[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) › 259 # The Nāṣirī Generations 259: ACCOUNT OF THE CROSSING OF THE RIVER JIHUN BY THE TROOPS OF THE CHINGIZ KHAN TOWARDS KHURASAN. Tabakat-i-Nasiri 259 - **Language:** English ### ACCOUNT OF THE CROSSING OF THE RIVER JIHUN BY THE TROOPS OF THE CHINGIZ KHAN TOWARDS KHURASAN. ### [259.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.259.1) After the Nu-in, Yamah, and the Bahadur Sahudah, with 60,000 horse, passed through Khurasan, and proceeded towards ’Irak, disturbance and tumult arose in Khurasan, and sedition manifested itself. Each one of the Maliks, in accordance with the commands of Sultan Muhammad, was in some part or other, and they put the fortresses in repair, and surrounded the cities with ditches, and caused preparations to be made for war, and to defend the fortresses as far as lay in their power; for every part was entrusted, by the Sultan, to the charge of some Malik, who had been \[previously\] appointed thereunto. The fortress of Tirmid the Sultan entrusted to the \[contingent\] troops of Sistan, the chief of whom was the Amir, Zangi-i-Abi-Hafs; and the Sarhang \[standard-bearer\] Sam, and the Pahlawan \[champion\], Arsiah, he despatched to the fortress of Walwalij of Tukharistan, the length and breadth of which fortress is about four farsangs \[leagues\]. The fortress of Bamian he gave to Amir ’Umr, the Bawardi; and likewise commanded Malik Ikhtiyar-ud-Din, Muhammad, son of Ali-i-Khar-post \[the ass-skinned\], the Ghuri, to proceed from Burshor \[Purshor — Peshawar?\] for the purpose of securing the city of Ghaznin and to defend that territory. ### [259.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.259.2) To Malik Husam-ud-Din, Husain-i-Abd-ul-Malik, Sar-i-Zarrad, who was in the fort and town of Sangah of Ghur, and Malik Kutb-ud-Din, Husain son of ’Ali-i-Abi-Ali, he gave orders to garrison and put in order the fortresses of the territory of Ghur, and to use their utmost endeavours in the defence of that country. The Malik-ul-Kuttab \[chief of secretaries\], the Ikhtiyar-ul-Mulk, Daulat Yar-i-Tughra'i \[the engrosser of the Tughra or imperial signature\], he despatched to the fortress of Kalfun, and directed that the two famous Pahlawans \[champions\] of Khurasan, whom they were wont to call the sons of the Sozan-gar, should also proceed thither. Malik Shams-ud-Din Muhammad, the Juzjani, was located in the city of Hirat, and the fortress of Fiwar was entrusted to the charge of the Pahlawan, Asil-ud-Din, the Nishapuri, the son-in-law of the Pahlawan, Mubarak, the Kurd. The fort of Nasir Koh of Tal-kan was conferred upon the confidential retainers of Malik Shams-ud-Din-i-Utsuz, the Hajib, and the fortress of Rang of Guzarwan was made over to the vassals of Ulugh Khan-i-Abi-Muhammad. The fortresses of Gharjistan were assigned to Sheran, the Amid \[chief of the tribe\] of the Abu Sahlan, and those of Ghur were entrusted to the Sultans, and this Kutb-ud-Din, Husain, was the son of ’Ali, brother of the Pearl of Ghur. ### [259.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.259.3) Maliks of Ghur. The city of Firuz-koh was made over to Malik Mubariz-ud-Din, the Sabzwari, and the fort Tulak was placed under the charge of the Amir, Habashi-i-Nezah-war \[expert at the lance\]; and, in every fortress and city, the Sultan located one of the distinguished Maliks among the Turks and Tajziks. When Sultan Muhammad, Khwarazm Shah, fled towards Mazandaran, and the armies of Islam became dispersed and disorganized, the Chingiz Khan had taken complete possession of the territory of Samrkand, and had despatched a body of horse in pursuit of the Sultan; and other armies were despatched into various parts of Khurasan. Arsalan Khan of Kaialik, who was a Musalman, and had \[under him\] about 6000 \[horse-\] men, all Musalmans and Ajamis, along with Tulan, the Juzbi, and a Mughal force, was sent against the fortress of Walkh of Tukharistan. whilst the Chingiz Khan, himself, with the centre \[main-body\] of his host, advanced from Samrkand to the foot of the walls of the fortress of Tirmid, and attacked it. After some days, during which the Musalmans of Tirmid had fought many battles, and had sent great numbers of the Mughals to hell, and many Musalmans had been martyred and made captive, the people of Tirmid were reduced to helplessness by the stones of \[discharged from\] the catapults of those accursed ones, and they abandoned the place ; and that fortress fell into the hands of the Mughals, who martyred the whole of the inhabitants. ### [259.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.259.4) From thence \[Tirmid\] the Chingiz Khan despatched bodies of Mughal troops down towards Khurasan, Ghur, and Ghaznin ; and the passage downwards of every army of Mughals which he sent towards Khurasan and Ghur used to be by the fortress of “Nasir Koh of Tal-kan.” The garrison used to come down from Nasir Koh, and fall upon the troops and followers of the Mughal armies, and retake captives and cattle, and despatch those accursed ones to hell. These gallant exploits against the infidels by the Tal-feanis having become frequent, a numerous force from the main body of the Mughal host was sent against the fortress of Nasir Koh, and it invested that stronghold completely, and fighting began. Uklan, the Juzbi, and Sa’di, the Juzbi, together with the son-in-law of the Chingiz Khan, which accursed one’s name was Fiku, the Nu-in, and who had \[under them\] 45,000 horse, were likewise despatched to make inroads into various parts of Ghur and Khurasan. The whole of the cattle and flocks that were around about the cities, towns, kasrs, and villages of Khurasan, Ghur, and the Garm-sir, fell into the hands of the Mughal forces; and the country as far as the gate of Ghaznin, the territories of Tukharistan, and the Garm-sir, was ravaged, and the greater part of the Musalman inhabitants were martyred and made captive. During this same year, 617 H., for a period of eight months, the Mughal troops continued to carry their devastations into different parts; ### [259.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.259.5) and, at this period, the writer of this Tabakat, Minhaj-i-Saraj, was in the fortress of Tulak, and the writer’s brother was in the city and fortress of Firuz-koh. In this year likewise, a Mughal army came before the fort of Astiah of Ghur, and for the space of eleven days vigorously attacked it. Within this fortress was an Amir and feudatory, the Sipah-Salar \[Leader of Troops\], Taj-ud-Din, Habashi-i-’Abd-ul-Malik, Sar-i-Zarrad. He was a great Malik with ample resources, but, as the decree of destiny had come, he entered into an accommodation with the Mughals, and went unto them. They took him to the presence of the Chingiz Khan, and he bestowed upon him the title of Khusrau \[Prince\] of Ghur, showed him great honour, and sent him back again in order that he might, by means of accommodation, cause the other strongholds to be given up. On his coming back again, after the Chingiz Khan defeated Sultan Jalal-ud-Din, Mang-barni, Khwarazm Shah, on the banks of the river Sind, Taj-ud-Din, Habashi-i-’Abd-ul-Malik, Sar-i-Zarrad, deserted the Mughals, and engaged in battle with them, and attained the reward of martyrdom. ### [259.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.259.6) In this same year likewise, the army of Mughals under the Juzbi, Uklan, appeared before the gate of the city of Firuz-koh, and attacked it with great ardour for the space of twenty-one days, but did not succeed in getting possession of it, and they withdrew baffled in their attempt. When the winter season drew near, and the snow began to fall upon the mountains of Ghur, the Mughal forces turned their faces from Khurasan towards Mawara-un-Nahr. The number of the Mughal army which was in Ghur, Mughals and renegades included, was about 20,000 horse, and the route of that force lay by the foot of the fortress of Tulak, and, for a period of eight months, a force from that army used to carry their raids up to the foot \[of the walls\] of that fortress, and the veteran warriors of that fort — and this votary, Minhaj-i-Saraj, was among those holy-warriors — the Almighty’s mercy be upon them ! — used to join issue with those infidels, in such wise that it used to be impossible for the infidels to come near the fort ; and at times during that eight months, all the day long, the Mughal troops continued to prowl around the foot of the fortress. Trustworthy persons related that there were so many Musalman captives in the hands of the Mughal infidels, that they had selected, for the Chingiz Khan specially, 12,000 young virgins, who followed \[the troops\] on foot The Almighty deliver them out of their hands, and, in His wrath, take vengeance upon the infidels, and annihilate them! --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.259](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.259) · Pramāṇa