The Cambridge History of India, Vol. III: Turks and Afghans v3.c29.97

v3.c29.97

These disorders encouraged the army besieging Naldrug to advance on Bījāpur, and when it appeared before the walls no more than two or three thousand troops could be assembled for the defence of the city, but within a few days the Foreign nobles arrived from their fiefs with 60,000 men. Even in this extremity they would not make common cause with the Africans, but remained without the city, while ‘Ain-ul-Mulk Kan‘ānī and Ānkas Khān joined Sayyid Murtazā Sabzavārī. This was not treachery according to the code of the Deccan, but merely a justifiable precaution on the part of the leaders to ensure the ascendency of their party. Their apparent defection convinced the people that the Africans could not save the city, and the Africans furnished the only example of self-denying patriotism to be found in the history of this strife of factions by tendering their resignation to Chānd Bībī. The Foreigners of Bījāpur had, for the moment, gained their end. Marāthā and Canarese troops, skilled in the guerrilla warfare of the Deccan, were summoned to the aid of the beleaguered city, and ‘Ain-ul-Mulk easily persuaded the Foreigners of Ahmadnagar and Golconda to retire before their armies were starved. The army of Golconda, which occupied Gulbarga during its retreat, was pursued and defeated, but that of Ahmadnagar retired unmolested.