[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Dark Ages](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages) › [Travellers (1500–1858)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel) › [Storia do Mogor](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci) › [Storia do Mogor (Irvine)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine) › 84 # Storia do Mogor 84: Descent of Shiva Ji. Storia do Mogor (Irvine) 84 - **Language:** English ### Descent of Shiva Ji. ### [84.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.84.1) Maybe the reader would like to know who this Shiva Ji was, and to comply with such a reasonable wish I will place here what I meant to insert elsewhere, in order to make a continuous story of the events in the early part of Aurangzeb's reign. For he who writes to please others must satisfy those others' will, while ever keeping close to historical verity. Shiva Ji — that is to say, 'Lord One-and-a-quarter' — the first of his family, was the bastard son of a Hindu king, of whom \[18\] I spoke. His mother was the daughter of a carpenter. When this bastard had grown up, he claimed the crown upon the death of his father, although he had a brother who was legitimate. As the officers and nobles refused their allegiance, he was forced to flee and apply to the King of Bijapur, who was then powerful. The Bijapur king took him into his service, and gave him some provinces near the town of Chavel (Chaul), as far as Camba (Cambay, Kambhayat), near the lands of the Portuguese towards Bassaim (Bassein) and Bombaim (Bombay). ### [84.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.84.2) He served Bijapur loyally, and so also did his son Xagi (Shah Ji); but not so Xevagi (Shiva Ji), son of Shah Ji. The latter lived in the family territory while his father was at the court, and began to realize money without sending any to his father. Next he began to enlist men and attack the lands of Bijapur in all directions, giving no heed either to his father or the king. The latter complained to Shah Ji of Shiva Ji's temerity, and Shah Ji replied that his majesty might act as he pleased. His son neither obeyed him nor remitted to him the revenues of their lands, and had already declared himself a rebel to the crown. ### [84.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.84.3) The King of Bijapur wrote to Shiva Ji that his unruly conduct was not the way to respond to the benefits that had been conferred on his grandfather, and were still being shown to his father and himself. He should desist from such courses and repair to the court, where an office would be given him. Shiva Ji took no notice of this letter, and continued his plundering more vigorously than before, so that the King of Bijapur, finding himself endangered because Shiva Ji had taken one of his fortresses, determined to send against him a famous general called Afzel Can (Afzal Khan). This man pursued Shiva Ji so persistently that the rebel was forced to take refuge in the mountains. Finding himself powerless for further resistance, he resorted to a trick, writing to Afzal Khan a letter, in which he made excuses, confessed himself a criminal and culprit, and asked the general to intercede for him. He besought pardon from the king. Afzal Khan replied that he might come in without any hesitation, that he would obtain his pardon from the king, and would be always his protector. But he must appear without delay to obviate the receipt of fresh orders from the king, enjoining further exertions to defeat and capture him. It would be better for himself and for his men to come to a friendly agreement than to allow any opening for the horrors of war. In any case, however, he (Shiva Ji) could not resist long, the king being so much the more powerful. ### [84.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.84.4) Shiva Ji consented to appear before Afzal Khan, but begged him to come with only five persons to a spot at a distance from the camp, while on his side he (Shiva Ji) would bring no more than five men. He would fall at his feet and throw himself upon his mercy. Delighted at finding that Shiva Ji meant to give himself up, Afzal Khan accepted his proposals. At a distance from the camp he caused to be made ready a splendid tent with carpets for the reception of Shiva Ji, who on his side did not neglect to send messages, imploring Afzal Khan's friendship and assurances of the petitioners being received with affection. Meanwhile he (Shiva Ji) so disposed his army for the carrying out of his plot that when he gave the agreed signal, all of them, spurring on their horses, could gallop straight into the royal camp. Shiva Jí got ready a small and very sharp lancet, which at the top was formed into the shape of a ring with a projecting stone. Pushing a finger into the ring, the lancet was concealed under cover of the hand. His five companions received orders that when he embraced the general, they should silently seize their swords, and fall each upon one particular enemy. All the five men with their leader, Shiva Jí, wore coats of mail beneath their clothes. This precaution was not adopted by Afzal Khān and his five men, nor did they suspect the treachery about to be practised on them. ### [84.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.84.5) Afzal Khān was in his tent between the two armies, waiting with great anxiety for the arrival of Shiva Jí, and building, I fancy, many castles in the air. Then Shiva Jí appeared with his five men, all on horseback. At some distance from the tent they descended from their horses. Shiva Jí began to advance, bowing again and again, as if he was petitioning for a good reception and was in a state of apprehension. Afzal Khān beckoned to him with his hands that he might approach without fear; and as Shiva Jí drew near, Afzal Khān raised his arms as if to embrace him. Shiva Jí's hands came round him lower down, Afzal Khān being a tall man and very corpulent; then swiftly and forcibly he rent open Afzal Khān's abdomen from the left to the right side, so that the bowels protruded. The other five men laid hold of their swords and cut to pieces Afzal Khān's companions. The appointed signal was given, and Shiva Jí's soldiers arriving, fell upon the army of Afzal Khān, and being taken unawares, it could not resist the impetus of Shiva Jí, more especially now its general was gone. Everything was thrown into confusion, and the men took to flight. But Shiva Jí had adopted measures by which the passes into the hills were already occupied by his soldiers, and thus the whole of the royal army was disposed of. He became more powerful than ever through the plunder in horses, arms, and money that he acquired. ### [84.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.84.6) From this time Shiva Jí began to plunder the territories of the Mogul in addition to those of Bījāpur. He took various strongholds, more frequently by deceit than by force of arms. He ravaged towns and cities, above all Surat, where he remained seven days with seven thousand horsemen, gathering all that there was of gold and silver in that famous port. It was through the reputation thus acquired by Shiva Ji as a valiant and quick-witted man that Aurangzeb, when viceroy in the Dakhin, conceded to him the lands of which I have already spoken (I. 171), so as to make use of him in case of necessity. Aurangzeb's object was to have someone on his side in case he failed in his attempt to become king, and he knew how defensible Shiva Ji's territories were, owing to their situation among \[20\] hills. --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.84](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.84) · Pramāṇa