Later Mughals v1.c9.s2: Sec. 2.—Abdullah Khan at Dihli.
Later Mughals v1.c9.s2
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Sec. 2.—Abdullah Khan at Dihli.
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We now return to Dihli. The first news of Jahandar Shah's defeat at Agra was received at Dihli after midday on the 15th Zul Hijja (12th January, 1713). We have already described the subsequent arrival there of Zulfiqar Khan and Jahandar Shah, and the measures adopted by Asad Khan. Sayyid Abdullah Khan, who started from Agra on the 17th arrived at Barahpula near Dihli on the 25th Zul Hijja. The principal men of the city came out to pay their respects,* and on the same day Zulfiqar Khan, to whom Ikhlas Khan had been sent, rode out to the camp. His interview with the new Wazir lasted over an hour. The Sayyids never doubted for a moment that Asad Khan and his son, as soon as they presented themselves, would be admitted to favour and high office. Thus they thought it wisest for their own future benefit, to put the two men under an obligation by acting as their introducers. Sayyid Abdullah Khan promised his predecessor that, if he would entrust himself to his and his brother's care, they would arrange that he and his father should not only be presented to the new Emperor, but that not a hair of their heads should be injured.† Visitors returning from the Nawab's camp met at the Turkman gate of the city‡ the retinue of Mahabat Khan, son of Munim Khan, who had just been released from prison along with Jahandar Shah's other prisoners. Amin-ud-din Khan, who was one of them, found his way to Mathura and was presented there to Farrukh-siyar on the 3rd Muharram (29th January).§
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† Yahya Khan, 121b, calls the overtures made by Sayyid Abdullah Khan to Asad Khan his "deceit" (fareb).
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‡ This gate is on the south side of the city, having the Dihli Gate between it and the river. See Constable's Hand Atlas, Plate 47, and Carr Stephen, 244.
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§ Mirza Muhammad 153, 157; Kamwar Khan 129; Yar Muhammad 26; Khafi Khan, ii. 732; M. U. i. 317.
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On the 26th Zul Hijja, Abdullah Khan entered the city and occupied the mansion known as Jafar Khan’s.* He busied himself in restoring order in the capital and the rest of the country. Khwaja Husain (Khan Dauran), Hifz-ullah Khan (son of Murtaza Khan), Murid Khan and other partisans of the late Emperor were seized and their property confiscated. The same course was adopted with the estate of the late Kokaltash Khan (Ali Murad). Sabha Chand, Zulfiqar Khan’s chief man of business, who had been promoted by him to the office of diwan of the Khalsa, or imperial revenue office, with the title of Rajah, was summoned by Abdullah Khan. Finding that this man was sent for, Zulfiqar Khan began to fear for himself, and he told Sabha Chand not to obey the order. Abdullah Khan sent reassuring messages and advised the ex-wazir not to interfere. Zulfiqar Khan was not satisfied, until in a few days farmans arrived, addressed to himself and his father, promising them the new Emperor’s favour. Some of these letters went so far as to promise his restoration to the office of Wazir. As there was no other way out of the difficulty, Sabha Chand was now sent in charge of Dawar Dad Khan to Sayyid Abdullah Khan. Sabha Chand was put into prison and his house confiscated. [M. M. 158.]
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∗ Among others Mirza Muhammad, the historian, with his brother and a cousin, was presented to the Nawab by Lutfullah Khan Sadiq. Barahpula is 3¾ miles south of the Dihli Gate of the modern city (Carr Stephen, plate 1 and p. 209).