The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c16.92

v4.c16.92

After a visit to Nagarkot (Kāngra) Akbar continued his march, and, on reaching the Indus, laid the foundation stone of the fortress of Attock and wrote to his brother commanding him to receive him at Kābul as his sovereign. To this order Muhammad Hakīm returned no reply, and on 27 June a force nominally under the command of the youthful Sultān Murād, Akbar's second son, but in fact under that of Mān Singh, was sent towards Kābul with orders to move slowly, in order to give Muhammad Hakīm an opportunity of making his submission. Akbar followed this force on 12 July, and received later two unsatisfactory replies from his brother. His nobles, either from sloth or from disaffection, urged him to pardon his brother and retire, but the advance was continued. Muhammad Hakīm, still encouraged by his counsellors to believe that Akbar’s Muslim officers were ready to turn against their master and that the Hindus would be an easy prey, wrote privately to many of the Muslims urging them to join him, but one of his messengers was put to death, and all who received letters immediately disclosed them to Akbar, and Muhammad Hakīm fled from Kābul to Ghūrband. The forces of Akbar and his son Murād met on the march, and on 10 August both reached Kābul and lodged in the citadel. Muhammad Hakīm sent messages expressing his contrition and tendering his submission. He was pardoned, but Akbar humiliated him by appointing his sister, Bakht-un-Nisā Begam, to the government of the province of Kābul. Muhammad Hakīm, after Akbar’s departure, returned and resumed the functions of his former office, but all official orders were issued in his sister’s name.