Later Mughals v2.c13.s13: Sec. 14.—Abdullah Khan Hears of His Brother's Death.
Later Mughals v2.c13.s13
- Language
- English
Sec. 14.—Abdullah Khan Hears of His Brother's Death.
v2.c13.s13.1
As we have seen, Abdullah Khan left the imperial camp on the 12th Zul Qada (14th September 1720) on his way to Dihli. He halted for a few days at Sikandra near Agra. On the 7th Zul Hijja (9th October 1720) he was at a halting place near Sarai Chath, about forty-eight miles north-west of Agra and about sixty-four miles from Dihli, when at midnight, within eighteen hours of the event, a camel-rider brought the scrap of paper from Ratan Chand announcing the overwhelming news of Husain Ali Khan's assassination. Revenge was his only thought. Summoning to his presence the nobles in his train, he told them his heart-rending story, beseeching and imploring them to throw in their lot with him. Some from their hearts, others only out of prudence, agreed to stand by him.
v2.c13.s13.2
A few of the more ardent spirits proposed an immediate trial of strength, before Muhammad Shah could be reinforced, or Husain Ali Khan's troops be bought over by him. But Abdullah Khan, reflecting that Muhammad Shah was in full possession of the throne, while his own army was out of heart, decided that to take the field without any claimant to the throne was undesirable. It was better, he thought, to proceed first to the capital, there to collect an army, select a candidate, and restore the confidence of his adherents.
v2.c13.s13.3
That same day the march for Dihli was resumed. Disregarding the attacks of the Mewatis and the Jats, who daily plundered their baggage and slew their camp-followers, they pushed on until they came to Faridabad, twenty-one miles from Dihli. Shujaat-ullah Khan, son-in-law of Abdullah Khan, Murtaza Khan, and Sita Ram, a man in the Wazir's confidence, were sent forward in haste to the capital with orders to consult Najm-ud-din Ali Khan, the Wazir's brother, and select one of the imprisoned Princes of the house of Taimur for elevation to the throne. Disturbances had broken out at once in the jagirs held by the Sayyids, their agents were ejected, and the cultivators refused the instalments of rent due on the autumn harvest.[*]