The Nāṣirī Generations 87: IV. THE ATA-BAK, SA’D, SON OF ZANGI.
Tabakat-i-Nasiri 87
- Language
- English
IV. THE ATA-BAK, SA’D, SON OF ZANGI.
87.1
The Ata-bak, Sa’d, was a great monarch, and ascended the throne of Fars after the decease of his uncle [the Ata-bak, Duklah], and brought the different parts of that country under his rule in the manner which has been described. He was a most just and intrepid sovereign; and trustworthy authorities have related this, that the weight of his arms and armour was so great, that a powerful man could not lift from the ground the armour he used to wear. He led armies against 'Irak upon several occasions, and in some engagements he was victorious; but, in others again, he was defeated, as happened when a battle took place between him and Sultan Muhammad, Khwarazm Shah, undesignedly, and in the following manner. The Ata-bak, Sa'd, was marching an army into 'Irak, with the object of capturing Isfahan; and the Ata-bak, Yuz-bak, son of the Ata-bak Muhammad, had come out of Azarbaijan also, with the object of gaining possession of that city. The two armies, of Fars and of Azarbaijan, were marching towards the same point from opposite directions, when Sultan Muhammad, Khwarazm Shah, arrived [with an army] upon the frontier of 'Irak. He obtained information that the Ata-bak, Sa'd, was marching an army from Fars, towards the gate of Isfahan, in order to give battle to the Ata-bak, Yuz-bak, and he [Sultan Muhammad] advanced with his troops towards the Ata-bak, Sa'd.
87.2
When the troops of Khwarazm Shah came in sight the Ata-bak, Sa'd, imagined that this was the army of the Atabak, Yuz-bak, and at once marshalled his ranks in order, and attacked the Sultan’s army, and threw it into confusion. Suddenly, one of the champions of Khwarazm Shah’s army joined spears with him; and the name of that champion was Kashkah, who was the [Sultan’s] Amir-i-Akhur [lord of the stables]. The champion hurled the horse of Sa’d to the ground, and wanted to slay him; but the Ata-bak cried out to him: — “I am the Ata-bak, Sa’d; do not slay me. Say, Whose army is yours?” The champion replied: — “The army of Sultan Muhammad, Khwarazm Shah.” The Ata-bak rejoined: — “Take me to the Sultan’s presence.” On reaching the Sultan’s presence, Sa’d kissed the ground, and said: — “King of the Universe, by the great God, this your servant knew not that this was the king’s army, otherwise he would never have drawn his sword.” The Sultan comforted and encouraged him, and forthwith had him remounted; and, on account of what had reached the ears of the Sultan respecting the great energy, manliness, and intrepidity, of the Ata-bak, Sa’d, he treated him with honour and reverence, and restored to him the dominion of Fars, upon this stipulation — that one half of that territory should be held by the Maliks, or great nobles, and trusty retainers of the Khwarazm Shahi dynasty, and the other half should belong to the Ata-bak.
87.3
The Sultan likewise appointed a force to accompany him, for this reason, that, on the Ata-bak, Sa’d, having been taken prisoner, his son, the Ata-bak, Abu-Bikr, had taken possession of the territory of Fars, and had read the Khutbah in his own name. When the Ata-bak, Sa’d, with the forces of Khwarazm Shah, and the Sahib [lord] Ikhtiyar-ul-Mulk, Amir-i-Haji, who was despatched along with Sa’d by Khwarazm Shah, reached the frontier of Fars, the Ata-bak, Abu-Bikr, advanced to oppose them, and the father and son came to blows. The Ata-bak, Sa'd, wounded his son, Abu-Bikr, in the face with his sword, and the ranks of the Farsi army became disorganized. The Ata-bak, Sa’d, again ascended the throne of Fars, and imprisoned his son. After this, Sa’d reigned for a considerable period over [half of?] that territory, and died after the misfortunes attending the irruption of the infidel Mughals.
87.4
The Ata-bak, Sa’d, was endowed with many distinguished virtues, and excellent qualities. In the first place, the flag, which, every year, he used to send along with the caravan of pilgrims on the journey to the Ka’bah [at Makkah], when the pilgrims returned, he used to have kept constantly set up before the entrance of his palace or pavilion; and, every time he came to the hall of audience, or his private apartments, he used to perform a prayer of two genuflexions under the flag in question, after which he would mount his throne. This circumstance indicates how excellent was his faith; but, respecting his ostentation and pomp, a trustworthy person has related, that the revenues of one of the provinces of the territory of Fars was set apart for the expenses of his own wardrobe. The revenue of the province in question amounted, every year, to three hundred and sixty thousand golden dinars; and, every day, one thousand dinars of red gold used to be expended upon his attire, in the shape of head-dresses, tunics, mantles, robes, and expensive fabrics, girdles, jewel-studded collars, and the like. If any surplus remained over and above the necessary expenses of his wardrobe, he would purchase therewith valuable gems and jewels, which used to be arranged about his head-dress, his tunic, and girdle. He never wore a suit but one day; the next day he would invest one of his nobles or grandees with it. May the Almighty have mercy upon him, and pardon his sins!