The History of Fīrūz Shāh (Baranī) 3: SULTANU-L KARAM MU'IZZU-D DUNYA WAU DIN KAI-KUBAD.
Táríkh-i Fíroz Sháhí of Ziáu-d Dín Barní (extracts) 3
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SULTANU-L KARAM MU'IZZU-D DUNYA WAU DIN KAI-KUBAD.
3.1
The author of this history, Zid-Barni, was a child in the reign of Sultan Mu'izzu-d din Kai-Kubad, grandson of Sultan Balban, and the details which he has written he learned from his father, Muyidu-l Mulk, and from his preceptors, who were men of note at the time. Kai-Kubad ascended the throne in the year 685 H. (1286 A.D.) He was then seventeen or eighteen years old, and was a young man of many excellent qualities. He was of an equable temper, kind in disposition, and very handsome; but he was fond of pleasure and sensual gratifications. From his childhood till the day he came to the throne, he had been brought up under the eye of the Sultan, his grandfather. Such strict tutors had been placed over him that he never had the idea of indulging in any pleasure, or the opportunity of gratifying any lust. His tutors, in fear of the Sultan, watched him so carefully that he never cast his eyes on any fair damsel, and never tasted a cup of wine. Night and day his austere guardians watched over him. Teachers instructed him in the polite arts and in manly exercises, and he was never allowed to do any unseemly act, or to utter any improper speech. When, all at once, and without previous expectation, he was elevated to such a mighty throne, * * * all that he had read, and heard, and learned, he immediately forgot; his lessons of wisdom and self-restraint were thrown aside, and he plunged at once into pleasure and dissipation of every kind.
3.2
* * * His ministers, likewise, the young nobles of his court, and his companions and friends, all gave themselves up to pleasure. The example spread, and all ranks, high and low, learned and unlearned, acquired a taste for wine drinking and amusements. Kai-Kubád gave up residing in the city, and, quitting the Red Palace, he built a splendid palace, and laid out a beautiful garden at Kilu-garhi, on the banks of the Jumna. Thither he retired, with the nobles and attendants of his court, and when it was seen that he had resolved upon residing there, the nobles and officers also built palaces and dwellings, and, taking up their abode there, Kilu-garhi became a populous place ["and the resort of all the votaries and ministrants of pleasure."] Night and day the Sultan gave himself up entirely to dissipation and enjoyment. Malik Nizamu-d din, nephew and son-in-law of Maliku-l umara Kotwal of Dehli, now rose to the highest offices. He became Dád-bak, or chief administrator of justice, and Náib-i mulk, or deputy ruler of the State, and the government of the country was in his hands. Malik Kiwámu-d din, who held the office of secretary, an accomplished and eloquent man, thoroughly versed in correspondence and the duties of secretary, was made 'Umdatu-l mulk and Náib-wakildar. Nizámu-d din was an active, ready, and crafty man, and his rise to power gave great offence to the nobles and servants of the late king, who were strong and numerous, and still held important positions.
3.3
His head was filled with ambitious designs, while the Sultán was engrossed with pleasure and conviviality. The old and experienced courtiers, who had felt the heat and cold of varying fortune, perceived that the minister bore them no good will, and formed themselves into various parties. The nobles, heads of great families, found their position at court shaken, and some of them conceived a craving for an extension of their power. Nizámu-d din sharpened his teeth in the pursuit of his ambition, and argued with himself thus : "Sultán Balban was a wary old wolf, who held possession of Dehli for sixty years, and kept down the people of the kingdom with a firm grasp. He is gone, and his son, who was fitted to be a king, died before him; Bughra Khán remains contented at Lakhnauti, and the roots of empire which the old man planted are day by day growing weaker. The Sultan, in his devotion to pleasure, has not a thought for his government. If I get rid of Kai-Khusru, the son of "the Martyr Prince," and can remove some of the old nobles from the person of the sovereign, the realm of Dehli will fall with ease into my hands." With such thoughts and crooked designs, he began to play his game against Kai-Khusru; so he said to the Sultan, "Kai-Khusru is your partner in the kingdom, and is endued with many kingly virtues. The nobles are very friendly towards him, and look upon him as the heir-apparent of Sultán Balban.
3.4
If several of Balban's nobles support him, one day they will set you aside and raise him to the throne. It would therefore be politic for you to summon him from Multan, and to make away with him on the road. This truculent suggestion was adopted, and messengers were sent for Kai-Khusru. Nizamu-d din took advantage of the Sultan's drunkenness to obtain his sanction for the murder of the prince. He then despatched his emissaries, who murdered the prince at Rohtak. This murder excited great dread of the minister among all those nobles who remained in office. The glory and honour of the maliks was shattered, and fear seized upon them all. Nizamu-d din became more overbearing. He brought a charge against Khwája Khatir, wazir of the Sultán, and had him placed upon an ass, and paraded through the whole city. This punishment increased the terror which all the nobles and officers felt. He next resolved upon removing the chief nobles and heads of illustrious families; so he said to the Sultán, "These newly-made Musulmans, who hold offices and appointments near your majesty, are in league together. You have made them your companions and associates, but they intend to deal treacherously with you; and, introducing themselves by degrees into the palace, they will turn you out and seize upon the kingdom. These Mughal nobles hold meetings in their houses and consult together.
3.5
They are all of one race, their followers are numerous, and they have grown so strong that they will raise a rebellion. Shortly after he reported to the Sultan some words which had come to his ears, as having been uttered by these Mughals while in a state of intoxication, and he obtained from him permission to seize and kill them. One day he had them all seized in the palace, the principal of them were slain and cast into the Jumna, and their houses and property were plundered. Several descendants of slaves, also, who were men of high rank in the time of Balban, having formed acquaintances and friendship with these new Musulmans, were made prisoners and confined in distant forts. Their families, which had long taken root in the land, were scattered.
3.6
Next after these Malik Shahik, amir of Multan, and Malik Tuzaki, who was the holder of the fief of Baran, and held the office of Muster-master-general—men of high rank and importance in the reign of Balban—were both of them got rid of by stratagem. These proceedings made the designs of Nizamu-d din sufficiently clear to all men of the court and city; and his house became the resort of the principal men of the place. He had obtained such an ascendancy over Kai-Kubad, that whenever any one belonging to the city or otherwise made allusion to the ambitious designs of Nizamu-d din, or, in a fair and open way, brought any evil practice to his notice, the Sultan used to say to his minister, "So and so has spoken this about you;" or he would have the person seized, and giving him over to Nizamu-d din, would say, "This man wanted to make mischief between us."
3.7
The ascendancy of Nizamu-d din reached such a pitch that his wife, who was the daughter of Maliku-l umara, became known as "honorary mother" of the Sultan, and the directress of his female apartments. The sight of his power caused all the great men and chiefs of the city and country to anxiously watch his proceedings and guard against his hostility with all caution. With every device in their power, they endeavoured to obtain his favour, and to be reckoned among his adherents. Kotwál Maliku-l Umará Fakhru-d dín, father-in-law and uncle of Nizámu-d dín, often spoke to him in private, and remonstrated with him on his ambitious designs and his destruction of the nobles, saying, "I and my father have been kotwáls of Dehlí for eighty years, and as we have never meddled with affairs of State, we have remained in safety, * * * banish this vision of royalty from your mind, for royalty has no relation with us. * * * Supposing you kill this drunken insensate king by some villainous contrivance, the infamy of such an action will remain upon you and your children till the day of judgment." * * * This admonition of the kotwál's became generally known, * * * and raised him very high in public estimation.
3.8
Nizámu-d dín profited nothing by these counsels; his ambition to acquire the regal power made him blind and deaf. Every day he made some new move in the game, and sought to remove the Khiljís, who were obstacles in his road to sovereignty. Fate, however, derided these crude designs, and smiled upon the Khiljís. The Sultán himself became aware that Nizámu-d dín desired to remove him, and in fact his designs were patent to every one in Dehlí. While Kai-Kubád was sitting on the throne in Dehlí, his father, Bughrá Khán, at Lakhnautí, had assumed the title of Násiru-d dín, and had struck coins and caused the khutba to be read in his own name. A correspondence was kept up between the father and son, and messengers were constantly passing, carrying presents from one to the other. The father was informed of his son's devotion to pleasure, and of Nizámu-d dín's designs, * * * so he wrote letters of advice and caution to his son, * * * but the Sultán, absorbed in his pleasures, * * * paid no heed to his father's remonstrances, and took no notice of his minister's designs. Neither did he give the least attention to the business of the kingdom.
3.9
When Bughrá Khán heard that his son * * * paid no heed to his letters, he resolved to go and see him, and he wrote him a letter announcing his intention. * * * This letter awakened the Sultán's affection * * * and several letters passed. * * * It was at length arranged that the Sultán would go to Oudh, and that his father should come from Lakhnautí and meet him on the banks of the Sarú. The Sultán's intention was to proceed privately (jarídah) to the Sarú, but his minister opposed this, * * * observing that "the journey was long, and that he ought to travel in state with an army. * * * Old writers had said that in pursuit of dominion fathers will slay their sons, and sons their fathers. Ambition for rule stifles both paternal and filial affection. * * * The Sultán's father had struck coins and caused the khutba to be read in his name—besides, he was the rightful heir to the kingdom, and who could foresee what would happen at the interview. The Sultán ought to proceed with his army in all state and grandeur. * * * The Ráis and Ránas would then come to pay their respects; but if he travelled with haste, all reverence for the kingly office would be lost." * * * His advice was taken by the Sultán, and he directed his army and travelling equipage to be prepared. In due time the Sultán set out in all regal state, with a suitable army, and marching into Oudh he pitched his camp on the banks of the Sarú.
3.10
When Bughrá Khán heard that the Sultán had brought a large army, he understood that Nizámu-d dín had instilled fear into the heart of his son; but he set forth from Lakhnautí with an army and elephants, and arrived at the Sarú, where the two armies encamped on opposite sides of the river, within sight of each other. For two or three days officers passed from both sides, carrying messages between father and son. The order of the interview was at length settled. Bughrá Khán was to pay honour and homage to the king of Dehlí. He was to cross the river to see his son seated on his throne, and to kiss his hands (in token of inferiority). The Khán said, "I have no inclination to pay homage to my own son; but he sits upon the throne of Dehli in my father's seat, and that exceeds in grandeur all the thrones of the earth. * * * If I do not show it due honour, its glory will be shattered, and evil will come both upon me and my son. * * * I will therefore fulfil all the requirements of etiquette." He directed the astrologers to fix upon an auspicious hour for the interview. On the appointed day the Sultan's court was arranged, and he sat upon his throne to hold a levee. Bughra Khan alighted, and came within the privileged circle. He bowed his head to the earth, and three times kissed the ground, as required by the ceremonial of the court. But when he approached the throne, the Sultan could no longer bear the degradation of his father;
3.11
he threw aside all kingly grandeur, and, descending from the throne, cast himself at his father's feet. * * * Father and son burst into tears and embraced each other, * * * and the Sultán rubbed his eyes upon his father's feet. This sight drew tears also from the eyes of the beholders. The father took his son's hand and led him to the throne, intending himself to stand before it for awhile; but the Sultán came down, and conducting his father to the throne, seated him there on his own right hand. Then, coming down, he bent his knees, and sat respectfully before him. * * * Afterwards they had some conversation together in private, and then Bughra Khán retired across the river to his own camp. * * *
3.12
One day, Bughra Khán, after telling his son a story about Jamshid, said, "Oh, my dear son, how far wilt thou carry thy addiction to pleasure and dissipation, and how long wilt thou disregard the sayings of great and powerful kings?" * * * When the Khán had finished his counsels he wept, and pressing his son to his bosom bade him farewell; and as he did so, he secretly whispered to him his advice that he should remove Nizámu-d din as soon as possible, otherwise that man would one day seize an opportunity to remove him from the throne. So saying, and shedding many tears, he parted from his son. * * * When he reached his own camp he said to his friends, "I have said farewell to my son and to the kingdom of Dehli; for I know full well that neither my son nor the throne of Dehli will long exist."
3.13
Kai-Kubad returned through Oudh, towards Dehli, and for some days he was mindful of his father's advice, and abstained from sensual amusements. * * * The tenor of that advice was known to all men in the army. * * * He kept aloof from women, till one day a lovely girl met him on the road [decked in the most alluring style], and addressed some lines of poetry to him. * * * The Sultan was overpowered by her charms, he could not resist * * * but called for wine; and, drinking it in her presence, recited some verses, to which she replied also in verse. * * * His father's counsels were forgotten, and he gave himself up to pleasure in the society of that "vow-breaker" [and plunged deeper into his old habits]. From Oudh to Dehli all his journey was one round of dissipation and pleasure. When he arrived at Kilu-garhi public rejoicings were held. * * * I, Ziau-d din Barni, author of this work, heard from Kazi Sharfu-d din that Sultan Kai-Kubad was so engrossed by his dissolute pursuits, that his government would not have endured for a single week, but for Malik Nizamu-d din and Malik Kiwamu-d din, both of whom were old Shamsi and Balbani nobles. They were wise, experienced men, who possessed ability, and encouraged ability. * * * Nizamu-d din was also very generous, * * * and it was a thousand pities that so many excellent qualities should all have been spoilt by his ambition to attain the throne.
3.14
* * * Soon after the Sultan returned from Oudh, his constitution began to give way, and his excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures made him very feeble and pale. He thought upon the advice of his father, and resolved upon removing Nizamu-d din, without reflecting that there was no one to take his place, and that troubles and difficulties would arise. So he ordered Nizamu-d din to proceed to Multan to arrange the affairs of that dependency. The minister perceived that the Sultan was acting upon advice received from his father, or some other person, and fearing the intrigues of his rivals he delayed his departure. The Sultán's associates and attendants were aware that he was resolved upon removing Nizámu-d dín, so after obtaining the Sultán's consent, they put poison into his wine, and he died. The fact of his having been poisoned was well known in Dehli. What little order had been maintained in the government was now entirely lost. People were without employ, and flocked to the gates of the palace; and as no order was maintained there, no security was anywhere to be found.
3.15
At this time Jalálu-d dín was Náib of Sámána and Sar-jándár of the court. He was brought from Sámána, and the fief of Baran was conferred upon him; and he received the title of Siyásat Khán. Malik Aitamur Kachhan was made Bárbak, and Malik Aitamur Surkha obtained the office of Wakíl-dar. Both had been slaves (banda) of Sultán Balban. They now divided the control of the palace between them, and both were led away by ambition. Several of the Balban officials, who had been set aside by Nizámu-d dín, again entered into employment, and rose into notice.
3.16
The affairs of the court now fell into the greatest confusion, and no regularity was observed in any business. The Sultán was struck with paralysis, and was confined to his couch. He daily grew worse, and was quite incapable of attending to business. The nobles desired some leading spirit who would take the control of public affairs; but they were all too much upon a level, and could not endure that any one should rise above the rest, and should have entire command of the reins. There was no hope of the Sultán's recovery, so the old Balban officers, the maliks, the amírs, the officials, heads of tribes, etc., met together, and although the Sultán's son was of tender years, they brought him forth from the harem and seated him upon the throne. It was resolved to appoint a regent, so that the throne might be preserved to the family of Balban, and might not pass from the Turk to any other race. With this object the Sultán's child was seated on the throne, under the title of Sultan Shamsu-d din. The old Balbani officers were his supporters, and they received offices, titles, and grants of land. The young Sultan was taken to the Chabütara-i Násirí, which became his Court, and there the nobles and great men attended upon him. Sultan Kai-Kubad was lying sick and powerless at Kílü-ghari, attended by his doctors. At the same time Jalalu-d din, who was 'A'riz-i mamalik (Muster-master-general), had gone to Bahár-púr, attended by a body of his relations and friends.
3.17
Here he held a muster and inspection of the forces. He came of a race different from that of the Turks, so he had no confidence in them, nor would the Turks own him as belonging to the number of their friends. Aitamur Kachhan and Aitamur Surkha wakíl-dar conspired to denounce and remove several nobles of foreign extraction. They accordingly drew up a list, at the head of which they placed the name of Jalálu-d dín. The latter very prudently collected his adherents, and all the Khilji maliks and amirs, drew together, and formed a camp at Bahar-pur. Several other nobles joined him. Aitamur Kachhan now proceeded to Bahar-púr, in order to entice Jalalu-d din to the Shamsi palace, where he intended to kill him. Jalalu-d din was aware of the plot, and intercepted and slew Aitamur Kachhan, as he was on the way to invite him. The sons of Jalálu-d din, who were all daring fellows, went publicly at the head of 500 horse to the royal palace, seized upon the infant Sultan, and carried him off to their father. Aitamur Kachhan pursued them, but he was wounded with an arrow, and fell. The sons of Maliku-l umara Kotwal were captured and taken to Bahar-pur, where they were kept as hostages. Great excitement followed in the city; the people, high and low, small and great, poured out of the twelve gates of the city, and took the road for Bahar-púr to the rescue of the young prince.
3.18
They were all troubled by the ambition of the Khiljis, and were strongly opposed to Jalalu-d din's obtaining the crown; but the kotwal, on account of his sons, allayed the popular excitement, and brought back the citizens. The crowd dispersed at the Badaun gate. Several maliks and amirs of Turk extraction now joined Jalalu-d din at his camp, and the Khilji force increased. Two days after these occurrences a malik, whose father had been put to death by order of Sultan Kai-Kubad, was sent to Kilu-ghari, with instructions to make an end of him. This man entered Kilu-ghari, and found the Sultan lying at his last gasp in the room of mirrors. He despatched him with two or three kicks, and threw his body into the Jumna. Malik Chhaju, brother's son of Sultan Balban, and rightful heir to the throne, received the grant of Karra, and was sent off thither.
3.19
Friends and opponents now came to terms with Jalalu-d din, who was escorted from Baharpur by a large body of horse, and was seated on the throne in Kilu-ghari. He immediately proceeded to strengthen his position by bringing in his friends, and distributing the offices. But the majority of the people of Dehli was opposed to him, and through fear of the populace he did not go to the city, there to take his seat upon the old throne of his predecessors. Some time elapsed before he ventured there, or before the people went to Kilu-ghari to offer their congratulations. They hated the Khilji maliks, and would not look upon them. There were many officers and nobles, representatives of old families in Dehli at that time. By the death of Sultan Kai-Kubad M'uizzu-d din the Turks lost the empire.