Part 4 of 15
[Section V. The History of the Reign of Jellal ul Dowla, Jemmal ul Muluck Sultan Mahummud, ben Sultan Mamood Ghiznavi.]
MAHOMMED I.
WHEN the hand of Mamood was shortened from worldly labour, his son Mahommed [His titles are, Jellal ul Dowla, Jemmal ul Muluc, Sultan Mahommed, ben Sultan Mamood Ghiznavi.] was in the province of Gourgan, and the prince Musaood in Ispahan. Ali, the son of the famous Arsilla, the father-in-law of Mamood, called the prince Mahommed to Ghiżni, and according to the will of his father placed the crown upon his head. Mahommed, upon his accession, bestowed the dignity of captain-general upon his uncle Eusoph, the son of Subuctagi, and the honour of Vizier upon Abu Seil Ahummud; then opening the treasury, he gladdened his friends and the public with liberal donations; but the hearts of the soldiery and people run chiefly in favour of his brother Musaood.
About fifty days after the death of Mamood, one of the nobles, by name Abul Nigim, having, in confederacy with Ali Dia, gained over the slaves [By the slaves mentioned in this place, and the sequel of this history, are meant the captives and young children bought by kings, and educated for the offices of state. They were often adopted by the emperors, and very frequently succeeded to the empire. A whole dynasty of them possessed afterwards the throne in Hindostan. We must not therefore consider the word slave, which often occurs in this history, in the mean sense which it carries in our language.], they broke into the royal stables, and mounting the King's best horses, rode off towards Bust. The Emperor Mahommed informed of this, immediately dispatched Subundraï, an Indian chief in trust, with a numerous body of Hindoo cavalry, in pursuit of them. He came up with the slaves in a few days; a skirmish ensued, in which Subundraſ, with the greatest part of his troops, were killed, and not a few of the slaves. The surviving part of the rebels, with their two chiefs, pursued their journey to the prince Musaood, whom they met at Neshapoor, a city of the province of Chorassan. Musaood having heard of his father's decease at Hammedam in Persia [Hammedan is situated in the province of Irac, towards the frontiers of Curdustan. It is one of the principal cities of Persia, because it is in a manner the door by which every thing goes from Bagdad to Ispahan.], settled viceroys and governors of trust in the Persian provinces of Irac Agemi, and hastened towards Chorassan. From thence he wrote to his brother, that he had no inclination to take those countries from him, which his father, notwithstanding his preferable right, had been pleased to bequeath to the prince Mahommed. He moreover added, that the regions of the Hills, Tiberistan and Erac, which he had mostly acquired with his own sword, were ample enough dominions for him. He only insisted so far on his birthright, as to have his name first read in the Chutba [The genealogy and titles of their kings read from the pulpit on all public occasions of worship, after the praise of the prophet.], over all his dominions.
The Prince Musaood is allowed to have been very moderate in this case, for though he and Mahommed were twins, he was the elder by some hours, and consequently had the undoubted right of succession.
But enmity had subsisted between the brothers from their youth, and Mahommed returned his brother, upon this occasion, a very unfriendly answer, and began to prepare for war, in spite of all that his council could do to oppose so rash a measure. He accordingly put his army in motion, and leaving Ghizni, proceeded to meet Musaood: it is said, that at the feast, upon the conclusion of the Ramzan which Mahommed held at Tunganabad, his crown fell accidentally from his head when he sat in state. This was reckoned a very unfortunate omen, of which some disaffected chiefs taking advantage, estranged the minds of the soldiery from their prince. Accordingly upon the third night after, there was a confederacy formed by the noble Ali, Eusoph, the son of Subuctagi, uncle to the King, and Hassnic Mical, who sounding the trumpets to arms, put themselves at the head of the troops, surrounded the King's tents, and seizing upon his person, sent him prisoner to the fort of Chilligie. They immediately marched with the army to Herat, to meet the prince Musaood, to whom they swore allegiance.
Musaood directed immediately his march to Balich, where he ordered Hassnic to be executed, for having deserted him before, and fled to the King of Egypt. There was also, it is said, a private pique, which hastened the death of Hassnic, for he was in public heard to say, that if ever Musaood should be King, he would suffer himself to be hanged. The noble Ali had his head struck off for his ingratitude to his prince; and Eusoph, the son of the Emperor Subuctagi, the other conspirator, and the King's uncle, was imprisoned for life. The eyes of the unfortunate Mahommed were put out, and he himself confined; so that the reign of Mahommed scarcely lasted five months. But, as we shall hereafter see, he was, after nine years' imprisonment, blessed with one more bright ray of fortune.
[Section VI. The Reign of Shahab ul dowla Jemmal ul Muluck Sultan Musaood ben Sultan Mamood Ghiznavi.]
MUSAOOD I.
Musaood [His titles were Shahab ul Dowla, Jemmal ul Muluck, Sultan Musaood, ben Sultan Mamood Ghiznavi.] was a man of a lofty spirit, and was honoured with the appellation of Rustum the second. His arrow could pierce the strongest mail, and sink into the body of an elephant, and his iron mace was so ponderous, that no man of his time could raise it with one hand. He was withal, of an obstinate and fierce disposition, contemptuous of all authority, and disdaining all obedience. This circumstance, in his youth, engaged him in many quarrels, and greatly disobliged his father; who, for that reason, fixed his affections upon his brother, the prince Mahommed, who was of a more mild and tractable disposition.
Abu Niser Muscati relates, that when the name of Mahommed was inserted before that of Musaood in the Chutba, and read in public for the first time, that he himself followed Musaood to the door of the mosque, and told him, that what he had heard gave him the utmost concern, for that his own, as well as the hearts of most of the nobles, burnt with affection for him. The prince replied with a smile, “Give yourselves no concern about it; the world is for the longest sword.”
One of the King's spies, hearing this conversation, immediately gave information of it to his father. Mamood immediately calling Abu Niser, asked him what had passed between him and the prince Musaood. Abu Niser, thinking that truth would be his best defence, related the particulars. Upon which the King said, that he had always a high opinion of the superior abilities of Musaood, who, he foresaw, would one day be King; but that the prince Mahommed had gained his heart, by filial duty and implicit obedience.
Musaood, upon his accession, released Ahummud, the son of Hassen Mumundi, who, by the orders of the Emperor Mamood, had been imprisoned in the fort of Callinger, and again made him Vizier. He called the noble Ahummud, the son of Mealtagi, the treasurer, to a strict account, and after having obliged him to refund a great sum for malpractices in his office, appointed him general of all his forces in Hindostan, and ordered him to proceed to Lahore. He, at the same time, released Willamï, who had also been imprisoned in one of the forts of Hindostan, and called him to his court.
The King, in the year 422, having left Balich, came to Ghizni, and sent an army to Kutch and Mackeran, the maritime provinces of Persia, and the coin of both provinces was struck in his name. The prince of those countries died about that time, and left two sons, Asakir and Isah. -- Isah, the younger brother, taking possession of the government, Asakir had recourse for aid, to regain his inheritance, to the Emperor Musaood, to whom the fugitive prince promised an annual tribute, and to hold his dominions, when recovered, of him. Musaood agreeing to this proposal, sent a great army with Asakir, with orders to his general, if possible, to reconcile the difference between the brothers, and to divide the country equally between them; but if this could not be done, to put the whole into the possession of Asakir.
Asakir arrived upon the frontiers, with this powerful army, but so obstinate was his brother, and so much devoted to his own ruin, that he would not be brought to listen to any accommodation; and though he was deserted by many of his friends, who joined his brother, he determined to decide the affair with his sword. He accordingly fought with great bravery, till he obtained that death he seemed so eagerly to pursue. The provinces fell into the hands of Asakir, who paid tribute and allegiance to the empire.
Musaood, in the same year, bestowed the viceroyship of Raï in Persia, of Hammedan, and of all the regions of the Hills, upon Mash, a man who, though he had raised himself from the lowest office in the camp, displayed uncommon abilities in reducing those provinces to obedience. After the departure of the King, the countries which we have just mentioned revolted in part, but Mash not only reduced them to their former dependence, but chastised Aliul Dowla, the Ghiznian governor of Chorassan, who had been tampering with the rebels.
Musaood, after having settled his affairs at Ghizni, intended to march to Ispahan [Ispahan is not only the capital of Irac, but of all Persia. It was, till the commotions after the death of Nadir Shaw in 1747, a very large town, surrounded with a brick wall, and drove a great trade in silks and other commodities. It suffered so much in the late troubles in Persia, that Kerim Chan, the present Emperor, has removed his court to Schiraz.] and Raï. But when he arrived at Herat, the people of Sirchus and Badawird complained to him of the ravages of the famous Tartar tribe of Siljoki Turkumans. The King, moved by the injuries done to his subjects, was incensed very much against the enemy, and therefore immediately ordered Abduse, the son of Adiz, a brave general, with a great force, to chastise them. This officer, however, was received by the Turkumans with so much bravery, that he could gain no advantages over them; and the King, for what reason is not known, returned to Ghizni.
In the year 423, the King dispatched Altasash, who governed Charizm, under the regal title of Viceroy, with a great army, to oppose Ali Tiggi, the Usbec Tartar, who had invaded and conquered Samarcand and Bochara. Altasash marched to Maver-ul-nere, or the country beyond the Amu [Transoxiana.], where fifteen thousand horse were ordered to join him from Ghizni. After this junction was effected, he crossed the river Amàvia, in the face of the enemy, and continued his rout to Bochara, which he reduced, and then proceeded to Samarcand. Ali Tiggi marched out of the city, and took possession of a strong post, having the river on one side and a high mountain on the other. When the battle begun, a party of Ali Tiggi's horse, having turned the mountain, attacked the army of Altasash in the rear. A great slaughter commenced, and the Ghiznian commander was wounded, in a part of the body in which he had formerly received a wound in taking one of the forts of Hindostan. He however concealed his blood from his army, and charged the enemy with such vigour, in his front and rear, that, after an obstinate and bloody conflict, they were at length put to flight.
When the battle was over, Altasash called a council of his principal officers, and showing his wound, told them his end was approaching, and that they must now manage affairs in the best manner they could, intimating at the same time, that he thought they could do nothing better than conclude a peace with the enemy. This motion being approved, a messenger was dispatched to them, that very night, with proposals, which were eagerly accepted. The conditions were, that Ali Tiggi should keep possession of Samarcand, and that Bochara should remain to Musaood. The two armies, immediately after this pacification, departed, the one for Samarcand, and the other for Chorassan. The brave Altasash died the second day after, but his death was concealed from the army, and the chiefs conducted the troops to Charizm: and when these accounts came to the King, he conferred the government upon Haro, the son of Altasash.
The Vizier, Ahmed, the son of Hassen Mumundi, dying this year, Musaood appointed Abu Niser Ahmid to succeed him in his office. In the 424th of the Higera, the King resolved upon an expedition into India. Taking the rout of Cashmire, he invested the fort of Sursutti, which commanded the passes. The garrison being intimidated, sent messengers to the King, promising valuable presents and an annual tribute, if he should desist from his enterprise. Musaood began to listen to the proposals, when his ears were stunned with a grievous complaint from the Mussulmen captives, who were then detained in the place. He immediately broke up the conference, and began to besiege the fort, ordering the ditch to be filled up with sugarcanes from the adjacent plantations. This being done, he ordered scaling-ladders to be applied to the walls, which, after a bloody contest, were mounted, and the garrison, without distinction of age or sex, barbarously put to the sword, excepting a few women and children, who were protected by the soldiers for slaves. The King commanded that what part of the spoil was saved from pillage, should be given to the Mussulmen who had been slaves in Sursutti, and who had formerly lost their effects.
This year was remarkable for a great drought and famine, in many parts of the world. The famine was succeeded by a calamitous pestilence, which swept many thousands from the face of the earth; for in less than one month forty thousand died in Ispahan alone. Nor did it rage with less violence in Hindostan, where whole countries were entirely depopulated.
The King of Ghizni, in the mean time, was obliged to march back to quell some disturbances in Tibiristan, one of the Persian provinces, now forming a part of the Ghiznian empire. The inhabitants of Amalisar opposed him in his progress, but they were dispersed by the imperial troops with little opposition, and Callingar, prince of Tibiristan, sent an ambassador, and subjected himself and his country to the King. He, at the same time, gave his son Bhamin, and his nephew Shirvi, as hostages, for his future good behaviour.
Musaood turned from thence his face towards Ghizni; and when he arrived at Neshapoor, the capital of Chorassan, the people of that place again complained of the incursions of the Tartar tribe of Siljoki, and he immediately dispatched Buctadi, and Hussein the son of Ali, with a great force to chastise them. When the Ghiznian army reached the village of Seindenfauk, a messenger came from the Turkumans with a letter, to the following purpose: “That they were the King's servants, and not at all desirous to disturb any body but his enemies, if they should be enabled, by any annual subsidy, to live at home without plunder, or led out to war, that they might exert their skill in what they reckoned their only profession.”
The answer of Buctadi was very haughty. “There is no peace,” says he, “between us, but the sword, unless you will give over your depredations, and submit yourselves implicitly to the laws and authority of the King." After the Tartars had heard this message from their ambassador, they advanced and made a violent assault upon the camp of Buctadi; but as they were conducted more by rage than conduct, they were repulsed, and obliged to turn their backs upon the honours of the field. Buctadi, pursuing them with great expedition, took all their baggage, and their wives and children.
But when Buctadi was returning from the pursuit, while yet many of his troops were dispersed and intent upon plunder, the Siljoki issued out from between two hills, and, rendered desperate by their former loss, made a dreadful slaughter among the troops, who could not be regularly brought up to the charge. The Ghiznians continued to fight and retreat for two days and nights, but Hussein, the son of Ali, could not be persuaded to quit the field, so that after the most of his men were killed, he himself fell a prisoner into the hands of the enemy. Buctadi fled, and carried advice of his own defeat to the King at Neshapoor.
Musaood was obliged for that time to restrain his resentment, upon account of some disturbances in India. He marched back to Ghizni, in the year 426; and thence sent an army under Ban, an Indian chief, against Ahmud, who had rebelled in his government. But, when the two armies met, Ban was defeated with great slaughter. Musaood, being informed of this disaster, sent Touluck, another Indian chief, who, coming to battle with Ahmud, gave him a total overthrow. He fled in great haste towards Munsura, Tatta, and the country near the mouth of the Indus. Touluck pursued him so close, that many thousands of the runaways fell into his hands, whom he treated in the most inhuman manner, cutting off their noses and ears. When Ahmud reached the banks of the Indus, he found himself, if possible, in greater distress than before; for collecting all the boats, which the pressure of the enemy would permit, he endeavoured to cross the river. But the soldiers, afraid of being abandoned, hurried into the boats with such violence, and in such numbers, that most of them were either overset or sunk. A sudden storm, and an inundation of the river, added to the confusion of the vanquished; so that very few of them escaped. The body of their chief was soon after found by the enemy, and his head sent to Ghizni.
A new palace being finished in the year 427 at Ghizni, a golden throne, studded with jewels, was erected in a magnificent hall, and a crown of gold, weighing seventy maunds [The least maund in India is that of Surat, which weighs thirty-seven pound five ounces and seven drachms avoirdupoise; by which we may conjecture, that the value of this crown was immense.], darting lustre from its precious stones, suspended by a golden chain over it, by way of canopy, under which the King sat in state, and gave public audience. He in the same year conferred the ensigns and drums of royalty upon his son the prince Modood, and sent him to the government of Balich, whilst he himself marched with an army to India to reduce the strong city of Hassi.
This city was the capital of Sewalic, a country towards the head of the Ganges, and was, by the Hindoos, reckoned impregnable; for they were taught to believe, by some of their prophets, that it should never fall into the hands of the Mussulmen. But the Indian prophets, like those of other nations, deceived their followers; for the King, in the space of six days, though with a very considerable loss on his side, scaled the place and took it. He found immense treasures in Hassi; and having put it into the hands of a trusty servant, he marched towards the fort of Sunput. Deipal, the governor of Sunput, evacuated the place, and fled into the woods; but he had no time to carry off his treasure, which fell into the conqueror's hands. Musaood ordered all the temples to be laid in ruins, and all the idols to be broke down.
Musaood proceeded from thence in pursuit of Deipal, who began to show himself in the field; but he was surprised by the King, and all his army taken prisoners, while he himself escaped in the habit of a slave. Musaood marched from thence towards Ram, another prince of those parts, who, upon receiving intelligence of the King's intentions, sent immense presents of gold and elephants, excusing himself, on account of his age, from personally attending upon Musaood. The King received his presents and excuse, and withheld his hand from giving him any farther molestation: then leaving a trusty chief at Sunput [Forty miles from Delhi, on the road to Lahore.], he took possession of all the countries in his rear, intending to return to Ghizni. When he reached Lahore, he left there his son Mugdood, on whom he conferred the government of that famous city and province, and the drums and ensigns of state, with Eur, his favourite, to be his counsellor in matters of importance.
Mahommed Ali Cawn, Nabob of the Carnatic. Published by Verner & Hood, Poultry; Feb. 16th, 1803.
In the year 428 Musaood again marched to Balich, to quell the tumults raised by the restless tribe of Siljoki Tartars, who, upon hearing of the King's approach, evacuated that country. The inhabitants of that province addressed Musaood, and acquainted him that Tiggi the Tartar, after his departure, had made divers incursions into their territories, and crossing the river, had lengthened his hands upon the lives and effects of his subjects. The King determined therefore to chastise him that winter, and, in the beginning of the spring, to bring the other Siljoki to a better understanding. The Omrahs of his court, with one accord, advised him to march first against the Siljoki, because they had, for two years, gained an ascendency over the inhabitants of Chorassan, and were daily acquiring strength. Musaood, at that time, received also a letter from one of the nobles of that province, acquainting him, that his enemies, who were once but Ants, were now become little Snakes, and, if they were not soon destroyed, they might grow in a short time to Serpents.
But the star of the King's fortune had now reached the house of adversity, and he would not by any means hearken to their advice. In hopes to conquer the country before him, he laid a bridge over the Gion [The Oxus.], and crossing his army without opposition, took possession of the whole province of Maver-ul-nere [Transoxiana.]. But, during that winter, such a quantity of snow fell, that it was with the greatest difficulty he marched back and exhibiting such acts of gigantic force and valour, as never king had before displayed. A few of his friends, roused by his words and actions, and that innate honour which inspires the brave, seconded their lord so well, that whithersoever he turned his fatal sword, the enemy were 'mowed down, or retreated before him. But now, when victory seemed to blow on his standard, misfortune was active behind it; for when he looked round he beheld almost his whole army, excepting that body he commanded in person, devouring the paths of flight. The King, seeing himself thus shamefully deserted, and that no hope from his single arm remained, turned his steed, and trampling down the enemy, opened to himself a clear passage with his own sword. When he reached the river near Murve, he met with a few of the fugitives, who now began to collect themselves from all quarters. He took from thence the way of Ghor, and proceeded to Ghizni. There he seized upon the generals who had so ingloriously deserted him. He ordered Ali Daia, Buctadi, and Sab Sinai, to be "conveyed to Hindostan, and confined in a certain fort for life.
The King, finding himself, at this period, unable to withstand the enemy, resolved to withdraw to India, till he could collect his forces, and make another effort to retrieve his affairs. He left his son Modood and his Vizier, with four thousand horse, to defend Balich, and ordered his other son, the prince Mugdood, who had come from Lahore with two thousand horse, to secure Moultan. In the mean time Erid, another of his sons, was sent with a detachment to awe the mountain Afghans, near Ghizni, who were in arms. He then collected all his wealth from the different strong holds to Ghizni, and laying it upon camels, bent his way to Lahore, sending for his brother Mahommed, who had been dethroned and blinded from his confinement.
When Musaood arrived upon the banks of the Gelum, the water of which, on account of its purity, is called the water of Paradise, the slaves, who, were very numerous in his camp, entered into a confederacy with the camel-keepers, and began to divide the treasure among them. The troops observing this, they were determined to partake of the spoil, so that in a moment nothing was to be seen but drawn swords, ravage, and confusion. Every one plundered his neighbour; some gained much wealth, while others, more weak, or unfortunate, were robbed of all upon which they had laid their hands, and stripped of their own besides. The army, for this tumult, fearing the resentment of the King, and not choosing to refund the plunder, hastened in a mob to Mahommed the blind, who had been before king, and, exalting him upon their shoulders, proclaimed him Emperor.
Musaood was, during this time, collecting what friends he could to suppress the mutiny; but no sooner was it known that his brother was proclaimed King, than he found himself entirely deserted. The mob pressing round him, he was obliged to give himself up into their hands, and he was carried before the new King. Mahommed told him, he had no design to take his life, and desired he might pitch upon some fort, whither he might retire with his family into confinement. Musaood, in this extremity, chose the fort of Kurri, but was even in distress for money to pay his few menial attendants. This obliged him to send a person to his brother to request him for some. Mahommed accordingly ordered the pitiful sum of five hundred dirms to be sent him; upon which Musaood, when it was brought him, exclaimed after the following manner: “O wonderful cast of Providence! O cruel reverse of fate! Yesterday was I not a mighty prince; three thousand camels bending under my treasure? To-day I am forced to beg, and to receive but the mere mockery of my wants." With that he borrowed a thousand dirms from his servants, and bestowed it in a present upon his brother's messenger, who had brought the five hundred dirms, which he desired he might again carry back to his master.
Mahommed, upon his accession, advanced his son Ahmed to the government, reserving for himself only the name, though Ahmed was, by many, supposed to have a tincture of madness in his disposition. The first thing he did was, without consulting his father, in conjunction with his cousin Soliman the son of Eusoph, and the son of Ali Cheshawind, to go to the castle of Kurri, and assassinate Musaood, in the year 433. But some affirm, that he buried him alive in a well. The reign of Musaood was nine years and nine months, He was a prince of uncommon strength and bravery; affable, of easy access, and generous to prodigality; particularly to learned men, of whose company he was excessively fond, which drew many from all parts to his court.
Among the first of the learned in the court of Musaaood, we must reckon Abu Keihan of Charism, a great philosopher and astrologer, who wrote one of the best treatises upon astronomy, called Canoon Musaoodi, for which he was presented with an elephant made of silver, the size of which we are not told. Abu Mahoma med Nasahi was also a man of much reputation in this age. He wrote a book called Musaoodi, in support of the doctrine of Abu Hanifa, which he presented to the King. The author of the Rosit ul Suffa tells us, that so extensive was the King's charity, that some days, in the month of Ramzan, he bestowed often a lack of dirms upon the poor. In the beginning of his reign, he built many noble mosques, and endowed many colleges and schools, which he erected in different cities of his dominions.
Musaood was far from being so fortunate as his father Mamood. Al Kader Billa reigned with the title of Calipha in Bagdad and its territory: a branch of the family of Boia were sovereigns of Persia Proper, Kerman or the ancient Caramania, Mesopotamia, and the Arabian Irac. The Siljoki Tartars, having, in a course of depredatory expeditions, ravaged and conquered the vast country of Maver-ul-nere or Transoxiana, passed the Oxus in the reign of Musaood, defeated him in many battles, and stripping him of Chorassan and all the Persian conquests of his father, founded, under their chief, Trogrilbeg, the famous dynasty of the Siljokies. The dominions of Ghizni became very much contracted to the north, consisting only of the provinces of Seistan, Zabulistan, and Cabul, to the north-west of the Hydaspes. The boundaries of the empire, on the side of India, suffered no change in this reign.
[Section VII. The Reign of Abul Fatte, Chutub ul Muluck Shahab ul Dowla Amir Modood ben Musaood ben Mamood Ghiznavi.]
MODOOD.
WHEN the news of the murder of Musaood came to Mahommed the blind, he wept bitterly, and severely reproached the assassins. He, at the same time, wrote to the prince Modood, who was then at Balich, that such and such people had killed his father; calling God to witness, that his hands were clear of the wicked deed. To this Modood [His titles are, Abul Fatte, Cuttub ul Muluc, Shahab ul Muluc, Shahab ul Dowla, Amir Modood ben Musaood, ben Mamood Ghiznavi; the son of the Victorious, the Pole-star of the Empire, the Light of Fortune, the Lord Modood son of Musaood, the son of Mamood of Ghizni.] replied, sarcastically: May God lengthen the days of so good and so merciful a King, and grant that his mad son, Ahmed, may gain glory in the practice of regicide, till his reward be obtained from our hands.
Modood was for marching immediately, to revenge the death of his father; but he was persuaded by his council, to go first to Ghizni; where the citizens, upon his approach, thronged out to meet him, and expressed their joy in acclamations and congratulations upon his accession.
In the year 433, he marched from Ghizni; while Mahommed the blind, appointing his younger son Nami, governor of Peshawir and Moultan, marched in person to the banks of the Indus to receive Modood, who was moving that way, and the two armies meeting in the forest of Diner, between the uncle and nephew, the flames of contention began to arise. The gales of victory, at length, began to fan the standards of Modood, while Mahommed, with his sons, and Ali Che-shawind, and Soliman the son of Eusoph, were taken prisoners. They were all put to death, except Abdul Rahim, the son of Mahommed, whom Modood pardoned for this reason; that during the time that his father Musaood was prisoner, Abdul Rahim went with his brother Reiman to see him. When, upon this occasion, the latter insultingly threw off Musaood's royal cap, Rahim took it up, and put it upon the King's head with much respect, chastising his brother for his mean and barbarous behaviour.
Modood having thus revenged his father's murder, built a town on the spot upon which he had obtained the victory, and called it the victorious city [Fatte-Abad.]. He carried the remains of his father and family to be interred at Ghizni; whither he returned, and appointed Ahmed his Vizier. But he soon after discharged that chief from his high office, and conferred the dignity upon Chaja Tahir. He sent, at the same time, Ahmed with a force to Moultan, against Nami, the son of his uncle Mahommed, whom he slew, reducing the country under the obedience of Modood. The King had now nothing to fear but from his own brother, who was in possession of Lahore and its dependencies. This brother, upon the murder of his father, marched from Moultan, and by the counsel of Eas, possessed himself of all the country lying between the Indus, Hassi and Tannasar.
Modood finding that his brother refused to pay him allegiance, ordered an army against him. Mugdood being apprised of this expedition, marched from Hassi, where he then resided, with his whole force, to oppose the imperial troops. He came up with them before they reached Lahore, with an army so numerous, that the forces of Modood were upon the point of flying at their appearance, several of the chiefs deserting their colours, and enlisting themselves under the banners of Mugdood. But fortune here, or treachery, befriended Modood. In the morning of the ide of sacrifice, Mugdood was found dead in his bed, without any previous complaint, or apparent cause of his decease. But what seemed to discover the hand of traitors, was, that next day, his counsellor and friend Eas was found dead in the same manner. Mugdood's army marched under the banners of Modood, so that the southern countries submitted in peace.
Nor was Modood less fortunate towards the north. The province of Maver-ul-nere, which had for some time asserted its independence, submitted. But the Siljokies, notwithstanding the King had taken one of the daughters of their chief in marriage, began to make incursions anew into his territories.
In the year 435, the prince of Delhi, in alliance with others, raising an army, took Hassi, Tannasar, and their dependencies, from the governors to whom Modood had entrusted them. The Hindoos from thence marched towards the fort of Nagracut, which they besieged for four month's, and the garrison being distressed for provisions, and no succours coming from Lahore, were under the necessity of capitulating. The Hindoos, according to the ancient form, erected new idols, and recommenced the rites of idolatry.
We are told that the prince of Delhi, observing a weakness in the empire of Ghizni, pretended to have seen a vision, in which the great idol of Nagracut told him, that having now revenged himself upon Ghizni, he would meet him at Nagracut in his former temple. This story being propagated by the Brahmins, who probably were in the secret, it gained faith among the superstitious, by which means the Raja was joined by zealots from all parts, and soon saw himself at the head of a very numerous army. With this army, as we have already mentioned, he besieged Nagracut, and when the place surrendered, he took care to have an idol, of the same shape and size with the former, which he had caused to be made at Delhi, introduced, in the night, into a garden in the centre of the place. This image being discovered in the morning, there was a prodigious rejoicing among his deluded votaries, who exclaimed, that their God was returned from Ghizni. The Raja, and the Brahmins, taking the advantage of the credulity of the populace, with great pomp and festivity, carried him into the temple, where he received the worship and congratulations of his people.
This story raised so much the fame of the idol, that thousands came daily to worship from all parts of Hindostan, as also to consult him as an oracle, upon all important occasions. The manner of consultation was this: The persons who came to inquire into futurity, slept on the floor of the temple before him, after drinking a dose of something which the Brahmins prescribed, to create dreams, from which they predicted their fortune, in the morning, according to their own fancy.
The success of the prince of Delhi gave such confidence to the Indian chiefs of Punjaab, or the province about the five branches of the Indus, and other places, that though before, like foxes, they durst hardly creep from their holes, for fear of the Mussulman arms, yet now they put on the aspect of lions, and openly set their masters at defiance. Three of those Rajas, with ten thousand horse, and an innumerable army of foot, advanced to Lahore, and invested it.
The Mussulmen, in defence of their laws, families, and effects, exerted all imaginable valour upon this occasion, during the space of seven months, defending the town, street by street; for the walls being bad, were soon laid in ruins. Finding, however, that, in the end, they must be rooted out by this defensive war, unless they had speedy succours, they bound themselves by oath, to devote their lives to victory or martyrdom, and making a sally out of the city, presented themselves, in order of battle, before the enemy's camp. The Hindoos, either struck with their unexpected appearance, or intimidated by their resolution, betook themselves instantly to flight, and were pursued with great slaughter.
In the year preceding this event, the King sent Artagi Hajib, with an army, to Tiberistan, against the ever-restless Siljoki. When he reached that place, he heard that the son of Daood had advanced to Arkin; but when the two armies drew up in order against one another, the chief of the Siljoki, who was a young man, without either experience or courage, showed such pusillanimity in arranging his troops, that the enemy had begun the charge before they were properly formed, which occasioned an immediate confusion, so that they abandoned the field, and were pursued with great slaughter. Artagi, having returned from the pursuit, marched directly to Balich, which the Siljoki had taken, and recovered that city out of their hands.
Not long after, the Siljoki advanced again with a powerful force, and invested the same place. As it was not very defensible, and Artagi was too weak to engage the enemy in the field, he wrote to Modood for succours. The succours not arriving, and the general finding his difficulties daily increasing, and his force diminishing, determined to evacuate the place, which he accordingly did, and fled to Ghizni, with a few of his attendants. But the popular outcry was so great against the unfortunate Artagi, that Modood was obliged, in some measure, to silence the clamour by the death of his servant. About this time, another tribe of the Turkumans of Ghizizi made an incursion into the Ghiznian territories, by the way of Bust, against whom Modood sent an army, which gave them a signal defeat.
In the year 436, Tahir the vizier was deposed, and Abdul Rysaac was exalted to that dignity; and, in the same year, Tughril was sent, with a force, towards Bust, from whence he proceeded to Seistan, and brought his own brother, and Ringi, who had rebelled against the King, prisoners to Ghizni. The Siljoki, in the year following, collected all their forces, and directed their march towards Ghizni, plundering the palace of Bust. Tughril was ordered against them, with the troops of Ghizni, and he defeated them with great slaughter, and pursued them out of the country. After this victory Tughril marched immediately against the Turkumans of Candahar, whom they called red-caps, and defeating them also, took many prisoners, whom he brought to Ghizni.
In the 438th year, Tughril was again ordered to Bust, with a numerous army; but when he came to Tiggiabad, he began to hatch treason against his sovereign. News of his revolt having reached Modood, he sent some persons to endeavour to reclaim him to his duty, with promises of pardon, and a removal of all the disgusts which he might have entertained. To this Tughril replied, that the reason of this step was to secure himself: that he had an information of a plot formed against his life, by those sycophants, whose only business was to stand by the throne, and to amuse the too easy ears of the King with lies and flattery: that being once forced to disobedience, he had, for a subject, gone too far to retreat. The King's emissaries however, though they had no effect upon Tughril, found that the most part of the chiefs were still loyal to the King, and brought over others, who had changed, rather out of a desire of innovation, than disaffection to their sovereign. Upon this they returned, and having told the King in what manner things were concerted with the other chiefs, he immediately ordered Ali the son of Ribbi, one of his generals, with two thousand horse, to favour the insurrection; so that Tughril, finding himself deserted by the army, upon the appearance of Ali, betook himself to flight, with a few of his adherents.
Tiggi, another Omrah, was in the same year sent to Ghor, to the assistance of Willidingi, who joining him with his force, they both marched against Abu Ali, prince of Ghor, and having driven him into a fort, he was there besieged, and taken prisoner. This place was reckoned so strong, that, for seven hundred years before, the reduction of it had not been attempted by any body. When Tiggi found himself master of the fort, he treacherously laid hands upon Willidingi, whose right he came to support, and carried him in chains, with Abu Ali, to Ghizni, where the King settled their dispute, by cutting off both their heads.
Tiggi was sent, soon after, against Byram Neal, general of the Siljoki. He met the enemy in the districts of Bust, and engaged them, gaining, at length, the long-disputed field. He was again, in the year 439, sent against Kisdar, who refused to pay his tribute, whom he subdued, and obliged to comply with the King's commands, and returned with his army to Ghizni the year following.
Modood, the following year, in one day, conferred the royal dress, drums, and colours, upon his two eldest sons, Mamood, whom he sent to Lahore, and upon Munsur, whom he sent to the province of Peshawir. At the same time Ali, chief magistrate of Ghizni, was sent to command the other imperial conquests in India. Ali first marched to Peshawir, and took the fort of Mahitila, from Ahin, who had rebelled against the King's authority, then sent a letter of invitation to Higgi Rai, a general of the Hindoos, who had done much service in the time of Mamood, but, upon account of some political matters, had fled from the court, and had taken up his abode in the mountains of Cashmire. The invitation being complied with, the King desired his attendance at Ghizni.
While Ali was settling the countries about the Indus, some malicious chiefs in his camp forwarded many complaints against him to the King. He was called to Ghizni, and imprisoned, under the care of one Mirik the son of Hassen. This man, out of former enmity, and with a design to extort money from him, put him to the torture, and soon after to death itself. Fearing, however, that the King might some day enquire for the prisoner, and order him to be produced, he himself, being then a great favourite, endeavoured to divert Modood's mind to some important .affairs, till he should be able to frame some excuse for the death of Ali. He at length prevailed upon the Sultan to form an expedition against Chorassan, by the way of Cabul. When they reached Lowgur, they besieged the fort of Sancoot, where there was a considerable treasure lodged. But there the King was seized with a disorder in his liver, which daily gaining ground, he was obliged to proceed to Ghizni in a litter; while his vizier, Abul Rysac, with the army, marched back into Seistan, to oppose the Siljokies, who had invaded that country.
When the King arrived at Ghizni, he ordered Mirik to bring his prisoner Ali before him, in order to be discharged from confinement. Mirik, by plausible excuses, delayed the time for a week, before the expiration of which, the King took leave of the world, in the year four hundred and forty-one, having reigned nine years, with ability, some clemency, and great reputation.
The state of affairs in Asia suffered very little change during the reign of Modood. Al Kayem succeeded Al Kadir in the Caliphat, and Togril Beg, king of the Siljoki Tartars, who was now in possession of all Persia and Transoxiana, paid a nominal allegiance to the Calipha, by the acceptance of the title of Captain-general of the forces. Modood kept possession of all the territories left to him by his father Musaood in the north, and there was very little alteration on the side of India.
[Section VIII. The Reign of Abu Jaffier Musaood ben Modood.]
MUSAOOD II.
WHEN Modood had taken his journey to the other world, Ali the son of Ribbi, who was then in great power, had formed a design to usurp the throne; but concealing his intentions, he raised Musaood, the son of Modood, who was then a child of four years, to the Musnud. Tiggi, the next in power to Ali, not being made a partner in his measures, was highly offended, and drew off, with half the army, who were in his interest. The troops were thus split into two factions, and came to action; in which Ali being worsted, the faction of Tiggi took Abul Hassen Ali, one of the sons of the Emperor Musaood, who had escaped the resentment of Ali the son of Ribbi, and proclaimed him King, deposing Musaood, after a nominal reign of six days.
[Section IX. The Reign of Sultan Abul Hassen Ali ben Musaood.]
ALI.
UPON Friday, the first of Shaban, in the year four hundred and forty-one, Ali [Abul Hassen Ali.] ascended the throne of Ghizni, and took the wife of his brother Modood, the former King, in marriage. In the mean time, Ali the son of Ribbi, in association with Mirik, broke open the treasury, and taking out a vast quantity of gold and jewels, fled, with a company of the royal slaves, and some of the chiefs, whom they had brought over to their interest, to Peshawir. At Peshawir they were joined by the natives, raised a great army, and reduced Moultan, and the countries near the mouth of the Indus, to their obedience, making a great slaughter of the Afghans or Patans, who had taken advantage of the public disturbances, to plunder those provinces.
In the year four hundred and forty-three, Ali called his brothers, Murda Shaw and Ezid Ear, from the fort of Naáláma, where they had been imprisoned, and treated them with affection and respect. But, at this time, Abdul Reshid, the son of the Emperor Mamood, began to form a faction in his own favour. To crush Reshid, the King opened his treasury, and entertained a great army; notwithstanding which, his power began daily visibly to decline. Reshid advanced in the mean time with his army to Ghizni, and, gaining a compleat victory, ascended the throne.
[Section X. The Reign of Zein ul Muluck, Sultan Abdul Reshid.]
RESHID.
ABDUL RESHID [His titles at length are, Zein-ul-Muluck, Sultan Abdul Reshid.], as we have already mentioned, was the son of the Emperor Mamood, and was, by the order of Modood, imprisoned in a castle near Bust. When the Vizier, Abdul Rysac, about the time of the death of Modood, marched with an army to settle the country of Seistan; he, upon hearing of the King's death, in confederacy with Abul Fazil, Resid the son of the famous Altasash, and Noshtagi Hajib, in the year 443, released Reshid from his confinement, and, asserting his cause with vigour, raised him, as we have seen, to the throne. His predecessor Ali was seized by some of the Zemindars, in the country into which he had fled, brought prisoner before Reshid, and confined in the fort of Didi.
The King, by various means, prevailed upon Ali the son of Ribbi, who had usurped the Ghiznian conquests in India, to submit to his allegiance, and return to Ghizni. He appointed Noshtagi Hajib to the command of those provinces, created him an Omrah, and sent him with a fine army to Lahore. Noshtagi, upon his way, turning to Nagracut, laid siege to that place, and, on the sixth day, scaling the walls, took it by assault.
Tughril, whom we have already mentioned, was. notwithstanding his treachery to his former master, now again intrusted with the government of Seistan, which he soon brought under proper regulations. Being stirred up by the spirit of treachery and ambition, he conceived hopes of assuming royalty; and raising a great army, marched towards Ghizni; where Reshid, being almost destitute of troops, was forced to shut himself up; but the place being very extensive, it was impossible for him to defend it long, which he however did to the last extremity. Ghizni was taken at length, and the King, with nine of the blood royal, were inhumanly put to death by the usurper, who now ascended the throne. But Tughril did not long enjoy the fruits of his villainy; having wrote to Noshtagi, endeavouring to bring him over by fair means to acknowledge him, that chief answered him with the contempt he deserved.
Noshtagi, at the same time, wrote private letters to the daughter of the Emperor Musaood, whom the tyrant had compelled to marry him, as also to all the Omrahs who he knew had retained their loyalty for the imperial family, spiriting them up to conspire against the usurper's life. They were so far excited to resentment, that a conspiracy was forthwith formed amongst them, and put in execution on new year's day, when Tughril was stepping up to the throne to give public audience. Thus the usurper, at the end of forty days, arrived at his tragical end.
After this important transaction, Noshtagi arrived at Ghizni with his army, and calling a council of state, enquired whether any yet remained of the royal race of Subuctagi. He was informed, that there were still imprisoned in a certain fort, Firoch Zaad, Ibrahim, and Suja. These he ordered to be called, and it being agreed that fortune should decide it by lot who should reign; she favoured Feroch-Zaad, who was accordingly placed upon the throne, and received the allegiance of the court: the reign of Reshid comprehended only one year.
A certain author tells us, that Tughril, being one day asked by one of his intimate friends, -- what induced him to think of aspiring to the empire, replied, that when the Emperor Reshid dispatched him to take the government of Seistan, he found that his hand trembled, from which circumstance he concluded, that he was destitute of that resolution and fortitude which are necessary accomplishments of a king.
[Section XI. The Reign of Jemmal ul Dowla Feroch Zaad, ben Sultan Musaood Ghiznavi.]
FEROCH-ZAAD.
When Feroch-Zaad [Jemmal ul Dowla Feroch-Zaad, ben Musaood Ghiznavi.], the son of the Emperor Musaood, placed the crown of fortune upon his head, he gave the reins of administration into the hands of Noshtagi, who had called him from obscurity. Daood [Brother of the famous Togril Bed, the first of the dynasty of the Siljokides of Persia.], the chief of the Siljoki Turkumans, hearing of the commotions in the empire, seized upon that favourable opportunity to invade Ghizni. He advanced with a numerous army, while Noshtagi, collecting all his forces, went forth to meet him. When the armies engaged, the battle was obstinate and bloody; for, from the rising to the setting of the sun, the victory was extremely doubtful; and, though thousands fell, the troops seemed insensible of their own mortality. Victory at length declared for Noshtagi, while his enemies betook themselves to fight, leaving all their camp-equipage and baggage on the field to the conquerors, who immediately returned victorious to Ghizni.
This victory served to establish Feroch-Zaad without fear upon the throne. He now exalted the standard of triumph, and inclined it towards Chorassan, where, on the part of the Siljoki, he was met by Callisarick, one of their principal Omrahs, with a numerous army. The action was extremely violent and bloody; at length victory declared for the King of Ghizni, and Callisarick and several other persons of note were taken prisoners.
Intelligence of this defeat coming to Daood prince of the Siljoki, he collected all his forces, which he submitted to the command of his son Arsilla, a youth of great expectations. Arsilla advanced to oppose the King, and having engaged him with great resolution, recovered the honour of the Siljoki, and took many of the Omrahs of Ghizni prisoners in the pursuit. But he did not think proper, at that time, to make further use of his fortune, and he therefore returned with his victorious army.
When Feroch-Zaad arrived at Ghizni, he called Callisarick and all the prisoners of the Siljoki into his presence, bestowed upon each of them the honour of a dress, and gave them their liberty. The Siljoki returning home, represented in so strong a light the humanity of the King, that Daood, ashamed to be outdone in a virtuous action, ordered the prisoners of Ghizni to be also released.
Feroch-Zaad, who, according to the best authorities, was the son of Musaood, though some say that the Emperor Reshid was his father, having extended his reign to six years, mostly in peace, in the year four hundred and fifty, turned his face to the regions of futurity. The year before his death, his slaves, having been instigated to a conspiracy against his life, made an attempt to assassinate him in the bath. Feroch-Zaad, having wrested a sword out of the hand of one of them, killed many, and defended himself against the rest, till his guards, hearing the noise, came in to his assistance; upon which all the slaves were put to instant death. His first vizier was Hassen the son of Mora, and, in the latter part of his reign, Abu Beker Sali.
He was a good, though not a splendid, prince. He was possessed of humanity, and not destitute of bravery.
Very little change happened in the political state of Asia, during the short reigns of Musaood the second, Ali, Reshid, and Feroch-Zaad. Al Kayam still sat upon the throne of the Caliphat, supported in his spiritualities by Togril Beg, the temporal Emperor of Persia. The brother of Togril failed in an attempt upon the empire of Ghizni, and the reigning family possessed, in all their extent, the territories left to them by Modopd.