Advent of Pir Muhammad, the grandson Timur of Translation In the month of Rabi'-ul-auwal, 800 H. (NovemberDecember 1397 A.D.) Pir Muhammad, the daughter's son of Timur the King of Khorasan, having crossed the river Sindh with a large force, laid siege to the fort of Uch. 'Ali Malik who was in charge of the place (Uch) on behalf of Sarang Khan (the fief-holder of Dipalpur) held out for a month, when the Khan sent out Malik Tajuddin, his naib or deputy, along with the other amirs and a contingent of 4,000 horsemen in aid of 'Ali Malik. At the news of Tajuddin's approach, Pir Muhammad withdrew the siege and fell upon the enemy's reinforcement at Tarmtamals on the bank of the Biyah. They could not withstand such an unexpected attack; many were killed while some threw themselves into the river and were carried away. Sustaining defeat Malik Tajuddin with a small force at his command retreated to Multan. Pir Muhammad followed him there in pursuit. Sarang Khan dared not oppose him in the field and was compelled to take refuge in the fortress. For six months the siege continued; at last on the 19th Ramzan, 800 H. provisions running short, Sarang Khau held out the olive branch. The Khan was clapped into prison along with his family, dependants, army and the people of the city, while the victor took possession of Multan where he stationed his army. In the month of Shawwal, 800 H. Ikbal Khan 1 leagued himself with Sultan Nasiruddin and a compact was made between the two, at the tomb of the chief of the saints Nizamul Haq Waus Sharauddin. Sultan Nasiruddin was seated on an elephant and brought to Jáhánpapáh. Sultan Muhammad, Mukarrab Khan and Bahadur Nahir were placed in confinement at the old Delhi. On the third day, Ikbal Khan, in contra نديسة : River Sind refers to the Indus. In Elliot Tamtama. IV. p. 33. Was in charge of Siri; his original name was " Mallu," vention to the sanctity of the contract fell upon the unwary Sultan Nasiruddin who being thus taken unawares quitted Jáhánpanáh with his elephants and a small contingent. Ikbal went in his pursuit and took hold of the elephants belonging to the fugitive. Nasiruddin marched to Firozabad and thence with his attendants and relatives having crossed the Jaun (Jamuna), went to his Vizier Tátár Khan. Firozabad was then taken possession of by Ikbal. Subsequently, daily contests took place for two months. At length, owing to the intercession of the amirs, reconciliation was effected between them, Mukarrab Khan made an entry into Jáhánpanáh with Sultan Mahmud and Ikbal remained at Siri. All on a sudden Ikbál accompanied by his own men threw a cordon round the house of Mukarrab and treacherously slew him. Though he refrained from doing any personal injury to Sultan Mahmud, yet he took to himself the management of the state and kept the Sultan as a puppet.1 In Zíl Káda 800 H. Ikbal set out for Panipath against Tátár Khan. When the latter received this intelligence, he left his baggage and elephants in the fort of Panipath and proceeded towards Delhi with a strong force. Ikbal besieged Panipath, conquered it in two or three days, and Enally laid his hands on the elephants, horses and the baggage of Tátár, who in his turn had also attacked Delhi but failed in his attempt to take it. The capitulation of Panipath made Tátár give up the siege (of Delhi) and he fled with his army to his father in Guzrat. Ikbal returned victoriously to Delhi laden with elephants, horses and the spoils of war. Malik Nasirulmulk, a relation of Tátár Khan, was conferred with the title of 'Adil Khan for his co-operation with Ikbal Khan and was, besides, rewarded with lands in the Doab, while the latter was engaged in carrying on the affairs of the state. In the month of Safar 801 H. (October 1398 A.D.) report was given currency to that, Amir Timur the king of Khorassan having Timur's invasion بد طريق نمونه مي داشت 1 4 plundered Taban1 had encamped his army at Multan and put to the sword all the soldiers of Sarang Khan that had been imprisoned by the Amir's grandson. Sarang Khan was at his wits' end. Timur set off to Bhatez2 and having made Juljain Bhattis (the commandant of the fort) a prisoner, killed the people who had been besieged. From thence he proceeded to Samana where the inhabitants of Dipalpur, Ajodhan and Sarsuti had repaired to in fear of the invader. Some of them were made captive and a large number received the glory of martyrdom. The victor then forded Jaun (Jamuna) and made an entry into the Doab, most parts of which he harried. He halted at Tamuni and killed all the prisoners that were taken (from the tract) between the Sindh and the Ganges, totalling 50,000 men, more or less, God alone knows the truth. The inhabitants of the towns and the villages, Muslims and Hindus 5 alike, got funky and ran away, some to the mountains, some to the desert, some towards the rivers and some again to the fort of Delhi. In Jámádi-nl-auwal 801H Timur crossed Jaun, came to Firozabad, and on the day following put himself at the top of Hauz-i khass. In the maidan Ikbal with his elephants came vis-a-vis; at the first onset the Khan met with his defeat. Some of his elephants fell in the hands of the Amir's men, so with the remaining elephants he returned to the city through thousand and one difficulties. Still, during the retreat, most of the inhabitants of the city and the army were stamped out under foot, and The sack of Delhi heaps of dead were left. At sundown, Ikbal Khan and Sultan Mahmud leaving behind them their ladies and children, emerged out of the city. The latter took his way to The word is in the MS. In Elliot Talina ; ibid. 84. 2j; in Elliot Bhatnir. ibid. 3 In Elliot, Kulchain, ibid. In the MS. we have ♦ In Elliot Loni, ibid. In the MS." Loni" is seven miles N. N. W. of Delhi (Iswari Pd's Medi eval India. p. 307. fn.3). The word is (Tew), here referring to non-muslims. Ja is copyist's error for J, desert. The word is meaning fraud: here translated as "difficulty." Guzrat and the former crossed the Jaun and went over to Baran. Next day, Timur promised safety to the inhabitants and exacted ransom from them. On the fourth day he ordered that all the inhabitants of the city should be imprisoned and his mandate was carried out. A few days after Masnad Ali Khizr Khan, who had taken The sack of Lahore refuge in the mountains of Mewat in fear of the invader, Bahadur Nahir, Mubarak Khan and Zirak Khan were honoured with an interview, but save Khizr Khan all were enchained. Timur took to the skirts of the hills on his way back from Delhi. Khizr Khan was permitted to go and to him the invader addressed thus-"Having conquered Delhi, I bestow it upon you." On his way, those who remained in the mountains were also imprisoned. Reaching Lahore, the Amir sacked the city and made Sheikh Khokar, who due to his enmity with Sarang Khan had erelong joined Timur and acted as his guide, a prisoner along with his wife, children and those who had taken shelter with him. The victor bestowed upon Khizr Khan the fiefs of Multan and Dipalpur and despatched him there. He then marched via Kabul en route Samarkand, his capital. India after Timur's return, 1399-1414 A.D. State of the country those places which his army had passed through, were visited with pestilence and famine. Many died of sickness and many of hunger. For a couple of months Delhi presented a scene Rajab, 801 H. Mar. 1399. Nasiruddin Nusrat Shah came out from Doab and his contest for the throne of desolation and woe. In the month of Rajab, Sultan Nasiruddin Nusrat Shab, grandson of Sultan Firoz, who having failed to resist Ikbal had made his way to the Doab, now advanced to Mirat with a small force and was joined by Adil Khan who brought with him four elephants and an army. Nusrat Shah tactfully brought him under his control and took hold of the Elephants. The people of the Poab who had been Bet free from the Mughals, began to rally, and Nasiruddin entered Firozabad with 2,000 cavalry. Delhi, though ruined and desolate, came to his power. Shahab Khan came from Mewat with ten elephants and a number of adherents: from the Doab came Malik Almás and joined him. Thus, when a large army collected round him, Nasiruddin despatched Shaháb Khan to Baran against Ikbal Khan. But a party of Hindu footmen fell upon Shahab Khan and put him to death on the way the Khan's followers dispersed and the elephants were abandoned. Receiving this news Ikbal rushed hotfoot to the place of the occurrence and captured the elephants. Ikbal's power and Growth of Ikbal's power : dignity continued increasing every day and forces collected round him from all directions, while Sultan Nasiruddin grew weaker and weaker. In the month of Rabí-ul-auwal, Ikbal left Baran and paced Rabi-ul-auwal 801 his way to Delhi with an army. Nusrat H. Death of Nusrat evacuated Firozabad and proceeded to Delhi under Ikbal. Mewat where he breathed breathed his last. His capital Siri Delhi thus came into the possession of abode at Siri. Some of the inhabitants of the city who had escaped the Mughals came back and renewed their habitations. Ikbal who took up his Delhi re-populated In a short time Siri became populated. Extent of territory under Ikbal The districts in the Doab and the fiefs in the vicinity (of the capital) belonged to Ikbal while the outlying parts of the kingdom that (formerly) remained in the possession of the amirs and the maliks were kept by them. Thus, Guzrat and its neighouring countries were under Zafar Khan Wazíbul Mulk; Multan, Dipalpur and parts of Sind were held by Masnad Ali Khizr Khan; Mahobá and Kálpi under Mahmud Khan, son of Malik Zádá Firoz ; the fiefs on the side of Hindustan, e.g. Kanauj, Oudh, Agrah, Dalmau', Sandilah, Bahraich, Bihar a Jaunpur under Khwaja Jahán; Dhar under Dilawar Khan ; Samana under Ghalib Khan; Bayana 2 Res. J. The possession of the Amirs 10 |