The Nāṣirī Generations 66: THE SALJUQIAH DYNASTY.
Tabakat-i-Nasiri 66
- Language
- English
THE SALJUQIAH DYNASTY.
66.1
hostile operations were directed against Muhammad, Khan of Samrkand, whom he defeated; and, subsequently, Sultan Sanjar fought sixteen different engagements on different frontiers of his territories, and came forth victorious from the whole of them. His reign extended over a long period of time; and public affairs went on in the highway of legality, and on the beaten track of equity and justice. The ordinances of the sacred law of Muhammad, and the canons of the faith of Islam, conformable with the Divine commands, acquired fresh vigour and newness. The countries of Khurasan, 'Irak, and Mawar-un-Nahr, became exceedingly populous and flourishing; and, at Baghdad, royal palaces were erected in his name. The viceroyalty, and the command of the troops of Baghdad, under the same conditions and provisions as those under which his forefathers had held these offices, indeed upon even more favourable terms, came into the possession of him, and of his representatives.
66.2
He installed his slaves in the government, and administration of every country. Arran, 'Irak, and Azarbaijan he conferred upon I-lduz-giz, who was his slave; and he was the father of the Ata-bak, Muhammad; and the Ata-bak, Uz-bak, and the Ata-bak, Aldituz, are both descendants of his. The territory of Fars was given to Sankur, who was the ancestor of the Ata-baks of Fars; and the Ata-bak, Zangi, the Ata-bak, Duklah, and the Ata-bak, Sa'd, and his sons, are all his [Sankur’s] descendants. The country of Khwarazm he conferred upon the son of Khwarazm Shah, who was one of his [the Sultan’s] servants, who was the father of I-yal-Arsalan, who was the father of Takish, Khwarazm Shah, father of Muhammad, Khwarazm Shah. The Sultan of Ghaznin, Mas’ud-i-Karim [the Beneficent], son of Sultan Razzi-ud-Din, Ibrahim, — May the light of the Almighty illumine their resting place! — took the sister of Sultan Sanjar to wife. During the reign of the last, through the death of Sultan Mas’ud-i-Karim, it is said that dissension arose between the Sultans of Ghaznin. Malik Arsalan, son of Sultan Mas’ud, ascended the throne at Ghaznin, and Bahram Shah, another son of Mas’ud, was with his father, in the district of Tigin-abad of Garmsir, at the time of his father’s decease; and, from that place, Bahram Shah proceeded to the presence of Sultan Sanjar [his maternal uncle], and for a considerable period continued in attendance at his Court.
66.3
After some time had elapsed, Sultan Sanjar came to Ghaznin to the aid of Bahram Shah, and set Bahram upon the throne of Ghaznin; and in that territory, and in Hindustan likewise, the Khutbah was read and the coin stamped, in Sultan Sanjar’s name. This dominion and power which Sanjar possessed was more extensive than had been possessed by any of his ancestors. He conferred the territory of Mausil upon one of his slaves, — and the Ata-baks of Mauṣil, who have been up to nearly this present time, are the descendants of this slave of his, who was a Turk of Khiṭā-ī, — and the whole of the territories of Shām were held by his slaves. Sulṭān Nūr-ud-Dīn, of Shām, likewise, was one of the descendants of the Atā-baks of Mauṣil, as will, please God, be hereafter mentioned. The Maliks of Ghūr, and the Sulṭāns of the Jibāl were all subject to Sulṭān Sanjar. During his reign hostility arose between the Sulṭāns of Ghaznīn and the Maliks of Ghūr, and the latter were overcome. When, however, the territory of Ghūr came under the rule of Sulṭān ’Alā-ud-Dīn, Ḥusain, he refused to pay submission to the Sulṭān; and an engagement took place between him and Sulṭān Sanjar in the neighbourhood of the mountain tracts of Hīrāt, at a place named Sih Goshah-nab, and the forces of Ghūr were routed, and Sulṭān ’Alā-ud-Dīn was taken prisoner. After some time he obtained his release, and became one of the especial confidants and intimate companions of Sulṭān Sanjar.
66.4
About the time of the troubles consequent on the outbreak of the Ghuzz tribe, when ’Alā-ud-Dīn was in company one day with Sulṭān Sanjar, and engaged in a carousal, Sanjar, who was seated upon the throne, thrust out one of his august legs, and let the foot, on the sole of which there was a black mole, dangle over the throne. On ’Alā-ud- Din's noticing this mole, he stood up and solicited that he might be allowed the honour of kissing it; and repeated these lines suitable to the occasion: — Verily the dust at the gate of thy palace is [my] diadem, [And] this, the collar of thy service, is my adornment. In the same manner as I kiss the mole on the sole of thy foot, Even so good fortune [likewise] salutes my head.”
66.5
Sultan Sanjar acceded to his request; and, when 'Ala-ud-Din knelt down and kissed the mole, the Sultan contrived to twist his toes in the hair about the face of 'Ala-ud-Din, and to keep him on the floor. 'Ala-ud-Din desired to raise his head from the ground, but was held down by his hair. Those present laughed, and 'Ala-ud-Din became disturbed, and his countenance changed. Sultan Sanjar, noticing his mortification, out of his princely beneficence and sympathy, said: — “'Ala-ud-Din, this jesting hath hurt thy feelings; let the dominion of Ghur be [my] amends to thee. I congratulate thee! Return again to thy capital and throne: thou art my brother! Now that the troubles with the Ghuzz tribe have arisen, take along with thee all the flocks of sheep and herds of horses and camels belonging to me, my own private property. If victory aid my efforts against them, and the outbreak of this tribe should be quelled, send them back to me again; but, if not, let them be. It is far better that they should remain with thee, than that they should fall into the hands of such ingrate rebels.”
66.6
Sultan 'Ala-ud-Din returned to Ghur, and through the magnanimity and generosity of Sultan Sanjar regained his throne. This was a tradition of Sanjar's beneficence and kindliness; but the author of this Tabakat will here relate that which sets forth his sovereignty. I, Minhaj-i-Saraj, in the year 611 H., when at Firuz-koh, which was the capital and seat of government of the Sultans of Ghur, heard [the following] from Amir Ali, the Cha-ush [pursuivant], who said that his grandfather was the Marshal of the retinue of Sultan Sanjar: and that his grandfather stated, that, when Sultan Mas'ud of 'Irak, who was one of Sultan Sanjar's brothers’ sons, broke out into rebellion, and Karajah, the Saki [cup-bearer], who was one of Sanjar’s slaves, became his supporter in that revolt, the Sultan marched an army from Marw, with the object of falling upon the rebels unawares.
66.7
He reached the summit of the Sawah Pass, at the foot of which, on the ’Irak side, the rebels were encamped, and issued from it with a few followers; but, when his eye caught sight of the forces of the enemy, he reined in his horse, and came to a halt. A party of nobles, who had reached the spot where he was, he summoned to his side, and said to them:—We have come upon this gathering, but we have but a weak following, while the enemy are very numerous : what is it advisable to do ?” Some among the nobles replied, that whatsoever, in accordance with his Majesty’s opinion, he might be pleased to command would be most advisable ; but, if his Majesty would defer any movement until such time as the whole of the force should come up, and then dash upon them, it would be still more advisable. Others of the nobles said : — “ These people too are his Majesty’s servants: it is necessary that he should be pleased to show clemency towards, and have compassion on them, and give them intimation of the arrival of the imperial standards, so that the whole of them may be able to come and tender their services, and rest in safety under the shadow of the imperial protection and pardon.” In short, each one of the great lords and nobles made representation of such opinions as entered their minds,
66.8
Sultan Sanjar [then] turned his face towards the Amir-i-Cha-ush who was also Marshal of his retinue, and said : — “ Cha-ush what is it advisable to do ?” The Cha-ush dismounted from his horse, and, bowing his head to the ground, repeated the following lines : — “ Great monarch ! we ought to give battle ; We should close with the foe. All the fierce lions of the forest Must be brought into the field, All the huge elephants of war Should doubtless be brought into the fray. It is the day of battle : it is meet to engage. It is the hour for action : it is well to be doing. If thou wouldst render the kingdom stable, It is essential that the sword should be plied.” The Sultan replied : — It is necessary to act as the Cha-ush advises and at once, without any further delay, with as many cavalry as had come up, Sultan Sanjar dashed upon the rebel forces. Karajah, the cup-bearer, and Mas’ud of Irak were both taken prisoners, and the forces of this gathering were defeated and put to the rout, and the countries of Irak and Azarbaijan were recovered anew. The Sultan returned to Khurasan ; and it was a constant practice with him to pass the hot season at Bukhara, and the winter at Marw of Shah-i-Jahan. It so happened, one year, that he remained longer than was his wont at Marw.
66.9
The temperature began to rise, and not one of his Court had the courage to represent that it would be well to return to the land of Bukhara. The climate of Bukhara agreed with a number of the nobles and great men. They urged Amir-i-Mu’azzi that he should, by means of verse, bring the charms and beauties of the villas and gardens of the city of Bukhara to the imperial hearing, so that Kamal-uz-Zaman might, at an opportune time, sing it, accompanied with lutes. Amir Mu’azzi, who was the Chief of Poets, or Poet-Laureate, and who, along with forty other adepts [in the art], was in the habit, on days of entertainment and at banquets, of recounting the deeds of the Sultan, and [of whom] it is related, that the whole of these [poets] were of his clan and followers, accordingly composed the following strophe: and the Minstrel, Kamal-uz-Zaman, early one morning, when the Sultan had taken his morning draught of wine, played it with such feeling and touching effect, that the Sultan, half-dressed as he was and in his slippers, came forth, mounted on horseback, and took neither rest nor repose until he reached the appointed destination:
66.10
“The breeze from Mulian’s rivulet reacheth me the same, Even as cometh the fragrance of a loving friend. The gravel of the Amu, and the roughness thereof, Appeareth like as the softest silk beneath my feet. The river Jihun, with its wide-spread surface, Reacheth, even now, to my white steed’s very girths. O Bukhara! rejoice, and be thou glad once more, For the Shah even now cometh a guest unto thee. The Shah is a moon, and Bukhara a firmament; The moon likewise riseth the celestial vault within. The Shah is a Cypress, and Bukhara is a garden; The cypress also cometh unto the garden now.”
66.11
After a great part of his reign had elapsed, a body of people from Kara-Khata-i, from Tamghaj, and the dependencies of Chin, entered the confines of Kara Kuram of Turkistan, and solicited Sultan Sanjar to assign them grazing-lands; and, with the Sultan’s permission, they took up their quarters on those confines, in Bilasaghun, Kabalik, and Almalik, and made those parts their grazing-grounds. When their progeny became very numerous, during the Sultan’s reign, they rebelled against his authority, and fought a battle against him. Taniko of Taraz, at the nomination of Sunkam and I-ma, was at the head of the Khata’is. The Sultan’s forces, from a long period of inaction, and enervated by protracted ease and luxury, were unable to cope with or stand before the enemy, and were overthrown; and they took Turkan Khatun, who was the Malikah-i-Jahan [Queen of the Universe], and consort of Sultan Sanjar, captive. This was the first reverse the Sultan had ever sustained; and, subsequently, he concluded a peace with them, and the pasture-lands of Turkistan and Bilasaghun, along with the cities and towns included in those frontier tracts, were left in the hands of the Khata-i invaders. After the peace was concluded they sent back Turkan Khatun to the Sultan again. The Hakim [philosopher] Koshaki has written much satire upon this unfortunate event, which is contained in Diwans and [other] books.
66.12
When this reverse became public, the affairs of the empire began to decline, and to grow weak; and, of the reign of Sanjar, sixty years had passed away. A body of the Ghuzz tribe, from Khandan now rose in revolt against the Sultan’s authority, and withheld the yearly tribute which had been previously fixed. The Sultan marched an army against them, and the Ghuzz were willing to pay a kalak [ingot] of silver for each family, but the Sultan would not agree to it, and, on this account, gave battle to them, and was defeated and taken prisoner. On the Sultan falling into their hands, the whole of the Ghuzz dismounted before his stirrup, and saluted him, and tendered their services. The Ghuzz chieftains, such as Tuti, Kurgharat, Malik Dinar, Ibrahim, and Kutall, besides others, girded up their loins before the Sultan’s throne [to serve him], and began themselves to issue mandates [in his name]; and they divided Khurasan among themselves. Whatever it was requisite to do they did, and they used to state, “The Sultan commands this and that.” The slaves and servants of the Sanjari dynasty became dispersed and separated; and the affairs of the country became disorganized, and the thread of sovereignty snapped asunder.
66.13
After some time had passed—about a year, more or less—one of the slaves, who was one of the Sultan’s nobles, proceeded to the Sultan Sanjar’s presence, and presented himself, and, as if going out on a hunting excursion, mounted the Sultan on horseback, and brought him away [out of the hands of the Ghuzz], and restored him to liberty once more. He conducted the Sultan to Marw, and placed him on the throne again, and some of the still remaining adherents of the dynasty collected around him; but the Sultan’s days had now drawn towards their close, and the sovereignty had grown antiquated and gone to decay. On Monday, the 24th of the month Rabi’-ul-Awwal, in the year 552 H., Sultan Sanjar died at Marw, and was there buried. His age was seventy-three years and a little over, and his reign lasted sixty-two. The mercy of the Almighty be upon him!