The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c16.112

v4.c16.112

Here, on the *Naurūz* festival of 1584, he introduced his “Divine Era”. Everything connected with him was divine. This was a solar era, in which the year was divided into the old Persian solar months, and it was reckoned from the first *Naurūz* festival after his accession, 11 March, 1556.¹ A brief and inconclusive campaign against the Rānā, Partāb Singh, was then undertaken, and in the following year his great scheme of northern conquest was frustrated by ‘Abdullah II, to whom Sulaimān had foolishly appealed for aid. ‘Abdullah expelled both Sulaimān and his grandson from Badakhshān and took possession of the country. Shāh Rukh took refuge at Akbar’s court, while Sulaimān went to Muhammad Hakīm at Kābul; but shortly after the receipt of the news of the loss of Badakhshān Akbar learned that his brother had died of a malady caused by strong drink. Although his death was no cause of regret to Akbar, at the moment it exposed the Kābul province to the risk of invasion by ‘Abdullah; and Bhagwān Dās, now governor of the Punjab, and Mān Singh were commanded to march on Kābul and occupy the city.