The History of Fīrūz Shāh (ʿAfīf) 83: Seventh Mukaddama. — Memoir of Khán-i Jahán.

Táríkh-i Fíroz Sháhí of Shams-i Siráj 'Afíf (extracts) 83

Language: English

Seventh Mukaddama. — Memoir of Khán-i Jahán.

83.1

The name of Khán-i Jahán was Makbúl. In his state of ignorance (i.e. when he was a Hindu) he was called Kattu. He was a native of Telingána, and a man of high position in his tribe, and he had attracted the favour of the Rái of that country. When Sultán Muhammad sent the Rái of Telingána to Dehlí, the Rái died upon the road. Kattu then presented himself to Sultán Muhammad, and made his profession of the Muhammadan faith. On being admitted to the honour of the faith, the Sultán gave him the name of Makbúl, and bestowed on him many marks of his favour. Sultán Muhammad perceived in him many marks of sagacity and intelligence, so he made him deputy-wazír of Dehli, when he used to seal and place his signature on parwánas as follows, "Makbúl, slave of Muhammad Tughlik." Although he had no knowledge of reading and writing, he was a man of great common sense, acumen and intelligence, and was an ornament to the Court. In the reign of Sultán Muhammad he received the title of Kiwámu-l Mulk, and a grant of the fief of Multán. This was before he became deputy-wazír. In those days Khwája-i Jahán was wazír of Sultán Muhammad. * * * When this Sultán died, and Sultán Fíroz attained the throne, Khwája-i Jahán was desirous of giving the crown to a son of Sultán Muhammad, and opposed Sultán Fíroz, as has been related in a former part of this work.

83.2

Khwája-i Jahán and Kiwámu-l Mulk were both in Dehli at the time, and when Fíroz Sháh approached the city, Kiwámu-l Mulk went out to meet him, and helped him to get possession of the city. He was then made wazír [and received the title of Khán-i Jahán]. * * * When the Sultán departed from Dehli on affairs of State, or for hunting, he used to leave Khán-i Jahán as his deputy, who, during his absence, rode about Dehli with a great display of power, * * * having his sons, grandsons, sons-in-law, and slaves in his train. * * * During the absence of the Sultán, the city was thus kept in subjection. After the death of the Khán, the Sultán ceased from his excursions, and only went out riding in the neighbourhood of the capital. Khán-i-Jahán had a great number of children. He was much devoted to the pleasures of the harem, and sought eagerly for pretty handmaids. It is reported that he had two thousand women of Rúm and Chín in his harem, where he spent much of his time notwithstanding his onerous official duties. He had numerous sons, and the Sultán made a provision that every son born to him should from his birth receive an allowance (nán) of 11,000 tankas for his maintenance, he also provided that every daughter on her marriage should receive an allowance of 15,000 tankas. His sons and sons-in-law all wore caps and white waist-bands, and his magnificence reached to such a pitch, that the Sultan was often heard to say that Khan-i Jahan was the grand and magnificent king of Dehli.

83.3

'Ainu-l Mulk was also called 'Ain Mahru. * * * He was a wise, accomplished, excellent, clever man, full of sound judgment and intelligence, * * * but during the reign of Sultan Muhammad bin Tughlik his brothers had been guilty of some improper and unworthy action, through which he had properly been sent into disgrace. * * * One day Muhammad Tughlik held a general Court, * * * when he perceived 'Ainu-l Mulk, and, pointing to him, said, that the misconduct of his brothers had deprived the State of his services, and the Sultan gave orders that he should be re-instated in his position at Court. 'Ainu-l Mulk was a clever and accomplished man of the highest ability. He wrote some excellent books in the reigns of Muhammad Tughlik and Firoz Shah. One of them is the 'Ainu-l Mulki, a popular and approved work. * * In the reign of Firoz Shah he was appointed to the office of Ashraful-l Mamalik, and entered actively upon his duties in the minister's office. But a dispute arose between him and the minister * * * which was carried to extremities. * * * The contention reached such a height that Khan-i Jahan often uttered most bitter personal remarks in the presence of 'Ainu-l Mulk, and the latter retorted in the same strain; there was no delicacy between them. * * * Khan-i Jahan told the Sultan that he could no longer stay in the country, and therefore he wished to make the pilgrimage to Mecca.

83.4

* * * * At length the Sultan said to Khan-i Jahan, "I have given to you the office of Diwan-i wazarat, all officers are under you, dismiss whom you please and give the office of Ashrafu-l mamalik to another." The wazir went home rejoiced, * * * and sent 'Ainu-l Mulk his dismissal. When 'Ainu-l Mulk received his discharge he did not go to the palace for three days, but on the third day he went and paid his respects to the sovereign. The Sultan called him near, and observed that the world is ruined by dissensions, * * * * and as a quarrel had arisen between Khán-i Jahán and him, there was granted to him the fiefs of Multán, Bhakkar, and Siwistán, whither he had better repair and look after their affairs. But 'Ainu-l Mulk replied, that if he managed these territories he would not render his accounts to the office of the wazír, but that he would submit them to the Sultán himself. The Sultán accordingly ordered that the fief of Multán should be removed from the jurisdiction of the minister, and told 'Ainu-l Mulk that he would himself receive his reports and that his books would be sufficient. Upon these conditions 'Ainu-l Mulk accepted the fiefs. The writer has been informed that when 'Ainu-l Mulk was thus dismissed, the chief servants met to consider the matter, and they observed that he had been disgraced through the influence of the minister, and that the same might happen to them to-morrow. They therefore endeavoured to set the Sultán against Khán-i Jahán.

83.5

* * * 'Ainu-l Mulk had started for Multán, and had proceeded about twenty-four kos, when he received an order from the Sultán directing him to leave all his train and return quickly. He did so with alacrity, and when he arrived in Dehlí, the Sultán gave him a private audience, when the officers who were present observed that it was not right to give such predominance to Khán-i Jahán, and that it would be well to beware of him. The Sultán looked towards 'Ainu-l Mulk who said that * * * Khán-i Jahán was a wise and experienced minister, and that his removal would be a calamity to the State. These sentiments greatly pleased the Sultán. He afterwards consulted with him and asked him what ought to be done. He replied that the * * * wazír should be sent for, and that all fear and apprehension should be removed from his mind. * * * The minister was accordingly summoned, and when the officers who were sent to call him informed him of what had passed he was greatly amazed. * * * When the Sultán saw he was disturbed in mind he reassured him, clothed him with a splendid robe and sent him away with many marks of favour. As the minister retired, radiant and happy, he embraced 'Ainu-l Mulk and said, "I had never thought that you were so friendly towards me.

83.6

I have been wrong and ungracious to you." 'Ainu-l Mulk replied that he hoped that all misgiving would be removed from the mind of the minister, he had spoken warmly for him, notwithstanding their old feud, and all that he had said had been for the good of the throne of Sultan Firoz. Khán-i Jahan strongly wished to take 'Ainu-l Mulk home with him but he declined. [_Order of Precedence at Court_]. Khán-i Jahán lived to a ripe old age, till he was more than eighty years old, and all his limbs had become very feeble. * * * He died in the year 770 H. (1368 A.D.), in the eighteenth year of the reign of Firoz Shah. When he died all Dehli went into mourning, and crowded to the mosques and tombs. [_Eulogy of the Khán._] The Sultan was greatly affected at his death, and wept bitterly; and he resolved in his mind that he would never more ride forth on any great enterprize. * * *

83.7

When Khan-i Jahan held the fief of Multán, he had a son born to him. * * * He wrote to acquaint Sultan Muhammad Sháh of the fact, and that monarch directed that the child should be named Júnán Sháh. This was he who was afterwards known as Khan-i Jahan, son of Khan-i Jahán. * * * After the death of his father, the Sultán promoted him to the office of wazir, and bestowed on him this title. * * * He acted as minister under Firoz Shah for twenty years, * * * and the Sultán committed all the affairs of the kingdom to his charge. But towards the end of the reign of Firoz Sháh, * * * enmity broke out between the minister and Prince Muhammad Khán, afterwards Sultan Muhammad Sháh. Their dissensions were the cause of great trouble and disaster to the country; old and young, small and great, suffered, and the country at length fell a prey to the inroads of the Mughals. The author has entered fully into the details of this quarrel in his memoir of Sultan Muhammad bin Firoz.