The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c20.140

v4.c20.140

From the field of battle Jahāndār Shāh fled on his concubine’s elephant to a place of shelter outside Āgra, and there shaved off his beard and moustaches, put on the disguise of a poor man, and early in the morning set out for Delhi in a small covered two-wheeled bullock-cart in the company of La‘l Kumārī. Living like the poorest people and undergoing unwonted privations on the way, they entered Delhi by stealth at night (15 January), and the emperor immediately went to Asad Khān and appealed to him for protection and armed assistance from Zu-’l-Fiqār. But the crafty old minister dissuaded his son Zu-’l-Fiqār from making any further effort on behalf of Jahāndār Shāh, and in violation of their oaths to him decided to imprison him and hand him over to Farrukh-siyar’s vengeance as the best means of gaining the new emperor’s favour and retaining their wealth, titles and influence in the state. Zu-’l-Fiqār, who distrusted Farrukh-siyar in view of the harm he had done to that prince’s family, wished to strike out for independence, but Asad Khān rejected Jahāndār’s cause as hopeless. Then, they deceived the fallen emperor with false promises of support, lured him within their reach, made him a prisoner, confined him in the fort, and informed Farrukh-siyar of this act of devotion to him. On 11 February, when Farrukh-siyar arrived near Delhi, Jahāndār was murdered in prison by his order.