[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) › 284.3 # The Nāṣirī Generations 284.3 Tabakat-i-Nasiri 284.3 - **Language:** English ### [284.3.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.284.3.1) After this, the Mughal Shah-zadahs made a retrograde movement \[to the river Don ?\] and held counsel together respecting their future operations. It was agreed that they should continue to advance, toman by toman, to Jirkah or Chirkah, and capture and destroy every city and town and fortified place that came in their way. Batu, on this occasion, appeared before the city of Kasai Ankah and invested it for two months, but could not succeed in taking it. Subsequently, Kadan, and Buri, arrived with their contingents, and, after three days, it was carried. After this they came to a pause, and took up their quarters in houses \[for the winter ?\], and took their ease. Towards the close of the year 635 H. \[which commenced the end of August, 1237-38 A.D.\], Mangu and Kadan marched into the country of the Charkas \[Cheremis of Nizhni Novgorod\], and, in the midst of winter, entered it. The Badshah of the Charkas, named Bukaan — possibly Yukan — was slain, and the country fell into the possession of the Mughals. In this year likewise, Shaiban, Bukal, and Buri, turned their attention to the country of Maim \[مايم\], and subdued it from Jejakan \[جيجكان—perhaps Jejatan—جيجاتان\] as far as Ikarar. Barkah, during this year, set out towards Kifchak; and Uzjak \[اوزجاق\], Kozan \[قوزان\], Tezan \[تيزان?\], and other leaders and their dependants, after Darkness — the Arctic Sea ?\], and the whole submitted to his authority. ### [284.3.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.284.3.2) He was a very sagacious man, and friendly towards the great slaughter, were captured, and their country devastated. After this, Barkah returned to the urdū of his uncle, Uktae Ka'an, bearing along with him such a vast amount of spoil as cannot be computed. In the year 636 H. — August, 1239-40 A.D.— Cadan and Buri proceeded towards the city of Mankas during the height of winter, and took it, after forty-five days’ investment. In the following year, 637 H. — August, 1239-40 A.D.— Mangu Khan and Kubilae were directed to return from the Dasht-i-Kifchak, while Batu Khan and his brothers, and Kadan, Buri, and Buchak, marched to attack the country of Urus \[again\], and the tribe and soldiers of Halahan — called Hala Jan — by some\]. The great city of the Urus was captured by Mangu in nine days. The Mughals continued to advance towards the cities of Ula-timur \[Vladimr\] and Jirkah or Jirkah, toman by toman, taking and destroying all the fortified places they met with in their route. During this expedition, after three days, the city of Uch-Ughul Uladmur was taken, which evidently refers to the city of Kief. “The Russians,” according to the Modern Universal History, quoting Petreius, par. ii., were reduced to a most deplorable situation, perpetually distressed by their own sovereigns, harassed by their neighbours, and exposed to all the calamities of war; ### [284.3.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.284.3.3) when, to complete their misery, the Tartars \[Mughals ?\], still greater savages than themselves, poured in upon them with irresistible fury, and actually made a conquest of their country. History does not inform us of the particulars of this remarkable event, any farther than that innumerable multitudes of those barbarians, headed by their khan Batto or Battus, after ravaging great part of Poland and Silesia, broke suddenly into Russia, and laid waste everything before them, marking their steps with every act of cruelty. Most of the Russian princes, among whom was the great Duke George Sevodolitz, were made prisoners, and racked to death; in short, none found mercy but those who voluntarily acknowledged the Tartars \[Mughals ?\] for their lords. The relentless conqueror imposed upon the Russians everything that is most mortifying in slavery, insisting that they should have no other princes than such as he approved of \[History repeats itself often : this reads much like part of recent treaties which one power wished to impose upon the 'Usmanli Turks, and another upon Afghans\]; and that they should pay him a yearly tribute, to be brought by their sovereigns themselves, now his vassals, on foot, who were to present it humbly to the Tartarian \[Mughal ?\] ambassador on horseback. They were also to prostrate themselves before the haughty Tartar \[Mughal ? ### [284.3.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.284.3.4) \], to offer him milk to drink, and, if any drops of it fell down, to lick them up — a singular mark of servility, worthy of the barbarian who imposed it, and which lasted near two hundred and sixty years.” A duke or prince of the Rus or Russians attended, as a vassal of the Mughals, the installation of Kyuk Khan, but was compelled to stand outside the audience tent or khargah. This is confirmed by John de Plano Carpini, who reached Kyuk’s urdu in 1246 A.D. — 644 H. — before Kyuk was elected, and he found Jeroslaus standing at the door of the khargah. Musalmans, and, under his protection, they used to live contented and happy. In his camp, and among his tribes, there were masjids with regular congregations, an Imam, and Mu'azzin, all duly organized; and, during the period of his reign, and the term of his life, the territories of Islam sustained neither harm nor injury by his command, nor from his dependents nor troops. The Musalmans of Turkistan, under the shadow of his guardianship, enjoyed great affluence and infinite security. Out of every country of I-ran which fell under the jurisdiction of the Mughals, he \[Batu\] had a specified assignment, and his factors were placed over such portions as had been allotted to him, and all the Grandees and Leaders of the Mughal forces were obedient unto Batu, and used to look upon him in the light of his father Tushi. ### [284.3.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.284.3.5) When Kyuk departed from the world, all concurred in the sovereignty of Batu, with the exception of the sons of Chaghatae, and made this request to him, that he would accept the throne of the Mughals, and assume the sovereignty, in order that all might obey his commands. Batu did not consent; and Mangu Khan, son of Tuli, son of the Chingiz Khan, was raised to the sovereignty, as will, subsequently, be related. Some among the trustworthy have stated on this wise, that Batu, privately, and in secret, had become a Musalman, but used not to make it known, and that he reposed implicit confidence in the people of Islam. For twenty-eight years, more or less, he ruled over this extent of country \[as previously mentioned\], and died. The mercy of the Almighty be upon him, if a true believer, and, if an infidel, may the Almighty lessen his punishment \[in hell\]! They buried him in conformity with the Mughal custom; and among that people it is the usage, when one of them dies, to prepare a place under ground about the size of a chamber or hall, in largeness proportionate to the rank and degree of the accursed one who may have departed to hell. They furnish it with a throne and covering for the ground, and they place there vessels and numerous effects, together with his arms and weapons, and whatever may have been his own private property, and some of his wives, and slaves, male or female, and the person he loved most above all others. ### [284.3.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.284.3.6) When they have placed that accursed one upon the throne, they bury his most beloved along with him in that place. In the night-time the place is covered up, and horses are driven over it, in such a manner that not a trace of it remains. This custom of theirs — God curse them! — is comprehended by all Musalmans. Here an astonishing anecdote which the author has heard is recorded, in order that readers thereof may, respecting the things of the world to come, increase their reverence; but God is all knowing. --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.284.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.284.3) · Pramāṇa