[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) › 291 # The Nāṣirī Generations 291: IRRUPTION OF THE INFIDELS INTO ISLAM. Tabakat-i-Nasiri 291 - **Language:** English ## Contents - [291.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.291.1) — 7 parts - [291.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.291.2) — 7 parts - [291.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.291.3) — 8 parts - [291.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.291.4) — 7 parts ### IRRUPTION OF THE INFIDELS INTO ISLAM. ### [291.1.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.291.1.1) and from both of these rulers bodies of cavalry arrived to the assistance of the infidel army. The infidel forces gathered around Hulaku in 'Irak, and turned their faces towards Baghdad. The Lord of the Faithful, Al-Musta’sim B’illah, had a Wazir, a rafizi \[a shi'ah heretic\] of bad religion, and his name was Ahmad, the ’Alkami. Between him, the Wazir, and the eldest son of the Lord of the Faithful, who Hulaku Khan, after having completed the downfall of the Mulahidahs, had been commissioned to invade ’Irak-i-’Arab, and reduce the Khalifah. Considering this a great piece of good luck, the Wazir resolved to profit by it. He forthwith set to work to render the design of the Mughals successful, and enable them to gain possession of Baghdad without trouble and without delay, by opening communication with Hulaku, and giving him all the information he could. ### [291.1.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.291.1.2) He accordingly represented to the Khalifah saying: “Thank God, the Lord of the Faithful this day is at peace with all the different rulers. All of them are loyal and subservient to him; and, at all times, they pray for his prosperity and security, and in no way desire to encounter the forces of the Khilafat. In truth, the Khalifah is without rival and without adversary. Now it seems contrary to forethought and prudence, under these circumstances, that such an expenditure should go on every year from the treasury for the payment of so many troops; and, if the Lord of the Faithful will permit, I will despatch the various officers of the troops to different localities in the Khalifah’s dominions on civil duties, and the troops may be disbanded, whereby a great advantage will accrue to the finances, and a vast deal of treasure be saved.” This sounds like modern stump-oratory. At this time, 124,000 efficient cavalry were kept up by the Khalifah, and paid out of his treasury, without counting the contingents of the vassals of the Khilafat; and the unfortunate Khalifah, in his love of wealth, considering all this was for his advantage, permitted the traitor to carry out his scheme. After a short time this was completed, and the capital almost denuded of troops. ### [291.1.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.291.1.3) The traitor now communicated again with Hulaku, and despatched an agent secretly, expressing his sincerity and loyalty, and urging upon him that he should, on no account, give up the attempt to subdue ’Irak-i-’Arab, and capture Baghdad, which could easily be accomplished, and that his services were at his entire disposal. Notwithstanding the proofs and arguments he gave in his communication, Hulaku, for some time, did not place much faith in the traitor’s words, but, when Ibn ’Alkami continued to send communications, and to importune him on the subject, Hulaku consulted with another traitor—the Khwajah, Nasir-ud-Din, the Tusi, who had, by this time, gained complete ascendancy over him, and a high position in Hulaku’s confidence and service. He, being one of the great ’Ulama of the Shi’ah sect, and having his own private revenge to satisfy by the downfall of the ’Abbasis, entered into the conspiracy with zeal, especially after Ibn ’Alkami had communicated direct with himself also. The Khwajah pretended that it was necessary to consult the aspect of the stars before determining on the campaign, and this he was directed by Hulaku to do. His report may be imagined: he stated that he had carefully carried out his observations, that the result was favourable, and that it was predicted that the time was at hand for the Khalifah, Musta’sim, to be made captive, and that Baghdad and ’Irak-i-’Arab would be subdued by his servants, without much trouble or difficulty. ### [291.1.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.291.1.4) Hulaku’s first move was to despatch his envoys to the Court of the Khalifah with an insolent and arrogant message, on the 10th of Ramazan, 655 H., upbraiding him for not having rendered aid, which he accused the Khalifah of having promised, in the operations against the Mulahidahs, and of falsehood in consequence. His insolence was, no doubt, the greater, knowing that the Khalifah’s own Wazir was his friend and ally. The threats of the barbarian of the despoiling of the rafilzs who inhabited Karkh, and and his demands were, among other matters, that the Khalifah should beware of manifesting impotent rage, and should neither strike his fist against an iron spike, nor attempt to plaster over the sun with mud mortar, otherwise he would deeply regret it, and sovereignty would turn away its face from him. “Our advice is,” he said, “that thou shouldst demolish the defences of Baghdad, fill up the ditch, make over the direction of state affairs to thy son, and present thyself before us, in order that thou mayest dwell in safety from the wrath of God. If thou art not coming thyself, send thy Wazir, the Sar Dawat-Dar, and Suliman Shah—the two latter, especially the last, were the mainstay of the state, and chief obstacle in the traitor’s way—in order that our messages, without detriment or addition, may reach thee; for, if thou dost not give thine ear to our friendly exhortations and advice, get thy forces ready, and prepare for war; ### [291.1.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.291.1.5) for we have girded up our loins to fight with thee, and are ready. Further understand, that, when we shall reach Baghdad, whether thou art in the heavens above or in the earth beneath, they will bring to thee our peremptory command, which is like unto fate’s.” The Khalifah’s reply, transmitted through his own envoys, a mixture of admonition, boasting, and defiance, concluded: “Listen, young man, therefore, to the admonition we have given thee, and retain it in thy mind; and go back again whence thou camest, otherwise prepare for war and come.” The Mughal envoys, on their return, were met outside the city by a great mob, who insulted and reviled them, and even spat upon them, in hopes that the Mughal envoys might do or say something which they might turn into a pretext for laying violent hands upon them. Here again was an opportunity for the Wazir: hearing of the disturbance, he, at once, despatched a body of his household slaves to guard the envoys, and conduct them safely out of the danger; and they, on their return to Hulaku’s camp, related all the good offices of the Wazir on the occasion. The Khalifah’s envoys, on the other hand, were angrily dismissed, with fresh threats, from the halting-place of Panj-Angusht; and their report of what they had seen and heard made the Khalifah feel anxious and downhearted. He consulted with his Wazir, whose traitorous conduct was, of course, wholly unknown to him. ### [291.1.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.291.1.6) He advised that the Khalifah should make use of the great wealth he possessed, and endeavour, by means of it, to ward off this calamity, and that liberal presents should be sent. For the Khan, a thousand bales of the finest fabrics, such as silk, fine linen, cloth, and other valuable wares and commodities, a thousand bukhti \[hairy, double-humped\] camels, and a thousand fine ’Arab horses, caparisoned befittingly; and, for the Mughal Shah-zadahs and great Amirs, presents suitable to their rank and degrees. The Jami’-ut-Tawarikh puts a piece upon this, in order to flatter his Mughal patron no doubt, and says that the Wazir—who, according to his account, was an innocent lamb—advised that the Khalifah, his master, “should make apologies” to the barbarian, Hulaku, “insert his name in the Khutbah, and stamp the coin with his name that the Khalifah was willing to do this, but that Mujahid-ud-Din, and others, with whom the author of that work associates all the knaves and vagabonds of Baghdad, “out of animosity to the Wazir, prevented it.” That city, however, is not the only place where traitors have taxed patriots, who would not sacrifice “their countries’ interests,” with owing their influence to the support of knaves and villains, which terms were, at the same time, alone applicable to themselves. the Mash-had of Musa-i-Ja’far — God reward him! — and the son of the Lord of the Faithful, the Amir, Abu-Bikr, had slain some of them, and despoiled them. ### [291.1.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.291.1.7) Out of revenge for this, the Wazir of the Khalifah’s Court, who was a rafizi of bad religion, showed hostility towards the Lord of the Faithful; and, in secret, and clandestinely, he wrote a letter to Hulaku, and entered into collusion with him, and besought the infidels to advance. The Kurd troops, and forces of ’Irak, by way of dismissing them, he \[the Wazir\] sent away from Baghdad, in different directions, and represented on this wise to the Lord of the Faithful, saying: — “A peace has been entered into with the infidels, and we have no need of troops.” After Baghdad became denuded of troops, suddenly, the infidel Mughals arrived in its environs. They had taken forcible possession of a bridge \[of boats\] from the Malik of Mausil, and fixed it so as to command Baghdad, and then passed the Dijlah \[Tigris\]. The fortress \[fortified town\] of Takrit \[above Baghdad\] was an excessively strong place; and the holy-warriors of Takrit issued forth, and set fire to the bridge of boats, but, the following day, the Mughals again repaired the bridge, and martyred the Musalmans. ### [291.2.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.291.2.1) The son of the Lord of the Faithful, Amir Abu-Bikr, and the Amir-i-Alam \[Lord of the Standard\] of the Khilafat Suliman Shah, the Aiyubi Turk-man—who for a period of thirty years had wielded the sword against the Mughal infidels, and had achieved many holy expeditions \[against them\], as by the canons of the faith enjoined—these two \[personages\], in concert, on several occasions, had attacked the infidels, and overthrew the Mughal troops. On the first occasion, they drove the Mughals from the environs of Baghdad, and pursued them as far as Safahan \[Isfahan\], and despatched many of the infidel army to hell. This Amir-i-'Alam of the Khilafat, Suliman Shah, the Aiyubi, was a Malik of the tribes of the Anboh, and they are a sept of the Turk-mans, and exceedingly spirited and warlike ; and the left wing of the Khalifah’s forces was their post During a period of thirty years, from the time of Jurmaghun's \[first\] entering ^Irak, up to this period, he \[Suliman Shah\] was wont to engage in conflict like as Rustam-i-Dastan had done in the age of ignorance — the Almighty be gracious to him ! — and 'Ali-i-Murtaza in the \[early?\] days of the true faith — May God reward him ! Hulaku, having been overthrown the first time, on the second occasion gathered together troops from all Khurasan and Irak, both horse and foot, consisting of infidels, renegade Amirs, and captives ; and, at the solicitation of the rdfizl Wazir — God’s curse upon him ! — turned his face towards Baghdad. ### [291.2.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.291.2.2) That accursed rdfizl minister, since he entertained in his heart and disposition treason and apostacy, had dispensed with the Kurd forces which were in the Madinat-ul-Islam, Baghdad ; and the Christians likewise, in secret, having taken measures with Hulaku, had written letters to him, and had solicited the appearance of the infidel hosts. The Maliks and slaves of the Khalifah, who have been \[styled\] Sultans, had become aware of the Wazir's machinations, and once had shown to the Khalifah a letter which the Wazir had written to Hulaku, and they denounced the nature of his designs. The reason was this, that between the Wazir and the Sar Dawat-dar \[Chief Secretary\], Sultan Mujahid-ud-Din, I-bak, there was dissension and enmity, and he \[the Sar Dawat-dar\] was cognizant of the hostility of the Wazir towards the Khalifah’s son, Amir Abu-Bikr, on account of his slaying the rafizis \[previously mentioned\]; and this fact he was wont to bring to the blessed hearing of the Khalifah. When the Wazir became aware of the purpose of the Sar Dawat-dar, he represented to the Khalifah in this way, saying: “The Sar Dawat-dar desires to remove thee from the Khilafat and to raise Amir Abu-Bikr to that position;” and, as the Lord of the Faithful had become aware of the endeavours on both sides, he used not to pay any attention to the words of either party in their efforts against each other. ### [291.2.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.291.2.3) When therefore the Maliks laid before the Khalifah the letters which the Wazir had written to Hulaku, he replied; "These must be the doings of I-bak, the Dawat-dar: besides, the Wazir would not act in this way." The Maliks were disheartened at this reply, until, when Hulaku had arrived within ten kuroh \[about twenty miles\] of Baghdad, Suliman Shah, the Amir-i-’Alam, and Malik ’Izz-ud-Din, son of Fath-ud-Din, the Kurd, who was the champion of the Dar-ul-Khilafat, and who led the right wing of the Khalifah's troops, held counsel upon the state of affairs with Sultan Mujahid-ud-Din, I-bak, the Sar Dawat-dar, the Mustansiri, saying: "Matters have gone too far, a potent enemy is close at hand, and an adverse Wazir has plotted with the foe. It is necessary that it be communicated to the Lord of the Faithful in order that he may devise some expedient to repel the infidels." Mujahid-ud-Din, I-bak, replied: "I have said everything that was possible on this subject, but it has made no impression upon the blessed ear of the Khalifah. I can do no more than to request permission for a private audience for you. Do you make a representation to the effect \[you have mentioned\]." Malik Suliman Shah, the Aiyubi Turk-man, and Malik Izz-ud-Din, son of Fath-ud-Din, the Kurd, represented to the Khalifah the arrival of the enemy, and solicited that means might be devised for his repulsion. ### [291.2.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.291.2.4) The Khalifah replied: "The Wazir hath been spoken to: it behoveth ye to request a reply from him." Both withdrew from the audience-hall of the Khilafat despairing. The Nu-in, Taju \[Tanju\], with 80,000 infidel cavalry, from the side of Aran and Azarbaijan, obtained a bridge \[of boats\] belonging to the Malik of Mausil \[Badr-ud-Din-i-Lulu\], and, in order to command Baghdad, fixed it near to Takrit. The holy-warriors of Takrit sallied out of the town and fortress, and entirely consumed the bridge constructed by the Mughals, and despatched great numbers of the infidels to hell, while a few Musalmans attained martyrdom. The following day, the Mughals repaired the bridge, as has been previously recorded, passed over, and pushed on towards Kufah, Hillah, and T Tart-B, and martyred the people. Malik ’Izz-ud-Din, son of Fath-ud-Din, the Kurd, and Mujahid-ud-Din, the Sar-Dawatf, with 20,000 horse from Baghdad, crossed the Dijlah \[Tigris\], and summoned all the men of Karkh and other towns to aid them, and fought a battle with the infidel army. As the forces of Islam contained a great number of infantry, they stood firm, and received the attack of the infidels, fought valiantly, and forced them back. The army of the infidel Mughals sustained an overthrow, and great numbers of them went to hell. ### [291.2.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.291.2.5) Malik ’Izz-ud-Din, son of Fathud-Din, the Kurd, earnestly urged the pursuit of the Mughals, saying: “It is requisite to pursue the routed 30,000 men, against Husam-ud-Din, and had recourse to the usual perfidious measures in order to get him into his power. Kaibuka sent a message to Husam-ud-Din, saying that he was on his way towards Baghdad, that expedition having been determined upon, and that Husam-ud-Din’s presence was required in order to consult with him. Unaware of the snare laid for him, Husam-ud-Din fell into it. After Kaibuka had got him into his camp, he told him, “in order to show his sincerity,” to muster all his family, dependents, and retainers, from the forts and elsewhere, so that they might be enumerated, and the amount of revenue, to be paid for them, fixed. Still did Husam-ud-Din comply, unaware that Hulaku knew all. His family, dependents, and soldiers, with the exception of such as were in some of the forts with his son, being secured, Husam-ud-Din, now that it was too late, found that his secret was known; and he gave up all hope of life. He was further called upon to give orders for the fortresses to be destroyed, as “an undoubted proof of his loyalty,” and, being hopeless, he complied, after which, he and the whole of his people were massacred, with the exception of those with his son. Kaibuka returned triumphant to his master’s camp. The Amir-i-Sa’d, Husam-ud-Din’s son, refused to give up the forts in his possession, and held them for some time. ### [291.2.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.291.2.6) At last, he evacuated them, and retired to Baghdad. He was received with much favour, and subsequently was killed in defending the city against the Mughals. This feat accomplished, Hulaku, after he had been again in communication with the traitor Wazir, and with the Khwajah, Nasir-ud-Din, the Tusi, at his elbow—I have not space for all the prophecies of the Court Astrologer, Husam-ud-Din, of calamities to happen, in case of attacking Baghdad, but the Tusi was in favour of advancing, and the Mughal augurs and astrologers declared all portents favourable for it—gave orders to make preparations for the campaign, and the Bahadur, Sunjak, was directed to cross the Dijlah, to the northward of Baghdad, in order to effect a junction with the Nu-yin Tanju, who, as already mentioned, with the Amirs and troops previously under Jurmaghun’s command, was marching, on the right hand, through Azarbaijan, for the purpose of invading the territories of Sham, Halab, and Rum, but whose march had been stopped, and he had been directed to turn to his left, move by way of Arbil and Mausil, where there was a bridge, and effect a junction with Sunjak. The Jami’-ut-Tawarikh says Tanju’s yurat, at that time, was in Rum, and that he had lately defeated the Saljuk Sultan at Koshah-Dagh, but this is somewhat different from the statements of others already briefly mentioned. ### [291.2.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.291.2.7) The Shah-zadahs, Bulghan or Bulgha, Tutar, and Kuli, all grandsons of Juji-Khan, and Buka Timur’s forces, were also directed to advance on the right, from the district of ’Abbas-abad \[west of Hamadan; in some Histories, Asad-abad\], and join Sunjak. These junctions having been effected, this combined force was to approach Baghdad from the west, through the tract afterwards called the “Gariwah of Sunjak, the Nu-yin.” The Nu-yin, Kaibuka, Kudsun, and Ilkae, or Ilka or Ilkan, as he is also named, were to move towards Baghdad through Khuzistan, and approached it from the south-east, while Hulaku, himself, with the centre, advanced towards the city from the eastward, by way of Khankin. ### [291.3.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.291.3.1) The Jami’-ut-Tawarikh states that Hulaku reached Dinaur, which is three infidels, so that, with this victory even, the remainder of them may be brought under the sword; but Mujahid-ud-Din, the Sar-Dawati, delayed in pursuing; and, that night, the Musalmans encamped upon that same spot. In the vicinity of that place there was a stream, which they \[the inhabitants\] call the Nahr-i-Sher \[the Lion’s Canal\]. It is cut from the river Furat \[Euphrates\], and the land through which it flows is somewhat elevated, while the place in which was the Musalman encampment was low ground. During that night, the accursed rajiz Wazir despatched a body \[of men\], and turned the water of that canal upon the encampment of the Musalmans; and the whole was flooded with water, and their arms and armour were all spoiled, and they became quite powerless. The next morning, at dawn, the army of the infidels returned and another battle ensued; but the Musalmans, from the extreme misery and affliction of the preceding night, were defeated; and the Maliks of Islam, broken and discomfited, retired across the Dijlah, and took up their position and encamped at Baghdad, at the place where the great Sanjari masjid and kasr \[castle\] are situated. ### [291.3.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.291.3.2) On the army of the accursed infidels reaching that place, Suliman Shah, the Aiyubi Turk-man, Malik ’Izz-ud-Din, the Kurd, and Mujahid-ud-Din, the Sar-Dawati, presented themselves in the Khalifah's presence, and represented, saying : “The enemy has reached the city gate, and we have but a few horsemen along with us in Baghdad, while the number of the infidels is 200,000 or more. It will be well that the Lord of the Faithful should embark on board a vessel, and give directions for placing his treasures, and his family, on ship-board ; and we will likewise attend the Lord of the Faithful in the vessel, and push down the Dijlah as far as the limits of Basrah ; and, in those islands, we will take up our abode until such time as deliverance cometh from Almighty God, and the infidels be vanquished.” ### [291.3.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.291.3.3) The Khalifah mentioned this matter to the Wazir ; and that accursed minister represented to the Lord of the Faithful, saying : “I have entered into a peace with the Mughals, and there is no necessity for leaving \[Baghdad\]. They \[the Mughals\] are going to present themselves before the Lord of the Faithful. If my word is not believed, it is necessary that the Amir, Abu-Bikr \[the Khalifah’s son\], should be sent out in order that he may understand the inclination of Hulau.” This counsel met with the approval of the Khalifah, and he sent out his son. The accursed Wazir secretly despatched a confidant of his own to Hulau, saying ; “Treat the Amir, Abu-Bikr, with great consideration, and pay him much reverence and respect, and send out and receive him, in order that the Khalifah may have reliance, and thy object will be gained.” At this time, the Khalifah, who had become resigned to loss of country and possessions, despatched Fakhr-ud-Din, the Damghani, and Ibn Darwesh, with a few rarities, as offerings to Hulaku, saying: “We will acknowledge dependency, and submit,” but he paid no attention to the message; and they returned repulsed and disappointed. ### [291.3.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.291.3.4) Next day, the 27th of Muharram, the Khalifah’s son, Abu-Bikr-i-Abu-l-Fazl—called Abu-l-Faza’il by some—with a body of grandees, the chief men of the Khalifah’s Court, proceeded to Hulaku’s camp, bearing presents of great value, by way of pesh-kash, or tribute, but they also had to return without being received; and the traitor Wazir returned with them to the city. The same day \[the Jami’-ut-Tawarikh says, the first day of Safar, which was on a Thursday\] Hulaku despatched another traitor, the Khwajah, Nasir-ud-Din, the Tusi, in company with one of the Mughal officers, to communicate with the Wazir, urging that the latter, along with Ibn Jauzi and Ibn Darwesh, should, by all possible means, pacify the minds of Suliman Shah, and Mujahid-ud-Din, the Sar Dawat-Dar, because they were the cause of the Khalifah’s resistance. The Amir, Suliman Shah, was, indeed, and had been, the bulwark of the faith of Islam against the infidel Mughals, which they did not lose sight of. The Rauzat-us-Safa says, that, to complete the usual system of Mughal perfidy, Hulaku even sent to them a deed of immunity and a safe conduct; and, nolentes volentes, they were induced to proceed to the Mughal camp. The author of the Jami’-ut-Tawarikh also details this shameful act of Mughal treachery without the least remark, as though it were a mere every-day affair, and a very pious action. ### [291.3.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.291.3.5) Hulaku, however, wanted more victims—the cup of treachery on the part of the barbarian monster was not quite full—so he despatched Suliman Shah and the Sar Dawat-Dar, into the city again, in order that they might bring out, along with them, their families, kinsmen, dependents, and retainers, pretending that he was going to despatch them, along with some of his own forces, against Misr and Sham. This further duplicity appears to have thrown them off their guard, and made them trust to the word of a Mughal prince. They returned, and brought out their people; and a great number of the soldiery of Baghdad and other persons, in hopes of saving themselves, came out along with them to Hulaku’s camp. On their arrival there, they were all distributed among the different bands of Sadahs and Dahahs; and, shortly after their return thither, an arrow from the city—for hostilities do not seem to have been suspended during these negotiations—struck a Hindu \[probably a native of Hind, but not necessarily, although possibly, a worshipper of idols, is here meant\] Bitikchi, in the eye, and destroyed it. \[Von Hammer, by some error, turns this upside down, and says that an Indian struck out the eye of one of the principal emirs!\]. As this man was one of Hulaku’s chief officials, he was so enraged that he ordered his troops to the assault, and to strain every nerve to capture the city. ### [291.3.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.291.3.6) He then directed the massacre of the Sar Dawat-Dar, and his family, connexions, and kinsmen, and all the fugitives who had accompanied him and Suliman Shah from the city, while the Amir-i-’Alam, Suliman Shah, the Turk-man, who had so often overthrown the Mughals, was brought fettered, together with his family, kinsmen, and personal dependents, to the foot of the barbarian’s throne. He demanded of the Musalman warrior: “Thou art an astrologer \[doubtless the Tusi Khwajah, On the Amir, Abu-Bikr’s, coming forth \[from Baghdad\], and reaching the camp of Hulau, a throng of people, infidels and Musalmans, went forth to receive him, and observed the usages of service. When he reached Hulau’s place of audience, the latter advanced about four paces to receive him, treated him with due ceremonial, conducted him to, and seated him in, his own place, and himself reclined on the knees of reverence in his presence, and said: “I am come to present myself \[before the Khalifah\], and will pay homage \[to him\]. My uncle, Barka, has become a Musalman at the hands of the Shaikh, Saif-ud-Din, the Bakhurzi, and I was, then and there, going to become a Musalman likewise, but I inquired among my Amirs: ‘who is the greatest among the Musalmans?’ and they directed me to the Court of the Khilafat, in order that, at the hand of the Lord of the Faithful, I might become a Musalman.” ### [291.3.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.291.3.7) Having introduced these sweet expressions into the discourse, the Amir, Abu-Bikr, placed credence on these deceitful, poisoned, words; and returned from thence, well pleased, to the presence of the Lord of the Faithful, and related all that he had seen and heard. The cursed Wazir now said: "It is advisable that the Lord of the Faithful, himself, should move out, in great state and solemnity, surrounded by the cavalcade of the Khilafat, in order that Hulau may be able to observe the ceremony of receiving him, and perform the rites of homage." Notwithstanding the Maliks of Islam—God reward them!—exhorted the Khalifah, saying; "It is not well to show such confidence;" still, as the decree of destiny, and divine mandate, had come down, the dissuasions and exhortations of those Musalman holy-warriors were of no avail, and, in the end, fate was using the whip of wrath behind the horse of the Khilafat until the Lord of the Faithful went forth, on horseback, accompanied by twelve hundred distinguished and eminent persons of the city, consisting of Maliks, Sadrs, 'Ulama, Grandees, Merchants, and the officials of the State. When they reached the camp of Hulau, the accursed Mughal, the Khalifah and the train with him were stopped, the whole \[of the latter\] were separated from each other; and they \[the Mughals\] seized the Lord of the Faithful. ### [291.3.8](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.291.3.8) He \[Hulau\] commanded him, so that, in his own handwriting, the Khalifah was compelled to issue his commands to the rest of the eminent men who had remained behind at Baghdad, in such wise, that they came out from the city \[to the Mughal camp\], until the whole were seized; and the Mughals martyred the whole of them. ### [291.4.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.291.4.1) Here, respecting the putting to death of the Amir, Abu-Bikr, the son of the Khalifah, there are several statements ; and, by means of them, guard his honour and good name from hurt and injury, since the object of Hulaku, in coming to Baghdad, was to obtain wealth.” Further, the arch-traitor stated that, by some means or other, after the Khalifah should have entered into “terms of concord and amity, this dissension might be changed into friendliness ; in fact, into connexion and relationship, by a pearl out of the family of the Chingiz Khan being strung on the string of matrimony with the Khalifah’s eldest son, and another pearl from the Khalifah’s family being united to the son of Hulaku, which connexion would be, as it was in the time of the Saljuqs, of immense advantage to the state and to religion, a source of dignity, strength, and grandeur \[!\], and, at the same time, would save very many people from slaughter and pillage.” The Mujami’-ul-Khiyar states that it was the pretence that he had arranged all this with Hulaku, and only required the Khalifah’s presence to confirm the alliance, that induced the unfortunate Musta’sim B’illah to trust himself in the barbarian camp. ### [291.4.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.291.4.2) When the Khalifah, who had now become so lost in amazement, and so stupefied by his misfortunes, as to be incapable of distinguishing villainy from goodness, and could not calmly consider what these words contained, perceived that all hope was gone, he resolved on going out to the Mughal camp, contrary to the prayers and exhortations of his faithful subjects ; and accordingly, on Sunday, the 4th of Safar, 656 H.—the 9th of February, 1258 A.D.—accompanied by three sons \[but some say, two, and some, four—Abu-Bikr-i-Abu-l-Faza’il, ’Abd-ur-Rahman, ’Abd-ul-Munaqib-i-Mubarak, and ’Abd-ul-Manazil, called, by some, Abu-l-’Abbas Ahmad\], and a body of about 3000 persons, consisting of Sayyids, Ecclesiastics, Kazis, Philosophers, Doctors of the Law, Amirs, and other Grandees and Officials, in short, all the most distinguished personages of the centre of Islam, he moved out of the city. On reaching the canvas curtain before the entrance of the audience tent of the barbarian, Hulaku, the Khalifah, with his sons, and four or five attendants, were permitted to pass in, but the rest were forbidden, and were distributed among the soldiery. ### [291.4.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.291.4.3) “When the sight of the Mughal, Hulaku,” writes one of my authorities, “fell upon the Khalifah, Al-Musta’sim B’illah, as is the custom with the perfidious, he did not look crossly upon him, but made the usual \[complimentary\] inquiries with warmth, in such wise that the Khalifah and his sons were hopeful of good treatment therefrom. After these inquiries, Hulaku turned his face towards the Khalifah, and said : ‘Send a person into the city so that the men may throw down their arms, in order that we may have them numbered.’ The Khalifah, accordingly, despatched a person, in order that a proclamation might be made, in his name, to the effect that whoever wished to save his life should lay down his arms, and set out for the camp of the Il-Khan, Hulaku.” Consequent on this having been done—and, doubtless, at the suggestion of the traitor Wazir—the greater number of the people laid down their arms, and set out for the Mughal camp ; and all who proceeded thither fell under the ruthless swords of those infidels. ### [291.4.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.291.4.4) Such infatuation as marked these last events is scarcely conceivable, after so many proofs of Mughal treachery, but the Musalman people were now without a head. but God knows the truth. One statement is this, that they martyred him, and the Amir-i-’Alam, Suliman Shah, Hulaku having got the Khalifah into his power, sent him to Kaibuka's camp, at the Kul-wagi gate, where a tent was pitched for him, and he was placed in charge of a guard, and the Mughal leader gave orders, at dawn the following day, to make a general massacre of the people of Baghdad. The broad and deep ditch was speedily filled up, part of the walls thrown down, there being no opposition whatever, and the Mughals, soon after, began to pour into the city; and the work of slaughter, violation, pillage, and destruction, began. This was ruthlessly carried out; and the Haram-Sarae—the private dwelling of the Khalifahs, which, for five hundred years, had been the place of prostration of the Musalman peoples, was so utterly demolished that no one would have imagined that a habitation had ever existed there. The other buildings of Baghdad—the masjids, mausolea of Musalman saints and Khalifahs, the palaces, hospitals, colleges, and libraries—were all given to the flames; and places adjacent, constituting a vast extent of suburbs, were completely sacked and devastated. ### [291.4.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.291.4.5) Guzidah states that, during the massacre, a Mughal named Mianju, in one small street of the city, found upwards of forty motherless sucking-babes; and, thinking to himself, that without mothers’ milk they would perish, to death to deliver them from their suffering! I pass over the accounts given by some Oriental writers respecting the hoards of treasure, to get at which the rack was freely used, but I cannot pass over, without comment, the statement that “Mostassim,” who had given up all hope of life, and who did not know at what hour the order for his murder might be given, “begged to be allowed to keep 700 wives \[Musalmans can only have four at one time, but concubines are unlimited\] upon whom neither sun nor moon had shone, and was allowed to select 100,” as we are told in the Mongols Proper. What could he do with 100 wives, when he and his sons were kept in a tent under a Mughal guard, and allowed but four or five attendants for himself and them? Was he to leave his 100 wives for the sun and moon to shine upon in the camp among the brutal Mughals? This is a specimen how History may be travestied, and of “taking up the mattock” to “complete the work which the pioneer can only begin.” This little episode is taken from some foreign translation of “the great Raschid’s” Jami’-ut-Tawarikh, but the meaning of Rashid-ud-Din was either not caught by the translator, or the author of the Mongols Proper misunderstood it. ### [291.4.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.291.4.6) The words of Rashid-ud-Din, after his mentioning that directions were given to number the Khalifah’s haram—the exact meaning of which word should be duly weighed—it is not solely the place wherein wives and concubines dwell, but the home of mothers, grandmothers, aunts, daughters, and female relatives as well, including sons’ families, and sometimes daughters’—and that it was found to contain 700 females and concubines, and 1200 domestics, are: “When the Khalifah \[who had been conducted to his own palace on the 9th of Safar, according to Rashid-ud-Din\] found what was going on, he implored saying, ‘The inmates of the haram, on whom neither sun nor moon has shone, spare unto me’ \[i.e. pardon or spare them for my sake\].” Hulaku said: “Out of the 700, choose 100, and give up the rest.” The unfortunate Khalifah chose 100 females, consisting of his relatives and kinswomen \[including his mother, aunts, sisters, wives, and female children, the Aiyubi, Malik ’Izz-ud-Din, son of Fath-ud-Din, the Kurd, and Mujahid-ud-Din, I-bak, the Sar Dawat, all four of them; and some \[persons\] narrate, that, when the Amir, Abu-Bikr, returned to the presence of his father on coming back from the camp of Hulau, at the time the Lord of the Faithful was setting out \[to proceed thither\], the Amir, Abu-Bikr, did not accompany him, and that he \[subsequently\] left Baghdad, and proceeded into Sham \[Syria\] by way of the desert. ### [291.4.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.291.4.7) Others again state, that he was martyred, after he had, in the presence of Hulau, uttered harsh and taunting words; and the words are \[said to have been\] these. The Amir, Abu-Bikr, said: “It was supposed by us that, as thou hast high birth, thou mightest be an honourable man, and that thou wouldst be a high-minded monarch; and we placed reliance on thy word. Now it is obvious that thou art neither a monarch nor a man, since thou hast acted thus perfidiously, for kings commit not perfidy.” Hulau commanded so that they martyred him. On the other hand, some state, that the Amir, Abu-Bikr, commanded one of the great Sayyids that they should take him towards Azarbaijan, and said that he would remain there some time, until, in freedom and in honour, after Baghdad became tranquil, command would be issued \[as to what it would be advisable to do\]. When that venerable Sayyid had taken the Amir, Abu-Bikr, some stages on the way towards Azarbaijan, a number of renegades represented to Hulau, saying: “Thou hast made a mistake. If the Amir, Abu-Bikr, should reach Azarbaijan in safety, all the forces of Rum, Sham, and Maghrab will flock round him; and, undoubtedly, he will take his revenge.” Hulau \[on this\] despatched people of his own in pursuit of the Amir, Abu-Bikr; and they brought him back, and Hulau martyred him; but God knows the truth. The Almighty reward him \[Abu-Bikr\] and the whole of his family! Amin. --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.291](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.291) · Pramāṇa