The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c21.s1.19

Language: English

v4.c21.s1.19.1

The Marāthās sacked Farrukhābād and had for some time been endeavouring to throw a bridge of boats across the Ganges, hoping to surround the position held by Ahmad Khān, which was open in all directions on the east of the Ganges. Mahmūd Khān was unsuccessful in preventing this, and on 28 April the Ganges was bridged under cover of the Marāthā guns. Sa‘d-ullah Khān joined Ahmad Khān two days later, and the latter, unwilling to stand a siege in his camp, came forth, and gave battle. The Afghāns were defeated, with heavy loss, and the remnant fled by way of Aonla and Morādābād to Chilkia, at the foot of the Kumāūn hills. The Marāthās occupied Rohilkhand throughout the rainy season of 1751 and were rewarded for their services in this campaign with half the Bangash territory. The power of the Bangash Nawabs of Farrukhābād was now finally broken. Early in the reign Zu-’l-Fiqār Jang had held the provinces of Allahābād and Āgra, but the minister, Safdar Jang, coveted the former, which adjoined Oudh, and transferred to Zu-’l-Fiqār Jang Ajmer, which adjoined Āgra, and took Allahābād. The emperor was obliged to sanction this arrangement, though it was detrimental to his interests. Zu-’l-Fiqār Jang was foolish, irresolute, and a poltroon, but events in Rājputāna gave him an opportunity.

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Bakht Singh of Jodhpur was in rebellion against his nephew, Rām Singh, who had succeeded his father, Abhay Singh, and he appealed for imperial support against his nephew, making specious promises which offered a prospect of the re-establishment of the emperor’s authority. Zu-’l-Fiqār Jang promised him aid and set out for Ajmer. The Jāts meanwhile had extended their dominion northwards and had occupied Nīmrāna, which lay in Zu-’l-Fiqār’s way. Though they were not hostile to the emperor, the fortress was weakly held and a cheap victory appealed strongly to Zu-’l-Fiqār Jang. The garrison was expelled without difficulty, but the simple victor had but embroiled himself disastrously with the Jāts. His illusory success turned his head, and after some hesitation he recalled his advanced guard and marched southward into the Jāt country. Here an advanced guard found the Jāts in force, under Sūraj Mal. At a moment when a little resolution might have ensured the success of a mistaken enterprise his heart failed, and instead of advancing in person to the support of his advanced guard, he ordered it to retire. Its retreat demoralised the rest of his army, which was attacked and defeated by the Jāts. He then thought of fleeing to Delhi and leaving his army, but his officers would not permit this.

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Sūraj Mal, though prepared to defend his own possessions, was loth to detain the imperial officer, and he offered Zu-’l-Fiqār Jang easy terms and undertook to fulfil his obligations to Bakht Singh and to send tribute from Rājputāna. Zu-’l-Fiqār Jang continued his march to Nārnaul, where Bakht Singh resided, accompanied by his Jāt ally. Bakht Singh did not conceal his contempt for an ally of the Jāts and would not permit them to join in the settlement of disputes between Rājputs; and ordered Zu-’l-Fiqār Jang to proceed to Ajmer. Sūraj Mal returned home in disgust and the submissive Zu-’l-Fiqār Jang was joined by Bakht Singh at Ajmer and they marched towards Jodhpur. The combined troops of Rām Singh and Khande Rāo, son of Malhār Rāo Holkar, met them at Pīpār.¹ Bakht Singh warned Zu-’l-Fiqār Jang to beware of the Jodhpur artillery concealed in the centre of the army, but the latter disregarded the warning. Fire was reserved until his army, in close formation, was almost on the guns and was then delivered with terrible effect, causing the whole mass to recoil. The battle was not decided and Bakht Singh’s troops were fresh, but Zu-’l-Fiqār Jang had had enough of fighting and announced his intention of coming to terms. Bakht Singh vainly urged the importance of establishing the imperial authority in Jodhpur, but Zu-’l-Fiqār Jang persisted in his resolve.

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On the one side Bakht Singh and on the other Khande Rāo Holkar withdrew, leaving Zu-’l-Fiqār Jang and Rām Singh to arrange their own terms. Zu-’l-Fiqār Jang accepted 300,000 rupees in ready money and a promise of supplies to be delivered at various stages of his retreat and set out at once for Delhi. The reason for his haste was the news of Safdar Jang’s defeat by Ahmad Khān. He assumed that the minister would at once be dismissed and his folly and conceit encouraged him to hope that he might secure the place, but Safdar Jang had already recovered his position. After Zu-’l-Fiqār’s return to Delhi his failure preyed upon his mind. He begged the emperor to help him to discharge his debt to his troops and, when his request was rejected, began to talk treason among his companions. Finally, he attempted to enter the hall of audience fully armed, to intimidate the emperor. Forbidden to appear at court, he appeared no more in public. His property was confiscated and he was deprived of his rank and of the title of Amīr-ul-Umarā, which was conferred upon Ghāzī-ud-dīn Khān,¹ the eldest son of the late Nizām-ul-Mulk.