Indian Antiquary Vol 50

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarkar
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 86

76
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[ MARCH, 1921
freed of his enemy, he gave the amfrs leave to depart, and they returned with the army to Ahmadnagar where they were honoured for their services by Husain Nigâm Shah. LIX.-AN ACCOUNT OF THE CAUSES OF THE STRIFE BETWEEN IBRAHIM 'ADIL
SHAH I. AND HUSAIN NIZAM I., AND OF THE VICTORY OF THE LATTER OVER THE FORMER BEFORE SHOLAPUR.
Most of Husain Nizam Shah's brothers, who had deemed themselves the heirs of the kingdom and worthy of the crown, had, through fear of the king's all-subduing sword, fled and taker refuge with Ibrâhîm 'Adil Shah, and in his dominions were continually plotting against the peace of the kingdom of Ahmadnagar. Some also of the most trusted amirs of Burhân Nigâm Shah, such as Farhad Khân, Shuja'at Khân, and Khurshid Khân, who secretly supported Mirân 'Abdul Qadir's claims, had only submitted to Husain Nizâm Shah and owned him as their king as a matter of policy. These amirs now entered into an engagement with Ibrâhîm 'Adil Shâh I., promising that if he would lead an army into the kingdom of Ahmadnagar with the object of deposing Husain Nigâm Shâh and placing one of his brothers on the throne, they would desert Husain NizâmShâh and join his standard. Ibrahim 'Adil Shâh, instigated by these amirs broke the peace that had existed between Ahmadnagar and Bîjâpûr, and, regardless of the horrors of war into which his own subjects and those of Ahmadnagar would be plunged, took Mirân Shah 'Alf, who was his sister's son and the brother of Husain Nigâm Shah, and invaded the kingdom of Ahmadnagar with the object of conquering it.
When Ibrahim Adil Shah thus broke the bonds of friendship at the instigation of the disloyal amirs of Ahmadnagar and with the help of Saif 'Ain-ul-Mulk who was distinguished for his bravery among the amirs of all the kingdoms of the Dakan and had been one of the amirs of Ahmadnagar in the reign of Burhân Nizâm Shah, and had, as has been mentioned, been instrumental in capturing the fortress of Kaliyâni, he marched to Sholapûr with a very large army and besieged that fortress. When news of the invasion of the country by Ibrahim 'Adil Shâh was brought to Ahmadnagar, Husain Nizam Shâh assembled a secret council of his officers. In this council Qâsim Beg, the physician, who was now vakil and pishvd, said that the matter of most urgent importance was that of the enemies of the state who wore the guise of friendship, the treacherous amirs, and that the king should first deal with them and afterwards consider what could be done against the invaders. The king approved of this advice and issued orders that the traitors should be immediately seized and blinded. In accordance with these orders, Farhad Khân, Shujâ'at Khân and Khurshid Khân were thrown into prison and blinded with sharp irons, for they were the leaders of the conspiracy. Faithful servants of the king were then promoted to the positions lately held by the traitors and received their titles, lands and troops,128
The king then sent Shâh Rafi-ud-din Husain, who was the eldest son of the late Shâh Tahir, as an ambassador to Daryâ 'Imâd Shah, in order that the treaty between the two kingdoms might be renewed and that Daryâ 'Imâd Shâh might, as formerly, join the royal standard with his troops. Unfortunately, Shâh Rafi-'ud-din Husain was a slave to his lusts, and instead of carrying out the mission with which he was entrusted, fell violently in love with a courtesan in Berar who had been appropriated by Daryâ 'Imâd Shâh as his mistress, and associated with her. Daryâ 'Imâd Shâh was much offended by his conduct
138 According to Firishta, the attempts of Ibrahim 'Adil Shah to seduce the amirs of Ahmadnagar from their allegiance to Husain were unsuccessful. These amirs probably belonged to the Sunni party, which favoured the pretensions of 'Abdul Qadir. Matters were probably simplified for Husain by the number of pretenders. These were 'Abdul Qadir, supported by the Sunni party, Shah Haidar, supported by his father-in-law, Khvaja Jahân of Sholapar, and Shah 'Alf, supported by his maternal uncle, Ibrahim Adil Shah I.