Tarikh-i Daʾudi 5.1
Táríkh-i Dáúdí of 'Abdu-lla (extracts) 5.1
- Language
- English
5.1.1
In the first year of his reign Sultán Sikandar had a design of conquering Bayána, which task he effected, like a mighty monarch, in a very short time, and then returned speedily to Dehlí. On the third day after his arrival, he was playing at chaugán. Whilst he was in the chaugán ground, news was brought from Jaunpúr that Bárbak Sháh was coming from that city with a numerous army. Sultán Sikandar sent Isma'íl Khán Lohání to Bárbak Sháh at Jaunpúr, to make pacific overtures, and then started after him in person, in the direction of Kampila and Patíálí. 'Ísá Khán, the governor of that district came forth to oppose him. When both parties were engaged, 'Ísá Khán received a wound, from the effects of which he died in a few days. Sultán Sikandar advanced thence towards Bárbak Sháh, who also had collected his troops and prepared to encounter him, leaving Jaunpúr for that purpose. Both sides met and engaged. During the fight, a holy kalandar appeared, who seized Sultán Sikandar's hand, and said, "The victory is with thee!" The Sultán withdrew his hand with an expression of disgust. The darwesh said, "I give you a glad omen, and the joyful tidings of success!
5.1.2
Why do you withdraw your hand?" The Sultán said, "When there is strife between two parties of the religion of Islam, you ought not to side with one, but to say that the victory will remain with those whose success will produce the greatest benefit to religion, and you ought to solicit the Almighty to grant victory to him who will treat the servants of the Lord best!" After a fierce battle, Bárbak Sháh's army was defeated, and he fled thence to Badáún, to which place he was pursued by Sultán Sikandar, who besieged him there. Bárbak Sháh excused himself and submitted, and Sultán Sikandar conciliated him, and took him to Jaunpúr, where he seated him again on the throne of the Eastern monarchy as before; but he distributed the parganas of the Jaunpúr country amongst his nobles, and left governors of his own everywhere; he also appointed men of trust to remain with Bárbak Sháh. Thence he went to Kálpí, which place he resumed from his nephew 'Azam Humáyún, and bestowed it upon Mahmúd Khán Lodi. He then advanced for the purpose of securing possession of the countries and districts belonging to Bayána. After seizing the whole of that territory, he returned in a short time to Dehli.
5.1.3
On the third day after his arrival, he was again playing at chaugdn, and was standing with the bat in his hand, intending to proceed with the game, when news arrived that the zaminddrs of the district of Jaunptir, led by a Hindu named Jugd, and numbering nearly 100,000 men, horse and foot, had attacked and defeated Mubarak Khdn Lohdni, and slain his brother, and that Mubarak Khdn had been seized by Mulla Khdn at the ferry of Illahabas, which at that time was called Pyag, and that Barbak Shah, learning how powerful these people were, had gone to Midn Muhammad Farmuli, nicknamed " the Black Mountain," at Darydbdd. When Sultan Sikandar heard of these events, he threw down the chaugdn bat, and went from the field to Khan Jahan Lodi, and told him all that happened, at the same time asking what he ought to do. Khdn Jahdn said, " Food is just ready, eat a little of it as a good omen, and then set out for Jaunpiir." The King replied : " I will eat after the first stage." On quitting Khan Jahan's house, he went to the royal palace; and then causing the scarlet tents to be pitched, he proceeded with such celerity, that he came up with Jtiga on the tenth day. When he encamped near the water of Kudi, a scout brought information concerning the rebel army. The Sultdn asked how many kos Jugd was from this place, and he was told that he was near at hand. On this, the Sultan ordered an immediate attack ;
5.1.4
some of the chief nobles recommended waiting until the arrival of the army, and the Sultdn inquired how many troops had kept pace with him. The Bakhshi answered that there were only 500 horsemen. He said, " The fortune of Isldm is in the ascendant ; these men will suffice." He then repeated the FdUha-i Khair, and mounted his horse. After proceeding a short distance, another messenger arrived, from whom the King inquired how far Jugd was off. He answered, " Not more than three kos." The King asked what force he had with him ? The man replied, 300,000 foot and 15,000 horse. The Sultan said, "Has he received intelligence of my coming?" He answered, "Not as yet." The Sultan directed those who were with him to advance with all possible speed, saying, "If he does not seek safety in flight, by God's favour he will fall into my hands." They advanced quietly two kos farther; when they were only one kos distant from the enemy, another spy came to tell His Majesty that Juga and the other rascals, having just heard of the Sultan's coming, had run away and taken nothing away with them. The Sultan said, "If he had remained after being told, he would have seen what he would have seen." The King, on arriving at Juga's tent, found even his clothes lying there; for the dread of His Majesty caused the assembly of the rebels to disperse, and much booty fell into the hands of the victorious army.
5.1.5
Sultan Sikandar followed him as far as the fort of Jiund, where Sultan Husain Sharki was, and with him the Hindu Juga took refuge. Sultan Sikandar encamped at a short distance from the fort, and wrote thus to Sultan Husain, "You are in the place of my uncle; all that happened between you and Sultan Bahlol has passed. I bear no enmity to you, and would treat you with respect; may this fort and land which you have taken possession of always belong to you. I have come hither to punish and chastise the rebel Juga; if you undertake his chastisement yourself, so much the better! If not, turn him out, that I may give him the punishment he merits; he is an infidel, and I am therefore convinced that you will not side with him." When this reached Sultan Husain Sharki, he sent one of his chief nobles, Mir Saiyid Khan, as an ambassador to Sultan Sikandar with this answer, "Juga is my servant, and thy father Bahlol was a soldier; I fought with him sword in hand! You are a silly child, and if you are guilty of any folly, I will strike you with my shoe instead of my sword." When Sultan Sikandar had heard these words, he said, "At first, I styled him my uncle, and I still adhere to that piece of civility. I desire to punish the infidel; if he assists him, I shall then be obliged to act. I have never boasted, and all Musulmans know it. With the blessing of God, the mouth that has uttered the word shoe, will itself be stricken with a shoe."
5.1.6
Sultan Sikandar said to Miran Saiyid Khan, "You are children of the Prophet (on whom be the mercy of God!), why do you not teach him to be reasonable, since he will afterwards have cause to repent?" Miran answered, "I am his servitor; what he chooses is my choice." Sultan Sikandar said, "Fortune and Sense are the servants of each other; whosoever suffers a change of fortune, also loses his sense! you are excused. To-morrow, please God, after his flight, when you come a captive before me, I will cause you to recollect what I have said; but it will be better that you should understand at once all I have said to you." After speaking thus, he gave Saiyid Khan permission to depart, and went to consult with his nobles; they all advised war, and after repeating the Fatiha, went to their places. Whilst all the great chiefs were present Sultan Sikandar had said, "You acted for Sultan Bahlol, as was proper for brethren and faithful subjects to do; in this affair of mine, I am certain you will not fail to do your best for me." On the following day, when both armies were ranged in order of battle, the skirmishers consisted of men of the Lodi and Sahu-khail tribes, whilst the men of the Farmuli tribe were stationed on the right and left. The Sarwanis were in the rear of the force. 'Umar Khan Sarwani, one of the bravest men of the time, commanded the vanguard of the army. Sultan Sikandar was mounted on an elephant, in order that he might behold the enemy's forces;
5.1.7
and while he was encouraging his men, suddenly his eye fell on the fort of Jund; and he exclaimed, "Is this the citadel which has made him so proud? I will yet forbear, if he will understand his position." But shortly after, Sultan Husain brought forth his army from the fort, and attacked the advanced troops of the force. In a brief space of time, after the commencement of the encounter, and after a short contest, Sultán Husain fled, and Mírán Saiyid Khán, who had acted as ambassador, was, with other nobles, taken prisoner, and brought with disgrace before Sultán Sikandar. When the Sultán beheld him, and saw that he was bare-headed and on foot, he turned his face away from him, and said, "Give him a turban, and bring him mounted on a horse into my presence." When this was done as had been ordered, the Sultán said to Mírán Saiyid Khán and the other chiefs, "May mercy be with you, since you have shown the utmost fidelity in this matter. As your master was void of sense, what could you do? Now, set your minds at ease." He gave two curtains, one tent, and a canopy supported on four poles, two horses, ten camels, and a bed and its appurtenances, to each of the chiefs of Sultán Husain who had been captured. When the tents had been erected, he ordered that the chiefs should be conducted to him.