The Nāṣirī Generations 286.2
Tabakat-i-Nasiri 286.2
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286.2.1
On receipt of this command, Barka and his brother assembled together all the Shah-zadahs then present in the urdu of Kalur-an, and the great Amirs, among whom was Amir Harkashun, or Hargasun, and of the Shah-zadahs of the Dast-i-Rast, Hula’u [or Hulaku; the name is written both ways, and both are correct], son of Chaghatae; of Uktae’s sons, Kadan, and his grandsons, Mungard and others; and the brothers of Mangu, Kubila, or Kubilae, Hulaku, Muka, and Irtuk Buka. Of the Shah-zadahs of the Dast-i-Chap, the sons of Juji Kasar, Nako [?], and Yasu Munga; Iljidae or Ilchikdae, son of Kajiun, and Majar, son of the Nu-yin, Ulji, the sons of Mankuti, and a few others of the family of lesser note.
286.2.2
Having chosen a propitious hour, approved by the augurs, they met together, confirmed the decision of the Aka, Batu Khan, and placed Mangu Ka’an upon the throne with the usual ceremonials. One of the most auspicious signs of the glory of his reign, according to the pro-Mughal Historians, was, that for several days previously, the atmosphere of those parts became so overcast that the face of the sun was completely hidden, and incessant rain fell; but it so happened that, at the very moment chosen by the astrologers for Mangu’s seating himself on the throne, the world-enlightening luminary burst forth from his veil of clouds, and filled the universe with his effulgent brightness. All present in that great assembly, Shah-zadahs, Amirs, and people, thereupon arose, doffed their caps, unloosed their girdles and cast them over their shoulders, and bent the knee nine times. I cannot here enter into farther details, which are highly interesting; space forbids. It took place at the ancient yurat within the limits of Kara-Kuram, the urdu of Kalur-an, in the year of the Hog, in the month of Zi-Kadah—the eleventh month—of the year 648 H., or February, 1251 A.D. son of Tuli, the youngest of the Chingiz Khan's sons, who was removed from the world in the day-time of youth, and never enjoyed dominion; and, whereas, I, Batu, shall place him on the throne, in reality I shall be the sovereign." All ratified this opinion.
286.2.3
When they were about to place Mangu Khan on the throne, Barka, the Musalman, said: "The empire of the infidels hath departed, and the dominion of every pagan monarch who ascends the throne of sovereignty will not endure. If ye desire that the rule of Mangu shall continue, and be prolonged, let him pronounce the [Musalman] confession of faith, in order that his name may be inscribed in the register of the Islamis, and then let him ascend the throne." This was concurred in, and Mangu repeated the confession of faith. Then Barka, taking him by the arm, seated him on the throne; and all the Mughal rulers paid homage unto him, with the exception of the tribe and dependents and sons of Chaghatae, who began to act in a contumacious manner, and showed a rebellious spirit. They were desirous of acting in a perfidious manner, and of falling unexpectedly upon the camp of Mangu Khan, to capture him, and put him to death. They [the sons of Chaghatae] despatched confidential persons to the presence of Mangu Khan, saying: "When thou ascendest the throne we propose to come to thy presence for the purpose of tendering our congratulations and observing the custom of felicitation." With this pretence they issued forth from their place of abode, with a host of horsemen well organized and armed;
286.2.4
and their determination was to make a night attack upon Mangu Khan, slay him and Batu also, and overcome their adherents, and seize upon the sovereignty: "man proposes, but God disposes." It was the decree of Heaven that a camel-man, from the camp of Batu and Mangu Khan, who had lost his camel, set out towards the open country in search of it, and was roaming about in every direction, when, suddenly, he fell among the army of the sons of Chaghatae. On becoming aware of the circumstances of this army, to every one who inquired of him to whose following or retinue he belonged—as the appearance and dialect of the camel-men of the army of Chaghatae’s sons was the same as his own—he made himself out to be a camel-man of one of their Amirs, until night came, when, seizing the opportunity, the camel-man got away from among the forces of the sons of Chaghatae, and returned to the camp of Batu and Mangu Khan, and made them acquainted with the matter. When that information reached the hearing of Mangu time when all was jubilee, and there was no suspicion of such treachery, and no precaution taken, Shiramun, grandson of Uktae, and son of Kuchu, Naku or Nakue, son of Kyuk, and Kunuku, son of Karachar, son of Oktae, combined together, and arrived near unto the urdu of Mangu Ka'an. Along with them were a great number of carts full of arms, and in their hearts they meditated treachery and perfidy towards Mangu.
286.2.5
It so happened, however, that a kosh-chi—that is to say, a camel-man, whose name was Kashak, a Kankuli, in the immediate service of the Ka'an—had lost one of his camels. In search of this animal he was wandering about the open country, when, suddenly, he found himself in the midst of an army, and saw a countless number of carts. As he proceeded onwards, pretending to take no notice, he came upon a boy seated before a broken cart. The boy, thinking he was one of the followers of the force, asked him to aid him in mending it. Kashak dismounted from his horse for the purpose, when, to his great astonishment, instead of drinkables and other necessaries for a banquet, he found implements of war and arms concealed in the cart, under other things. He inquired of the boy: "What are these?" He replied: "Only arms, such as are contained in all the other carts;" and, on further inquiry, Kashak discovered that this force consisted of the followers of Shiramun, Nakue, and others, who were proceeding towards the Ka'an's urdu to offer their congratulations, and to hold a banquet. Being aware that banquets were not furnished from carts full of arms, nor congratulations offered, he, after helping to mend the cart, and obtaining other information, got out of the camp of Shiramun and the other Shah-zadahs, and performed a three days' journey in one.
286.2.6
Without waiting to ask permission, he rushed into the presence of Mangu Ka'an, and before all those there assembled cried out: "Here are ye all occupied in amusement and mirth, while foes have arisen against ye, and are close at hand!" and he related what he had beheld and heard. Mangu would not believe it; and the Shah-zadahs and Amirs present thought Kashak must be exaggerating; nevertheless, the Nu-yin, Mungusar, or Mangusar, the principal of Mangu's Nu-yins, was despatched, with 2000 or 3000 horse, to gain information. When the next morning broke, Mungusar pushed on, at the head of 500 chosen horse, nearer to the position where the camp of the rebels was situated, and while he was reconnoitring a large body of horsemen were observed approaching. It was Shiramun and his party, issuing from their camp. Mungusar was soon joined by the Shah-zadah, Muka, and the Gurgan, Chuchal, the Karayit, and an additional force despatched by Mangu to his support, and they completely surrounded Shiramun, Naku, and Kunuku. The Fanakati says Mangu, on becoming aware of this, despatched the Nu-yin, Mungusar, with 3000 men, to meet them, and that he met Shiramun at the head of 500 horse, despatched by the conspirators in advance.
286.2.7
The Nu-yin said to him: "They say ye are coming with evil designs in your hearts. If this is not true, pass on without fear or hesitation to the presence; otherwise I am directed to arrest thee and take thee prisoner thither." Shiramun denied all evil intentions, and asserted that they were all only attended by their usual retinues. As the others arrived, they and their followers were disarmed, as the party of Shiramun had been already, and the Princes and their Amirs were divided into nines—the number venerated by the Mughals—and, in that manner were allowed to enter the audience-tent or khargah; and, soon after, the Amirs with them were admitted to make their obeisances. An- Khan, after taking ample care and caution, he caused the entertainment was given, which lasted three days, and nothing whatever was said to them, nor was a question asked. On the fourth day, however, command was given that all the followers of the disaffected Princes and their partisans should depart each to their own yurats, under pain of death if they should be found to remain after that order. A body of troops was detailed to guard the disaffected Princes and Amirs, and Mangu, in concert with his chief Nu-yins, Amirs, and Ministers, on the sixth day, proceeded to inquire into their conduct. The Ata-Bak of Prince Shiramun was closely questioned about the plot. He at first denied all knowledge of it; but, on being bastinadoed, he confessed, and immediately stabbed himself; and Shiramun also confessed.
286.2.8
The seven Nu-yins directed to try the Princes declared them guilty, and, moreover, the conspirators themselves now confessed their plot. Mangu is said to have been inclined to pardon them, but this his Nu-yins and Amirs strongly opposed. He therefore directed that they should all be imprisoned until he had time to consider what should be done with them. After a few days, Mangu again summoned his Counsellors, and asked their advice upon the matter. Some said one thing, some another, but in such wise as not to satisfy the Ka'an. Then his Wazir, Mahmud, Yalwaj, related the anecdote respecting Aristotle's reply to Alexander, about rooting up all the old trees in the garden, and replacing them with young scions, which story has done duty in scores of instances, and is applied by Firishtah, the Dakhani Historian, to the Turk chiefs in the Panjab in the reign of Ghiyas-ud-Din, Balban—the Ulugh Khan of this History, the father-in-law of Nasir-ud-Din, Mahmud Shah, and his successor on the throne of Dihli.