Later Mughals v1.c9.s24: Sec. 26.—Attempt to Seize Qutb-Ul-Mulk.
Later Mughals v1.c9.s24
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Sec. 26.—Attempt to Seize Qutb-Ul-Mulk.
v1.c9.s24.1
The next phase in the struggle was a project to seize Qutb-ul-mulk in the Idgah on the day of the Id (1st Shawwal, 1130 H., 27th August, 1718). It was argued that the Emperor's party would be there in force, to the number of seventy or eighty thousand men, ready to sacrifice their lives, while Qutb-ul-mulk would have round him none but a few relations and followers. They could fall upon him and cut off his head before he could cry out. But spies had warned Qutb-ul-mulk of this plot, and he redoubled his precautions. The night before the Id, while one watch of the night still remained, Sayyid Khan Jahan, the minister's maternal uncle, repaired with his sons and his soldiers to the Idgah, and occupied it. Before daybreak Qutb-ul-mulk’s men reached the spot, and they sufficed to fill the whole of the space. In the morning, when the Emperor’s people arrived and saw what had been done, they drew in their claws and made no attempt at violence. Nawab Qutb-ul-mulk reached the Idgah before His Majesty and at the head of his followers came out to make his bow. Farrukh-siyar saw it was useless to attempt anything, and much dejected left directly the prayers were over.*
v1.c9.s24.2
∗ Shiu Das, fol. 19a and b; Khafi Khan, ii. 792. Faridabad, 16 miles s. of city, Indian Atlas, sheet 49, s. e.