Indian Antiquary Vol 51

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

Page 246

238
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[ DECEMBER, 1922
in their camp, expecting no attack and utterly unprepared for battle, having neglected all ordinary military precautions, when Şalábat Khân suddenly surrounded the hills on which they were encamped with the royal army, elephants and artillery. The amirs of Berar,completely surprised, hurriedly armed themselves and mounted their horses in great confusion and drew up their troops as best they might to meet the royal army.271 The conflict then began with artillery fire. Khudavand Khân, who commanded the left wing of the army of Berar, boldly charged the right wing of the royal army, which was commanded by Bihzâd-ul-Mulk, and at the first onslaught threw it into confusion. Bihzad-ul-Mulk was wounded and his troops were dispersed. The household troops, who had agreed to support Sayyid Murtazâ against Salábat Khân made the defeat of Bihzâd-ul-Mulk's wing a pretext for flight, and carried off prince Miran Husain with them. Jamshid Khan, who eommanded the advanced guard of the army of Berar, when he saw Khudåvand Khân's success against Bihzâd-ul-Mulk, led his troops on to attack the advanced guard of the royal army, which was commanded by Salábat Khân, but he had scarcely reached the enemy when his horse was shot under him. He tried to reach another horse in order to mount it, but a swordsman so wounded him in both legs that he could not move and was made a prisoner by the royal army. The advanced guard under Salábat Khân then charged and drove back Jamshid's troops and fell on the corps commanded by Tîr Andaz Khan and Shîr Khan and dispersed them. The left wing of the royal army and the right wing of the army of Berar had now closed and were so intermingled that friend could not be distinguished from foe. Salábat Khân now, with a picked force and several elephants, attacked the troops under the immediate command of Sayyid Murtaza, and threw them into confusion. Sayyid Murtaza made every attempt to rally his men, but they could not respond and Sayyid Murtata was compelled to Ace. When Khudavand Khan returned from his successful attack on the right wing of the royal army, he found the army of Berar dispersed and was himself compelled to flee.
The army of Berar, overconfident in its great strength, made no account of Salábat Khân and at length their treachery to their king and their own foolish pride led to their defeat and overthrow, and they were driven into exile.
The royal army pursued the army of Berar and took much spoil, including horses, ele. phants, beautiful maidservants and slave boys, gold, jewels, and all sorts of valuable property and stuffs. Salábat Khan, having been granted by God so great & victory, returned thanks to the giver of victory and ordered the troops under his command to interfere in no way with the property or women of the inhabitants of Berar, and to slay none, but to send any who might be captured to a place of safety.
In this dreadful battle no famous man of valour was slain, save Shahvardi Khan, who had deserted from the royal army to Sayyid Murtaza and Bahrâm Khân, who was wounded with a spear by one of the elephants of his own army. The army of Berar having dispersed and fled. Salábat Khân did not pursue th'm in person, but told off a body of Kolis for that purpose, and himself returned to court with the prince Miran Husain.
Mirak Mu'in, who was at that time Sayyid Murtaza's agent and representative at court, on theday on which the battle was fought took every precaution to ensure his own safety and having promised the body of infantry placed at his disposal by Sayyid Murtaza, large pay and rewards, persuaded them that the amir-ul-umard was victorious and had defeated the army of SalAbat Khân. He ordered them to protect their own quarters from the mob until
311 This is a much more detailed account of the battle of Jour than that given by Firishta (ii. 282).