[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) › 284.2 # The Nāṣirī Generations 284.2 Tabakat-i-Nasiri 284.2 - **Language:** English ### [284.2.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.284.2.1) "Bathus, with his forces, had ravaged Great Russia, Lithuania, Poland, and Bohemia. The Cumani, a Sarmatian nation \[the Kumans of Oriental authors\], whose territory had been previously ravaged by the Mughal troops, brought intimation to the king of Hungary of the invasion of the countries of Rus, Alan, and Kifchak by the Mughals, and sought permission themselves to take shelter in Hungary, promising, in return, to turn Christians, and to be loyal subjects. Permission was granted; and some 40,000 Kumans, with their slaves, came into Hungary. The subjects of Bela IV., king of that country, were disaffected towards him; and, as the advance of Bathus took place within a year of the Kumans' arrival in their country, the Hungarians accused them of having instigated the Mughals to come, and slew their chief, and his attendants, on his way to join King Bela. This act caused the Cumans to join the invaders, who had ravaged Russia and sent part of their forces into Silesia, Moravia, and Bohemia, while Bathus with an army of 300,000 men was advancing towards the frontiers of Hungary. Meanwhile, King Bela, with an army nearly as numerous, moved to encounter them; and, as he advanced, they retreated leisurely towards Agria, both leaders seeking a favourable opportunity to give battle; but Bela's troops, as I have said before, were under his sway; and, in that region, he subjugated all the disaffected, and rather wished that Bela might be defeated. ### [284.2.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.284.2.2) At length the two armies drew so near each other that their respective camps were only separated by a marsh \[this, no doubt, is the river or water of the Musalman writers\], which the Mughals finding passable crossed over by stealth in some places, and surrounded the camp of the Hungarians. One morning at daybreak the Mughals began the attack by volleys of arrows. The Hungarians, confounded at this unexpected attack, could not be persuaded to leave their camp. The upshot was that they were totally defeated, and the greater number perished: some say from 100,000 to 65,000 men. Pesth is said to have fallen immediately after. “The Mughals then proceeded to ravage Upper Hungary, and King Bela had to fly into Austria. Then the invaders passed the Danube on the ice, entered and subdued Strigonia, while detached bands pursued Bela into Dalmatia. Unable to take him, they turned aside into Croatia, Bosnia, and Bulgaria, pillaging and destroying. At this time news reached Bathus of the decease of Hocotam Cham \[his father!\], on which he set out on his return homewards through Cumania and Ruthenia.” This latter is a specimen of history writing; Juji Khan, Batu’s father, had been dead ten years before the campaign began. Rubruquis, who passed through the Dasht-i-Kibchak about sixteen or seventeen years after these events, says the whole country between the Danube and the Atil was possessed by the Koman Kapchak, “who are,” he says, “called Valani by the Germans, and their country Valania.” ### [284.2.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.284.2.3) It will be seen from this that there is some discrepancy between the two accounts of eastern and western writers, and that the latter have made terrible havoc with the names, wrongly imagined that Batu was the son of Uktae Ka'an, instead of being his nephew, and turned all the Mughals into “Tattars.” There is little doubt but that the Kumans were of Turkish descent, and that, as before stated, there were some Turks, Tattars, and Tajziks in Batu’s army. Kadan Aghul, and Malik, sons of Uktae, were by a Kuman concubine. Other blunders committed by most European writers are with regard to the dates, and the supposition that Uktae’s death was the cause of the return of the Mughal princes and their armies, whereas, as has been, and will be presently, related, these wars were over, and they returned to their respective territories before the death of Uktae, which took place on the 5th day of the sixth month of 639 H. — 10th December, 1241 A.D.; and yet, according to the European writers, the battle of Lignitz was only fought in April of that very year, and the “Mongols” only crossed the Danube on the ice, after the great battle in which Bela, king of Hungary, was overthrown, to attack Gran, on the 25th December, 1241, or, according to this theory, twenty days after “Hocotam’s” death. ### [284.2.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.284.2.4) After overrunning the country of Bolo the Shah-zadahs, and Amirs, during the \[following\] winter, assembled on the banks of the river Janan; and the Bahadur, Swidae \[Sahudah\], with a large force, was despatched into the country of Urus \[also styled Rus\], and the frontiers of Bulghar. He penetrated as far as the city of Kermak and overthrew the armies of that state, after much fighting, and brought it under subjection; and, the capital thereof having been reduced to wretchedness and desolation, the Amirs of that place came out, proceeded to the presence of the Shah-zadahs, and made their submission. They were well treated, received favours tribes of Khifchak, Kankuli, Yamak, Ilbari \[Albari\], Rus, and benefits, and were permitted to return \[as vassals of the Mughals\]. Again they became rebellious, and the Shah-zadahs again detached Swfdae \[Sahudah\]. He soon reduced the disaffected, and put all concerned in the outbreak to death. After these events a council was held by the Shah-zadahs, and it was agreed that each one, with the troops under him, should march towards different points \[where this council was held is not stated\], subdue such territories as lay in his way, and destroy the fortified places. Mangu, accordingly, continued to advance on the left hand towards Jirkah or Ghirkah keeping along the banks of the Jirkah or Chirkah river, and Bajman \[This name is doubtful. It is written Najman, or Bajman Tahman and Uss without any points. ### [284.2.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.284.2.5) It may also be read Tajman, or it may be Tachman, but it seems to be Bajman, from the various modes here given, who was a great Amir, and redoubtable warrior of the tribe or people of the Aolbarlang of the peoples of Khifchak, and Kajir Olukah of the tribe of As \[Ossetae ?\], he made prisoners. It happened in this wise. Bajman, with a body of robbers, who had escaped the sword \[probably at the time Kuktae and Swfdae \[Sahudah\], at the commencement of Uktae’s reign, moved into those parts. See note page 1115\], having been joined by other fugitives, were harrying the parts around and carrying off property, and the sedition was increasing daily. The Mughals were unable to lay hands on this Bajman, and he used to hide in the vast forests of canes along the banks of the Atil or Wolga. Mangu caused two hundred vessels to be prepared, on each of which he embarked 100 Mughals, while Mangu himself, and his brother, Tukal, moved along down either bank with their forces. \[Neither Mangu nor his brother embarked on board these vessels : they would have defeated their own object if they had done so.\] At last the troops under Mangu reached one of these forests of canes, and discovered traces of a recent encampment. After some search, an old woman, who had been left behind because she was sick, was discovered. ### [284.2.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.284.2.6) On being questioned, she, to save her life, confessed that Bajman and his followers had recently decamped, and were then lurking in a certain island, which she pointed out, with all his property and effects. As his boats were not there, and he was unable to cross to the island, Mangu sent messengers to hasten onwards his vessels; but it so happened that, before the vessels arrived, a high wind arose, and the waters became so disturbed, and the waves rose so, that the shallow part which constituted the ford, pointed out by the old woman, became partially exposed from one side to the other. Mangu pushed across with his troops and caught Bajman, who requested that Mangu would put him to death with his own hand, but this he declined, and directed his brother, Tukal, to cut him in two. On this island Kajir Olukah, the Amir of the As, was also slain. Mangu passed part of the summer on this island, and, when the weather became very hot, he moved into another country. Charkas, and As, as far as the Bahr-i-Zulmat \[Sea of Batu Khan, in the beginning of 634 H.— the latter part of 1236 A.D.— in concert with his brothers, Urdah, Barkah, and other Shah-zadahs, undertook an expedition against Tokaj and Baras, and, after some delay, subdued their \[those?\] territories. Towards the close of this year, the Shah-zadahs present held a kuriltae, and it was therein determined to make war on the Urus. ### [284.2.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.284.2.7) Batu, Urdah, Kyuk, Mangu, Kolkan, Kadan, and Buri, accordingly, invested the city of Arpan, and, after three days, it was captured by storm, and the city of I-kah met the same fate. In the capture of I-kah, Kolkan \[not the son of the Chingiz Khan, as supposed, merely because he bore an uncle’s name who died long before, but Chaghatae’s son\] was mortally wounded. One of the Amirs of the Urus, named Arman \[ارمان\], also written Azman \[ازمان\], advanced with an army against the Mughals, and, after many endeavours on his part, he was killed, with the greater part of his troops. The Mughals now captured the city of Makar \[مكار\] after five days’ investment, and the ruler \[Hakim\] of the city, who was named Ula-timur \[Vladimir, son of the Grand Duke George of Russia?\], was likewise killed. The city of Borki-i-Buzurg— Great Borki \[بوركئ\] — was also invested, and, after eight days, during which its people fought desperately, it was taken, and fell into Mangu Khan’s hands. In the space of five days, the Mughals took the city of Ikrikla which is the native country of the Wazir of Ladan or Lawan. The Amir of that country, Wamkah Porko, fled, and took shelter in a forest, and after some trouble he was captured and killed. --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.284.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.284.2) · Pramāṇa