[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) › 284.1 # The Nāṣirī Generations 284.1 Tabakat-i-Nasiri 284.1 - **Language:** English ### [284.1.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.284.1.1) When Tushi, the eldest son of the Chingiz Khan, as has been previously stated, was removed from the world for conspiring against his father, several sons survived him, and the eldest of them all was Batu. The Chingiz Khan installed him in the place of his father, and all the states Kurak-Liik Bfg^, daughter of the Badshah of the Naemans \[Koshluk\] ; and he was the founder, in time, of a separate dynasty. Batu ghan, with several of his brothers, set out for the y 7 lra^ of the Qhingiz Khan, when the news of his grandfather’s decease reached him, leaving Tughae Timur his representative in ^^ifchak, a,nd was present at the installation of Uktae Ka’an. Tughae Timur, like his elder brother, Barkah, became a convert to Islam, and, it is said, Barkah converted him to that faith. Batu is known by the title of the Sa-m, or Sa-inKhan, which title continued to be applied to his descendants down to modern times, and even after they became subject to the ’Usmanli Turks. Rubruquis, who had an interview with Batu, says he was seated on a couch gilt all over, and his wife beside him. He had a fresh, ruddy, complexion, and, looking earnestly at the party, at length ordered them to speak. Then their guide bid them kneel on both knees, which they did, and Rubruquis began to pray for Batu’s conversion, at which he modestly smiled, but the others present jeered him. ### [284.1.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.284.1.2) After his return from the campaign in Kliitae, as previously mentioned, Oktae Ka’an held a great hlrT/iae, in 633 H., at a place named Talan Wasir, at which his sons, kinsmen, and the old Amirs of the Chingiz KhVn were present. After a month devoted to feasting and jollity, the laws and regulations of the Chingiz Ehan were read out once more ; and various rewards were given. It was then resolved that, as various parts of the empire had not been completely subjugated, and some were in a disturbed and disaffected state, each of his sons and kinsmen should be despatched at the head of armies into different parts, in order to arrange and settle their affairs, while the Ka’an himself would proceed into the Da§ht-i-KifchaV at the head of another army. Mangu, son of Tidl, although young in years at the time, gave very sound advice on this occasion. He urged that it was not advisable that the iKa’an should go thither when he had so many sons and kinsmen whom he could send instead. This was approved by all present j and arrangements were made in conformity therewith. The §Mh-zadahs appointed for this service were Mangu, Tuli Khan’s eldest son, and his brother Buchak \[Kubllae is subsequently mentioned as being present, at least for part of the time, in the Dasht-i-Kifch^t\] ; of the family of tJktae, his eldest son, Kyuk, and his brother, Kladan Aghfil, and Burl, Baidar, and Kolkan, sons of Chaghatae : and among the great Amirs was the BahMur, Swidae, also written Swidan {Sahudah\]. ### [284.1.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.284.1.3) Having set out in the spring, in Jamadi-ul-Akh.ir, 633 H. \[March, 1235 A.D.\], they passed the hot season of that year by the way, and towards its end — in the latter part of it— within the confines of Bulghar \[Bulghar, its capital, was about fifty miles from Kasan, and near the river Kama\] joined the urzlk of Batu Sian, son of Juji, who had succeeded to his father’s appanage, and he was to hold the chief command. His brothers, tJrdah, Shaiban. and Tingkut, were likewise directed to proceed from the parts in which they were located, and join him, in order to accompany him on this expedition, which is famous as the Yurish-i-HafL Salah, or Seven Years’ Campaign. They were to invade the terntories of i^ifchak \[not yet subdued\], the Urus \[Rus\], Biilo \[Poland ?\], Majar \[Magyar\], Bashghird, As \[Ossetse of Europeans\], Sudak \[A^da^ or Azof\], Krim, and Qharkas \[the territory of the Gheremis, I believe, not the Circassians\], and All things being prepared, Batu Khan, with Shaiban, and Boroldae, with an army, commenced his march to subdue the Bulo \[the Tarikh-i-Jahan-gir says the Kalar\] and the Bashghird; and, having arrived in those parts, they, in a short time, subdued those territories, slew a great number of people, and carried off great booty. The Bulo were a mighty people of Christian faith, and the frontier of their country was adjoining that of the Farangs. ### [284.1.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.284.1.4) Hearing of Batu Khan’s advance, they, arrogant because of their grandeur, and the number of their troops, moved forward to oppose him with an army of 40 tomans—400,000—composed of chosen warriors, who considered it an eternal disgrace to fly from the battle-field. Batu Khan detached his brother, Shaiban \[the Tarikh-i-Jahan-gir says Sa\]knah\], with 10,000 horse as a vanguard, in order to reconnoitre the enemy and obtain information as to the number and position of their army. In the course of a week he returned, bringing information that the Bulan \[Poles?\] were, like the Mughals, all able and efficient men, and ten times more numerous than themselves. The two armies soon came in sight of each other. They were separated by a morass—the Fanakati and Alfi say a river or water, but it would seem to refer to a morass containing a considerable body of water. Batu requested the Musalmans in his army to assemble together in prayer, and call upon Almighty God to give them the victory, while he, himself, as was his wont on such occasions, like his grandfather before him, retired to a hill or rising ground; and, during a night and day, without speaking word to any one, occupied himself in prayer and supplication to the Most High to accord the victory to his army. During the next night he sent Boroldae \[the Fanakati says, his brother Shaiban\] and some Amirs, with their troops, to cross the water during the night, which they accomplished. ### [284.1.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.284.1.5) Next morning early Batu passed over and attacked the Bulan in person. By what means he crossed with his army, whether by a bridge or otherwise, is not stated, but it must have been a hazardous proceeding. Repeated charges were made upon the enemy, but they, being so strong in point of numbers, did not move from their position; and Shaiban greatly distinguished himself, in such wise that his prowess called forth praises from both sides. The force which, under Boroldae, had passed over during the night, now attacked the enemy in the rear. The Mughal troops penetrated into their camp, and began cutting the ropes of the tents. They made towards the tent of Kalar, their Badshah \[Bela IV., king of Hungary of European writers?\], and cut the ropes with their swords, and overturned it. Seeing this, his soldiers lost heart, and the main body of the Mughal army under Batu, having pushed forward at the same time, the Bulan gave way and took to flight. The Mughals pursued, and made such slaughter among them “as cannot be computed.” ### [284.1.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.284.1.6) The first place attacked, according to the Fanakati, and the Tarikh-i-Jahan-gir, but which works enter into no details, was the city of Mankas—which, on account of the denseness of the forests among which it lay, was difficult to approach, even on foot. The trees were, however, felled on either side, and around it, sufficient to enable four carts to move abreast, which enabled Batu to invest it. The city was, in due time, captured, and the inhabitants massacred; and it is stated that the left ears of all those slain were Bartas, Saklab, as far as the boundaries of Rum, came cut off in order to obtain the number of them, and that the total amounted to 270,000. Its capture, in 636 H., is mentioned farther on. Such was not unusual, even in comparatively modern times. Gerbillon \[1699\] mentions that, in the battle which took place between "Bosto or Bostugo Khan, Prince of the Kalmuks," and "Zuzi Khan Prince of the Mughals, the latter were defeated with great slaughter, and that nine camel-loads of ears and locks of hair were brought to him. When the spring of the following year came round, Batu Khan, having disposed of the affairs of Kifchak, Rus, and Alan, resolved to turn his arms against the territory of Kalar \[Bulo of Alfi\] and Bashghird or Bashkir. ### [284.1.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.284.1.7) Wolff, in his History of the Mughals, refers to nine sacks full of ears having been collected after the battle near Liegnitz, fought on the 9th April, 1240 A.D. \[15th Ramazan, 638 H.\], but this appears much too late a date for the capture of the city in question, as that took place early in the campaign, in the year 633 H. \[1235-36 A.D.\], under which year also it is recorded in Alfi; and, from what follows, the inhabitants do not appear to have been Christians. After this victory, the territories previously named are said to have fallen under the sway of the Mughals, "and a portion of Farang likewise." ### [284.1.8](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.284.1.8) This disastrous battle is that which took place, according to Von Hammer, on the banks of the Sayo, a tributary of the Theiss, in which Bela IV., King of Hungary, was overthrown in the spring of 1241 A.D., which accords with the last quarter of 638 H., but Alfi records it under the events of the year 623 of the Rihlat, equivalent to 633 H.; but this can scarcely be correct, for the other princes only set out to join Batu in that year, and, as it is mentioned soon after the capture of the city of Mankas, the correct date would be 634 H., which commenced on September 3rd, 1236 A.D. In the accounts given by European writers generally, Batu Khan's troops are incorrectly styled an army of "Tartars" \[there were certainly some Tartars among these forces, as well as Turks and Tajziks, who were subject to the Mughal yoke\], by some called "Thatturi," and, by others, "Mangali," and these were under the command of "Bathus and Peta, sons of Hocotum Cham, son of Genzis Cham"! --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.284.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.284.1) · Pramāṇa