Storia do Mogor 371: DETACHED LEAVES · TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH INTO ITALIAN BY THE CAVALIERE ANDREA CARDEIRA, PUBLIC PROFESSOR.
Storia do Mogor (Irvine) 371
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DETACHED LEAVES · TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH INTO ITALIAN BY THE CAVALIERE ANDREA CARDEIRA, PUBLIC PROFESSOR.
371.1
[321] The emperor of the Mogul country, called Aurangzeb, has exerted himself to the utmost during twenty-six years to destroy his enemy Shivã Jī [the Mahrattahs] without having been able to do him any damage. When this king was encamped near a town in the Dakhin realms called Sholapur, he fell ill. This was on February 14 of the year 1707.
371.2
There were then present at court two princes, one named A'zam Tārā, his second-born, approaching the age of sixty; the other prince was younger, his name Kām Bakhsh, upon whom the king lavished all his affection. Finding himself reduced to such a state of weakness, Aurangzeb ordered him [Kām Bakhsh] to surround the royal tent with guards; he feared a sudden attack by A'zam Tārā. But the latter heard of the order beforehand, and being much irritated by it, sent some troops to disperse the guards that the prince, his younger brother, had posted. This began a dispute between them, opening the way to a conflict in which many were slain on both sides. On the emperor becoming acquainted with this act, he sent to the spot Asad Khãn, the grand wazir, to adjust the quarrel between the princes in the best way he found possible. He told him to inform A'zam Tãrã that if he would withdraw from the army he would give him the provinces of Aurangãbãd, Burhãnpur, Barãr, et cetera. The prince obeyed, and marched away by short stages and encamped his division only eight leagues from the royal quarters. There he resolved to await the news of the emperor's death.
371.3
Prince Kãm Bakhsh remained in attendance on the king. Seeing his father's death was near, this son supplicated that while his father still remained alive he would grant to him (Kãm Bakhsh) entire liberty to go, for he feared that after his father's death his throat would be cut [322] by his enemies. The king granted his prayer, and also placed in his hands a letter addressed to the Viceroy of Bījãpur, containing an injunction to permit his youngest son to make himself master of that kingdom. Then the prince (Kãm Bakhsh) hastened his departure, and four days after he had started — namely, on March 4 [1707] — the king died two hours after midday. At that very moment there arose a whirlwind which overturned all the tents in the camp, knocked down elephants, camels, et cetera, uprooted trees, even those of prodigious size ; in short, a very large number of persons were killed, and the effects extended also into the adjacent villages, the tempest lasting until the evening. As soon as he heard this news A'zam Tãrã made all haste to return to court, seized all the treasure, and with great vigour reduced everyone to obedience. The king's body was lifted and laid in a palanquin for removal to the city of Aurangãbãd, there to be interred in the sepulchre that he had caused to be prepared in his lifetime not far from a large reservoir.
371.4
When he found himself absolute master, A'zam Tãrã, in order to capture the affection of those serving, raised the pay of the officials and soldiers. On the 19th of the same month [March, 1707] he was crowned as king. Then he prepared for an immediate march towards the city of Ãgrah in order to obtain recognition as emperor. Shãh 'Alam, the first-born son of the late king, who was at this time close to the Indus river, as soon as he heard of the king's death began a march in all haste, taking his family with him and a strong force. On arrival at Ãgrah he occupied the city, and was acclaimed by all the people. Having heard that A'zam Tãrã was advancing against him, Shãh 'Alam wrote him a letter [323] in most courteous terms, intimating that it was their bounden duty to live in peace and amity with each other during the few remaining days of their mortal journey. Both of them were sufficiently advanced in years, and he (A'zam Tãrã) ought to content himself with the provinces that the emperor, their father, had given him. As for himself, he had not the least intention of interfering with him ; on the other hand, he claimed to be left undisturbed with what territory he had already.
371.5
A'zam Tãrã was very little satisfied with this suggestion, and answered that he meant to be emperor and uncontrolled master, for which purpose he was marching against him (Shãh 'Alam). To this Shãh 'Alam replied that he might come if he liked ; he would find his nephews ready to receive him, and give him a good account of themselves. A'zam Tãrã continued his march, and the two armies met on the very plain where Aurangzeb gave battle to his elder brother Dãrã. It was close to a stream which is called Schaba (? Chambal), or Dolpur (Dholpur), a distance of twenty leagues from Ãgrah towards the south. The battle began on June 19 of the same year [1707] by small skirmishes. The next day the fighting was more vigorous, and it grew still more intense towards evening. Two princes, Bedãr Bakht, and Beelem Tabach (? Wãlã Jãh), both sons of A'zam Tara, and also a grandson of Shãh 'Alam, fell in this action.
371.6
Late in the morning of the 21st [June, 1707], A'zam Tãrã, still very indignant, although he saw he was enveloped by the enemy, did not hesitate to recommence the battle. Great courage was displayed on both sides, and the fight lasted until the evening. The story is told that one hundred and eighty thousand horsemen lay dead, without speaking of the infantry or of the elephants. The people for seven leagues round could recognise what was going on from the dust, the smell of powder, the smoke, and the sparks [324], which rose into the air. It may be asserted that there never was fought in India so memorable a battle. Discerning that he was beaten, and anxious not to fall alive into the hands of the enemy, A'zam Tãrã plunged a poignard into his breast, and died on the field of battle. Shãh 'Alam remained victor. He decided no longer to observe the promises he had made to the Hindu princes who had served him well at this conjuncture. On the contrary, he moved against them with the hostile intention of occupying their territories.
371.7
The other prince, Kãm Bakhsh, learnt the above news at Bījāpur, where he had already sufficiently established his authority. Therefore he quitted that place and made himself master of Gulkandah. He made the governor thereof a prisoner, and caused him to be trodden to death under the feet of an elephant along with twenty-three other officials. He took their women and children, and confiscated their wealth, besides ill-treating the inhabitants and robbing them of any money they possessed. This series of confiscations added greatly to his power, and this again inspired him with the idea of becoming emperor. He thought he could put himself into a state to resist Shãh 'Alam, his eldest brother. When he (Shãh 'Ãlam) was informed of Kãm Bakhsh's projects, he made the best peace he could with the Hindu princes, and then began his march early in February, 1708. At the beginning of June he found himself on the Gulkandah frontier, close to a town called Bldar. His whole family accompanied him. His army consisted of one hundred and twenty thousand horsemen and two hundred thousand infantry. But the heavy rains having caused the rivers to overflow their banks, he was constrained to stop where he was. Prince Kãm Bakhsh left Gulkandah and encamped with his army two leagues from that place. His position was at the foot of a hill, and here he prepared to give battle.
371.8
Shãh 'Alam wrote to the principal officers in his (Kãm Bakhsh's) army, hoping to induce them to desert and join him. By [325] this means he induced many to come over. In the following August, when the rain had ceased, Shãh 'Alam sent an envoy to the prince his brother, escorted by one hundred horsemen, and through this agent he made him an offer of three presents. The first was a Quran, to signify the real peace and amity in which he wished to live with him, his own aspirations being towards rest and quiet. The second was a bowl full of gold and silver money; this was meant as a hint that he (Kãm Bakhsh) ought to prefer to live quietly at the city of Bíjãpur, busying himself in the extension of his authority for twelve leagues around it, and avail himself of the permission to coin money in the emperor's name, though still paying him tribute. The third gift was a scimitar, as a sign that, if he refused the other two presents and the offers made through them, but accepted the scimitar instead, war would be declared against him. The prince decided to rely on the last-named course, and, refusing the two other presents, accepted the scimitar, and announced that he wanted to become emperor and govern in his own name alone. When Shãh 'Alam learnt this resolve he began to march, and, by short marches, moved to a territory lying at the edge of the Gulkandah kingdom. It is called Kohir (Kohir) ; and here he halted.
371.9
Meanwhile he set apart a large division from his army, numbering thirty thousand horsemen and fifty thousand infantry, which he placed under the command of his son, Sultãn Mu'izz-ud-dln, with whom was joined General Zu,lfiqãr Khãn and many other officers of repute. Their orders were to march forward by short stages and locate the position of the prince Kãm Bakhsh. During the interval Shãh 'Alam wrote several letters to his brother, praying him not to go to war, but content himself with what he had already, and not run the risk of being killed, like his other brother had been, by putting [326] his fortunes to the doubtful issue of a battle. But Kãm Bakhsh turned a deaf ear to this advice, and was firm in wishing to fight. While this discussion was going on his army was shrinking daily through the numerous desertions of men who espoused the cause of Shãh 'Alam. Thus he found himself reduced to a force of four thousand horsemen and eight thousand infantry. This condition of things forced him to retreat on Gulkandah, where he entrenched himself. The news of his retirement occasioned so great an uproar in that city that he was forced to quit it again and withdraw a distance of three leagues, near a large market town called Daubipench. It is situated on an eminence; and here a few weak entrenchments were constructed.
371.10
Sultãn Mu'izz-ud-din began his movement, and, ascertaining that his opponent was quite weak, he offered battle on January 15, 1709. The combat was bloody; the horsemen preferred being cut to pieces to surrendering; the infantry made a little resistance under cover of their slight entrenchments. This constrained Prince Mu'izz-ud-din to assault their position with his elephants. They were entirely defeated. Recognising that he was defeated, Kãm Bakhsh withdrew at the head of some of his most faithful servants to a small eminence, where he was surrounded. Refusing to surrender, he was mortally wounded by an arrow. He was carried to the prince's (Shãh 'Alam's) palace, and the next morning he died. One of his sons, two daughters, his wives, and his whole family, were taken to the palace. This action was decisive, and gave the crown to Shãh 'Alam, and thus rendered him uncontrolled possessor of the Mogul empire. We received this news at Pondicherry on Thursday, January 31, 1709, and it was confirmed by a number of persons from the army who arrived here on February 2 of the same year. [327] Prince Shãh 'Alam has gone off with his army in the direction of Aurangãbãd. The people who gave me this news were sent me by Ode Khãn (?), and they told me he was the man who wounded Prince Kãm Bakhsh with an arrow from his bow.