The History of Mubārak Shāh 6: Khizr Khan
Táríkh-i Mubárak Sháhí (extracts) 6
- Language
- English
Khizr Khan
6.1
Khizr Khan was the son of Maliku-sh Shark Malik Sulaiman, who was adopted in childhood, and brought up by Malik Nasiru-l Mulk Mardan Daulat. Historians record that he was by descent a saiyid. The chief of the saiyids, Jalalu-d din Bokhari, once honoured the house of Malik Mardan with a visit, and when food was spread before his guest, Malik Mardan ordered Sulaiman to wash the great saiyid's hands. The saiyid said, "This is a saiyid, and is unfit for such work as this." As the great chief of the saiyids thus testified to Sulaiman being a saiyid, there can be no doubt that he was one. Another proof of his being a saiyid is, that he was generous, brave, merciful, considerate, true to his word, and kind: these are all virtues which were conspicuous in the Prophet, and were manifest in him. When Malik Mardan died, Malik Shaikh his son obtained the fief of Multan, but he died soon after, and Malik Sulaiman succeeded him. He likewise soon afterwards died, and Khizr Khan then obtained Multan, with all its dependencies, from Sultan Firoz Shah. God Almighty had chosen him for great work and a high station, and his dignity increased daily. The events of his campaigns and victories, before he accomplished the conquest of Dehli, have already been related. On the 15th Rabi'u-l awwal, 817 (30th May, 1414 a.d.), he entered the fort of Siri, and posted his army in the palace of Sultan Mahmud.
6.2
The people of the city, by force of late events, had become impoverished and needy, so he settled allowances and made provision for them. By this kindness, they were all made easy and happy. He gave to Maliku-sh Shark Malik Tuhfa the title of Taju-l Mulk, and made him wazir. To Saiyid Salim, chief of the saiyids, he gave the ikta and shikk of Saharanpur, and all affairs were set in order. He gave to Malik 'Abdu-r Rahim, adopted son of the late Malik Sulaiman, the title of 'Alau-l Mulk, and he confided to him the ikta' and shikk of Multan and Fathpur. He made Malik Sarwar governor (shahna) of the capital, and his locum tenens when he was himself absent. Malik Khairu-d din was made 'ariz-i mamalik (muster-master), Malik Kalu keeper of the elephants, Malik Daud became secretary (dabir). Ikhtiyar Khan was appointed to the shikk of the Doab. The State officials were confirmed in the parganas, villages, and ikta's, which they had held in the reign of Sultan Mahmud, and were sent to look after them. Thus the affairs of State were all properly arranged.
6.3
In the year 817 H. (1414 A.D.), Maliku-sh Shark Taju-l Mulk was sent out with the army of Hindustan, while Khizr Khan himself remained in the capital. Taju-l Mulk crossed the Jumna, and went to the town of Ahar. Then he crossed the Ganges into the country of Katehr, and chastised and plundered the infidels of that country. Rai Har Singh fled into the mountains of Anwala. When the army of Islam closed in upon him, he was helpless, and paid taxes, money, and tribute (mahsul o mal o khidmati). Muhabat Khan, amir of Badaun, came to wait upon Taju-l Mulk. After this interview, Taju-l Mulk pursuing the course of the Rahab, he arrived at the ford of Sarg-dwari, and there crossed the Ganges. He chastised the infidels of Khor and Kambil (Kampila), and passing through the town of Sakina, he proceeded to Badham. Hasan Khan, amir of Rapri, and Malik Hamza his brother, came to wait upon him. The infidels of Gwalior, Seori, and Chandawar, brought their money and taxes (mal o mahsul), and bowed their necks to the yoke of obedience. He wrested Jalesar from the possession of the infidels of Chandawar, and gave it to the Musulmans, who had formerly held it. He left his own officers there. Then passing along the Black river, he chastised the infidels of Etawa, and returned to the capital.
6.4
In the year 818 H. (1416 A.D.), Khizr Khan gave to his son, the exalted prince Maliku-sh Shark Malik Mubarak, who was worthy to be a king, the khittas of Firozpur and Sirhind, and all the iktd's of the late Bairam Khan. He gave him command over all the west country, and sent Malik Sadhu Nadira to act as his deputy. When all the affairs of that country were satisfactorily arranged, the prince returned with Malik Sadhu Nadira, Zirak Khan, amir of Samana, and other amirs and maliks, to the capital. In 819 H. (1416 A.D.), Khizr Khan sent Malik Taju-l Mulk with a great army to Bayana and Gwalior. When the Malik entered the country of Bayana, Malik Karimu-l Mulk, brother of Shams Khan, gave him a grand reception. From thence he proceeded to Gwalior and plundered the country, and having seized the money and tribute of [the Rai of] Gwalior and other rais, he passed the Jumna opposite Chandawar, and went towards Kampila and Pattiali. Rai Har Singh, the occupier of Katehr, was submissive, so after taking the revenue and tribute from him, the Malik returned to the capital. Malik Sadhu Nadira had been sent to Sirhind as the representative of Prince Mubarak. In the month of Jumada-l awwal, some Turk-bachas of the family of Bairam Khan treacherously got Sadhu into their power and murdered him. They then seized upon the fort of Sirhind. Khizr Khan sent Malik Daud, the dabir (secretary), and Zirak Khan, to put down these rebels.
6.5
The Turk-bachas fled across the Satladar (Sutlej), and escaped to the mountains. Daud pursued them thither, and for two months carried on operations in the hills. But their mountainous retreats were strong, and he was unable to subdue them, so he returned. While this was passing, intelligence arrived in the month of Rajab that Sultán Ahmad of Gujarát had laid siege to the fort of Nágor. Khizr Khán marched thither, passing between Tonak and Todah, and when Sultán Ahmad heard of his approach, he retreated towards Dhár. Khizr Khán went to New city Jháin (shahr-i nau Jháin), and Ilyás Khán, amír of Jháin, had the honour of an interview. Having repressed the disturbances in that quarter, Khizr Khán returned to Gwálior, and besieged the rái in the fort. As the fort was very strong, he could not take it, but he took money and revenue on account of Gwálior, and then proceeded to the khitta of Bayána, where Shams Khán Auhadí (amír of Bayána) also paid money and tribute. After this he returned to Dehlí.
6.6
In 820 H. (1417 A.D.), Tughán Raís and sundry other Turk-bachas, who had slain Malik Sádhú, broke out in rebellion, and Khizr Khán sent Zírak Khán, amír of Sámána, with a strong force, to put them down. When he reached Sámána, Tughán, and the other Turk-bachas, who had besieged Malik Kamál Bádhan, representative of Khán-záda Mu'azzam, in the fort of Sirhind, went off to the mountains. Zírak Khán pursued them to the town of Páil. Here Tughán Raís consented to pay a fine. He expelled the Turk-bacha murderers of Malik Sádhú from his band, and gave his son as a hostage. Zírak Khán sent the youth and the money to Dehlí, and himself returned to Sámána.
6.7
In 821 H. (1418 A.D.), Khizr Khán sent Malik Táju-l Mulk with a numerous army to repress the rebellion of Har Singh, of Katehr. When this force crossed the Ganges, Har Singh laid waste the whole country of Katehr, and went into the jungle of Anwala, which borders that country for a distance of twenty-four kos. The army of Islam encamped near the jungle, and Har Singh being inclosed therein, had to fight. The royal forces were victorious, and all the furniture and baggage and arms and horses of the infidels fell into their hands. Har Singh fled towards the mountains of Kumaun. On the following day about twenty thousand horse were sent in pursuit, whilst Taju-l Mulk remained stationary with his army and baggage. The forces of Islam crossed the Rahab, and pursued the enemy into the mountains of Kumaun. Har Singh pressed forward into the mountains, and on the fifth day the royal forces retired, after having secured great spoil. Taju-l Mulk then fell back, and passing near Badaun, he crossed the Ganges at the ford of Bajlana. Muhabat Khan, amir of Badaun, there took leave of him, and he proceeded to Etawa. He ravaged that district, and besieged Rai Sarwar, who held it; but the Rai offered money and tribute, and so secured peace. From thence Taju-l Mulk returned in the month of Rabi'u-l akhir triumphant to Dehli. He there presented the money and tribute which he had brought to Khizr Khan, and was most graciously received.
6.8
In 822 H. (1419 A.D.), Khizr Khan marched against Katehr. First he chastised the rebels in the country of Kol, after that he scoured the jungles of the Rahab and of Sambhal, and overthrew the rebels. From thence he proceeded, in the month of Zi-l ka'da, towards Badaun, and passed the Ganges near the town of Pattiali. When Muhabat Khan heard of this, his heart was struck with dismay, and he made preparations for standing a siege. In the month of Zi-l hijja, Khizr Khan invested the fort, and carried on the siege for six months. He was just upon the point of capturing it, when he received information that a conspiracy had been formed against him by some amirs and maliks of the late Mahmud Shah, who had been overpowered by Daulat Khan. Among them were Kiwam Khan and Ikhtiyar Khan. As soon as this came to his knowledge, Khizr Khan raised the siege of Badaun, and marched towards Dehli. On his march, by the banks of the Ganges, on the 20th Jumada-l awwal, 822 H., having captured Kiwam Khan, Ikhtiyar Khan, and other officers of the late Sultan Mahmud, he put them to death in punishment of their treason, and then repaired to Dehli. Information was now given of an impostor who had assumed the name of Sarang Khan. It appeared that a man assuming the name of Sarang Khan had appeared in the mountains of Bajwara, dependent on Jalandhar, and had given himself out to be Sarang Khan. Many foolish ignorant people [believed him, and he had assembled a party around him.
6.9
Khizr Khan] gave the ikta' of Sirhind to [Malik Sultan Shah] Lodi, and deputed him to repress the pretender. Malik Sultan Shah, in the month of Rajab, proceeded with his own forces to Sirhind. The pretender Sarang, with his rustic adherents, then sallied forth from Bajwara, and when he approached the river Satladar (Sutlej), the people of Arubar (Rupar) also joined him. In the month of Sha'ban, he came near to Sirhind, and a battle was fought. Malik Sultan Shah Lodi obtained the victory, and the pretender was put to flight. He fled to the town of Tarsari, one of the dependencies of Sirhind. Khwaja 'Ali Indarabi, amir of the town of Jhath, with his dependents, joined the pretender. Zirak Khan, amir of Samana, and Tughan, rais (chief) of the Turk-bachas of Jalandhar, came forward to strengthen Sultan Shah. Sultan Shah entered Sirhind, and the pretender Sarang then fled to Arubar (Rupar). Khwaja 'Ali now deserted him, and joined Zirak Khan. Next day the royal army advanced to Arubar (Rupar), and there halted, the pretender having fled to the mountains. While this was passing Malik Khairu-d din Khani was also sent with a strong force against the pretender. In the month of Ramazan, he arrived at Arubar (Rupar), and there the forces united, and marched into the mountains in pursuit of the impostor. Sarang Khan's followers were vanquished and helpless, but the mountains were not easy of conquest, so the (royal) forces retreated.
6.10
Malik Khairu-d din proceeded to the capital, and Zirak Khan went to Samana, leaving Sultan Shah Lodi with a force in possession of Arubar. So the royal army was dispersed. In 823 H. (1420 A.D.), the pretended Sarang Khan had a meeting with Tughan, chief of the Turk-bachas, when Tughan treacherously got the impostor into his power, and made him prisoner. He afterwards killed him. Khizr Khan remained in the capital, but he sent Malik Taju-l Mulk with an army against Etawa. This army marched through the town of Baran, and came into the country of Kol. After suppressing the rebels in that quarter, it advanced into Etawa, and there destroyed the village of Dehli, the strongest place in the possession of the infidels. From thence, it marched against Etawa, and besieged Rai Sarwar, who at length made peace, and paid his annual revenue and tribute. The army then proceeded to the country of Chandawar, which it plundered, and laid waste. It then marched into Katehr, where Rai Singh, the possessor of that country, paid further revenue and tribute. After that, Taju-l Mulk returned to the capital. In the month of Rajab, intelligence arrived that Tughan Rais had a second time broken out into rebellion, and was besieging the fort of Sirhind, and that he had overrun the country as far as Mansurpur and Bail. Khizr Khan again sent Malik Khairu-d din with an army to overpower him. He marched to Samana, and there united his forces to those of Majlis-i 'ali Zirak Khan.
6.11
They then went in search of the rebel, but he being informed of their approach, crossed the river Satladar (Sutlej), at the town of Ludhiana, and confronted the royal army from the other side of the river. But the waters were low, and the royal forces crossed. Tughan then fled into the country of Jasrath Khokhar. His fief (ikta') was given to Zirak Khan, and Malik Khairu-d din returned to Dehli. In 824 H. (1421 A.D.), Khizr Khan marched to Mewat. Some of the Mewattis joined him, and the others were besieged in the fortress of Kotila [belonging to] Bahadur Nahir. Khizr Khan sat down against the fort, and the Mewattis sallied forth to fight; but they were quickly defeated, the fort was taken, and they fled to the mountains. After destroying the fort of Kotila, Khizr Khan marched towards Gwalior. On the 7th Muharram, 824 H. (13th January, 1421 A.D.), Malik Taju-l Mulk died, and the office of wazir was given to his eldest son, Maliku-sh Shark Malik Sikandar. When Khizr Khan arrived in Gwalior, his forces invested the fort, and overran the country. After realizing money and tribute, he proceeded to Etawa. Rai Sarwar of Etawa was dead, and his son being unable to make resistance, paid his revenue and tribute money. Khizr Khan was now taken ill, and returned to Dehli. On the 17th Jumada-l awwal, 824 H. (15th May, 1421 A.D.), after reaching the city, he died, and God in his mercy took him.