Indian Antiquary Vol 51

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

Page 135

127
JUNE, 1922]
HISTORY OF THE NIZAM SHAHI KINGS OF AHMADNAGAR
Muhammad with a fresh 'Adil Shâhî force marched from Bijâpûr at night and on the second night he met the Qutb Shâhî force and in the darkness of that night a fierce conflict between these two armies took place. The fight lasted until the morning, but when the sun rose the 'Adil Shâhî's left the field and retired towards Bijâpûr, while the Qutb Shâhî army encamped on the field.
When the Qutb Shâhî army found that the Bîjâpûrîs had fled and would not renew the fight they resumed their march, plundering and ravaging the 'Adil Shâhî country as they advanced to a distance of four or five leagues on either side of their line of their march, until they approached the amir-ul-umara's army. Here they were received with honour, and as this reinforcement greatly increased the strength of the besieging army, renewed efforts were made to capture Bîjâpûr.
At this time Kishvar Khân 'Adilshâhî, 249 of whom it has already been mentioned that he fled from the amirs of Bîjâpûr and took refuge in Ahmadnagar arrived, by the royal command, with fresh troops at the camp of the amir-ul-umarâ, and the news of the arrival of these two fresh reinforcements utterly demoralized the army of Bîjâpûr, and 'Ain-ul-Mulk, who was the commander-in-chief of the enemy, found that the strength of the allies was overwhelming, and that in the absence of any sound statesman the kingdom was rapidly falling into decay. Thus Sankal Nâik, commandant of the fortress of Chari and of its dependencies rose in rebellion, and asserted his sway over most of the villages and towns (with their districts) which 'Alî 'Adil Shâh had, in the course of his reign, added to the 'Adil Shahi kingdom, and was oppressing and plundering the inhabitants. The African amirs, who had acquired all power in the city of Bijapûr, now exerted themselves to the utmost to avert the overthrow of the kingdom and, as a first step to this end they sent for 'Ain-ul-Mulk, who had now been for eight days in the camp of the allies, assuring him of his safety and imploring him to return to Bîjâpûr. He responded to the appeal and, leaving his pavilion standing, fled from the royal camp with his troops by night towards Bîjâpûr, and entered the city by the Allâhpûr gate,350
When the allies heard of the flight of 'Ain-ul-Mulk they pursued him even to the gate of the city, slaying all whom they overtook and capturing all his baggage and treasure, so that the pursuers were enriched by the quantity of gold and jewels which fell into their hands. The 'Adil Shahi army was, however, much strengthened by the return of 'Ain-ul-Mulk, and farmans were issued to all parts of the kingdom ordering the assembly of the infantry, musketeers and archers, and in a short time 8,000 foot (joined the army in Bîjâpâr).
XC.-AN ACCOUNT OF THE THIRD BATTLE BETWEEN THE BIJAPURIS AND THE ALLIES, 261
The allies, having recently been strengthened by two reinforcements, were now overconfident on their strength, and on the next day at sunrise, were drawn up and advanced against the city in full force. When the 'Adil Shahî army were aware of the advance of the allies, they were drawn up, and a number of their bravest amirs, such as Mirza Nûr-ud-din
249 Firishta makes no mention of the dispatch of Kishwar Khan from Ahmadnagar against Bijapur. He appears to have fled directly from Ahmadnagar to Golconda.
350 The African amirs had by this time resigned office, and Shah Abul Hasan had been appointed vabil and plshed. He begged Sayyid Murtaza, who held him in great respect, to persuade Bihzad-ul-Mulk and Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah to raise the siege and Sayyid Murtaza, who was still at enmity with Bihzad-ul-Mulk and Salabat Khân very readily exerted himself to ensure the failure of the siege. He reproached 'Ain-ul-Mulk and Ankas Khan, who had taken refuge with him, with their treason, and persuaded them to return to their allegiance to Ibrahim Adil Shah II. They accordingly returned to Bijapur. Firishta says nothing about the attack made on them as they were returning, which Sayyid Murtas& would not have been likely to permit.-F. ii, 102, 103.
251 This battle is not mentioned by Firishte.