The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c16.106

v4.c16.106

The recrudescence of rebellion in Bengal and Bihār has already been mentioned. No serious steps had been taken against the Bengal rebels since their flight from Monghyr, and during the absence of Khān A‘zam they invaded Bihār. On his return from court he expelled them from Bihār, captured Teliyāgarhī at the end of March, 1583, and followed them to the bank of the Kālī Gang. Desultory operations followed, the rebels sometimes fighting each other, but operations were interrupted by the recall of Khān A‘zam, who had grown weary of campaigning in Bengal and had begged to be relieved. His successor, Shāhbāz Khān, attacked and defeated Ma‘sūm on 26 November, 1583, restored order in that part of Bengal which he had occupied and carried off all the movable property of the rebels. After some further fighting the officers of the army quarrelled with Shāhbāz Khān, compelled him to retire and refused to face the rebels in the field. Shāhbāz reported his difficulties to Akbar, and both he and his officers were severely reprimanded, he for his arrogance and overbearing conduct and they for their insubordination. Reinforcements were sent, but it was not until early in 1585 that any operations were undertaken, and even then the success attending them was slight. Relations between Shāhbāz and his officers again became so strained that he was at length obliged to allow them to pursue Ma‘sūm independently of his control, but five years elapsed before Bengal was completely reduced to obedience.