Part 8 of 15
[Section III. The Reign of Sultan Aram Shaw, ben Sultan Cuttub ul dien Abiek.]
ARAM.
AFTER the death of Cuttub, his son Aram [Sultan Aram Shaw.] mounted the throne of Delhi; but was no ways equal to the government of so great an empire.
Nasir, one of the adopted slaves of Mahommed Ghori, marched with an army towards Sind, which he conquered, as also Moultan, Otch, Shinoran, and other places. Another slave, Mahommed of Chilligi, possessed himself of the kingdom of Bengal, and asserted his own independence. At the same time, several dependent princes blew up the flames of rebellion in many parts of the empire.
Upon these misfortunes, Ali Ismaiel, Daood Delhi, and all the Omrahs, became discontented, sending a person to call Altumsh, who was son-in-law and adopted son of Cuttub, and then governor of Budaoon [The country beyond the Ganges, N. E, from Delhi, now possessed by the Rohillas.], to ascend the throne. Altumsh accordingly marched with his army to Delhi, and by the assistance of the faction within, easily reduced it. Aram, afraid of trusting himself in his capital, had previously withdrawn into the country, recruited a fine army, and advanced to give Altumsh battle. A warm engagement ensued in the sight of the city. Aram lost the victory and his empire, which he had enjoyed scarce one year.
[Section IV. The Reign of Shumse Ul Dien Altumsh.]
ALTUMSH.
We are told that Altumsh [Shumse ul dien Altumsh.] was descended of a noble family in the Tartarian Chitta, and that his father's name was Elim, a great and famous general. But in his youth, being the favourite of his father, he was envied by the rest of his brothers. They therefore determined to get rid of him, and as they were out one day hunting, they stript him, and sold him to a company of travelling merchants for a slave. The merchants carried him to Bochara, and sold him to one of the relations of Jehan, prince of that country, from whom he received a liberal education.
Upon the death of his master he was again exposed to sale, and bought by a merchant, who sold him to another, who carried him to Ghizni. The Emperor Mahommed heard at Ghizni of Altumsh's beauty and talents, but could not agree with the merchant about his price. He was therefore carried back to Bochara, as none durst buy him, on account of the King's displeasure, till Cuttub, obtaining his leave, made that purchase at Delhi, whither he had invited the merchant, for fifty thousand pieces of silver. Cuttub, at the same time, bought another slave, whom he called Taga, and appointed him afterwards governor of Tibberhind, where he was slain in the battle between Cuttub and Eldoze.
Altumsh, in the mean time, was made master of the chace, and afterwards rose to such favour that he became the adopted son of his patron, Cuttub, and was advanced to the government of Gualier and Birren, and from thence to the viceroyship of Budaoon. He accompanied Cuttub in his war against the Gickers, and greatly distinguished himself in bravery and zeal for the service. He killed in one action, with the troops of Budaoon, upwards of ten thousand of the enemy. This behaviour so pleased Cuttub, that he declared him free, and made him many honorary presents.
Thus by degrees, Altumsh rose, till he was created captain-general of the empire; and married the daughter of Cuttub, and upon his death, as we have before related, he advanced against the capital, and, expelling Aram from the throne in the year 607, declared himself Emperor by the title of Shumse ul dien Altumsh.
Upon his accession he was acknowledged by many chiefs and princes; but some of his generals taking disgust, went off with the greater part of his Turkish horse, which were the flower of his army. They joined themselves with other malcontents, and advanced with à great force towards Delhi. They were met before the city by Altumsh, and defeated, their chief general Firoch being killed, and the rest so closely pursued, that in a short time they were all either killed or taken, which for that time established Altumsh in peace. But soon after, the governor of the fort of Gollore rebelled, and refused to pay the revenues of that country. This obliged the King to march and reduce him to obedience. Eldoze, King of Ghizni, at this time, sent him the ensigns of royalty, pretending to confirm Altumsh in the empire of Hindostan. But soon after, when Eldoze himself was defeated by the troops of Charizm, and re- tired to Kirma and Shenoran, he turned his views towards the conquest of Hindostan. Eldoze seized upon the country of Punjaab and the city of Tannasar in the year 612, and endeavoured, by his emissaries in the court of Delhi, to raise a faction in his own favour. Altumsh, in the mean time, drew together his forces, and advancing towards him, they fought on the confines of Tirowri, about one hundred and fifty miles from Delhi. Eldoze was defeated, as before related, and, with many of his Omrahs, taken and imprisoned in Budaoon, where he died a natural death, according to some; but, according to others, was poisoned.
In the year 614, Altumsh engaged Nasir, who was also son-in-law to Cuttub, upon the banks of the Chinaab, where Altumsh proved victorious. The governor of Chilligi, in the mountains, the year following, being defeated by Nasir, fled for protection to Altumsh, who, taking part in his quarrel, marched against Nasir, and a second time overthrew him, recovering the countries lost by the Viceroy of Chilligi, upon which he himself returned to Delhi.
In the year 618, the famous but unfortunate Jellal ul dien, King of Charizm, being defeated in the north, by the great conqueror Zingis Chan, retreated towards Lahore, where Altumsh opposed him with all his forces. This obliged the brave though unfortunate Jellal to retreat towards the Indus, where he was opposed by Nasir, who defeated him, and pursued him, by the way of Kutch and Muckeran, the maritime provinces of Persia.
In the year 622, Altumsh led his army towards Behar and Bengal, where he obliged Yeas ul dien, of Chilligi, then prince of Bengal, whose history we shall see in its proper place [The historian alludes to another work which he wrote concerning the transactions of the principalities of Hindostan.], to pay him tribute and allegiance. He struck the currency in his own name, and appointing his own son Nasir to the government of Bengal, he left Yeas ul dien in the government of Behar, and then returned to Delhi. But soon after, war broke out between Nasir, prince of Bengal, and Yeas ul dien of Behar. The latter was defeated and slain; Nasir taking possession of his principality and treasure, out of which he sent ample presents to his friends at Delhi.
In the mean time, Altumsh led out his forces against Cabaja, who possessed the provinces on the Indus, and, unable to oppose him in the field, left a strong garrison in Dutch, and returned himself to Backar. The Emperor detached Nizam Jinaidi with half the army in pursuit of Cabaja, while, with the other half, he himself laid siege to Outch, which he took in two months and twenty days. When the news of the fall of Outch reached Cabaja, he sent his son Alla to entreat the Emperor for peace. The terms were not settled when news was brought, that Nasir, already mentioned, had been obliged by Nizam to attempt to cross the river, and that he was unhappily drowned. The whole country submitted to the imperial power. Altumsh then drew his forces towards the fort of Rintimpore, which he besieged and took.
In the year 624, he marched towards the fort of Mendu, which he reduced with all the country of Sewalic. At this time, the noble Ruhani, the most learned and most famous poet and philosopher of that age, fled from Bochara, that city being taken by the great Zingis, and took protection at Delhi, where he wrote many excellent pieces. The Emperor, at the same time, had an embassy from the Arabian Princes, with the royal robes of the Caliphat, which he assumed with joy, making a great festival, and distributing rich presents.
In the same year, he received intelligence of the death of Nasir, his eldest son, prince of Bengal, which threw him into mourning and sorrow. He soon after conferred the title upon his younger son, whom he carried with him to that province in the year 627, to invest him with the government, which had run into confusion after the death of the former prince. Having entirely settled this country in peace, he left Eaz ul Muluck to superintend the kingdom, and returned with his son to Delhi.
Altumsh formed a design, in the year 629, to reduce the fort of Gualier, which had, during the reign of his predecessor Aram, fallen into the hands of the Hindoos. He accordingly besieged it for a whole year, when the garrison being reduced to great straits, the governor made his escape in the night, and the troops capitulated; but about three hundred of them, for treacherous behaviour, were punished.
After the reduction of this place, he marched his army towards Malaya, and reducing the fort of Belsay, took the city of Ugeïn, where he destroyed the magnificent and rich temple of Makal [Ma signifies Great, in the Indian language; and Kal Time, or sometimes Death.], formed upon the same plan with that of Sumnat, which had been building three hundred years, and was surrounded by a wall one hundred cubits in height. The image of Bicker-magit, who had been formerly prince of this country, and so renowned that the people of Hindostan date their time from his death, as also that of Makal, both of stone, with many other figures of brass, he ordered to be carried to Delhi, and broken at the door of the great mosque.
After his return from this expedition, he drew his army again towards Moultan, to settle the affairs of that province; but this enterprise proved unsuccessful on account of his health. He fell sick on his march, which obliged him to return to Delhi, where he died on the 20th of Shaban, in the year 633. His vizier, towards the latter end of his reign, was Assami, who had been formerly vizier of the Calipha of Bagdat for thirty years. He was renowned for wisdom and learning, but had left that court on account of some disgust, and travelled to Delhi, where he was deemed a great acquisition, and honoured with the vizarit. The most famous for letters in this reign, was Mahommed Ufi, who wrote the Jame ul Hickaiat, a valuable collection of histories, and other books. The reign of Altumsh was twenty-six years. He was an enterprising, able, and good prince.
In the 13th year of the reign of Altumsh, Zingis Chan, the great conqueror of Asia, marched against Mahommed, King of Charizm and all Persia. The state of Asia, just preceding the revolution, brought about by the arms of Zingis, was as follows: China was divided into two empires, that called the Song Kingdom in the south, and Kitay in the north. The greatest part of Tartary was subject to Zingis, after the defeat and death of Aunac, the Grand Chan; the Western Tartary and all Persia were comprehended in the empire of Charizm, under Mahommed; the three Arabias, the Arabian Iraac, Mesopotamia, and a small territory on the side of Persia, owned the authority of the Calipha, Nasser, of the noble house of Abassi: the successors of the famous Jellal ul dien, corruptedly called Saladin, possessed Syria and Egypt; and a younger branch of the Siljokides of Persia reigned in the lesser Asia, under the title of Sultans of Ikonium. All Hindostan, except the Decan, was subject to the Afgan or Patan empire, under Altumsh. From the thinteenth to the twenty-sixth year of Altumsh, which was the last of his reign, the face of affairs in Asia became totally changed. Zingis conquered that immense continent, from the sea of China to Syria, and from the Indus to the Arctic circle. That great prince being bent upon the complete conquest of China, India escaped an invasion, which, in all human probability, would have forced it to share the same fate with the rest of Asia.
[Section V. The Reign of Ruckun ul dien Ferose Shaw ben Sultan Shumse ul dien Altumsh.]
FEROSE I.
The prince Ferose [Ruckun ul dien, Ferose Shaw.] succeeded his father Altumsh in the throne of Delhi. In the year 625, his father appointed him governor of Budaoon, and, after the reduction of Gualier, conferred upon him the viceroyship of Lahore. He chanced, at the Emperor's death, to be at Delhi on a visit, and immediately ascended the throne. The Omrahs made their offerings, and swore allegiance; while the poets of the age vied with one another in his praise, for which they received liberal donations.
But, when he acquired the imperial dignity, he spread the flowery carpets of luxury, and withdrew his hand from the toils of state. He expended his father's treasure upon dancing-women, comedians, and musicians, and left the affairs of government to the management of his mother. This woman had been a Turkish slave, and now became a monster of cruelty, murdering all the women of Altumsh's haram, to gratify her inhuman hatred to them, as also the youngest of that Emperor's sons.
The minds of the people began to be filled with disgust, and Mahommed, the younger brother of the King, and governor of Oud, intercepted the revenues from Bengal, and began to assert independence. At the same time, Mahommed, Suba of Budaoon, Chani, governor of Lahore, Cabire, viceroy of Moultan, and Kugi, governor of Hassi, entering into a confederacy, exalted their standards of hostility against the Emperor. Ferose collected a vast army, and marched to Kilogurry, where he was deserted by his vizier Junedi, with part of his army. The vizier went towards Kole, where he joined some of the insurgents. They from thence proceeded to Lahore, where they were joined by the nobles of these provinces.
The Emperor, in the mean time, continued his march towards them, and when he reached Munsurpoor, seven of his principal chiefs deserted him, and retired with their troops to Delhi. There they advanced Sultana Rizia, the eldest daughter of Altumsh, to the throne, and imprisoned the Emperor's mother.
When this news reached the Emperor, he hastened back with his army towards Delhi, and having reached Kilogurry, Rizia, on the 18th of Ribbi ul Awil, in the year 634, advanced against him. He was delivered up into her hands, and died in confinement some time after; so that he reigned only six months and twenty-eight days.
[Section VI. The Reign of Malleke Doran Sultana Rizia.]
SULTANA RIZIA
SULTANA RIZIA [Malleke Doran, Sultana Rizia.] was adorned with every qualification necessary in the ablest kings; and the strictest scrutineers of her actions could find in her no fault but that she was a woman. In the time of her father, she entered deeply into the affairs of government, which disposition he encouraged, finding she had a remarkable talent in politics. In that year in which he took the fort of Gualier, he appointed her regent in his absence. When he was asked by the Omrahs, why he appointed his daughter to such an office, in preference to so many of his sons, he replied, “that he saw his sons gave themselves up to wine, women, gaming, and the worship of the wind [Flattery.]; that therefore he thought the government too weighty for their shoulders to bear; and that Rizia, though a woman, had a man's head and heart, and was better than twenty such sons."
Rizia, upon her accession, changing her apparel, assumed the imperial robes, and every day gave public audience from the throne, revising and confirming the laws of her father, which had been abrogated in the last reign, and distributing justice with an equal hand. In the mean time, the vizier Junedi, and the confederate Omrahs, who had met at Lahore, advanced with their armies to Delhi, and encamping without the city, commenced hostilities. They, at the same time, sent circular letters to all the Omrahs of the empire, to draw them from their allegiance. This news reaching the Suba of Oud, he collected his forces, and hastened to the relief of the Empress; but when he had crossed the Ganges, he was engaged by the confederates, defeated, and taken prisoner, in which condition he soon died.
The Empress found means, in her own policy, to sow dissension among the confederates; till, finding themselves in a dangerous situation, they retreated each to his own country, while some of them, being pursued by the Empress, were taken and put to death, the vizier escaping to the hills of Sirmore, where he died.
The prosperity of the Sultana daily gaining ground, she gave the vizarit to Chaja Ghiznavi, who had been deputy to the former vizier, with the title of Nizam, and the chief command of her forces to Abiek, with the title of Kilic Chan. Kabirc, having subjected himself to her authority, was confirmed in the government of Lahore, while the countries of Bengal, and the northern provinces, were also confirmed to their respective viceroys, on their promise of future obedience.
In the mean time, Kilic Chan, general of the Sultana's armies, died, and Hassen, being appointed to succeed him, was sent with a force to raise the siege of Rintimpore, which was then invested by the independent Indian princes. But, at the approach of the imperial forces, they raised the siege, and retreated. After Hassen's departure from Rintimpore, Tiggi was advanced to the dignity of lord of the privacy, and master of requests. Jammal gaining great favour with the Empress, was also appointed Master of the Horse, from which station he was presently advanced to that of Captain General of the Empire.
The nobles were greatly disgusted at this promotion, as the favourite was originally an Abassinian slave. The first who began openly to express his discontent, was the viceroy of Lahore, in the year 637, who threw off his allegiance, and began to recruit his army. The Empress, collecting also her forces, marched out against him, and the viceroy, being disappointed by some of his confederates, was obliged to make every concession to obtain pardon. This he effected with so much art, that the Empress, upon her departure, either believing him to be her friend, or desirous of binding him over to her interest by gratitude, continued him in his viceroyship, and added to it that of Moultan, which had been governed by Kirakus.
In the same year, Altunia, the imperial governor of Tiberhind, exalted the hostile standard against the Empress, on account of her imprudent partiality to the Abassinian. The Empress, upon this intelligence, marched with her army towards Tiberhind, but, about half-way, all the Turkish chiefs in her army mutinied with their forces. A tumultuous conflict ensued, in which her Abassinian general was killed, and she herself seized and sent to the fort of Tiberhind, to Altunia. The army then returned to Delhi, where the Turkish Omrahs set up her brother Byram, the son of the Emperor Altumsh.
In the mean time, Altunia, governor of Tiberhind, having married the Empress, in a short time, by her influence, raised a great army of Gickers, Jits, and other nations, near the banks of the Indus, with many Omrahs of distinction, and marched with her towards Delhi. Byram, the new Emperor, upon this, sent Balin, son-in-law to Altumsh, with his forces to oppose her. The two armies meeting near Delhi, an obstinate: engagement ensued, in which the unfortunate Empress. being defeated, fled to Tiberhind.
She some time after collected her scattered forces, and was soon in a condition to make another bold effort for the empire. She advanced with a numerous army towards Delhi, but her forces being composed of the troops of India, were no ways a match for the mercenaries of Tartary, which chiefly composed the Emperor's army. Balin, who was again sent to oppose her, gave her another defeat at Keitel, the 4th of the first Ribbi, in the same year. She and her husband being taken in the pursuit, were inhumanly put to immediate death; while others relate, with less probability, that they were both carried bound to Byram, who ordered them to be assassinated in prison. Thus died the Empress Rizia, deserving a better fate, after a reign. of three years six months and six days.
[Section VII. The Reign of Sultan Moaz ul dien Byram Shaw ben Sultan Shumse ul dien Altumsh.]
BYRAM II.
When the Empress Rizia was prisoner in the fort of Tiberhind, Byram [Moaz ul dien, Byram Shaw.], the son of the late Emperor Altumsh, upon Monday the 27th of Ramsan, in the year 637, by consent of the Omrahs, ascended the throne of Delhi, and confirmed all the laws and customs then in force. Tiggi, in conjunction with the vizier, by degrees took the whole government of the empire upon himself, taking the sister of the Emperor to wife, and mounting an elephant upon guard, at his gate, which was an honour peculiar to royalty.
This circumstance raised disgust and jealousy in the Emperor's mind. He therefore ordered two Turkish slaves to put on the appearance of drunkenness, and endeavour to assassinate Tiggi and the vizier. Accordingly, upon a certain day, these two Turks, when the King gave public audience, pressed among the crowd, and began to be very troublesome. Tiggi, who stood first in the rank of Omrahs, went to turn them out. They drew their daggers, and plunged them into his breast, then, running to the vizier, they gave him two wounds; but he escaped through the crowd. The slaves were immediately seized, and thrown into chains, but in a few days after they were pardoned.
The vizier kept his bed for some days, on account of his wounds, but, as soon as he recovered, he appeared again at court, and officiated in his employ. Sunkir Rumi, who was then Master of the requests, formed a scheme to supersede him. He, for this purpose, placed himself at the head of a powerful faction at court, and collecting the Omrahs together, and among the rest the vizier, at the house of the chief justice of the empire, he began to concert with them a plan to bring about a revolution. The chief justice was secretly averse to the measure, and fearing that what was nominally meant against the vizier, should actually turn upon his master, he sent to the Emperor, and informed him of the whole affair. The messenger brought back with him a faithful servant of the King, in the habit of a fool, to overhear the conversation with the vizier. The vizier, though he actually entered into the measures of the meeting, excused himself from attendance at that time.
The story of the chief justice being confirmed by the person whom the Emperor sent to overhear the Omrahs, a body of cavalry were immediately dispatched to seize them; but they having had previous intelligence, dispersed themselves before the horse arrived. The next day, Sunkir Rumi, who was one of the principal conspirators, was sent to be governor of Budaoon, while Casi Jellal was turned out of his office. In a few months after, Rumi and Muza were assassinated at Budaoon by the Emperor's emissaries, while Casi Jellal was trod under foot by elephants.
These proceedings raised fear and apprehension in the bosom of every body, which being improved by the faction, there was a general mutiny among the troops. In the mean time news arrived, that the Moguls of the great Zingis had invested Lahore upon the 16th of the first Jemmad, in the year 639; that Malleck, the viceroy of that place, finding his troops mutinous, had been obliged to fly in the night, and was actually on his way to Delhi; and that Lahore was plundered by the enemy, and the miserable inhabitants carried away prisoners.
The King, upon this urgent occasion, called a general council of state, in which it was determined to send the vizier, and Hassen Ghori, chief secretary of the empire, with other Omrahs, to oppose the Moguls at Lahore, with an army. When the imperial army advanced as far as the river Bea, where the town of Sultanpoor now stands, the vizier, who was privately an enemy to the Emperor, began to depreciate his government to the nobles, and to sow the seeds of sedition in their minds. But that he might completely effect his purpose, he wrote a private letter to the Emperor, accusing them of disaffection, and begging he would either take the field himself, or send other Omrahs and more forces, for that those now with the army could not be depended upon, and that therefore nothing could be done against the enemy.
The Emperor, though he had been forewarned of the treachery of his vizier in the late conspiracy, yet the artful man had so well extricated himself, and gained such confidence, that Byram, who was not blessed with much discernment, gave entire credit to this accusation, and sent him an order, importing, that they deserved death; at the same time recommending to him to keep them quiet till he should find the means of bringing them to condign punishment. This was what the crafty vizier wanted. He immediately produced the King's order, which kindled the Omrahs at once into rage, while he misled them with respect to the accuser. He even pretended to be apprehensive for himself, and began to consult with them about the means of general security; and they all promised to support him.
This news having reached the Emperor, he began to open his eyes when too late, and in great perturbation hastened to the house of Islaam, a venerable and learned Omrah, requesting him to set out for the camp, and endeavour, by proper representations, to bring over the disaffected chiefs to their duty. Islaam accordingly set out in private, but not being able to effect any thing, returned to Delhi. The vizier, in the mean time, advanced with the army to the capital, which he besieged for three months and a half. Rebellion spreading at last among the citizens, the place was taken on the eighth of Zicada, in the year 639. Byram was thrown into prison, where, in a few days, he came to a very tragical end, after a reign of two years one month and fifteen days.
The Moguls, in the mean time, plundered the provinces on the banks of the five branches of the Indus, and returned to Ghizni.
[Section VIII. The Reign of Sultan Alla Ul Dien Musaood Shaw, the son of Ruckun ul dien Firoze Shaw.]
MUSAOOD IV.
When Byram had drunk the cup of fate, Balin the elder raised a faction, and forcing his way into the palace, mounted the throne, and ordered himself to be proclaimed throughout the city. But the greater part of the princes and nobility, dissatisfied with his advancement, immediately took out Musaood [Alla-ul-dien, Musaood Shaw.] the son of Ferose, the late Emperor, from his confinement in the white castle, and deposing the usurper, placed him upon the throne the same day in which Balin had seized it. Hassin was made vakeel of the empire [This office of vakeel sultanit, or vakeel mutuluck, was the first in the empire; his business was to issue all orders from the closet to the vizier or other officers of state, who were to take measures for executing them.
]; Nizam, vizier; and the late governor of Lahore, lord of requests.
The vizier, who was a politic and ambitious man, still maintained an absolute power in the empire; but being of a haughty and oppressive disposition, he bore it with too high a hand among the nobles. They consequently began to combine against him, and in the month of the first Ribbi, in the year 640, found means to assassinate him one day when he was hunting. The vizarit was conferred upon the chief justice of the empire, and the younger Balin was made lord of the requests. Even Balin the elder was appointed viceroy of Nagore, Sind, and Ajmere. The subaship of Budaoon was given at the same time to Taggi; and other provinces fell to various chiefs, according to their rank and interest at court; and, in general, peace and content seemed to diffuse themselves over the kingdom.
The Emperor, about this time, released his two uncles Mamood and Jellal, who had been imprisoned by the Emperor Byram. He conferred upon the former the government of Barage, and to the latter he gave that of Kinnoge. Tiggi was appointed governor of Bengal.
In the year 642, an army of Mogul Tartars made an incursion into Bengal, by the way of Chitta and Tibet. Musaood sent towards Bengal, Timur, to the aid of Tiggi, governor of that province, with a great army. The Moguls received a total defeat; but jealousy arising between Timur and Tiggi, they proceeded to open hostilities; and the Emperor ordered Tiggi to resign the government to Timur, and to return to Delhi.
In the following year, intelligence arrived that another army of Moguls had crossed the Indus, and invested Outch. The King immediately ordered forces to be mustered, and putting himself at their head, directed the imperial standard towards the Tartars. When he had reached the banks of the river Bea, they raised the siege, and began to retreat; and Musaood, hearing that they had totally evacuated the country, returned to Delhi.
Musaood soon after gave himself up to wine and women, and exercised various modes of cruelty, injustice, and oppression, despising all counsel, and placing the way of ruin before him. The princes and Omrahs at length bound up their loins to hostility, having first privately sent for Mamood, the King's uncle, from Barage. Mamood advanced with all the forces he could raise towards the capital. The Emperor was thrown into prison, by the Omrahs, where he remained for life. He reigned four years one month and one day; a weak and foolish prince, a slave to his pleasures, and without firmness of mind to entertain any one commendable virtue.
Oktay, the son of Zingis, sat upon the imperial throne of Tartary, during the short reigns of Ferose, Rizia, Byram, and Musaood. Little alteration happened in the conquests of Zingis, and his posterity were employed in extending the Tartar empire in the two extremities of Asia. The dominions left by Altumsh remained entire when his son Musaood was deposed.
[Section IX. The Reign of Sultan Nasir Ul Dien Mamood ben Sultan Shumse ul dien Altumsh.]
MAMOOD II.
We have already observed, that when the eldest son of the Emperor Altumsh died in Bengal, he conferred the title and government of that principality upon his younger son Mamood [ ]. But this was a nominal honour, Mamood being at that time too young for such a charge. Upon his father's death he was confined by the cruel Empress, and remained in prison till he was released by the Emperor Musaood, who gave him the government of Barage. During the time of his government, he waged successful wars with the neighbouring independent princes, and rendered his province happy and flourishing. The fame of his justice and policy became to be noised abroad, which made the Omrahs turn their eyes towards him in the late revolution. He was then placed upon the throne of his father, which, even laying aside his birth, his bravery, wisdom, and learning, his other good qualities very much deserved to possess.
During the time of his imprisonment, he wrote for his livelihood, despising the Emperor's allowance. He often said, in the days of his misfortune, that he who could not work for his bread did not deserve it. When he ascended the throne, he was the patron of learning, the protector of the people, and the friend of the poor. The poets of that age vied with one another for the prize at his coronation, which was gained by Minage, for his poem upon that occasion. This writer is also particularly famous for his valuable history called the Tibcaat Nazari.
The office of vizier was now conferred upon Balin the younger, who formerly defeated the Sultana; and all the executive power was put into his hands. Shere, the Emperor's nephew, was appointed to the government of Lahore, Moultan, Batenize, and Tiberhind, where he was ordered to keep a great standing army, to watch the motions of the Moguls, who now had possessed themselves of the provinces beyond the Indus.
It is said, that when Mamood appointed young Balin vizier, that he told him, he trusted his own glory to his loyalty and conduct; therefore, to do nothing for which he could not answer to God, or that would stain his name with injustice towards his people, or ingratitude towards his King. The vizier faithfully promised his best, and exerting himself with such unwearied diligence in his office, regulated so well the business of the state, that nothing escaped his eye, or passed his particular inspection.
In the month of Regib, the King took the field, and turned his arms towards Moultan. He encamped for some time upon the banks of the Sodra; and making his vizier captain-general, he sent him towards the mountains of Jehud, and the territories near the Indus. Those countries were reduced, and the Emperor avenged himself upon the Gickers for their continual incursions, and for guiding the Moguls through their country into Hindostan. These offences were too great to be pardoned, and therefore he carried some thousands of every age and sex into captivity.
Some ancient Omrahs, who had estates conferred on them in the provinces near the Indus, had, for some time past, refused to supply their quotas to the army, for the maintenance of which they held these estates. By the advice of the vizier, they were arrested and carried prisoners to Delhi. The King, however, gave their estates to their sons or relations, upon the old military tenure. The country of Punjaab and Moultan were by these means effectually settled, and the King's authority firmly established. The behaviour of Mamood, upon this occasion, puts us in mind of a story of a singular kind.
Some authors inform us, that when Secunder [Alexander the Great.] was on his way to India, some of his old generals, unwilling to proceed farther, began to draw their feet out of the circle of his obedience. The hero upon this, was thrown into great perplexity, not knowing how to proceed with them. In this dilemma, he sent a messenger to Greece to advise with his old master Aristotalise [Aristotle, the Philosopher.], who, by reason of his age and infirmities, had not accompanied him. When the sage read the letter, he carried the messenger into the garden, where he gave orders to the gardener to root up all the old plants, and set young shoots in their places. Without saying more, or writing any answer, he told the messenger to return in haste to his master.
When the messenger arrived, he fell upon his face before the King, and told him he could obtain no reply. Secunder was somewhat surprised, and enquired into the particulars of the interview. Hearing the above relation, he smiled, and told the messenger he had brought him an excellent answer. He accordingly put some old mutinous officers to death, and cashiered others; supplying their places with young men, who became more obedient to command; and thus re-established his authority in the army.
In the month of Shaban 645, the Emperor Mamood returned with his troops through the country which lies between the two rivers Ganges and Jumna, and, after an obstinate siege, the fort of Tilsinda yielded to his arms. He then continued his march towards Kurrah, Balin commanding the van guard. He was met at Kurrah by the Indian princes Dilleki and Millecki, whom he defeated, plundering their country, and taking many of both their families prisoners. These two Rajas had seized upon all the country to the south of the Jumna, destroyed the King's garrisons from Malava to Kurrah, and held their chief residence at Callinger. After these exploits the Emperor returned to Delhi.
In the following year, he sent the vizier with an army towards Rintimpore and the mountains of Merwar, to chastise the rebellious inhabitants of these countries, which he effectually did, and returned to Delhi. The vizier's brother Abiek Cushli was promoted to the dignity of lord of the petitions, and Zinjani to be chief secretary to the empire.
In the same year, the Emperor's brother Jellal was called from his government of Kinnoge to Delhi. But, fearing that the King had some intentions against his life, he fled to the hills of Sitnoor, with all his adherents. The Emperor pursued him, but finding, after eight months' labour, that he could not lay hands upon him, he returned to Delhi. Mamood, in the year 647, married the daughter of his vizier, Balin, and upon the occasion made great rejoicings. He drew, in the year following, his army towards Moultan, and, upon the banks of the Bea, he was joined by his nephew Shere, governor of the northern provinces, with twenty thousand chosen horse. The King continued his march to Moultan, where he remained for some days. Having placed the elder Balin in the government of Nagore and Outch, and settled some other matters, he returned to his capital.
The elder Balin, in the year 649, threw off his allegiance, and stirred up a rebellion in those provinces. This obliged Mamood to put the imperial standard in motion towards Nagore. He put the rebel to flight; but such was the strange policy of the times, that he promised him his pardon, upon his submission; and afterwards actually continued him in his government. The Emperor, after returning from this expedition, remained only a few days at Delhi, before he proceeded to the siege of Narvar. He was met at Narvar by the Indian prince Sahir Deo, who had just built that fortress on a steep rock, with five thousand horse, and two hundred thousand foot. This immense host were defeated with great slaughter, and the place, being invested, was reduced, after a few months' siege. The Emperor from thence continued his march to Chinderi and Malava, and having settled those countries, and appointed a suba to govern them, returned to Delhi. The vizier gained, in this expedition, great reputation for his conduct and personal valour.
In the mean time, the Emperor's nephew Shere, viceroy of Lahore and Moultan, who was at that time reckoned a prodigy of wisdom, valour, and every royal virtue, had raised and disciplined a body of horse, with which he drove the Moguls out of the kingdom of Ghizni, and annexed it once more to the empire. He struck the currency in the name of Mamood, and proclaimed him through all the provinces. The King, for these services, added the government of Outch to his viceroyship, which, contrary to expectation, was quietly delivered up by the elder Balin, who returned to Delhi, and received the Jagier of Budaoon.
Mamood, in the year 650, marched by the way of Lahore, into Moultan, and was joined by the governor of Budaoon, by the way of Sevan and Cushlu, with fine armies. In the beginning of the following year, Zingani, chief secretary of the empire, who had rose to that dignity through the interest of the vizier, began to envy the fame and influence of that able minister. He took every opportunity to traduce his benefactor to the King in private. The Monarch's affections for the vizier began to cool visibly, and he was even prevailed upon at last to discharge that great man from his office, when he only conferred upon him, in lieu of it, the small government of Hassi, for his subsistence, where his enemy sought an opportunity to take his life.
Zingani now became absolute in the King's favour, and began his authority by turning out every person from their offices and governments, who had been appointed by the former vizier. He removed all Balin's friends and relations from the royal presence, constituting Mahommed, who resided at Delhi, vizier of the empire, and Cutchlew, lord of requests. When he returned to Delhi with the King, he every where disturbed the public peace, and overset the fundamental laws of the country.
The Emperor again mustered his army, and began his march towards the river Bea, for Shere had unfortunately, at this time, been defeated by the rebels of the province of Sind, and lost several forts in Moultan. This furnished the favourite with an opportunity of disgracing him with the King, who turned him out of his viceroyship, which he conferred upon Arsilla, and then returned to his capital. In the mean time, the governor of Keital and Coram was assassinated by the zemindars, which prevailed on the Sultan to march his army to revenge his death, from which expedition he very soon returned again to Delhi.
The government of the chief secretary became by this time so invidious to the whole empire, that almost all the governors of provinces entered into an association, and sent an embassy to Balin, the former vizier, informing him, that the government of the country was quite subverted, and that the oppression and arrogance of Zingani was beyond expression; that they were therefore desirous he should proceed to Delhi, and take the empire, as formerly, under his wise conduct and direction. Balin consented, and, according to appointment, all the Omrahs met, with their forces, in one day, at Koram.
Mamood and his chief secretary Zingani, upon receiving this intelligence, marched with the imperial forces to disperse the insurgents; but when the royal army advanced as far as Hassi, Balin, and the rest of the Omrahs, sent an address to the King, to the following purpose: “That they were his loyal subjects, and were satisfied to kiss the foot of his throne, so be he would banish Zingani from his presence.” The Emperor was under the necessity of either consenting to this request, or to lose his empire. He therefore dismissed the obnoxious favourite from his presence, and sent him to Budaoon. The Omrahs presented their offerings, and were honoured with royal dresses. Chani was appointed to command at Lahore, and Shere was confirmed in his former governments, and other districts adjacent. Mamood returned peaceably to Delhi, and expressed great joy at seeing his old vizier, while the flower of desire blossomed in the hearts of the subjects.
In the year 653, the Emperor conferred the government of Oud upon Cuttulich, of which, however, he wanted to deprive him in a few months for that of Barage, which was neither so lucrative nor so honourable. Cuttulich, upon this account, swerved from his allegiance, and, having brought over some other Omrahs to his party, raised a great army, which obliged Mamood to send the vizier against him. A general was dispatched at the same time against Zingani, who had begun a diversion about Budaoon. He was however soon defeated, taken prisoner, and put to death. Cuttulich was also routed by the vizier, and fled to Sitnoor. The vizier destroyed the place, but not being able to lay hold of the rebel, he returned to Delhi.
Diepal, the Indian prince of Sitnoor, in the year 655, entered into an alliance with the rebel Cuttulich, and raising a great army, advanced to meet the suba of Sind, who was in the same confederacy. All three joining their forces near Koram, became very formidable, to the empire. The King again ordered his vizier, with a great army, to take the field. When the two armies approached one another, a mutiny was stirred up in the vizier's camp, by some Omrahs, who wrote private letters to the enemy, projecting the means of their taking the city, in which they had also set a faction on foot to favour them. The vizier having received good intelligence of this treasonable correspondence, acquainted the King of the particulars, who ordered them all to be confined. In the mean time, the enemy, according to the scheme projected, marched with a body of chosen cavalry two hundred miles, in two days, advancing to the gates of Delhi, where the traitors had promised to meet them that day with their forces; but finding themselves disappointed, and the imperial troops marching out against them, they entirely dispersed, the governor of Sind retreating to his government, but Cuttulich was never heard of afterwards.
Towards the latter end of this year, a Mogul army crossed the Indus, which obliged Mamood to point his hostile spears towards that quarter; but the Moguls fled upon his approach; so that, without further trouble, he returned to his capital, giving the country of Punjaab to his nephew Shere, and sending Chani to the government of Bengal.
In the year 656, Mamood marched his army towards Kurrah and Manickpoor, to chastise Arsilla and Calliche, who had not joined their forces in obedience to his orders, when he marched the year before to Punjaab. These subas, however, found means at court to mollify the King's resentment, and Arsilla found even interest to obtain the government of Bengal, which had been so lately disposed of to Chani, while the other obtained some districts by the foot of the mountains.
Cutchlew, the vizier's brother, was, in the year 657, appointed to the government of Kole, Jellasore, Gualier, and Biana. Nothing else remarkable happened this season, but the death of the rebellious governor of Sind. The vizier, by the King's commands, led, next year, an army towards Sewalic and Rintimpore, where the Indians had begun to raise great disturbances, having collected a very numerous body of horse and foot, at the head of which they plundered and burnt the country. Upon the vizier's approach, they retired into strong posts and passes among the mountains, where, however, he routed them, and continued to ravage their country four months with fire and sword, setting a price upon their heads.
The princes of those Rajaputs, rendered at length desperate, collected all their forces, and rushed down from the mountains to be revenged of the Mahommedans. The vizier saw the storm descending, and had time to draw up his army in order of battle to receive them. The attack of the enemy was violent and terrible, being actuated by rage, revenge, and despair. It was with much difficulty that the vizier could keep the imperial troops in the field, but the enemy overheating themselves towards mid-day, they became hourly more languid and faint. The imperial general inspiring his troops with fresh courage, for, till then, they had acted upon the defensive, began to charge in his turn, and, before evening, pursued the enemy, with great slaughter, back to the hills. The vizier's loss was very considerable in this action, and many brave Omrahs drank the cup of martyrdom. Of the enemy above ten thousand were slain, and ninety of their chiefs made prisoners, besides a great number of common soldiers. The vizier having, by this action, relieved the fort of Rintimpore, which had been besieged by some other tribes, he returned victorious to Delhi. The captive chiefs were cruelly ordered to be put to death, and their unfortunate soldiers condemned to perpetual slavery.
In the month of the first Ribbi of this year, an ambassador arrived at Delhi, on the part of Hallaću, the grandson of Zingis, and king of Persia. The vizier went out to meet the ambassador with fifty thousand foreign horse, in the imperial service, two hundred thousand infantry in arms, two thousand chain-elephants of war, and three thousand carriages of fireworks. He drew up in order of battle, formed in columns of twenty deep, with the artillery and cavalry properly disposed. Having then exhibited some feats of horsemanship, in mock battles, and fully displayed his pomp to the ambassador, he conducted him into the city and royal palace. There the court was very splendid, every thing being set out in the most gorgeous and magnificent manner. All the Omrahs, officers of state, judges, priests, and great men of the city, were present, besides five princes of Persian Ayrac, Chorassan, and Maver-ul-nere, with their retinues, who had taken protection at Delhi, from the arms of Zingis, who, a little before that time, had overrun most part of Asia. Many Indian princes, subject to the empire, were there, and stood next the throne.
This ceremony being concluded with great pomp, nothing particular occurred at Delhi, till the year 663, when the Emperor fell sick, and, having lingered some months on the bed of affliction, died on the 11th of the first Jemmad, in the year 664, much lamented by his people.
Mamood was very singular in his private character, for, contrary to the custom of all princes, he kept no concubines. He had but one wife, whom he obliged to do every homely part of housewifery: and when she complained one day, that she had burnt her fingers in baking his bread, desiring he might allow her a maid to assist her, he rejected her request, with saying, that he was only a trustee for the state, and that he was determined not to burthen it with needless expences. He therefore exhorted her to persevere in her duty with patience, and God would reward her in the end.
As the Emperor of India never eats in public, his table was rather that of a hermit, than suitable to a great King. He also continued the whimsical notion of living by his pen. One day, as an Omrah was inspecting a Coran of the Emperor's writing before him, he pointed out a word, which he said was wrong. The King, looking at it, smiled, and drew a circle round it. But when the critic was gone, he began to erase the circle, and restore the word. This being observed by one of his old attendants, he begged to know his Majesty's reason for so doing; to which he replied, “That he knew the word was originally right; but he thought it better to erase from a paper, than tocuh the heart of a poor man, by bringing him to shame.” These might, indeed, be virtues in private life, but were certainly none in a sovereign; for, notwithstanding the praises conferred upon him by historians, we must look upon him rather as the representation than the real substance of a great monarch.
Kajuc, and after him, Mengo Chan, sat on the throne of Tartary, during the reign of Mamood. The conquest of the southern China goes on, and Hallacu, the grandson of Zingis, extends his victories in the west of Asia, and, having taken Bagdat, puts an end to the Caliphat, by the extirpation of the race of Abbas, who enjoyed it 523 years.