[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) › 265 # The Nāṣirī Generations 265: ACCOUNT OF THE CALAMITIES WHICH BEFELL THE TERRITORY OF KHURASAN THE SECOND TIME. Tabakat-i-Nasiri 265 - **Language:** English ### ACCOUNT OF THE CALAMITIES WHICH BEFELL THE TERRITORY OF KHURASAN THE SECOND TIME. ### [265.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.265.1) After Sultan Jalal-ud-Din, Mang-barni, Khwarazm Shah, overthrew the army of Mughals, on the confines of Barwan, between Bamian and Ghaznin, several times, and the Chingiz Khan turned his face towards Sultan Jalal-ud-Din, Mang-barni, and advanced towards the river of Sind, and the news of these victories \[of the Sultan\] reached all the cities of Khurasan, in every city and town wherever the Mughal Shahnahs \[Intendants\] were stationed, the people thereof despatched the whole of them to hell, and in every place a predominant person arose. After the Chingiz Khan defeated Sultan Jalal-ud-Din on the banks of the river of Sind, he despatched the Bahadur, Sha’ur, along with Uktae \[his son\] to Ghaznin, so that they destroyed the city of Ghaznin, and brought forth the inhabitants without the city, and, with the exception of a few, who were made captives, martyred the whole of them. ### [265.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.265.2) The Chingiz Khan, himself, advanced from the banks of the Sind river in pursuit of the Ighraki Musalmans, who formed a very large force, and a countless number of men, and proceeded towards Gibari. He took the fortress of Giban and other forts of the territory of the Koh-payah \[hill-skirts\], and slew the Musalmans. For a period of three months he halted in the Gibari territory and the Koh-payah; and, from thence, the Chingiz Khan despatched envoys to the presence of the august Sultan, Shams-ud-Dunya wa ud-Din, I-yal-timish—May he rest in peace ! — as he was entertaining the design of conducting his army towards Hindustan, “and of returning, by way of the Koh-i-Kara-chal and Kam-rud, to the country of Chin; but, although he was burning shoulder-bones \[of sheep\] continually and examining them, he used not to find permission augured that he should enter Hind, when swift messengers brought information to him from Tamghaj and Tingit, that the Khans of Tingit, and Tamghaj were in a state of revolt, and that the loss of those territories was impending; and, as a matter of necessity, he returned from the Koh-payah of Gibari. The whole of the mountains \[of that tract\] were blocked with snow, and, by the Chingiz Khan's command, they used to sweep it away ; and, by way of the passes of the territory of Ghaznin and Kabul, he returned to Turkistan and Kashghar. From Gibari, in the depth of the winter season, he despatched Uktae with an army of Mughal troops into Ghur and Khurasan. ### [265.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.265.3) Uktae reached a place situated between Ghur and Ghaznin which they \[the people\] call Pul-i-Ahangaran \[the Blacksmiths' Boundary\], near unto Firuz-koh, and there Uktae pitched his camp. From thence he nominated the Juzbi, Sa'di, and the Juzbi, Mankadhu, and several other Nu-ins, with a large force, to proceed into Sistan, and the Nu-in Abkah, who was the Chingiz Khan's personal Manjaniki \[Engineer — head of the catapult workers\], and in whose corps were 10,000 Mughal Manjanikis, was despatched against the fortress of \[the\] Ashiyar of Gharjistan. Uktae likewise sent the Nu-in, Ilji, into the hill-tracts of Ghur and Hirat. In short, Shahnahs \[Intendants\] and bodies of troops were appointed to proceed into every part of Ghur, Khurasan, and Sistan ; and, during the whole of that winter, those bodies of troops from the Mughal forces, which had entered into those different territories, carried slaughter into all the townships and villages thereof. When information had reached the Chingiz Khan of the slaying of the Mughal Shahnahs, he commanded, saying: "From whence have these people whom I have killed come to life again? On this occasion my commands are on this wise, that the heads of people shall be separated from their bodies, in order that they may not come to life again." Consequent upon this, they \[the Mughals\] devastated all the cities of Khurasan, a second time. ### [265.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.265.4) The force which had advanced to the gate of Sistan took that place by assault ; and, in every quarter, and in every dwelling thereof, they had to fight before they were able to overcome the people, for the Musalmans of Sistan, women and men—great and small—all resisted obstinately with knife and sword. All \[the males\] were slain, and the females were martyred. ### [265.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.265.5) In the city of Hirat, to the gate of which \[another\] Mughal force had advanced—as has been previously recorded—there was a Khwajah, whom they were wont to style the Khwajah Fakhr-ud-Din-i-’Abd-ur-Rahman, the ’Ibrani \[Hebrew\] Banker, a Khwajah of vast opulence, and held in great respect ; and, on this occasion, he held out the city of Hirat for some days. Malik Mubariz-ud-Din, the Sabzwari, having evacuated and fled from the fortress of Firuz-koh, had arrived at Hirat, and they \[the inhabitants\] had made him commander of the forces of Hirat. They related on this wise that, when the Mughals The Nu-yan, Iljidae, in due course reached the river of Hirat, where he halted for the period of one month in order to prepare for undertaking operations, and make ready the catapults and other warlike engines. From the neighbouring places, previously indicated by the Chingiz Khan himself, which had submitted to the Mughal yoke or had been subdued, he obtained assistance and war materials; and, in a short space of time, from the confines of Khurasan, the territories of Balkh, and the highlands of Shiwarghan, some 50,000 horse and foot, of the people of the country compelled to serve, arrived to aid in the siege. On the other hand, they were not idle in Hirat; and Malik Mubariz-ud-Din prepared for a vigorous defence. All the people, high and low, great and small, bound themselves by most solemn pledges not to do as was done on the former occasion, but to fight while life remained. ### [265.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.265.6) The month of preparation having expired, the Nu-yan, Iljidae, or Ilji, who now had a force of 130,000 men under him, advanced towards the city of Hirat, and four bodies of 30,000 men each were disposed, so as to operate against the four sides of the city, and the four gateways. He took care beforehand that those among his troops who should be guilty of any misdemeanour \[no doubt this was because their defeats, by Sultan Jalal-ud-Din, had made them feel themselves less sure of success than previously, and it was soon after the Sultan's overthrow of the two Mughal armies that this force was sent against Hirat, and before the Sultan's defeat on the Indus\] should be punished with death, but those who distinguished themselves should be fittingly rewarded. ### [265.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.265.7) The siege was prosecuted with vigour and as bravely defended during a period of 6 months and 17 days, when, in the month of Jamadi-ul-Awwal, 619 H., the Mughal commander determined upon a supreme effort, and assaulted the place for several successive days, with the loss of some 5000 men upon each occasion. The walls, from the constant battering of the catapults and other military engines, had become quite honeycombed, when, one day, about 50 ells of the curtain gave way, burying, among others, 400 men of note among the Mughals under the ruins. Three days after this misfortune division arose among the defenders—one party being for holding out, and the other for surrender. Matters had now become much straitened, for military stores, as well as food to feed the immense number of inhabitants and fugitives within the beleaguered city, while, day by day, reinforcements and assistance were reaching the Mughals. At length, on a Friday, in the month of Jamadi-ul-Awwal—Rauzat-us-Safa says in the month of Jamadi-ul-Akhir—619 H., the final assault was delivered; another portion of the curtain fell, and the Mughals entered the fortifications at the Tiri Burj \[bastion\] and captured the city. They at once commenced an indiscriminate massacre—old and young— through the city fully armed, and arrayed in defensive armour ; and, lance in hand, fought against the infidels until he attained martyrdom ; but God knows the truth of the matter. --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.265](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.265) · Pramāṇa