Later Mughals v1.c6.s2.t1: Muhammad Kam Bakhsh and His Movements
Later Mughals v1.c6.s2.t1
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Muhammad Kam Bakhsh and His Movements
v1.c6.s2.t1.1
As already stated, Kam Bakhsh had marched for Bijapur a short time before his father’s death. His escort consisted of Mughal troops under the command of Muhammad Amin Khan and others. The Prince had not got beyond Parenda, about 75 miles south-east of Ahmadnagar, when he heard of his father’s death. The Mughal leaders and their men left him without asking his permission, and returned to Ahmadnagar to join Azam Shah. This led to the plunder of much of the Prince’s baggage. In great disorder he hastened on till he was within sight of Bijapur. [K. K. 569 ; Kamwar.]
v1.c6.s2.t1.2
For several days Sayyid Niyaz Khan, nephew and deputy of the late subahdar, Chin Qilich Khan, kept the fort gates closed, and made difficulties about delivering possession. After two weeks a settlement was come to and Niyaz Khan gave up the fort. The Prince took up his quarters within it. Some say that while the Prince was still encamped outside Bijapur, Zulfiqar Khan Nusrat Jang, who had been in pursuit of the Mahrattas, and was only a few miles away, on hearing of Alamgir’s death, conceived the project of capturing Kam Bakhsh and delivering him to Azam Shah. [Kamwar ; Iradat 12.] There was an old quarrel between Prince Kam Bakhsh and Zulfiqar Khan dating from the time of the siege of Jinji in the year 1693. This idea was only abandoned in deference to the advice of Rao Dalpat Bundela, an old and experienced man highly esteemed by Zulfiqar Khan. The Khan resumed his march and joined Azam Shah and that Prince, though so much stronger, did not interfere with his younger brother's independence. By some accounts Kam Bakhsh wished to join his brother but his offer was refused. Meanwhile Kam Bakhsh assumed all the attributes of independent sovereignty, granted rank (*mansab*) and titles (*khitab*) appointed a minister and other chief officers of state, assumed the regal style of Dinpanah, ‘Defender of the Faith’, and coined money in his own name. [K. K. 569-570.]