Later Mughals v1.c8.s3.1

v1.c8.s3.1

The history of Abdus-samad Khan, who in the reign of Farrukh-siyar assumed a more leading position, is a striking instance of the vicissitudes to which such soldiers of fortune were subject. He was a native of Samarqand, descended from the Naqshbandi saint Abdullah Ahrar,* and had served long in the Dakhin during Alamgir's reign without attracting any great notice. In Bahadur Shah's reign he came more to the front and strengthened his position by forming a marriage connection with the powerful Mughal family represented by Muhammad Amin Khan Chin. One day, towards the end of Bahadur Shah's reign, Abdus-samad Khan pressed his claims on Prince Azim-ush-shan, who was then all-powerful. The Prince disliked the man and gave an evasive answer. Abdus-samad Khan lost his temper and used disrespectful language. On a complaint to Bahadur Shah, Abdus-samad Khan was ejected from the imperial camp and ordered to start on a pilgrimage to Mecca. Reduced to the one horse he himself rode, he left the camp with his wife and family and halted at a little distance, hoping to negotiate a loan to pay his travelling expenses. These efforts had met with little success, when suddenly Bahadur Shah passed away and the contest for the throne began. Zulfiqar Khan knew that Abdus-samad Khan was a brave soldier, and his recent quarrel with Azim-ush-shan made him a still more fitting instrument for the coming struggle. He was therefore sent for and given the rank of 7,000 and placed in command of Jahandar Shah's vanguard. From this time his fortunes were made. [Warid, 124a.]