The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c20.179

v4.c20.179

Meanwhile Nizām-ul-Mulk had been active. He gained possession of the strong fortress of Asīr by the bribing of its garrison, whose pay was two years in arrears, and imprisoning its aged and incompetent commander. A few days later Burhānpur was occupied. A step-mother of the Sayyids was in Burhānpur, and the men of her escort, in their terror, offered to surrender all valuables carried by the party on condition that the lives and honour of their charges were spared. Nizām-ul-Mulk behaved gallantly. He refused to accept anything, sent a present of fruit to the children, and provided an escort to conduct the whole party in safety to the Narbadā. Early in June he turned northwards to meet the pursuing force, which was composed of picked men, including a large number of Bārha Sayyids, but their valour was no match for the tactics of Nizām-ul-Mulk, who gained a complete victory near Khandwā. A forced march to Burhānpur of a detachment of the troops which had taken part in the battle of Khandwā arrested the further progress of an army which was advancing from the south.