The Nāṣirī Generations 24: IV. ABU NASR-I-AHMAD, SON OF ISMA’IL.
Tabakat-i-Nasiri 24
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This ruler had four sons, named Nasr, Mansur, Ibrahim, and Yahya, whose surnames were, respectively, Abu Salih, Abu Muhammad, Abu Is-hak, and Abu Zakria.
Abu Nasr-i-Ahmad was a severe and energetic ruler, and put to death several of his slaves for some misconduct. The rest of the slaves, who were their comrades, sought opportunity to revenge them, and to assassinate Amir Ahmad; but he had a lion which had been trained, and he was in the habit of securing the animal near his sleeping-apartment, in the night-time, in order that, through fear of this creature, no one should approach his place of repose. This animal used to keep guard over his master at night, until, on one occasion, when the Amir had gone on a hunting excursion, and set out, on his return from thence, at an untimely hour. The halting-place was at a considerable distance, and he was unable to reach the station fixed upon, and had to stop at another place for the night. The slaves now found the opportunity they had been seeking, and they assassinated Amir Ahmad. This event happened on the night of Thursday, the 23rd of the month Jamadi-ul-Akhir, 301 H. They then took his body, and conveyed it to Bukhara; and, after this occurrence, Amir Ahmad was designated the Amir-i-Shahid, or the Martyred Amir.
In the outset of his career, after his father had departed this life, and an assemblage of the heads of the army, the grandees, and principal men of the country had pledged their allegiance to him, Abu Nasr-i-Ahmad, son of Isma’il, he sent a distinguished person, as envoy to the Court of the Khalifah, and from thence, the Lord of the Faithful, Al-Muktafi B’illah, sent him a commission and a standard; and his reign gave regularity and order to the affairs of the Empire. In Sijistan, however, Mu’addil, son of 'Ali, son of Lais, Suffari, brother’s son of Ya’kub and ’Umro, had broken out into rebellion, and caused great disturbance and disorder. An army had been appointed to proceed into that quarter, and Mu’addil had been reduced, and rendered powerless; and he was made captive, and put in durance. The government of Sijistan was then conferred by Amir Ahmad upon his uncle’s son, in whom he placed confidence, Abu Salih-i-Mansur, son of Is-hak, son of Ahmad, Samani.
Subsequently the people of Sijistan revolted, and seized the person of Abu Salih, and confined him in the fortress of Ark, and gave their allegiance to ’Umro, son of Ya’kub- -i-Lais. On this, Amir Abu Nasr-i-Ahmad, son of Isma’il, nominated a well appointed army [well equipped in all things], to march into Sijistan for the second time, and Husain ’Ali Marw-ar-Rudi was made Amir [commander] of that force. This army had entered Sijistan in the year 300 H., and had invested ’Umro [son of Muhammad], son of Ya’kub, for a period of seven months, when he begged for quarter, and came out and surrendered. Sijistan was then made over to the charge of Simjur-i-Dowati. It was at this period that the Amir, having been unable to reach his appointed place of rest before nightfall, as already related, was assassinated, after having reigned for a period of six years and three months.