[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Dark Ages](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages) › [Delhi Sultanate (1206–1526)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate) › [Ṭabaqāt-i Nāṣirī](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri) › [Tabakat-i-Nasiri](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty) › 258.7 # The Nāṣirī Generations 258.7 Tabakat-i-Nasiri 258.7 - **Language:** English ### [258.7.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.258.7.1) After the capture of Ilran-dujz and I-lal, and the death of the Sultan, had become known to the Mughal Nu-yins, Jabah \[Yamah\] and Swidae \[Sahudah\], they despatched an agent to the camp of the Chingiz Khan to inform him thereof, and to intimate that the late Sultan's son, Sultan Jalal-ud-Din, was coming in his direction; that they themselves were thus relieved of any responsibility respecting them; and would now proceed to carry out the rest of his instructions by pushing on into 'Irak and Mazandaran, and would rejoin him, within the prescribed time, by way of the Dar-band of Shirwan, and the Dasht-i-Kibchak. Where the Mughals wintered—for it was mid-winter when they heard of the Sultan's death—if they went into winter-quarters, is not precisely stated, but it must have been in the north-western part of Khurasan; and as soon as the season opened in the following year—618 H.—Jabah \[Yamah\] set out towards Rai by way of Khowaf. Having reached it, expecting he should be unable to take it alone, he summoned Swidae \[Sahudah\] to join him. There were, however, unknown to them, allies within the walls. The inhabitants of Rai were divided into two religious factions, the Hanifis and the Sha'fis. The former had, not long before, burnt a masjid belonging to their rivals, upon which, when it became known that the Mughals were coming, the Kazi of the Sha'fis, and a number of his party, hastened forth to welcome them. ### [258.7.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.258.7.2) They then offered to betray the city into their hands, the price being, for betraying their country and faith, and playing into the hands of barbarians, the destruction of the rival sect. The Mughal leaders accepted the terms; and they, having been admitted within the walls by the traitors, proceeded to butcher the Hanifis, but, having had clear proof of the disinterested friendship of the Sha'fis, and their trustworthiness, the Mughals massacred them also, and completely destroyed the city. Thus was Rai—one of the most flourishing, populous, and finest cities of Asia—desolated, plundered, and depopulated; and it never after recovered. This took place early in 618 H. After this feat, Jabah \[Yamah\] advanced towards Hamadan, and Swidae \[Sahudah\] to Kazwin. When Jabah reached Kum, to use the expressive simile of one of my authorities, "by the Mughals, the people of Kum became gum"—the Persian for lost, destroyed, annihilated, etc. At Kum were two religious factions—the Shi'ahs and the Sunnis. The former sent a deputation to wait on Jabah \[Yamah\], and incited him to destroy the latter; and, as usual with the Mughals, after slaughtering the followers of the rival sect, they sent the followers of 'Ali after them, carried off such as escaped the sword into captivity, and left not a living soul at Kum; in fact, they "destroyed" them completely, in "the true Circassian style." ### [258.7.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.258.7.3) When Jabah \[Yamah\] arrived near Hamadan, the venerable Sayyid, ’Ala-ud-Daulah, the Hamadani — some, including the Rauzat-us-Safa, say Majd-ud-Daulah, his son—of the race of ’Ali, who was dwelling there— not “commanding,” save in a spiritual point of view — sent him offerings, and tendered submission, in order to save the place and people, and agreed to receive a Mughal Shahnah. In the meantime, the Mughals obtained information that a body of the late Sultan’s forces, under two leaders, Beg-Tigin, Salar, and Kuj-Buka Khan, had assembled at Najas \[or Nahas ? MSS.\], upon which they marched against them, overthrew, pursued, and dispersed them. Jabah \[Yamah\] attacked Guzrud, Khurramabad, and Nih-awand, which were plundered and burnt, after the people were put to the sword. The Mughals continued to carry their depredations into every part of ’Irak, with the exception of Isfahan, which remained safe in the hands of the Khwarazmis, and did not fall under the yoke of the Mughals until many years after, and then treachery caused its fall, as our author relates farther on. After the slaughter of a vast number of people, Kazwin was the next point assailed. The people defended it desperately, for the Kazwinis adopted their usual custom of street-fighting, which the disposition and nature of the streets of their city enabled them successfully to do. They fought hand to hand with the Mughals, and some 50,000 men were killed altogether on both sides. ### [258.7.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.258.7.4) The city was captured at last, and those who still remained alive were massacred, and the place was sacked. It stands to reason that, if only 30,000 Mughals crossed the Oxus originally, as said by the pro-Mughal historians, they must have been somewhat reduced even were this the only fighting they engaged in, and therefore, as I have before mentioned, the 60,000 of our author must be much nearer the truth; and even in this case the Mughals must have greatly increased their troops by forced recruiting by the way. In more than one place, farther on, the despatch of fresh troops by the Chingiz Khan to reinforce these two Nu-yins is expressly mentioned. ### [258.7.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.258.7.5) Having plundered, destroyed, and massacred to such degree in ’Irak, the winter season \[618-19 H.\] having now arrived, Jabah \[Yamah\] and Swidae \[Sahudah\] took up their winter-quarters in some of the dependencies of Rai. When the spring came round the Mughals turned their faces towards Azarbaijan, reached Zinjan, took it, and massacred the people. They then advanced to Arbil, which they treated in the same fashion, and burnt it, after which they marched by way of Sar-i-Ab towards Tabriz. At that time, the ruler of Azarbaijan was the Ata-Bak, Muzaffar-ud-Din, Yuz-Bak, the son of the Jahan Pahlawan, and the last of that dynasty, who, on the appearance of the enemy near Tabriz, concealed himself, and despatched an agent to Jabah \[Yamah\], together with valuable offerings, soliciting an accommodation. This was agreed to, and, it having been arranged, the Mughals passed on without farther molesting Tabriz. According to the Rauzat-us-Safa, however, “the Ata-Bak, Jahan Pahlawan, resisted the Mughals at first, but, having been defeated and routed, sent his son, Yuz-Bak, tendering submission, and despatched valuable presents, and thus saved his territory from further hostility” ! The Jahan Pahlawan, however, died thirty-seven years before this, in 582 H. ### [258.7.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.258.7.6) The greater part of ’Irak and Azarbaijan having been trodden by the hoofs of the Mughals, and winter coming on, Jabah \[Yamah\] and Swidae \[Sahudah\] took up their winter \[619-620 H.\] quarters in the plain of Mughan, but, according to Alfi, at Siifa — I am unaware whether the accounts taken from Wolff, Erdmann, and other "Professors," quoted by the author of the Mongols Proper, \[p. 82\], are verbatim; but, whether or not, these events have been made a terrible hash of in that book, and some, especially respecting the return of the Mughals homeward, have been mixed up with events which happened when Juji entered Dasht-i-Kibchak some years subsequently. "Chepe Noyan, and Subutae Behadur," as they are styled therein, are made to capture, after some other places, "Hamadan, and Rudbar," and, afterwards, are marched upon and the Sultan, who is, by the same account, still living, is followed to the south shore of the Caspian. This was in 1220 A.D. Then we hear that "Chepe" and "Subutae," after taking Ilak \[p. 93\], marched against Rai, where the rival sects bring destruction upon each other. Then "Kum" is taken a second time, and "Chepe" makes a raid upon "the towns of Irak, Dinawar," etc., attacks "Nehawend, the far-famed Ecbatana," while "Subutae" captures Kazvin over again \[p. 93\], although it had been already taken, previous to the Sultan's death, and 50,000 people slaughtered \[p. 82\]. ### [258.7.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.258.7.7) After this, "Chepe" advances through "Dilem upon Azerbaidjan, which, together with Arran, were then ruled by the Atabeg Uzbeg," etc., etc., and, in the spring of the following year, after wintering in "the rich plains of Mogan," the "Mongols advance into Georgia." These events are said to have taken place before the Sultan's death, in 1221 A.D., at p. 82, and, at p. 93, towards the end of 1222 A.D. \[= 618 H.\]. At p. 97, we are again informed that, "in 1224 A.D. \[= 621 H.\], a small body of 3000 \[the original 30,000?\] Mongols" was able to once more "destroy Rayi, to do the same to Kum, and Kashan," etc., etc., so "Rai" or "Rayi," as it is indiscriminately styled, and also "Kum," were, according to this account, destroyed no less than two and three times respectively, in about as many years. How speedily these cities must have recovered again from total ruin and destruction! All these different statements, however, refer really to one and the same events, for, on the first occasion of their inroad beyond the Oxus, with the exception, probably, of Marw and Khwarazm, no Mughal troops were left to hold any position in Khurasan or 'Irak-i-'Ajam, and, consequently, in Uktae's time fresh armies had to be sent. See page 1007. ### [258.7.8](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.258.7.8) During this winter \[619-620 H. — the winter of 1222-23 A.D.\], 2000 — some say 10,000 — Gurji \[Georgian\] cavalry, all picked men, attacked the Mughals — where is not said, but in one of their advanced positions probably, and, as might have been expected from such a small force, they were overthrown. The Gurjis now made preparations for attacking the Mughals in the coming spring, and sought help from Asia Minor, from the Diar-i-Bakr, and Diar-i-Rabi'ah. The Mughals, at the same time, were meditating an invasion of Gurjistan as soon as the season should open. At this time, a Turk slave in the service of the Ata-Bak, Uz-Bak, named Aghrush, also called Aghush, collected together a considerable force, consisting of Khalj Turks, Kurds, and other adventurers, and entered the service of the Mughals. This is a specimen of one of the ways in which they received reinforcements. As soon as the season opened, Aghrush, and his force of "free companions," supported by the Mughals, entered Gurjistan, carrying slaughter and devastation as far as the gates of Tiflis. They were soon encountered by the valiant Gurjis, and the latter, having inflicted great slaughter upon Aghrush's force, were about to overpower it, when the main Mughal army arrived on the spot, just in time to save it. Unable to withstand the combined forces, the Gurjis had to beat a retreat. --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.258.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.258.7) · Pramāṇa