Later Mughals v1.c6.s6: Sec. 6.—The Battle of Jajau.
Later Mughals v1.c6.s6
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Sec. 6.—The Battle of Jajau.
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Finding hostilities could not be avoided and that Azam Shah was already at Gwaliyar, Bahadur Shah determined to advance and give battle at Dholpur, 34 miles south of Agra. He left Bagh Dahr-Ara on the 14th June 1707, and an advanced guard of about 80,000 horsemen was sent forward under the command of Prince Muhammad Azim, Aghar Khan, Khanazad Khan (son of Munim Khan) and Saf Shikan Khan, general of artillery. Of these troops 30,000 were raised and paid for by Muhammad Azim, who had brought with him a large sum of money from Bengal, some say as much as nine to eleven krors of Rupees. This advanced force was ordered to take possession of the fords and ferries on the Chambal, which is only one mile beyond and to the south of Dholpur. [K.K. 579, Jang. 11.]
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On his side Azam Shah, as soon as he had learnt that Bahadur Shah was at Agra, left the rest of his heavy baggage in the fort at Gwalior in charge of Asad Khan, the Wazir, Inayatullah Khan, diwan of the Khalsa and others. His sister Zinat-un-nissa, the ladies belonging to the family of Alamgir, and the wives of many nobles were left at the same place. A few members of his harem with a few jewels and some gold coins, continued with the army. Azam Shah crossed the Chambal by the Kamthra* crossing and made for Dholpur. A little money was paid to the troops while Bidar Bakht, the eldest son, was appointed to command the vanguard. With him were Zulfiqar Khan, Khan Alam Dakhini and Munavvar Khan (sons of Khan Zaman Haidarabadi) Rao Dalpat Bundela, Ram Singh Hada and Raja Jai Singh Kachhwaha. [Kamraj 20.]
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In support of the Van followed a body of troops under the second son, Prince Wala-jah. With him were Mirza Sadr-ud-din Muhammad Khan, Tarbiyat Khan, Amanullah Khan and Mutallib Khan, Salabat Khan (Sultan Nazar), Aqil Khan (Shaikh Sultan), Safawi Khan Bakhshi, Sayyid Shujat Khan, Ibrahim Beg Tabrizi and Usman Khan. There were with them about 25,000 horsemen.
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When Azam Shah neared Dholpur, his son Bidar Bakht came out two kos from camp to meet and escort him. For a moment paternal love overcame his jealousy, and Azam Shah received his son cordially, conferring on him valuable gifts. Here the Bakhshis made their reports after the troops had been mustered. The numbers were 65,000 horsemen and 45,000 infantry armed with matchlocks. In this enumeration were included the troops serving directly under Azam Shah and his sons, as well as those brought by the nobles and other leaders. Upon starting all pay had been raised one-fourth and the Prince now promised that upon the day they entered Agra another increase of one-fourth on the total pay would be granted. The whole force was divided into a vanguard, right and left wings and a centre commanded respectively by Bidar Bakht, Azam Shah himself, Wala-jah and Ali Tabar. There were not many large cannon or mortars, these having been left behind at Ahmadnagar, Aurangabad and Burhanpur or wherever they fell. The rest were left at Gwaliyar, as the enemy were supposed to be deficient in such artillery. There were, however, a number of smaller pieces known as rahkla, shutarnal (camel-guns) and gajnals (elephant-guns). The new head of the artillery, Padshah Quli Khan, with the help of Hazrat Quli Beg Sistani, distributed these equally to each division of the army. Azam Shah, in the boastful manner usual with him, had replied to a demand by the artillery commander for orders that he had no use for cannon against a cattle breeder: nor need to draw his sword, a staff would suffice to break his head. He was also of opinion that an artillery fight was a stripling's pastime and that the only real weapon was the sword. It was decided to march for Samugarh, ten miles s. e. of Agra, it being considered a happy omen to select the ground on which Alamgir had triumphed over his brother Dara Shukoh fifty-two years before. [Iradat 28, Kamraj 19, Jang., Khush-hal Chand 369-370, Dil. 162 a.]
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∗ The ford is named Kainthri, in Ind. Atlas, Sheet 50 S. E., and stands 6 miles due south of Dholpur. [J. Sarkar.]
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On the 17th June 1707 Azam Shah completed his march without seeing the enemy. From want of water the sufferings of the troops had been very great. On the way no wells or ponds were met with, and the only water to be got was that from a ravine, and it was very brackish. This is probably the [nullah near the Mania railway station]* marked on the map as flowing half way between Dholpur and Jajau. The nobles and great men suffered less for they had taken in their retinue bottles and ox-skins full of sweet water, with which they quenched their own thirst and that of their relations. With these exceptions, the men of the army toiled along with their tongues lolling out of their mouths from thirst, while any animal or man that drank a drop of the brackish water suffered greatly. Many died from thirst. When we think of the heat of the month of June in the neighbourhood of Agra, it is easy to believe that in this account there is no exaggeration. [Kamraj 22.]
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∗ The words within the brackets have been supplied by the editor.
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Owing to the intelligence which reached him of Azam Shah's movements, Bahadur Shah ordered his advance-tents to be sent forward and pitched in a grove four miles north of Jajau.* Rustam Dil Khan, Mir Tuzak, was in charge, and Prince Muhammad Azim was not far off, protecting the new camp. On the 18th June 1707 Bahadur Shah, following the advice of his astrologers, fixed on the 20th as a fortunate day on which to give battle. He and his three sons set out in the morning from their old camp and entered a royal hunting preserve which was near their route intending to pass the day in hunting.† [K.K. 587, Jang.]
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† Valentyn, 276, gives Shah Alam's numbers as 152,000 horse and 178,000 foot, and he adds a long list of the commanders, under eighty-nine
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* The movements of the rivals before the battle are thus described by Bhimsen, who was present in Azam's army and was wounded in the company of his master Dalpat Rao Bundela (Dil. 164) :—"On the fifteenth [Rabi I., Bahadur Shah from the garden of Dhara near Agra] set out to punish Md. Azam Shah, and leaving Jajau on his left hand set up his royal tents and engaged in marshalling his forces. He filled with artillery the uneven pass (guzar) of Jajau. Md. Azam Shah, having reached Nurabad on the 14th, halted for one day; under the guidance of the zamindars he left Jajau on his left hand and on the 17th arranging his troops marched out to battle.... At this time Shah Alam learnt that Azam had arrived at a distance of two kos from Jajau....and had plundered the imperial advance-tents which had been pitched close to the garden of Jajau...and that Prince Azim-ush-shan had hurriedly formed line of battle [to oppose him.] The following are the details of the incident: when the army of Azam Shah arrived two kos from Jajau, they sighted the tents and standards of the camp of Bahadur Shah; the Left Wing under Zulfiqar Kh. charged at the gallop. ...the defender Rustam Dil Khan fled, and the men of Azam engaged in plunder." There are two serious mistakes here: (i) Shah Alam's advance-tents could not have been pitched close to Jajau and four miles from that village at the same time, and (ii) that Emperor in marching south from Agra must have left Jajau on his right and not on his left. The battlefield was clearly 4 miles north-east of Jajau. [J. Sarkar.]
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The same morning Bidar Bakht was marching northwards from Jajau on his way to Samugarh. The soldiers owing to the heat and the scarcity of water were, as a native writer says, "melting like wax in the jungle". They were unable to bear the weight of their chain mail and steel breast-plates. These they placed on the powder waggons (purtal) and marched with nothing on but their long cotton coats. The head of the skirmishers (qarawal begi) had that day selected a line of march through thick underwood, for the reason that on the way would be found a large well with steps. Luckily this well was found. A number of the bodyguard (jalau khas) stayed behind to drink. But the effects of the salt water of the previous march were so great that their tongues still hung out of their mouths and they were still eager for more water. In this way they proceeded for fifteen or sixteen miles. [Kamraj 23.]
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Bidar Bakht this day was mounted on a war elephant, his quiver at his back and his bow on his arm. His chief men surrounded him. Zulfiqar Khan followed on the left with Ram Singh Hada and Rao Dalpat Bundela, two men long in his employ, and his trusty friend Amanullah Khan who, though separate, appeared as if he were part of Zulfiqar Khan's corps. With the advance guard of the centre (iltimsh) marched Aziz Khan Afghan, while still further in advance were Khan Alam Dakhini and his brother Munavvar Khan. On the right was Prince Wala-jah with Amanullah Khan (Abdullah Khan), servant of Azam Shah. The centre followed, under the direct command of Azam Shah, around whom were gathered Tarbiyat Khan, Mutallib Khan, Khudabanda Khan, Hamid-ud-din Khan Bahadur [?], Amir Khan, and others. In this way they drew near to Jajau without learning the exact position of Bahadur Shah or the direction of his advance. [Iradat, 30.]
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Bidar Bakht continued his march till he reached a village below which flowed a streamlet of water and around which
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headings, but most of the names are so disguised as to be unrecognizable. This list shows a total of 170,000 cavalry, 195,000 infantry, 4414 cannon, 62 elephants, 1,500 camels and 3,000 oxen.
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there were several wells. At this time his troops were scattered, out of order, and following what route they chose. It was proposed to rest here, Azam Shah with the main body being three miles behind, the position and intentions of the enemy unknown, the country in front waterless and the day likely to be very hot. Besides this the troops were scattered and Zulfiqar Khan had gone off so far to the left as to be out of sight. Where Bidar Bakht was there was sufficient water, a halt would give the artillery time to join, and the scattered troops to assemble. Moreover, should the enemy advance against them, he would have the advantage of retaining possession of the water. The Prince approved of this advice and ordered Iradat Khan to inform Azam Shah accordingly. The report was made and Azam Shah sent word that he would follow. When Iradat Khan returned to the village, he was surprised to discover that Bidar Bakht had left it. On coming up with him, the drums were beating for a victory. Iradat Khan was unwilling to accept the good news. The Prince turned to a scout and said "Tell Iradat Khan what you have seen." The man said that he had seen Shah Alam's own elephant, riderless, making off for Agra. Still Iradat Khan was unconvinced, but Bidar Bakht, as his only answer, said, "You are for ever a foreboder of evil." [Iradat 31.]
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It seems that word had been brought to Prince Bidar Bakht that the enemy was in sight. What had been seen were the flags upon Bahadur Shah's advanced tents, then being erected under the superintendence of Rustam Dil Khan, Mir Tuzak. Prince Azim-ush-shan was at a little distance, ready to protect them from any attack. Khan Alam Dakhini and Munavvar Khan detached themselves from Bidar Bakht's left wing and made a descent upon the imperial tents in the plundering fashion copied from the Mahrattas. They had only 2,000 to 3,000 men with them, but Muhammad Azim's men were taken by surprise and out of 20,000 to 30,000 horse only four hundred to five hundred stood fast round that Prince's elephant. In the confusion Bahadur Shah's tents were set fire to, whereupon the Jats attached to Bahadur Shah's army and the soldiers on both sides began to plunder them. In this first attack Rustam Dil Khan, Mir Tuzak to Bahadur Shah, was cut off, and making the best of it went and presented himself to Azam Shah and was allowed to ride in his retinue. [Iradat, Kamwar, Dil. 164 a, Jang., Kamraj 24 b, K.K. 589.]
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Azim-ush-shan continued to face the enemy and held his ground so far as he was able, sending at the same time urgent messengers to his father calling for reinforcements. The messengers reached Bahadur Shah while he was still engaged in hunting, but he turned at once towards the field of battle, sending first Munim Khan, the Wazir, and then Prince Muizz-ud-din and his other sons to support Azim-ush-shan. Meanwhile Bidar Bakht's drums had begun beating in honour of his supposed victory. Zulfiqar Khan and others proposed to Azam Shah that they should encamp where they were and postpone the final battle till the next day, in the hope that the other side's defeat in the skirmish would exercise a depressing influence on them. Azam Shah would listen to no such proposal, styling it angrily mere women's talk. [Jang., K.K. 589.]
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As the dust raised first by one and then by the other of the bodies of troops despatched by Bahadur Shah was seen in the distance, Iradat Khan pointed out to Bidar Bakht that their appearance betokened forces of at least fifty thousand horse in each. By the Prince's order, Iradat Khan rode off to inform Azam Shah. He found that Prince some three miles in the rear. Pushing through the crowd, and in obedience to a signal alighting from his horse near the travelling throne (takht-i-rawan) on which Azam Shah was seated, Iradat Khan made his report of the enemy's near approach. With furious looks and rolling eyes, pulling up his sleeves, a gesture usual to him when angry, Azam Shah shouted: "What enemy comes against me!" He called for his war elephant, twirled frantically a crooked staff, and standing upright on his throne said tauntingly "Be not afraid! I am coming to my son." By the time that Iradat Khan reached Bidar Bakht again, the cannonade had begun. [Iradat 33.]
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The two advancing bodies of Bahadur Shah's troops had now halted within a rocket's flight of Bidar Bakht's line, one under the command of Prince Azim-ush-shan, the other under that of Munim Khan, the Wazir, supported by the Princes Muizz-ud-din and Jahan Shah. On Bidar Bakht's side it was found impossible to rally all his men, many of whom had scattered to plunder the camp. Furthermore, his troops were hampered by the crowd of baggage elephants, cattle, and followers on both flanks and in their rear. The opponent's artillery played freely on them and did great execution, the musketry balls fell like hail, and rockets placed in a line before the advancing troops were repeatedly discharged with effect. The sun was high in the heavens and the heat excessive. After a time Bidar Bakht's men became impatient and made ready to charge, headed by Khan Alam Dakhini and his bodyguard of five hundred men arrayed like bridegrooms in long red coats and turbans of green and gold. [Iradat 36, Dil. 164 b, Qasim 13 a, Khush-hal 371 a.]
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As Khan Alam advanced, many men lagged behind, and not more than three hundred remained with him to the end of the charge. The chief drove his elephant sharply up alongside that ridden by Azim-ush-shan and three times aimed a blow at the Prince with his spear, but the weapon missing the Prince struck the thigh of Jalal Khan, an attendant seated behind him. The Prince was unhurt, and with an arrow hit his assailant full in the breast and killed him, as he was trying to jump into the Prince's howda. The Prince's bodyguard closed in, Jalal Khan inflicted a wound on Munavvar Khan, the brother of Khan Alam, and on the fall of the leader the rest of their men were dispersed. By their retreat the Prince Wala-jah was left exposed. Seeing his danger, Amanullah Khan hastened to that Prince's assistance, but a rocket which fell on his elephant's pad set it on fire, causing the elephant to turn round and take to flight. Amanullah Khan, partly burnt, fell to the ground, and his troops, believing he was dead, fled in disorder. Thereupon Prince Wala-jah retreated for protection to Bidar Bakht. [Iradat 37, Kamwar, K. K. 591, Kamraj 25].
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Baz Khan Afghan, a leader who had taken service with Azim-ush-shan, aided by Rajah Budh Singh Hada, Rajah Bahadur, the Prince's maternal uncle, and Muhammad Rafi Khurasani (afterwards Sarbuland Khan), now attacked Zulfiqar Khan, but was repulsed with great loss, Baz Khan himself being badly wounded. In this attack however, two of Zulfiqar Khan's most trusted commanders, Ram Singh Hada of Bundi and Dalpat Rao Bundela of Datiya-Orchha, were killed by cannon shot, Rao Dalpat being struck by a ball from a swivel-piece, which entered at the chin and came out at his back.* The Rajputs lost heart and fled, taking with them the dead bodies of their chieftains. For a while Zulfiqar Khan himself stood firm, but when assailed by the whole force of Azim-ush-shan's division, he made over the command to Sayyid Muzaffar and retired to the rear of Azam Shah's position. There he left his elephant and fled on horseback to rejoin his father, Asad Khan, at Gwalior. He had received a slight wound on the lip.† His flight determined the defeat of the army. The author of the Masir-ul-umara accused him, with some justice, of having on this occasion sought more to serve his own interests than to really exert himself for the Prince whose side he had adopted. Danishmand Khan's remarks on Zulfiqar Khan's early flight from the battlefield are exceedingly pungent, and must have stung him to the quick.‡ Another interval in the ranks was made by the departure of Rajah Jai Singh Kachhwaha from his place on Bidar Bakht's left. At the exact moment of the severest fighting, he put his bow into his howda, wrapped his shawl over his head, and made his way to Prince Muhammad Azim, by whom and his father Bahadur Shah he was not very graciously received. Others influenced by the bad example of Zulfiqar Khan also withdrew or relaxed their efforts. [Iradat 37, Dil. 165-166, Kamraj 27, Yahya 113b.]
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∗ The fatal ball then passed into Bhimsen's arm and there was arrested in its course. (Dil. 165a.)
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† M. U., ii.
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⁹³ As to this wound Yahya Khan (113b) says that Azam Shah when Zulfiqar Khan proposed to put off the final contest to the next day, fired at him an arrow without a head (tikkah) which hit him on the lip and broke a tooth. Between Dholpur and Nurabad his flight was hindered by the villagers who plundered his men, killing several officers of rank such as Muzaffar with his sons and nephews : while Kabir Afghan from the weight of his armour and the heat fell from his horse. Zulfiqar Khan neither paused nor gave any heed but pursued his way to Gwalior. (Dil. 166b.)
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‡ Bhimsen, although serving under one of Zulfiqar Khan's own officers (Rao Dalpat Bundela), takes the same view. "If Nusrat Jang, as required by his apparent loyalty, had joined actively with the other leaders in the attack, and had even for a little while held his own in the battle, all the difficulties that fell upon Azam Shah would never have happened." (Dil. 166a.)
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The heat was excessive, the soil sandy, and as the fight continued the thick dust was blown by the hot wind into the faces of Azam Shah's soldiers. Several writers attribute to this wind a disastrous effect on the battle, and even assert that it was strong enough to divert the arrows shot from Azam Shah's side.* The leaders on that side were dismounted and awaited the enemy's charge, resolved to sell their lives dearly. On the other side the Barha Sayyids, led by Hasan Ali Khan (afterwards Abdullah Khan) with his brothers, Husain Ali Khan and Nur-ud-din Ali Khan, advanced to the attack on foot,† as was their custom in the crisis of a battle. Hasan Ali Khan and Husain Ali Khan were both wounded and were left on the field; Nur-ud-din Ali Khan was killed. Other casualties on Bahadur Shah's side were Mirza Namdar (grandson of Padshah Quli Khan Lakhnavi). Sayyid Husain Khan and Sayyid Abu Said Khan. Inayat Khan, grandson of Sadullah Khan Shahjahani, received severe wounds, of which he subsequently died. Of Azam Shah's supporters Amanullah Khan was killed. Tarbiyat Khan soon after lost his life by a musket ball, while Matlab Khan and Khudabanda Khan fell down fainting from loss of blood. Muhammad Bakir, Mir Atash to Bidar Bakht, Muhammad Ishaq, Ibrahim Khan, Ahmad Khan, Darya Khan, Sayyid Abdullah, Safawi Khan, all lost their lives. Bidar Bakht had already been struck by several arrows, and a flesh wound had been received by his young son, Bidar Dil, who was seated on his father's elephant. The boy had just been made over to a trusty eunuch to be carried to the women's elephants, when a ball from a swivel-gun (jazair) struck his father Bidar Bakht, and killed him. [Iradat 38, Dil. 165b, Kamraj 28, Qasim 14-15, Khush-hal 371b.]
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∗ Yahya Khan (113b) improves even on this. Not only did the wind send back arrows but also bullets, and with such force that they killed men on the side from which they were sent!
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† Utara or dismounting. On quitting their horses the men tied the skirts of their tunics together. Persians in India ridiculed the practice, attributing its origin to the bad horsemanship of the Indians; the Hindustanis themselves boasted of it as a proof of exceptional courage. Memoirs of Delhi and Faizabad (i.e., Tarikh-i-Farrah Bakhsh of Mhd. Faiz Bakhsh) by W. Hoey., Vol. 1., Appendix, p. 7, and J. Shakespear, H. Dict. 30.
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Prince Wala-jah had arrived a little time before to reinforce his brother, Bidar Bakht, and the vanguard. Many leaders on that side perished in the struggle. Among them were Zafar Ali Khan, Ismail Khan (son of Aqil Khan), Shaikh Habibullah (Dilawar Khan), Ibrahim Beg Babari, Hazrat Quli Sistani, Salabat Khan (Sultan Nazar), Aqil Khan (Shaikh Sultan), Sherani Khan (Bahadur Sherani) and Yusuf Muhammad Beg (Abdullah Beg). It was now only three hours to sunset, but Prince Wala-jah, in spite of his wounds, fought on. At length he fainted from loss of blood, his elephant was driven off to the rear, and he was taken to his father, Azam Shah. [Kamraj 30, Dil. 165-166.]
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The main body under Azam Shah in person now took up the contest. Soon an arrow struck Prince Ali Tabar on the arm, he being with his father, Azam Shah, in one howda; and at this time Sher Afkan Khan, (Mir Muhammad Husain), head of the artillery, was slain. Tari Khan (M. Usman) Janbaz Khan (M. Amin Mandal), Shujat Khan (Sayyid Abdul Muhammad), Shah Nawaz Kh. (Safawi Khan), the third Bakhshi, Mast Ali Khan, Mir Niyaz, and others also perished. Many men of note were wounded. Azam Shah, in spite of the death of his eldest son and of so many leaders, urged on his elephant, amidst a rain of arrows and balls, into the thick of the fight. It is said (Qasim, 13) that one after another four drivers were shot down, as they directed his elephant onwards.* Azam Shah himself was struck several times by arrows, but he paid no heed to the wounds. At length a musket ball struck him on the forehead and killed him. The shot is believed to have been from the hand of Isa Khan Main, a zamindar from the Lakhi Jangal of subah Lahor, then serving with the troops of Prince Muizz-ud-din. It was then about one and a half hours before nightfall. The flying troops made off towards Gwaliyar, and so many lost their lives on the way at the hands of Jat plunderers and the Rohelas of Dholpur, that the ravines leading to the Chambal were encumbered with decaying bodies. [Kamraj 30, Kamwar, Khush-hal 372b.]
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∗ Another story (Yahya Khan, 113b) is :—When the elephant driver was told to drive on he remarked "This elephant habitually travels 100 kos with ease." Azam Shah's wrath was aroused at this suggestion of flight. He hit the man with the weapon he happened to have in his hand, knocked him off the elephant, and drove it himself.
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Spies brought word at once to Bahadur Shah that his rival was dead. Men were despatched to bring in the corpses, but Azam Shah's bodyguard attempted to retain possession of them. A fight was carried on around the elephants. Wala-jah was thereby roused from his swoon and attempted to renew the fight; but he soon fainted again and then expired. Kokaltash Khan (Mir Hidayatullah Koka) continued to defend the bodies till he lost his own life. When night came on, the two to three hundred men then left round the three elephants dispersed, and Rustam Dil Khan, who as already related had been made a prisoner early in the day, mounting Azam Shah's elephant, cut off the dead Prince's head and made his way with it to Bahadur Shah, thinking it would be an acceptable offering.* [Kamraj 31, Iradat 39, Dil. 166b, Khush-hal 373a.]
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Instead of the expected reward, Rustam Dil Khan, on laying Azam Shah's head before his master, received nothing but reproaches from the compassionate Bahadur Shah. Two elephants followed, bearing the dead bodies of Azam Shah and Bidar Bakht. In the howda of the first-named was found his young son, Ali Tabar, lying unconscious, in a state more dead than alive, partly from the wound he had received and partly from fright. Bahadur Shah received the boy very kindly, embraced him, and wept for the dead. Azam Shah's women and Bidar Bakht's sons, Bidar Dil and Said Bakht, and other children, were brought in by the exertions of Munim Khan, and these all received assurances of favour and protection. [Iradat 39, Kamraj 31-32.]
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∗ Kamraj's *Azam-ul-harb*. The elephant bearing Wala-jah's body, having no driver, escaped and made for the bank of the Jamuna under the fort of Agra, and there it was captured the next morning.
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Throughout the day indescribable suffering had been caused to Azam Shah's troops by the want of water, many horses and elephants expired, and, as one of the officers present states, 12,000 horsemen were left dead upon the field. Bahadur Shah caused proclamation to be made that the soldiers of the losing side should not be harmed. Sadr-ud-din Muhammad Khan Safawi now went to the conqueror and made his submission. The bodies of the brothers, Khan Zaman and Khan Alam Dakhini, were sent to Gwaliyar for burial. Ram Singh Hada's corpse was removed for cremation to Nurabad, while that of Rao Dalpat Bundela was committed to the flames by his son Bharati Chand at the village of Dhami, seven miles from Agra. Bharati Chand with Bhimsen then retired to his home at Orchha. [Dil. 167a.] [The bodies of the three dead Princes were placed in biers and after a few days despatched for burial in the mausoleum of Humayun at Dihli.]
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The loss on both sides in this battle is said to have amounted to ten thousand men. At midnight the two Barha Sayyids, Hasan Ali Khan and Husain Ali Khan, were found lying wounded and insensible among the slain. They were removed to a place of safety and attended to. Orders were given to collect the dead bodies and they were buried under great mounds known as 'Martyrs' storehouses.' Bahadur Shah passed the night in a shamiana erected on the field of battle, and the next morning he returned in state to Bagh Dahr-Ara. [Khush-hal 373, Iradat 39.]
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It may be fairly said, in summing up this part of our story, that Azam Shah brought on his own defeat by his overhaste and excessive rashness. Having failed to reach Agra in time to occupy that city before his rival, his chance of success was reduced enormously. He had little or no money, in comparison at least with the large resources thrown open to Bahadur Shah; he had left much of his equipage behind him in the Dakhin; and his army was largely composed of fresh and untrained troops; while many of his chief men, such as Zulfiqar Khan and Rajah Jai Singh Kachhwaha seem to have been only half-hearted in their support of his cause. Still, in eastern warfare a bold attack presumably succeeds, and many a field has been won in India more by boldness than by good generalship. But the fates were not propitious to Azam Shah, and as usual in Indian battles, the death of the leader decided the day. Nor can Azam Shah's failure to attain Empire be regretted by the impartial enquirer. He might have been a more vigorous ruler than his brother, Bahadur Shah, but his overweening conceit, violent temper, and easily excited jealousy of his son, would in the end have been far more disastrous to the Mughal dynasty in India than even the weak profuseness of his successful rival.
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Azam Shah having been born on the 12th Shaban 1063 H., as already stated, had attained at his death the age of 55 (lunar) years 7 months and 6 days, his nominal reign, counting from the 28 Zul Qada 1118 up to the 18th Rabi, 1. 1119, having lasted three months and ten days. He had seven sons; the names of these and of their children are shown in the subjoined table.
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[Figure: Azam Shah
(1) Bidar Bakht
(5) Jawan Bakht
(6) Sikandar Shan
(7) Wala-jah
(8) Zi-jah
(9) Wala Shan
(10) Ali Tabar
(2) Firuz Bakht
(3) Bidar Dil Dindar Dil
(4) Said Bakht Hayat-ullah Bakht-Afzun Banu Begam Bakht-un-nissa Begam]
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A daughter Giti Ara Begam was married on the 27th Shaban 1121 H. to Azim-ush-shan, second son of Bahadur Shah. And on the 24th Ramzan of the same year a daughter of Bidar Bakht was married to Azz-ud-din, son of Bahadur Shah's eldest son Muizz-ud-din Jahandar Shah.