Fall of the Mughal Empire v3.c38.s6: § 8. Emperor's coup, 16th Oct. ; Shafi expelled from Delhi
Fall of the Mughal Empire v3.c38.s6
- Language
- English
§ 8. Emperor's coup, 16th Oct. ; Shafi expelled from Delhi
v3.c38.s6.1
The crisis came on 16th October. Early at dawn Latāfat and Pauli marched† with their troops against Qamr-ud-din's mansion where Shafi lived. The Emperor himself rode out to the Jāmi‘ Masjid in order to lend his blessing to the attack. Shafi wisely decided not to resist his sovereign. He fled away towards Agra, taking Abdul Ahad with him, but in his hurry forgetting Najaf Quli, who was promptly set free by Latāfat. All the artillery and material left behind were plundered, but none of the victors ventured to touch Khadija Begam, in spite of the Emperor’s wrath against her. Shah Alam now dismissed Shafi from his offices and recalled Afrāsiyāb to Court. Days passed in fruitless negotiations, but Khadija Begam continued to hold out in Najaf Khan’s mansion with the loyal support of her late brother’s gunners under Ashur Ali Khan.
v3.c38.s6.2
∗ The Emperor remarked, on 16 June 1782, "Mirza Shafi has a short temper. Let us see how he agrees with others." Br. Mus. Or. 25, 021, f. 113.
v3.c38.s6.3
† DC. G. Ali iii. 161-165. Muna Lal 256-262. Ibrat. ii. 47-49. DY. i. 74, 75.
v3.c38.s6.4
The fugitive Shafi with his own troops rode hard from Delhi to Ballabhgarh and thence to Kosi. Here he came to a halt and gained the adhesion of Muhammad Beg Hamadāni and his strong force by appealing to the memory of their late common patron and also promising to give him all the Jaipur tribute, half the artillery and other property of Mirzā Najaf still left in Shafi’s hands, and six lakhs in cash or fresh jagirs. Hamadāni joined Shafi at Kosi, and here all the former captains of Najaf Khan vowed to recognise Shafi as their master. Then the two set their faces (6th November) towards Delhi, expelling the imperial collectors in Hodal district and camping on arrival at Faridabad.
v3.c38.s6.5
The close approach of the rebel generals alarmed the Emperor. He was hustled by Latāfat and Pauli into entering his tents near Bārapula for a march against them (12th Nov.) From Faridabad the rebels sent their envoys to him (14th) to offer their protestations of loyalty and to seek his pardon and restoration to their former offices and honours. Shah Alam entrusted his case to his favourite personal servant Kallu Khawās, entitled Muhammad Yaqub Khan, who conceived the over-cunning design of secretly corrupting Hamadāni and using him to destroy Shafi. On behalf of the Emperor, he promised the Mir Bakhshi-ship to Hamadāni if he abandoned Shafi. For confirming this pact it was agreed that Latāfat should meet and give personal assurances and oaths to Muhammad Beg.
v3.c38.s6.6
§ 9. Muhammad Beg Hamadāni seizes Latafat Ali and Pauli (17th Nov. 1782.) Shafi is restored to supremacy at Delhi Court.
v3.c38.s6.7
This treacherous plot recoiled on the heads of its parents.* Muhammad Beg disclosed it to Shafi. On 17th November he rode out of his camp for the purpose of meeting Latāfat and then going with him to be presented to the Emperor, while Shafi went elsewhere on the pretext of hunting, but kept his ears open for the pre-concerted signal. Near Khwājah Sarāi, on the south side of the Badarpur nāla, Latāfat, Pauli and Yaqub met Muhammad Beg, but Hamadāni made them all prisoners by a treacherous attack at the time of shaking hands. The European alone resisted and was wounded for his pains. The small escort of the three victims fled away from superior numbers, while the main body of their comrades, left behind in the imperial camp, could do nothing after the loss of all their leaders. Muhammad Beg quickly followed up his victory; he pushed a detachment on to Delhi (now left utterly defenceless) with orders to seize the houses and property of Latāfat and Yaqub. But Shafi's brother, who was with the Begam in the city, appropriated their property before the arrival of Hamadāni's men. "A tumult like that of Doomsday raged in Delhi that night."
v3.c38.s6.8
∗ DC. G. Ali iii 166-174. Muna Lal 263-267. Ibrat. ii 50-54 and ASB ms. DY. i. 77. Jahandar Shah in Hastings, State of India, app.
v3.c38.s6.9
Afrāsiyāb was no soldier; he had been propped up by the strong arm of Pauli and the subtle brain of Latāfat, and with their fall his power at once collapsed. This second turn of the kaleidoscope brought back the old picture, only two of the bits of glass were thrown away. The wretched Shah Alam, after thus once beating his head against the bars of his cage, again lapsed into helpless submission. Muhammad Beg and Shafi wrote protesting their loyalty to him and excusing their late conduct as forced on them by their rival's treachery. The Emperor sent his eldest son to convey his pardon and blessings to them, and then returned to Delhi (24th Nov.) As he entered the fort, in the courtyard of the Diwān-i-‘ām, Shafi, Muhammad Beg Hamadāni, Abdul Ahad and Afrāsiyāb placed the poles of his open sedan chair on their shoulders and conveyed it to the door of his harem enclosure. After this parade of loyalty, they went to pay their respects to Begam Khadija Sultan. Shafi was restored to his post of army chief and the others received robes of honour and gifts.
v3.c38.s6.10
Next day Hamadāni blinded Latāfat Ali to prevent him from creating trouble again. Pauli objected to such mutilation and was hacked to pieces. The eunuch Kallu Khawās escaped by paying a large ransom.*