The History of Mubārak Shāh 3: Sultán Muhammad Sháh, younger son of the late Sultán Fíroz Sháh.
Táríkh-i Mubárak Sháhí (extracts) 3
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Sultán Muhammad Sháh, younger son of the late Sultán Fíroz Sháh.
3.1
When the intelligence of the death of Malik Sultán Sháh reached Muhammad Khán at Nagarkot, he marched thence to the town of Jálandhar, and so into the district of Sámána. There, on the 6th of the month of Rabí'u-l ákhir, of the year above named, he, for the second time, mounted the throne of the empire. The new amírs of Sámána, and the mukaddams of that district and of the hills, all joined him, and renewed their vows of allegiance. Several amírs and maliks also of Dehlí deserted Abú Bakr Sháh, and came to join him. So there assembled round him in Sámána about twenty thousand horse, and an innumerable host of foot. From Sámána he marched to Dehlí; and by the time he reached its neighbourhood, the horse had increased to about fifty thousand. Abú Bakr Sháh was informed of his approach, and the slaves of Sultán Fíroz, having before opposed the new Sultán, now allied themselves with Abú Bakr. On the 25th Rabí'u-l ákhir, 791 (23rd April, 1389), Sultán Muhammad took up his position at the palace of Jahán-numá, and Abú Bakr also, with his adherents and forces, was at Fírozábád. On the 2nd Jumáda-l awwal, the adherents of Abú Bakr, having taken the streets and walls of Fírozábád, gave battle to the forces of the new Sultán. On that very day Bahádur Náhir came into the city with a party of his followers; and Abú Bakr Sháh, being emboldened by his arrival, marched on the following day into Fírozábád with his horse and foot.
3.2
The battle began, and by the decree of God, Sultán Muhammad was defeated. He fled towards his own territories. With a party of about two thousand horse, he crossed the Jumna, and penetrated into the Doáb. From thence he sent his second son, Prince Humáyún Khan, to Samana, to assemble his forces; and he sent with him Malik Ziau-d din Aburja, Rai Kamalu-d din Main, and Rai Khul Chain Bhatti, whose fiefs were in that quarter. The Sultan himself took up his position at the village of Jalesar, on the banks of the Ganges. The amirs of Hindustan, such as Malik Sarwar, governor of the city (shahna-i shahr), Maliku-sh Shark Nasiru-l Mulk the holder of Multan, Khawassu-l Mulk the holder of Bihar [and others]; and Rai Sarvar and other rais and ranas, making in all about fifty thousand horse, with an innumerable force of foot, joined the Sultan. Malik Sarwar received the title of Khwaja-i Jahan, and was made wazir. Malik Nasiru-l Mulk became Khizr Khan, Khawassu-l Mulk was made Khawass Khan, and Saifu-d din became Saif Khan.
3.3
In Sha'ban of the same year Sultan Muhammad again marched against Dehli. Abu Bakr Shah came forth to meet him, and encountered him at the village of Kundali. Both sides arrayed their forces, and a battle ensued. By the will of God, the army of Sultan Muhammad was defeated, and Abu Bakr was victorious. His camp equipage and baggage fell into the hands of the victors, who kept up the pursuit for three kos. Sultan Muhammad then returned, and took up his abode at Jalesar. Abu Bakr Shah went back to Dehli. On the 19th Ramazan the slaves of the late Sultan Firoz who were living in the various districts and cities, as at Multan, Lahor, Samana, and Hisar, and the fort of Hansi, were unjustly put to death in one day by the chiefs and people of the different places, under the orders of Sultan Muhammad. In consequence of the contention among the Musulmans for the throne, the Hindu infidels gathered strength, and gave up paying the poll-tax and tribute. They moreover threatened the Muhammadan towns.
3.4
In the month of Muharram, 792 H. (January, 1390 A.D.), Prince Humayun Khan, having collected the various maliks and amirs who had been appointed to act under him, such as Ghalib Khan, amir of Samana [etc., etc.], pitched his camp at Panipat, and plundered the environs of Dehli. When Abu Bakr Shah was informed of this, he sent Malik Shahin 'Imadu-l Mulk, with four thousand horse and guards and many foot soldiers, towards Panipat; and the two forces drew up in battle array at the village of Basina, near Panipat. The Almighty gave the victory to Abu Bakr Shah, and the army of the prince being defeated fled back towards Samana. His camp and baggage and equipments, all became the spoil of the victors. The forces of Dehli, under the grace of God, being thus everywhere victorious, Sultan Muhammad and his army could no longer resist the enemy, and he became very much depressed in spirit. Still the maliks and the soldiers and the people of the capital were entirely on the side of the Sultan, and Abu Bakr dared not leave the city to pursue his defeated enemy.
3.5
In the month Jumada-l awwal of the same year Abu Bakr Shah collected his army and marched towards Jalesar. He encamped about twenty kos from Dehli, and Sultan Muhammad, being informed of this, left his army and baggage at Jalesar, and started off with four thousand light horse for Dehli. Some guards who had been left in charge of the city shut themselves up at the Badaun gate, and made some show of resistance; but the assailants set fire to the gate, and the defenders fled. Sultan Muhammad entered the city through this gate, and took up his quarters at the Humayun palace. All the people of the city, high and low, and the bazar people, joined him. When intelligence of this reached Abu Bakr, he set off early on the same day with a party of his followers, and entered the city by the same gate, and Malik Bahau-d din, who had been left in charge of the gate by Sultan Muhammad, was killed on the spot. The Sultan was in the palace, unaware of what had happened; but when Abu Bakr drew near, and he was apprised of the fact, he escaped with a small party of followers through a back door of the palace, and making his way out of the city by the gate of the Hauz-i khass, he returned to Jalesar, to his army and baggage. The amirs and maliks and soldiers who were unable to escape out of the city with the Sultan were, some of them taken prisoners, and some killed; Khalil Khan naib-barbak and Malik Isma'il, son of the daughter of Sultan Firoz Shah, were taken alive, and were put to death.
3.6
In the month of Ramazan of the same year Mubashir Hajib Sultani, who had the title Islam Khan, with several old slaves (bandagan) of Sultan Firoz, without any reason, turned against Abu Bakr Shah, and opened communications with Sultan Muhammad. When this fact became known, Abu Bakr Shah was unable to overcome them, so he left Dehli, accompanied by some of his most devoted followers, such as Malik Shahin 'Imadu-l Mulk, Malik Bahri, and Safdar Khan Sultani, and proceeded to the kotila of Bahadur Nahir. On the 17th of the month Ramazan, Mubashir Hajib and the old Firoz Shahi men sent letters to Sultan Muhammad, informing him of the facts, and of the flight of Abu Bakr Shah. They placed Khan-i Khanan, the youngest son of the Sultan, on an elephant, and, raising a canopy over his head, they conducted him to Jalesar. On the third day, the 19th Ramazan, the Sultan started from Jalesar, and entering the city he took his seat on the throne in the palace of Firozabad. Mubashir Hajib received the office of wazir, and the title of Islam Khan was confirmed to him. The old guards of Firoz Shah and the people of the capital joined the Sultan. After a few days, he left Firozabad, and went into the fort (hisar) of Jahan-panah to the Humayun palace. He took the elephants from the charge of the Firoz Shahi slaves, and placed them under the old elephantkeepers. This excited great discontent among them;
3.7
but as the Sultan was strong, and the elephants had all been taken into the charge of his servants, they could not withstand him; so they fled in the night, with their wives and children, and joined Abu Bakr Shah at the Kútila of Bahadur Náhir. Such of these old slaves as remained in the city next morning received notice that they must quit it within three days, so the city was cleared of them.
3.8
The amirs and maliks of the various parts of the kingdom (bilád-i mamálik) now came to Court, and the Sultán's power and dignity increased. Prince Humáyún Khán, with Islám Khan [and others], was sent with a powerful army to suppress Abu Bakr Sháh and the old Fíroz Sháhí slaves. They had reached the town of Mahindwari; and in the month of Muharram, 793 (Dec. 1390 A.D.), Abú Bakr Sháh, Bahádur Náhir, and the old Fíroz Sháhí slaves, having assembled, made a sudden attack upon the royal forces early in the morning, and killed several men. But Islám Khán made ready his division, and fell upon the assailants; the prince also mounted his horse, with his followers, and defeated the enemy at the first charge. The royal army pursued, and the bulk of the defeated forces took refuge in the fort of Kútila, but some were killed, and some were taken prisoners. When the news of the victory reached the Sultán, he started off for the scene of the conflict; and arriving at Kútila, he encamped on the banks of the Dahand. Abu Bakr Sháh and Bahadur Nahir begged for mercy, and came to meet the Sultán. Bahádur Náhir received a robe, and was sent back. Abu Bakr Sháh was carried away by the Sultán as far as Khandí, from whence he was sent to be kept a prisoner at Mirat, and there he died. The Sultán proceeded to Etáwa, and there he was waited upon by Nar Singh, who received a robe, and was sent back. Proceeding along the bank of the Jumna, the Sultán arrived at Dehli.
3.9
In 794 H. (1392 A.D.), Nar Singh above mentioned, and Sarvádharan and Bír Bahan, broke out in rebellion. The Sultán sent Islám Khán against Nar Singh, and he himself marched to Etáwa against Sarvádharan and the other infidels. The accursed Nar Singh encountered the forces of Islám Khán, and, by God's grace, was defeated and put to flight. The victors pursued, sending many infidels to hell, and laying waste their country. Nar Singh at length sued for mercy, and came to wait on Islám Khán, who carried him to Dehli. Sarvádharan attacked the town of Balárám, but when the Sultán reached the banks of the Biyáh (sic), the infidels fled and shut themselves up in Etáwa. The Sultán continued his march thither, and on the first day of his arrival some little fighting took place. In the night the rebels abandoned the fort of Etáwa and fled, and next day the Sultán destroyed it. From thence he marched towards Kanauj, and crossing the Ganges, he punished the infidels of Kanauj and Dalamau, and returning went to Jalesar, where he built a fortress which he called Muhammadábád.
3.10
In the month of Rajab, a letter arrived from Khwája-i Jahán, who was the Sultán's locum tenens in Dehli, bringing the information that Islám Khán was about to depart for Multán and Láhor, with the object of stirring up a rebellion. The Sultán immediately left Jalesar, and proceeded to Dehli, where he held a Court, and questioned Islám Khán about the intentions imputed to him. He denied them. But an infidel named Jáju, his brother's son, a bad fellow who had a spite against him, gave false evidence, and Islam Khan was unjustly condemned to death. Khwaja-i Jahan was made wazir, and Malik Mukarrabu-l Mulk was sent to Muhammadabad in Jalesar, with an army. In the year 795 H. (1393 A.D.), Sarvadharan and Jit Singh Rahtor, and Bir Bahan mukaddam, of Bhanu-ganw, and Abhai Chand mukaddam, of Chandu, broke out in rebellion. "The Sultdn sent Mukarrabu-l Mulk to put down this outbreak. When the two parties came in sight of each other, Mukarrabu-l Mulk adopted a conciliatory course, and by promises and engagements, induced the rais to submit. He carried them with him to Kanauj, and there treacherously had them put to death ; but Rai Sar[vadharan] escaped, and entered Etawa. Malik Mukarrab then returned to Muhammadabad. In the month of Shawwal, the Sultan attacked and ravaged Mewat. Having gone from Muhammadabad to Jalesar, he there fell sick. Just at that time intelligence reached him that Bahadur Nahir had attacked and plundered several villages in the vicinity of Dehli.
3.11
Notwithstanding his weakness, the Sultan proceeded to Mewat, and on reaching Kutila, Bahadur Nahir came out to fight; but he was defeated, and took refuge in Kutila. Unable to remain there, he fled and hid in Jhar. After this, the Sultan proceeded to Muhammadabad, in order to inspect the buildings which he had there begun. His sickness grew worse. In the month Rabi'u-l awwal, 796 H., he appointed Prince Humayun to march against Shaikha Khokar, who had rebelled, and had got possession of Lahor. Just as the prince was about to march, he received intelligence of the death of the Sultan on the 17th Rabi'u-l awwal (15th Jan. 1394 A.D.); so he remained at the capital. Sultan Muhammad Shah reigned six years and seven months.