Later Mughals v1.c9.s33: Sec. 35.—Husain Ali Khan Marches to Wazirabad.
Later Mughals v1.c9.s33
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Sec. 35.—Husain Ali Khan Marches to Wazirabad.
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On the 27th Rabi I. 1131 H. (16th Feb. 1719) Husain Ali Khan at the head of his army, estimated to include 30,000 horsemen, marched to Wazirabad, one of the imperial hunting preserves about four miles north of the city, on the Jamuna bank.† As they passed, his troops plundered the shops and trod down, in the most merciless manner, the standing crops in the fields outside the city. By this time he had often been heard to say, that as he no longer considered himself to be in the imperial service, why should he respect the rules of etiquette; the sovereign's anger, or the loss of rank having no terrors left for him. Disregarding the rules forbidding the playing of the naubat within one mile of the capital, he marched in with sovereign state, kettle-drums beating and clarions sounding. His fear fell on the hearts of all men, great and small. Farrukh-siyar was so overwhelmed with apprehension that he took no notice of this transgression; and persisting in his senseless conduct, he forwarded daily messages to the haughty rebel in soft and flattering words, with presents of fruit, betel and scent. Husain Ali Khan's pride increased in proportion, and to all these overtures he returned nothing but harsh answers. Still Farrukh-siyar's advisers persuaded him that all this rigour and this ill-temper were assumed, and merely intended by Husain Ali Khan to increase his own importance, without betokening anything more serious.*
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∗ Mirza Muhammad, 447; Kamwar Khan, 189, 193; Khafi Khan, ii. 804; Dastur-ul-insha 57.
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† Khafi Khan, ii. 804, names Sarai Badli, which is a place about 3 miles due west of Wazirabad. Muhammad Qasim, 230, says the camp was close to the pillar of Firuz Shah, and near Qutb-ul-mulk's mansion. This must mean the second pillar north of the city, see ante, Section 32. In the Ibratnama of Kamraj, 65, the place is described as Lat Firuz Shah, "near the camp of Ajit Singh."
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On the 29th (18th Feb. 1719) Muhammad Amin Khan and Nawab Ghazi-ud-din Khan Ghalib Jang came at different hours to visit Husain Ali Khan. It is said that Muhammad Amin Khan, being angry with Farrukh-siyar, urged Husain Ali Khan to depose him, and the danger from the Mughal party, which up to this time had threatened, was thus dissipated completely. On the 30th (19th Feb. 1719) Qutb-ul-mulk, Maharajah Ajit Singh and Maharao Bhim Singh came to see Husain Ali Khan. The three men held council together and their projects took shape and substance. It was decided that first of all, before Husain Ali Khan presented himself, the post of darogha of the privy audience and the command of the artillery should be confided to their nominees. Farrukh-siyar, owing to the presence of the rival Prince, was in such a state of trepidation that, as one writer says, "his liver melted through fear." He wished Amin-ud-din to find out what the Sayyids were plotting. Amin-ud-din refused and repeated his former advice. But from a friend, who had access to the Sayyids, he had just received a note, which he sent on in original. In this it was stated that Farrukh-siyar was to be deposed, and one of the captive Princes raised to the throne. "Now was the time, in God's name, to fight for life, to brace himself up to resolve! For, if he paid no heed, he might be sure that Fortune would say good-bye, and the lamp of success would be extinguished. What care or sorrow could the writer and his friends have, save for His Majesty's person; to them individually what did it matter? It is the ass that is changed, not the pack-saddle."†
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∗ M. M. 447; Kamwar 189; Khafi Khan, 804; Shiu Das, 24a.
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† The strong language of this letter is so opposed to all the usual forms, that one almost doubts its authenticity, but Ghulam Husain Khan in his
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Following the advice of Itiqad Khan, all the demands made by the Sayyids were conceded. On the 1st Rabi II. 1131 H. (20th February, 1719) Samsam-ud-daulah was ordered to vacate the house in the fort known as the peshkhana. He left it and moved into his own mansion in the city. Some five to six thousand of the Emperor's own troops (the Wala-shahi), and all Samsam-ud-daulah's retainers marched out of the fort. The following appointments were then made: Sayyid Najm-ud-din Ali Khan (with Itiqad Khan as deputy) to be darogha of the privy audience, vice Samsam-ud-daulah; Sayyid Khan Jahan (with Zafar Khan as deputy) to be commandant of the imperial artillery; Abdun-nabi Khan to be head officer of the mace-bearers; Sayyid Shujaat Khan to be the head officer of the jilau, or retinue; Nijabat Ali Khan to be nazir or head of the harem; and Sayyid Ghairat Khan to be governor of Agra. Farrukh-siyar insisted that as the celebration of the Nauroz, or New Year's day, was so close at hand, [29 Rabi II.], Itiqad Khan and the other old officials should continue to act for a few days as the deputies of the new office-holders. But in spite of the remonstrances addressed to him by his own people, Farrukh-siyar agreed that on the day of the interview, the gates of the fort and the doors of the palace should be held by Husain Ali Khan's men. [K. K. 806.]
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During these few days the city was full of rumours, and fear spread among all classes. Daily the nobles were seen hastening to and fro in vain efforts to arrange the question in dispute. Even Qutb-ul-mulk professed to be exerting himself in the same direction. It is said that in those few days Rajah Jai Singh several times pointed out to Farrukh-siyar many indications that the other side meant to come to no arrangement. It were well then, he urged, before matters went beyond mending, to take the field and fall upon the Sayyids. All would rally to his side, he, Jai Singh, had with him nearly 20,000 tried and trusty horsemen, and until the last breath had left his body he would fight for his master. Their enemy was not likely to resist
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Siyar-ul-mutakherin has used others in the same collection as good historical evidence. Mirza Muhammad, 448; Dastur-ul-insha 59.
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long. Even if the Fates were unpropitious, they would have escaped, at any rate, the taunt of being cowards. All was in vain. The infatuated Emperor persisted in his attempt to buy off the Sayyids by concession after concession; and a few days afterwards, yielding to the insistance of Qutb-ul-mulk, he, by a note written with his own hand, ordered Rajah Jai Singh and Rao Budh Singh to march from Dihli to their own country. The Rajah was told that the following day was an "auspicious moment" for a start, and as his robe of honour on departure accompanied the note, he need not wait for a farewell interview.* A eunuch brought the note to the Rajah; he protested but was not listened to; and seeing no help for it, he obeyed, and moved to Sarai Sahil. This was on the 3rd Rabi II. (22nd February, 1719).†
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† Mirza Muhammad, 449; Khafi Khan, ii. 805, 806; Kamwar Khan, 191.
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On this same day, there was a fight on the march between Rajah Bhim Singh and Rajah Budh Singh, who were first cousins, and had quarrelled over the succession to their ancestral country of Bundi. Several Rajputs and the diwan of Budh Singh were slain. In the end Bhim Singh's side prevailed and Budh Singh, with a small following, rode off to Sarai Allahwirdi Khan to seek the protection of Rajah Jai Singh Sawai, who had taken his side in the dispute. [K. K. 806.]