Fall of the Mughal Empire v3.c34.s8: § 12. Imperialists plunder Rohilkhand. Return of the expedition to Delhi

Fall of the Mughal Empire v3.c34.s8

Language: English

§ 12. Imperialists plunder Rohilkhand. Return of the expedition to Delhi

v3.c34.s8.1

The invaders began their return journey from Rohilkhand at the end of May. The Emperor started from Najibabad, as usual two marches behind his allies. By way of Nihtaur, Sherkot, Seohara, Salimpur and Amroha, he reached the Ganges which he crossed at Puth, and moved due west through the Mirat district *viâ* Bagsar, Hāpur and Lākhan, to Delhi, which was entered on 9th July. Most of the cities in Rohil-Khand, like Aonla, Barily and Rampur had been set on fire by the fleeing Ruhelas; what remained was now ransacked by the Marathas. One city alone, Amroha, held out under its Sayyids, who ultimately saved it by promising a ransom of Rs. 60,000 through Najaf Khan. This amount was realised by cruel distraint by the Mirzā's lieutenant Najaf Quli Khan, "who was a second Yezid in hardness of heart," and paid to the Peshwa. Returning to the Doab, the Marathas laid siege to Khurja, a Jat post, which they took after two months of trench warfare (on 30th July.) At Delhi the Court spent the rest of the month in celebrating the first grand Coronation of the restored monarch, on 29th July. Then followed three months of inaction owing to the monsoons.

v3.c34.s8.2

∗ DC SPD. xxix. 271,276. Muna Lal 129-131. Bihari Lal's *Life of Najibuddaulah* (tr. by me in *I.H.Q.* 1935.) Return,—*Ibrat*, i. 210-211. Miskin 282. DC. SPD. xxix. pp. 326-328.

Linked texts (1)

Selections from the Peshwa Daftar — Marathi