The Nāṣirī Generations 198: V. SULTAN MU'IZZ-UD-DUNYA WA UD-DIN, BAHRAM SHAH SON OF THE SULTAN [I-YAL-TIMISH].
Tabakat-i-Nasiri 198
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V. SULTAN MU'IZZ-UD-DUNYA WA UD-DIN, BAHRAM SHAH SON OF THE SULTAN [I-YAL-TIMISH].
198.1
Sultan Mu'izz-ud-Din, Bahram Shah — on whom be peace! — was a conquering monarch, fearless and full of courage, and sanguinary; but he was endowed with some laudable attributes and excellent qualities. He was in nature unassuming and frank; and never had about his person jewelry and finery after the custom of the kings of this world, nor did he ever evince any desire for girdles, silken garments, decoration, banners, or display. When they imprisoned Sultan Raziyyat in the preserved city of Tabarhindah, the Maliks and Amirs, in accord, despatched letters to the capital city of Dihli, and Mu'izz-ud-Din, Bahram Shah, on Monday, the 28th of the month Ramazan, in the year 637 H., they raised to the throne of sovereignty. When, on Sunday, the 11th of the month of Shawwal of that same year, the Maliks and Amirs and the rest of the forces returned to the city again, they publicly pledged their allegiance to his sovereignty within the Daulat Khanah [Royal residence] on the stipulation of the Deputyship being conferred upon Malik Ikhtiyar-ud-Din, Aet-kin; and, on that day, after [pledging] allegiance, the writer of these words, by way of benediction, in order to congratulate him [on his accession], recited this strophe: —
198.2
“ Well done, on thy account, the uprearing of the emblems of sovereignty! Bravo to thy good fortune, heaped up, the ensigns of dominion! Mu’izz-ud-Dunya wa ud-Din, Mughis-ul-Khalk bi’l Of dignity like Suliman: under thy command are both jinn [genii] and mankind. Though the sovereignty of Hind be the heritage of the Shamsi family, Praise be to God, a second I-yal-timish, of its sons art thou. When the whole world saw thee, that, by right, thou art the kingdom’s heir, They made thy diadem their kiblah-gah, for thou art all-powerful and wise. Like as Minhaj-i-Saraj’s, for thee the creation’s prayer is this ‘O God! mayest thou on the kingdom’s throne to eternity continue: Straight like the spear may the universe during thy reign become, So that, save in the hair-tuft of thy standard, no one may disorder behold.’” When Malik Ikhtiyar-ud-Din, Aet-kin, became Deputy by virtue of his deputy-ship, he took the affairs of the kingdom into his own hands, and, in conjunction with the Wazir, the Nizam-ul-Mulk, the Khwajah, Muhazzab-ud-Din, Muhammad-i-’Iwaz, the Mustaufi assumed control over the disposal of state affairs. After a month or two had passed away, this fact began to press heavily upon the noble mind of Sultan Mu’izz-ud-Din;
198.3
and a sister of the Sultan, who had been married to the son of the Kazi, Nasir-ud-Din and had, at her own request, been repudiated by him, the Deputy [Ikhtiyar-ud-Din, Aet-kin], having taken to wife, assumed the triple naubat, and stationed an elephant at the entrance of his own residence [out of parade], and the grandeur of his affairs and the execution of his mandates lasted until the month of Muharram of the year 638 H., when, unexpectedly, on Monday, the 8th of that month, by command of the Sultan, a discourse was delivered within the Kasr named Safed [the White Castle]. After the termination of the discourse, Sultan Mu’izz-ud-Din, Bahram Shah, from the upper part of the palace, despatched two reckless Turks, after the manner of Fida-is, so that, in front of the dais, in the royal Audience Hall of the Kasr-i-Safed, they martyred Malik Ikhtiyar-ud-Din, Aet-kin, by the wound of a knife. They inflicted on the Wazir, the Nizam-ul-Mulk, Muhazzab-ud-Din, two wounds in the side; but, as his appointed time was not come, he got away from them and escaped outside. Malik Badr-ud-Din, Sunkar, the Rumi, became Amir-i-Hajib, and assumed the direction of state affairs;
198.4
and, when Sultan Raziyyat, along with Malik Ikhtiyar-ud-Din, Altuniah, from Tabarhindah, determined to move towards Dihli, and revoked that intention, and withdrew, and Sultan Raziyyat and Altuniah attained martyrdom at the hands of the Hindus, as has previously been recorded, the affairs of Malik Badr-ud-Din, Sunkar, took a new turn. Moreover, because, in the execution of his own mandates, and the administration of the affairs of the kingdom, he did not possess the authority of the Sultan of Islam, and used to seek to acquire superiority over the Wazir, the Nizam-ul-Mulk, Muhazzab-ud-Din, and used to issue his own orders, the Wazir, secretly, was in the habit of influencing the Sultan’s disposition against Malik Badr-ud-Din, Sunkar, to such degree, that the Sultan’s temper became quite changed towards him.
198.5
When Malik Badr-ud-Din, Sunkar, discovered this fact, he grew apprehensive of the Sultan. He was desirous by some suitable means of removing the Sultan and placing one of the latter’s brothers upon the throne. On Monday, the 17th of the month of Safar, 639 H., at the residence of the Sadr-ul-Mulk, the Sayyid, Taj-ud-Din, ’Ali, Musawi, who was the Mushrif-i-Mamalik [Secretary of the Kingdom], Badr-ud-Din, Sunkar, convened a party of the Sadrs and chief men of the capital, such as the Kazi-i-Mamalik [Kazi of the Kingdom], Jalal-ud-Din, the Kasani, Kazi Kabir-ud-Din, Shaikh Muhammad-i-Shami [the Syrian], and other Amirs and important personages. When they had assembled, and deliberated respecting the change of government, they despatched the Sadr-ul-Mulk [Sadr of the State — Chief Sadr] to the presence of the Wazir, the Nizam-Ul-Mulk, Muhazzab-ud-Din, in order that he might be present [with them], and that, in accord with him, they might carry out their object effectively.
198.6
One of the Sultan's favourites and confidants was at the Wazir's side when the Sadr-ul-Mulk reached his residence; and when the Wazir, the Nizam-ul-Mulk, Muhazzab-ud-Din, heard the announcement of the Sadr-ul-Mulk's coming, he concealed that confidential person of the Sultan in a place where he might hear their conversation. The Sadr-ul-Mulk entered, and stated to him all about the [proposed] change in the state of the highest personages of the sublime Court, and craved the Khwajah, Muhazzab-ud-Din, the Wazir's attendance. The Khwajah, Muhazzab-ud-Din, replied: "It behoveth that you should return again, so that I may perform afresh the ablution of purification, and follow [you] to the presence of the grandees." When the Sadr-ul-Mulk retired, Muhazzab-ud-Din brought forth the Sultan's confidant, and said to him: "Didst thou hear what the Sadr-ul-Mulk said? Proceed quickly to the royal presence and represent that it is advisable that the Sultan should mount and come upon that seditious party so that they may not have dispersed."
198.7
When they stated this matter to the Sultan, he, at once, mounted, and that disaffected party became struck with amazement, and Badr-ud-Din, Sunkar, joined the Sultan, who returned, and held a council in his own royal residence, and forthwith a mandate was issued that Badr-ud-Din, Sunkar, should proceed to Buda'un, and that district was made his fief. Kazi Jalal-ud-Din, Kasani, was removed from the chief Kazi-ship, and Kazi Kabir-ud-Din, and Shaikh Muhammad-i-Shami together with him, became apprehensive, and left the city. After a period of four months, Malik Badr-ud-Din, Sunkar, returned to the capital, and, as the Sultan was incensed against him, he ordered him to be imprisoned; and the Sayyid, Taj-ud-Din, 'Ali, Musawi was also ordered to be imprisoned, and, at last, both of them were martyred. This occurrence totally changed the disposition of the Amirs, and all of them became frightened and apprehensive of the Sultan, and not one among them placed any further confidence in him. The Wazir, too, in order to avenge the wounds he had received, desired that all the Amirs, the Maliks, and the Turks should rebel against the Sultan. He continued to raise the Sultan’s apprehensions against the Amirs and Turks, and was exciting the fears of the Amirs against the Sultan, until, at last, this fact spread abroad like a pestilence, and was the cause of the dethronement of the Sultan, and rebellion among the people.
198.8
Among the calamities which happened during the reign of Sultan Mu’izz-ud-Din, Bahram Shah, was the matter of the city of Lohor, when an army of the infidel Mughals from the direction of Khurasan and Ghaznin appeared before that city, and, for a considerable time, carried on hostilities. The feudatory of Lohor was Malik Ikhtiyar-ud-Din, Kara-Kash; and he, by nature, was very warlike, energetic, intrepid, and fearless, but the inhabitants of Lohor did not act as the conditions of union demanded, and in fighting, and in keeping guard at night, showed much neglect. When that disposition became evident to Malik Kara-Kash, he put his retainers in motion, and, at night, evacuated the city, and set out towards the capital, Dihli. The infidel Mughals pursued him, but the Most High God preserved him under His own guardianship, and he escaped in safety from them. As no ruler remained within the city of Lohor, on Monday, the 16th of the month of Jamadi-ul-Akhir, 639 H., the infidel Mughals obtained possession of that city, martyred the Musalmans, and made captive their dependents. When the dreadful intelligence of this calamity reached the capital, Sultan Mu’izz-ud-Din, Bahram Shah, assembled the people of the city of Dihli in the Kasr-i-Safed [White Castle], and to the author, the writer of these lines, he gave command to deliver a discourse, and the people pledged their fealty [anew] to the Sultan.
198.9
There was a Darwesh, a Turk-man, who was named Aiyub, a hermit clothed in garb of hair-cloth, who, for some time, dwelt, engaged in his devotions, at the Hauz [reservoir] of the Kasr-i-Sultan [the Sultan’s Castle], and there he acquired intimacy with Sultan Mu’izz-ud-Din, Bahram Shah, and the Sultan manifested a partiality for him. This Darwesh began to interfere in state affairs. Before this the Darwesh in question had dwelt at the town of Mihir, and had been persecuted by Kazi Shams-ud-Din of Mihir. At this time, that the Darwesh’s words were revered by, and he had acquired ascendancy over, Sultan Mu’izz-ud-Din, Bahram Shah, he used his endeavours until the Sultan had Kazi Shams-ud-Din of Mihir thrown before the feet of an elephant. As soon as this catastrophe became known, the people again became wholly afraid of the Sultan. In order to repel the infidel Mughals who were then before the gates of the city of Lohor, the Sultan nominated Malik Kutb-ud-Din, Husain, son of 'Ali, the Ghuri, along with the Wazir [the Khwajah, Muhazzab-ud-Din], and several Amirs and Maliks, with the forces of Hindustan, to advance towards Lohor, for the purpose of guarding the frontiers.
198.10
At this period, Sultan Mu’izz-ud-Din, Bahram Shah, on Saturday, the 10th of Jamadi-ul-Awwal, in the year 639 H., entrusted this author with the Kazi-ship of the empire, together with the Kazi-ship of the capital, and conferred upon him a robe of honour and liberal presents. After this, the troops received orders [to move]. When the forces assembled on the bank of the Biah, the Khwajah Muhazzab-ud-Din, the Wazir, in order to take vengeance upon the Sultan, so that, by some means or other, he might oust him from the throne, indited a representation secretly to the Sultan from the camp, saying: "These Amirs and Turks will never become obedient. It is advisable that an edict should be issued by His Majesty that I, and Kutb-ud-Din, Husain, should destroy all the Amirs and Turks, by such means as may be attainable, in order that the country may be clear [of them]." When that representation reached the Sultan, he, according to the way of precipitancy and youthfulness, did not take this order into consideration nor deliberate upon it, and commanded so that an edict of the desired form was written out and despatched to the camp.
198.11
As soon as the edict reached the camp, Muhazzab-ud-Din showed the very edict itself to the Amirs and Turks, saying: "The Sultan writes and commands respecting you on this subject." All of them became excessively incensed against the Sultan, and, at the suggestion of the Khwajah Muhazzab-ud-Din, the Wazir, they pledged themselves to effect the expulsion and dethronement of the Sultan. When the news of this disaffection on the part of those Amirs and troops reached the capital, the Shaikh-ul-Islam [the Muhammadan Patriarch] of the capital was Sayyid Kutb-ud-Din, and him the Sultan despatched to the army for the purpose of allaying that sedition. He proceeded to the camp, and used his endeavours in stirring up and augmenting that sedition, and came back again, and the army followed after him, and arrived before the gates of Dihli, and fighting was commenced.
198.12
This servant of the state, Minhaj-i-Saraj, and [several] priests of eminence of the city, used the utmost endeavours to make peace and allay the disaffection, but in no manner could an agreement be effected. The arrival of the forces before the gate of the city of Dihli happened on Saturday the 19th of the month of Sha’ban, 639 H., and, until the month of Zi-Ka’dah, hostilities were carried on against the fortress, and, on both sides, a great number of people perished and others were disabled. All the environs of the city were destroyed; and the cause of the prolongation of this sedition was this. There was a head Farrash in the Sultan's service whom they used to style Fakhr-ud-Din, Mubarak Shah, Farrukhi, who, in the employ of the Sultan, had found favour, and had acquired complete ascendancy over his mind, and whatever he said to the Sultan that the Sultan would do, and this Farrash would, in no way, assent to an accommodation.
198.13
On Friday, the 7th of the month Zi-Ka'dah, the dependents of the Khwajah, Muhazzab-ud-Din, gave 3000 jitals to a body of stupid fellows, and stirred up some of the same cloth as the author, who were persons of position at the capital, and, after the conclusion of the Friday prayers, they rose in the Jami' Masjid, and drew swords upon the author. By the favour of the Most High God, he had with him a staff containing a knife, and drew it, and was accompanied by a few armed slaves, and succeeded in getting out of the tumult. On the following night the Amirs and the Turks took the fortress, and, next day, Saturday, the 8th of Zi-Ka'dah, 639 H., they gained possession of the whole city, and imprisoned the Sultan. Mubarak Shah, the Farrash, who used to endeavour to stimulate the rebellion, they made a public example of and executed; and, on the night of Tuesday, the 13th of the month before-mentioned, Sultan Mu'izz-ud-Din, Bahram Shah, attained martyrdom — may he rest in peace! — and the period of his reign was two years, one month, and a half.