence of Sultan Muhammad, Khwarazm Shah, to solicit assistance to enable him to obtain possession of the dominion of Ghur and the throne of Firuz-koh. He was treated with great honour there, and received the most princely usage, and the Amirs of Khurasan, such as Ulugh Khan-i-’Abi-Muhammad, Malik Shams-ud-Din, Utsuz [the Hajib], and the Majd-ul-Mulk, Wazir of Marw, with the whole of the troops of Upper Khurasan were directed to afford assistance to Malik ’Ala-ud-Din, Utsuz, in possessing himself of the territories of Ghur. Sultan Mahmud advanced out of Firuz-koh to meet them and overthrow their forces, as has been previously recorded; and they [the Khwarazmi nobles] retired, and again resumed their duties in the service of Sultan Muhammad, Khwarazm Shah. Matters continued in this wise until after the assassination of Sultan Mahmud, when Malik Khan of Hirat, the Amir-i-Hajib, and [Malik] ’Ala-ud-Din, Utsuz, from Bust, and the forces of Khurasan, advanced towards Firuz-koh; and they placed Ala-ud-Din, Utsuz, on the throne of Ghur, and Malik Khan of Hirat again retired.
160.4
The Maliks and Amirs of Ghur submitted to Sultan Ala-ud-Din, Utsuz; but hostility showed itself between him and the Turk Amirs of Ghaznin, and Malik Taj-ud-Din, Yal-duz, and Mu’ayyid-ul-Mulk, Muhammad-i-Abdullah, Sistani, who was the Wazir of Ghaznin, and in pomp like a sovereign, encountered Sultan Ala-ud-Din, Utsuz, in the limits of Kidan and the Margh-i-Nulah, in battle, and the army of Ghaznin was defeated and overthrown. Sultan Ala-ud-Din, Utsuz, was a just monarch, learned, and a patron of learned men; and the Kitab-i-Mas’udi, on ecclesiastical jurisprudence, he knew by heart. In the promotion of ’Ulama [theologians], and the bringing up of the families of men of learning, he used to do his utmost, and every one among the sons of ’Ulama, whom he continued to find diligent and persevering, he was accustomed to honour with his benevolent regard. When he ascended the throne he set at liberty Malik Ala-ud-Din, Muhammad, from the fortress of Ashiyar of Gharjistan; but, on account of his killing 'Umr-i-Shalmati, the Sultan again shut him up within the walls of the fortress of Balarwan.
160.5
Sultan Ala-ud-Din, Utsuz, reigned for a period of four years, until Malik Nasir-ud-Din, Husain, the Amir-i-Shikar [Chief-Huntsman], brought an army from Ghaznin against him, and a battle took place between them in the centre of Ghur, within the limits of Jarmas. The right wing of Sultan ’Ala-ud-Din, Utsuz's, army was commanded by Malik Kutb-ud-Din, Husain, son of 'Ali, son of Abi-’Ali, who attacked the left wing of Malik Nasir-ud-Din, Husain's, troops, and overthrew and routed [that portion of] the Ghaznin forces, and pursued the fugitives [off the field]. Malik Nasir-ud-Din, Husain, [with his centre] charged the centre of the Sultan’s army, and wounded him with his spear, and a Turk among the troops of Ghaznin smote the Sultan on the head with his mace in such wise that both his august eyes exuded from their sockets and he fell down from his horse. Malik Nasir-ud-Din, Husain, remained on horseback over the head of the Sultan, when Malik Kutb-ud-Din, Husain, returned from the pursuit of the routed left wing of the Ghaznin army, and charged Malik Nasir-ud-Din, Husain, and again recovered the [wounded] Sultan, and conveyed him towards the district of Sangah, and on the way the Sultan was received into the Almighty’s mercy. They buried him by the side of his kindred, the Maliks of the family of the Shansabanis.
160.6
Sultan ’Ala-ud-Din, Utsuz, reigned for a period of four years and a little over; and, after his death, his sons became dispersed. One of them, Malik Fakhr-ud-Din, Mas’ud, went into Gharjistan to the castle of Siya-Khanah and there he remained for some time; another, Malik Nasir-ud-Din, Muhammad, went to the fortress of Bindar [or Pindar], in Upper Gharjistan, and long continued there. The youngest son, Jamshed by name, during the troubles of the infidel Mughals, entered into the district of Hariw-ar-Rud, and, in the Darah of Khisht-Ab he was martyred [by Mughals]. Those two elder sons of the Sultan, through the calumny of Malik Khan of Hirat, received martyrdom at the hands of the slaves of Sultan Muhammad, Khwarazm Shah. They strove greatly, and strained every nerve; but, as it was not the Divine will, neither one of them attained unto sovereignty.