New History of the Marathas v2.c27.12

v2.c27.12

2. The Emperor murdered.—Ghazi-ud-din was now the most powerful person controlling the affairs of the Emperor, whom he bitterly hated. He had failed to send the guns to Kumbher, and with the help of the Marathas Ghazi-ud-din prepared to vent his wrath on him. The Emperor now began to repent that he had exchanged Safdar Jang for Ghazi-ud-din. The latter’s troops had received no pay for long, and as the Emperor would not give him funds, he besieged the palace and starved the inmates. Thereafter he crossed the Jumna and plundered several cities of the Doab. Intizam-ud-daula, the nominal Wazir could not help his master or stop Ghazi-ud-din’s mischief. In order to obtain some relief Intizam-ud-daula carried the Emperor to Sikandarabad,³ under pretext of a hunt, there to concert measures for securing help from the Rajput princes, the Jats and even from Safdar Jang. He removed the imperial zanana and their valuables to the same place, which he meant to fortify by bringing over the long range guns of Delhi.