Storia do Mogor 50: OF TEMURLANG (TAIMUR-I-LANG) THE GREAT
Storia do Mogor (Irvine) 50
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OF TEMURLANG (TAIMUR-I-LANG) THE GREAT
50.1
Much might be written about this great conqueror. But as so many have described the exploits of Taimur-i-lang, I will content myself with giving a simple mention of this great king. His father [? grandfather] was of the Tartar race, of the Chagata (Chaghata) family, and a Mahomedan. He was the lord over several villages, owner of many flocks, camels and horses, and a man of great authority in that province. He had an only daughter of great beauty, who was sought in marriage by many potentates, including even the King of Tartary himself. But her father would not accord her to any of them.
50.2
It came to pass one day when she had reached a sufficient age that she became with child, whereby her father was much enraged, and sought to slay her. Questioning her, he asked why she had thus dishonoured her family. Her answer was that it was no dishonour, because if he wished to know the father of the child she bore, he need only go into her room at early morn, and he would know all that had happened. Without fail the father went the next morning to his daughter's room, and saw that a ray of the sun came through a chink in the window and played upon her, then, turning into an animal, went out by the same window with a cry. The father, fully satisfied, declared that she was pregnant by the sun. Thus is it written in the Chronicle of Taimur-i-lang. I also was told that if this were so, then Taimur-i-lang must have been engendered by some evil spirit. All the same, he called himself Child of the Sun, and for such he is accounted. Thus all the Mogul kings and princes bear a sun as the device [58] upon their standards, and nobody else may use it. As he was born with a crown of hair longer than usual in the centre of his scalp, the astrologers prognosticated that he would be a great man, lord of many crowns. On this account he wore the whole of his hair, and his descendants, as they are not born thus equipped, shave their heads.
50.3
Taimur-i-lang was slightly lame in one leg, which is indicated by his name, for temur signifies 'separated,' and lang means 'lame.' This cripple devoted himself from his youth up to arms, and early showed that he had come into the world to govern it. Thus many a time he would play with his boy I. TAIMUR-I-LANG. companions at government, always making himself the king. When he had grown up a little, he said to his playmates that he wanted to start a new game. This was the appointment of the boys to different posts of authority; he divided the neighbouring villages among them, and constituted himself king and judge. They came and reported how a camel had fallen into a pond: would he decide what was to be done? His decision was that if the pond was unprotected, the owner of it must take out the camel alive, or would have to pay; if there were a hedge, he was not under that obligation. They came with another complaint—that a wolf had carried off a lamb; his answer was that this was due to the shepherd's neglect, and he deserved a beating. Finally, they came to say they had captured a thief. He ordered him to be hanged, which was done accordingly. In carrying out the jest the boy died in sober truth, the terrified lads taking flight each to his own home.
50.4
The relations of the boy who had been hanged, who belonged to another village, took up arms against Taimur-i-lang. The latter, helped by his servants and shepherds, defended himself and routed his enemies. Thus little by little war extended, Taimur-i-lang always coming out the conqueror, so that he soon acquired the adjoining villages. Seeing his strength so much increased, he resolved to obtain the territories of a powerful prince called Sultan Mahamud (Sultan Muhammad). Suddenly he entered the land and took the largest village that the other had, which was situated in the middle of his province. Still, things did not happen to Taimur's liking; in the end he was totally defeated, and forced to disguise himself as a poor traveller in order to get back to his country, begging alms as he went.
50.5
Arriving at a certain village, he prayed an old woman to give him something to eat. The old woman gave him a dish filled quite full, and he, being very hungry, thrust his hand into the very middle of the platter, thereby burning himself. Blowing on his hand, and shaking it about, he said the dish was very hot. The old woman laughed heartily, and at the same time taught him a good lesson, saying: 'You are like Taimur-i-lang, who did not know how to take this country, for he came right into the middle of it, and had to go out again defeated. If he had begun by attacking the confines, he could in time have made himself master of the whole. It is the same with you, who have just tried to begin in the middle, while if you had travelled round the edge, you could have eaten the whole without once burning yourself.'
50.6
Listening to her, Taimur-i-lang profited by the good lesson, and when he reached his own country, he gathered together a new force and renewed the war. He followed the old woman's advice and became master of all his adversary's country, but he could not capture the king himself; therefore he issued a proclamation that whoever caught him should receive a reward. When he heard this, the prince disguised himself and fled, hiding himself in a tower. It happened that a herdsman, searching for a cow he had lost, entered the tower. He was a man whom the prince recognised ; supposing that he had come to search for him, he drew forth some jewels and gave them to the herdsman, praying him not to say a word to anyone. The herdsman went off with the jewels to the abode of Taimur-i-lang in the hope of selling them and then buying another cow. On his arrival he was brought before Taimur-i-lang, who asked where he had got these jewels. The herdsman answered : ' You take the jewels and give me a cow.' They bound him until he confessed where he had obtained the jewels. He admitted that a man in a tower not far off had given them to him. They presented the herdsman with two cows, and by Taimur-i-lang's orders started for the said tower, where they laid hold of the fugitive prince and threw him down from the wall. Taimur-i-lang remained the master, and began to increase in strength.
50.7
Desirous of continuing his successes, he attacked the King of Kabul. After many adventures and struggles, and the murder of the Kabul king, he became ruler of that rich country. Issuing thence, he crossed the river Indo (Indus), and rushing from one place to another, began to interfere with the Patani (Pathan) princes, more especially he of Dihli, so that the said princes might submit to him and pay him tribute ; for Taimuri-lang, having been victorious from his earliest youth, had formed the design of becoming a still greater conqueror, not resting content with one principality or one kingdom. With this idea he proceeded to claim tribute and homage. Following up his victories, he next wished to compel the Rana, a Hindu king dwelling in the middle of Hindustan, to pay him tribute and obey his orders [60]. The Hindu king refused to comply. As soon as he heard that Taimur-i-lang had with him a large army, he took the field against him at the head of one hundred thousand horsemen, all of them Rajputs. These are the most warlike people in all Hindustan. When the Rana saw that Taimur-i-lang had no more than twelve thousand horse, he decided that it was not expedient to lead the attack in person, and it would suffice to send his generals to annihilate the invader.
50.8
Taimur-i-lang on his side was afraid at seeing come against him so great an army of such valiant warriors; he therefore held a council of war. His generals were of opinion that he should give up the undertaking. When this decision became known to one of Taimur-i-lang's mule-drivers, he sought at once to speak with him; but the guards would not allow him to enter, so he took his turban and threw it into the tent of Taimur-i-lang, crying aloud that he had urgent need of speaking to his lord. On hearing the voice, Taimur-i-lang called him in and gave him leave to speak. The man spoke thus: 'You, my lord, have been victorious unto this day, and all the princes against whom you have made war have been subdued and rendered submissive to your orders. But now a rumour is heard that you mean to retreat for fear of the Rajput soldiers. If that is true, it will lead to the rebellion against you of all those you have conquered. Thus, both you and us, we shall lose our lives ingloriously. Better were it to die sword in hand like heroes than like cowards to retreat, even a single step.'
50.9
This speech of the muleteer was the cause of Taimur-i-lang's deciding not to retreat. On learning that the Hindu king did not mean to command in person, he gave orders that two thousand horsemen should march by another route to a place where they could attack the tent occupied by the king. When a force had been detached from that huge Hindu army with the intention of sweeping away the Mahomedans, apparently so few in number, he would give the agreed-on signal. The two thousand men started, and at dawn the Rajputs came out into the field of battle against Taimur-i-lang. The latter, pretending to take to flight, allowed the enemy to pursue him. Meanwhile the two thousand Mahomedans attacked the Rana's tents, which became the scene of a great uproar, and it was with great difficulty that the Rana escaped with his life. When this news came to the ears of the Rajputs pursuing Taimur-i-lang, they turned round at once to aid their king. Taimur-i-lang's soldiers, recovering heart and courage, pursued their pursuers and won the battle. Thus Taimur-i-lang forced the Rana, or Hindu king, to make a peace and concede great advantages. In consequence of this defeat, the Rana made a vow never to attack the Moguls, but to be content with defending himself; and this vow he transmitted as an ordinance to his descendants, who observe it to this day.
50.10
After this victory Taimur-i-lang returned to Kabul. Finding himself [61] master of great wealth, with great experience in warfare, he made up his mind to march against the great Bayazid (Bayazid) the Second. Passing through Persia he appeared preoccupied. His generals asked the reason, assuming that he was in doubt of succeeding well. They said to him that there was no occasion for depression; he was already accustomed to conquer, and had with him valiant and veteran soldiers under invincible commanders. Taimur-i-lang replied with the greatest calmness that he had never had any anxiety about victory over the Persians, but what he was in search of was a suitable governor to place over Turkey instead of Bayazid. He assumed that he had already got the latter in the cage. I shall not write here the doings of Taimur-i-lang against Bayazid, many authors having written about them. All I will say is that after so many and such great victories, he became desirous of invading Hindustan, and taking possession of all these realms; he marched through his kingdoms, and a little time after his arrival died at Kabul.
50.11
The cause of his death was his own son, Sultan Miraxa (Sultan Miran Shah), the sole heir of so famous a father. There was a fixed order that the soldiers must see that their horses did not fight with each other, and if such fighting occurred, Taimur-i-lang at once ordered the owner of the horse to be decapitated. It so happened that his son's horses fought, and thus it became necessary that the universally promulgated sentence should be executed upon Sultan Mir Shah, and dearly as he loved his son, he did not like to give a bad example. But at the thought of losing him he fell into such grief and became so cast down, that in a few hours he died himself. No one could recount properly the courage or the vigour or the wealth of this conqueror, who paid his soldiers and generals at one time for eight years in advance, relying on the fidelity of his vassals. Then, after having reigned twenty and four years, nine months and two days, his courage and his enterprises came to an end in the year one thousand four hundred and one, and he was buried at the city of Kabul.