The Nāṣirī Generations 236: XVIII. MALIK IKHTIYAR-UD-DIN, YUZ-BAK-I-TUGHRIL KHAN.
Tabakat-i-Nasiri 236
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XVIII. MALIK IKHTIYAR-UD-DIN, YUZ-BAK-I-TUGHRIL KHAN.
236.1
Malik Ikhtiyar-ud-Din, Yuz-Bak-i-Tughril Khan, was a native of Khifchak, and the slave of the august Sultan, Shams-ud-Dunya wa ud-Din, I-yal-timish; and during the investment of the preserved fortress of Gwaliyur he was Na-ib Chashni-gir [Deputy Comptroller of the Royal Kitchen]. When Sultan Rukn-ud-Din, Firuz Shah, came to the throne, the office of Amir-i-Majlis [Lord of the Council] was entrusted to Malik Yuz-Bak, and he was confirmed therein. Subsequently, the Shahnagi [Superintendency] of the elephants was assigned to him; and, during this reign, he became especially distinguished by the Sultan's intimacy and favour. When the Turkish slaves of the Sultan broke out into rebellion in the plain of Tara'in and a number of grandees, such as Taj-ul-Mulk, Muhammad [Mahmud?], the Secretary, Baha-ud-Din, Hasan [Husain?] -i-Ash'ari, Karim-ud-Din-i-Zahid [the Recluse], and Nizam-ud-Din, the Shafurkani, were put to death, one of the ringleaders of the faction was Malik Yuz-Bak-i-Tughril Khan.
236.2
When the throne came to Sultan Raziyyat, he was made Amir-i-Akhur [Lord of the Stable], and on Sultan Mu'izz-ud-Din, Bahram Shah's, ascending the throne, and when, subsequently, a party of the Turkish Maliks and Amirs invested the city of Dihli, Malik Yuz-Bak, along with Malik Kara-Kash, came into the city and attached themselves to Sultan Mu’izz-ud-Din, Bahram Shah's party on Tuesday, the last day of the month of Sha’ban, 639 H., and, upon several occasions, rendered approved service. Mihtar-i-Mubarak Shah, Farrukhi, who had acquired entire power over the Sultan, and had caused the Turkish Maliks and Amirs to be expelled from the capital, instigated the Sultan in such manner that he seized Malik Yuz-Bak and Malik Kara-Kash, and they were imprisoned on Wednesday, the 9th of the month of Ramazan, 639 H. When the city was taken, on Tuesday, the 8th of the month of Zi-Ka’dah, Malik Yuz-Bak was liberated.
236.3
When Sultan ‘Ala-ud-Din, Mas’ud Shah, ascended the throne, Tabarhindah was entrusted to his charge, and, subsequently, Lohor was made his fief. There he continued some time, when a feud arose between him and Malik Nasir-ud-Din, Muhammad of Bindar, and, subsequently, he began to rebel against the Court, for rashness and imperiousness were implanted in his nature and constitution, until Ulugh Khan-i-Mu’azzam, unexpectedly, brought him to the Court, and he was made much of. Ulugh Khan-i-A’zam likewise made a representation for the royal consideration so that Malik Yuz-Bak was distinguished by the Sultan’s favour, and his disobedient conduct was pardoned. Subsequently, for some time, Kinnauj was his fief, when he again began to act in a contumacious manner, and Malik Kutb-ud-Din, Husain [son of ‘Ali, the Ghuri], on whom be peace!—was despatched from the capital, at the head of a body of troops, against him. He reduced Malik Yuz-Bak to duty and obedience, and brought him back to the sublime Court again.
236.4
After some time had passed, Awadh was entrusted to his charge. When he again returned to the capital, the territory of Lakhanawati was made over to him. After he went to that part, and brought that country under his jurisdiction, hostility arose between him and the Rae of Jaj-nagar. The leader of the forces of Jaj-nagar was a person, by name, Saban-tar [Sawan-tar], the son-in-law of the Rae, who, during the time of Malik 'Izz-ud-Din, Tughril-i-Tughan-Khan, had advanced to the bank of the river of Lakhanawati, and, having shown the greatest audacity, had driven the Musalman forces as far as the gate [of the city] of Lakhanawati. In Malik Tughril Khan-i-Yuz-Bak's time, judging from the past, he [the Jaj-nagar leader] manifested great boldness, and fought, and was defeated. Again, another time, Malik Tughril Khan-i-Yuz-Bak fought an engagement with the Rae of Jaj-nagar, and again came out victorious. On a third occasion Malik Yuz-Bak sustained a slight reverse, and a white elephant, than which there was no other more valuable in that part, and which was ruttish, got out of his hands in the field of battle, and fell into the hands of the infidels of Jaj-nagar.
236.5
The following year, however, Malik Yuz-Bak asked assistance from the Court of Dihli, and, then, marched an army from Lakhanawati into the territory of Umurdan, and, unexpectedly, reached the Rae's capital, which city [town] they style Umurdan. The Rae of that place retired before Malik Yuz-Bak, and the whole of the Rae's family, dependents, and followers, and his wealth, and elephants, fell into the hands of the Musalman forces. On his return to Lakhanawati, Malik Yuz-Bak began to act contumaciously towards the Court, and assumed three canopies of state, red, black, and white. He then marched an army from Lakhanawati towards Awadh, and entered the city of Awadh; and directed that the Khutbah should be read for him, and styled himself Sultan Mughis-ud-Din. After a couple of weeks, one among the Turkish Amirs, belonging to the troops of the sovereign which were [located] in the vicinity of [the territory of] Awadh, unawares, pushed forward into Awadh [giving out] that the Sultan’s troops were at hand. Malik Yuz-Bak, discomfited, embarked on board a vessel and returned to Lakhanawati again.
236.6
This rebellious act on the part of Malik Yuz-Bak, the whole of the people of the realm of Hindustan — both clergy and laity, Musalmans and Hindus — condemned, that he should have become a traitor to his sovereign, and displayed such hostility and sedition. Undoubtedly the evil consequences attending such conduct befell him, and he fell from foundation and root. After he returned from Awadh to Lakhanawati, he determined upon marching into Kamrud, and transported an army across the river Beg-mati. As the Rae of Kamrud had not the power to resist him, he retired precipitately some whither. Malik Yuz-Bak took the city of Kamrud and possessed himself of countless wealth and treasure, to such extent, that the amount and weight thereof cannot be contained within the area of record.
236.7
The author, at the time he was sojourning at Lakhanawati, had heard from travellers whose statements are to be relied upon, that from the reign of Gushtasib, Shah of Ajam, who had invaded Chin, and had come towards Hindustan by that route [by way of Kamrud], twelve hundred hoards of treasure, all sealed, which were [there deposited], and any portion of which wealth and treasures not one of the Raes had availed himself of, the whole fell into the hands of the Musalman troops. The reading of the Khutbah, and Friday religious service were instituted in Kamrud, and signs of the people of Islam appeared there. But of what avail was all this, when the whole, from phrensy, he gave to the winds; for the wise have said that, the seeking to perform overmuch work hath never turned out fortunate for the seeker. Distich:— “Wealth is best which will be falling and rising: Wealth will be quick in springing up.” After Kamrud was taken [possession of], so they related, several times the Rae sent confidential persons [to Malik Yuz-Bak], saying: “Thou hast subdued this territory, and no Malik of the Musalman people ever before obtained such success. Now do thou return, and replace me upon the throne, and I will send to thee tribute every year so many bags of gold, and so many elephants, and I will continue the Khutbah unchanged, and the Musalman stamped coin as established.”
236.8
Malik Yuz-Bak did not become willing to agree to this in any way; and the Rae gave command that all his train, and the peasantry, should go to Malik Yuz-Bak, and get him to pledge his right hand [for their safety], and buy up all the grain procurable in [the city and country of?] Kamrud, at whatever price he might require, so that the Musalman troops might have no provisions left. They did so accordingly, and bought up from them all the produce that was obtainable at a heavy rate. Depending on the cultivated state and flourishing condition of the country, Malik Yuz-Bak did not lay up any stores of grain; and, when the time of the spring harvest came round, the Rae, with the whole of his subjects, rose, and opened the water dykes all around, and brought Malik Yuz-Bak and the troops of Islam to a state of helplessness, in such wise, that they were near perishing through destitution. They now took counsel together, and came to the conclusion that it was necessary to retreat, otherwise they would die of starvation.
236.9
They accordingly set out from Kamrud with the intention of proceeding towards Lakhanawati. The route through the plain [country] was flooded with water, and occupied by the Hindus. The Musalmans obtained a guide to bring them out of that country by conducting them towards the skirt of the mountains. After they had proceeded some few stages, they got entangled among passes and defiles, and narrow roads, and both their front and rear was seized by the Hindus. In a narrow place a fight took place in front of the leading rank between two elephants; the force fell into confusion, the Hindus came upon them from every side, and Musalman and Hindu mingled pell mell together. Suddenly an arrow struck Malik Yuz-Bak, who was mounted on an elephant, in the breast, and he fell, and was made prisoner; and all his children, family, and dependents, and the whole of his force, were made captive. When they carried Malik Yuz-Bak before the Rae, he made a request that they would bring his son to him; and, when they brought his son to him, he placed his face to the face of his son, and yielded his soul to God. The Almighty’s mercy be upon him!