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196
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[JUNE, 19 1
Murtaza Nizâm Shâh in his youth avoided all business of state and gave himself up wholly to sensual pleasures, so that the business of the state fell upon the shoulders of his mother Khânzâdah Humâyûn, who was the mother both of Murtaza Nizam Shâh and of his present majesty, Burhân Nizâm Shah Sahib Qirán, and the nobles and officers of state obeyed her in all things as though she had been king. She managed all affairs, whether of war or of peace, with wisdom and prudence.
At first she confirmed and continued Qâsim Beg Hakim in the office of vakil and pishvâ, which he had held in the reign of the late king, who had left Maulânâ 'Inayatullah in the territories of Vijayanagar with an army in order that he might capture the fortresses of Raichur and Mudgal, but afterwards when Maulânâ 'Inayatullah returned from Vijayanagar, Qasim Beg, who was growing feeble with age, resigned his office and went into retirement in his house, while 'Inayatullah was appointed vakil and pished in his place.
Then Farhad Khân the African, who had formerly been one of Qasim Beg's slaves, and, having been patronized by the king, had become a vazir and an officer in the army, and had then, owing to a quarrel between himself and Chatâ Khân the eunuch, become apprehensive, and had fled with some other vazirs to Gujarât, took Qâsim Beg, who had been sent to allay the fears of Farhâd and his companions, to Gujarât. Qâsim Beg died at the port of Surat. After a while Farhâd Khân, having received a safe conduct, returned to Ahmadnagar and re-entered the royal service, and Maulânâ 'Inayatullah, after holding the great offices of vakil and pishvd for some time, resigned them, and returned to the fortress of Lohogarh. Then Sayyid Shâh Rafi'-ud-din Husain, eldest son of the late Shâh Tâhir, was eppointed vakil and pishvá, but was soon dismissed, and was succeeded by Tâj Khân and 'Ain-ul-Mulk, brothers of Khûnzah Humâyûn, who jointly held the offices of vakil and pishvd and usurped their sister's power and position in the state.
Seven months after the death of Husain Nizam Shah, on Sunday, Rajab 5, 973 (Jan. 26, 1566), which was the date selected by the astrologers, Murtaza was formally and ceremoniously enthroned and crowned, and the amirs and great officers of state saluted him and scattered largesse.
LXXI. AN ACCOUNT OF 'ALI ADIL SHAH'S EXPEDITION AGAINST ARMADNAGAR
AND OF ITS RESULTS.
When 'Alî 'Adil Shâh heard of the death of Husain Nizâm Shâh and of Murtaza Nizâm Shâh's neglect of public business and devotion to sensual delights, he seized the opportu. nity of violating his treaty and of disregarding his connection by marriage with Murtazâ Nizâm Shâh and, at the instigation of Kishvar Khân, who was then pished of the kingdom of Bijapur, invaded the kingdom of Ahmadnagar with an army of horse and foot.161
When news of the irruption was brought by spies to Khûnzah Humâyûn, she considered that it would be wise to enter into treaties with the neighbouring rulers, and thus form a confederacy too strong for 'Ali 'Adil Shâh. She therefore sent an envoy to Tufâl Khân, who was then de facto ruler of Berar and had imprisoned the 'Imâd Shâhî family, the offspring
161 The treaty referred to was that made after the battle of Tâlikota, but Sayyid 'Ali gives an entirely false idea of the conduct of 'Ali Adil Shah, who was not the aggressor. After the battle of Talikota he took under his protection Timmala, son of Sadashivaraya, established him as ruler of Anagondi, and supported him against his uncle Venkatadri, who retired to Nalgonda. When 'Ali led an army to Anagondi to support Timmala, Venkatadri appealed for help to Ahmadnagar and Khûnzah Humayun and her son invaded 'Ali's dominions and prepared to besiege Bijapûr. Ali hastened lack from Anagondi and after a few indecisive combats the army of Ahmadnagar retired. These events. happened in A.. 973 (A.D. 1565-66)-F. ii. 77, 78, 254. Firishta says nothing of Tufal Khân or Ibrahim Qutb Shah having joined Murtaza Nizam Shah, and it is most improbable that they did so.
