The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c17.56

v4.c17.56

Early in March, 1626, Jahāngīr started for Kābul and Mahābat Khān arrived when the royal camp was on the banks of the Jhelum river. He had come fully prepared to protect himself against hostile designs, bringing with him four or five thousand loyal Rājput soldiers, and to make even more certain of their allegiance he took their wives and families whose honour and life would be at stake if they failed him. A fresh charge was now brought that he had arranged for the marriage of his son without consulting the emperor, and Jahāngīr was easily induced to order the treatment of the son with gross indignity, while Mahābat Khān was directed to remain in the camp but not to show himself at court unless specially summoned. With incredible disregard of the consequences of such insults Āsaf Khān took across the river almost the whole camp, leaving the emperor and empress with only a few attendants. Mahābat Khān, feeling he had no ally in court, now made a desperate attempt to secure the person of the emperor. He collected his Rājput troops, and placed a couple of thousand at the head of the bridge of boats with orders to burn it rather than to allow any one to come back across it.