Storia do Mogor 65.13
Storia do Mogor (Irvine) 65.13
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65.13.1
He had a separate army of his own, with efficient artillery, and many European artillerymen, besides the soldiers in the service of the King of Gulkhandah. This was the reason that many at the court became envious of him, and these men succeeded in making the king disgrace him. Already the king had become somewhat suspicious of him, and had thought of dispossessing him gently, so as to obtain possession of his riches. But, above all, he felt resentment at the report they made to him that Mir Jumlah had been too familiar with his best-loved and most beautiful queen. Although he awaited the return of Mir Jumlah to court in order to obtain satisfaction, he could not refrain from expressing himself in strong language and menaces against him (Mir Jumlah). Mir Jumlah was informed of the king's intentions by the said queen, and by his son Mahamedemi Can (Muhammad Amin Khan) and other relations, who held the principal offices at the court. He then wrote to his son that he should seek some way of escape, so that [162] they might unite forces; but although Muhammad Amin Khan remained on the alert, he could not get away, as the king kept him constantly near to him.
65.13.2
Finding that his son was unable to escape, Mir Jumlah decided to destroy both the life of the king and the kingdom of Gulkhandah. With this object he wrote to the prince Aurangzeb, who at that time was at Aurangabad, fifteen days' journey distant from Gulkhandah. He informed the prince that the King of Gulkhandah was trying to ruin him and his whole family, and he claimed the protection of his highness, so that he might avenge himself for the injury that the king wished to inflict on him, forgetful of the services he (Mir Jumlah) had done to the crown, as known to all the world. If he (Aurangzeb) would listen to his advice and confide in him, he would inevitably arrange events in such a way that the king and realm of Gulkhandah should fall with ease into his hands. Forty thousand chosen horsemen from his army would suffice. But they must advance on Gulkhandah with the greatest expedition by forced marches. On the road they should give out that it was an ambassador from King Shahjahan, proceeding for negotiations of great importance with the King of Gulkhandah and his dabir (secretary), who was his chief minister and a relation of Mir Jumlah, on whom he could rely.
65.13.3
It was sufficient for his highness to arrange to come with all haste, that he (Mir Jumlah) would manage things so that no one should know of his approach until he arrived at the gates of the Baganagar (Bhagnagar) fortress. When the king came out to receive the letter, as was usual, he could be captured without any difficulty, and as a consequence the whole of his family would fall into their hands. He (Mir Jumlah) added that he himself would provide the sum of fifty thousand rupees for every day's march. Prince Aurangzeb, who sought an occasion for displaying his fidelity to his father and enlarging his dominions, replied to Mir Jumlah that without fail he would start at once from Aurangabad, and would follow in every point the instructions contained in his letter. Then he began his march. The King of Gulkhandah, finding that Mir Jumlah did not mean to obey the repeated orders issued for his return to court, directed the arrest of Muhammad Amin Khan. The latter, when he came to know the royal order, fortified himself in his mansion, and resolved to defend it. He fought three days against the soldiers of the king, when Aurangzeb arrived at Bhagnagar, without anything being known, except that he was an ambassador from King Shahjahan.
65.13.4
The arrival of this disguised prince was announced to the king, and at once he went forth to meet him and receive the letter at a garden, as is the custom. While on his way to the rendezvous, a spy told him he had heard there was treachery afoot, that Prince Aurangzeb himself had come to seize him. On obtaining the information the king did not continue on his way, but putting his horse to the gallop, sought safety in the fortress, which lies at one league from the city. Monsieur Bernier writes that the king reached the presence of Aurangzeb, and it was here that a spy warned him that the ambassador was none other than Aurangzeb himself. Thereupon he fled. But it was not so. If he had got as far as that he could not have escaped from the hands of Aurangzeb, for the relations of Mir Jumlah and the agents of the prince would have laid hold of him. Aurangzeb thereupon made himself master of the royal palace and all the wealth therein, stripping bare the tombs of the ancient kings of Gulkhandah, whence he derived great treasures. At the same time he left at liberty, and did no injury to the women, who went off in search of their sovereign master. This practice is followed in India.
65.13.5
He (Aurangzeb) then invested the fortress most closely for a period of two months, aided by Muhammad Amin Khan and his men. During this time Mir Jumlah arrived, burning to take vengeance upon the king. When Shahjahan heard of this uprising, he issued orders for the siege to be raised, and for the retirement of Aurangzeb to the city of Aurangabad. These orders were obeyed by the prince. But before he would raise the siege Prince Aurangzeb obtained payment for all his expenses, and for much more than he had disbursed. Besides this, he forced the King of Gulkhandah to give his daughter in marriage to his (Aurangzeb's) son Sultan Mahamed (Sultan Muhammad), handing over with her as dower the revenues and the district of Ramguir (Ramgir). He also made the promise that on his death Sultan Muhammad should be his successor, and he agreed that on one side his coin should bear the impress of King Shahjahan. Then he (Aurangzeb) carried off in his train Mir Jumlah, with all his family and wealth, making the King of Gulkhandah undertake that no one should interfere with the palaces or the property of the said family, and that they should enjoy the same privileges as before.
65.13.6
The reason for raising the siege of the fortress and liberating the King of Gulkhandah was that Begam Sahib and Dara were unwilling that the King of Gulkhandah should fall into the hands of Aurangzeb. By acquiring possession of Gulkhandah he would become more powerful than before, thus making it easier for him to lay claim to the throne of Hindustan. When Shahjahan sent his order to Aurangzeb to raise the siege of the fortress occupied by the King of Gulkhandah, he also directed that on his way back to Aurangabad he should visit a place belonging to the King of Vizapur (Bijapur) called Beder (Bidar), a fortress of some importance. It was not sufficient for him that early in his reign he had compelled without justification the same king to make over to him the fortresses of Juner, Calliani (Kaliyani), and Beomdi (Bhiwandi), with their lands. Without fail the two generals — that is to say, Aurangzeb and Mir Jumlah — executed the orders of Shahjahan. But the principal object of Aurangzeb was to gain Mir Jumlah by soft words, promises, and offers, recognising that he was a brave leader and a wealthy man. He was thoroughly convinced that this noble would be of use to him in carrying out his intention of seizing the kingdom of Hindustan. In the course of conversation Aurangzeb acquired a knowledge of Mir Jumlah's disposition, and began to complain to him of his father.
65.13.7
His phrase was that Shahjahan was the father of Dara, while he, on his side, could never find a kinder father than he (Mir Jumlah), that he built his hopes upon him, and accepted him as his protector. He prayed him as a favour to have compassion upon him and his family. He pledged his word that if he ever reigned he would make him (Mir Jumlah) the greatest man at his court, and his son, Muhammad Amin Khan, the second, giving them all the privileges of princes. This conversation was kept absolutely secret, and he ended it with very earnestly entreating him not to enter into relations with Dara, or give him any sign of encouragement. Mir Jumlah, seeing how he (Aurangzeb) relied upon him, became very friendly to that prince, and gave him his word, binding himself to support him with his entire strength and his life, when the occasion arose. From that hour they began to plan the important undertaking of getting the kingdom into the hands of Aurangzeb, both men being masters of the requisite prudence and power of concealment.
65.13.8
When Shahjahan was informed of the valour shown by Mir Jumlah at the taking of Beder (Bidar), he wrote him several friendly letters, inviting him to court, where he would appoint him absolute secretary. He acted thus because he wished to make use of [164] him and of his valour to recover the fortress of Candar (Qandahar). Mir Jumlah started for Dihli, and wherever he passed the governors of the places came out to greet him, doing him great honour and giving him presents, all by order of the king. Upon his arrival close to Dihli the greatest commanders were sent out to greet and escort him. Orders were given that all along his route the streets and shops should be decorated in the same manner as done for the king's passing.