Indian Antiquary Vol 51

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

Page 75

HISTORY OF THE NIZAM SHAHI KINGS OF AHMADNAGAR.
LXXXVII. AN ACCOUNT OF THE DEATH OF 'ALI ADIL SHAH I, AND OF THE ACCESSION
OF IBRAHIM 'ADIL SHAH II AND OF THE WAR WHICH BROKE OUT BETWEEN BIJAPUR AND ARMADNAGAR, AND OF ITS RESULT.
A. D. 1579. As the king, on whose government depended all the affairs of Hindustân, was ever desirous of extending his dominions until he should have brought the whole globe under his control, he now formed the design of conquering Bidar, and informed Salabat Khân and Asad Khân of his project in writing, ordering that an envoy should first be sent to Ibrâhîm Qutb Shâh to renew the alliance with him, for the purpose of ensuring his support against Bidar, and that when this mission had succeeded, steps should be taken to conquer Bidar. The vakils carried out these orders and sent an envoy to Ibrâhîm Qutb Shâh to inform him of the matter, and as enmity always existed between the Barid Shâhs and the Qutb Shâhs, Ibrâhîm Qutb Shâh regarded the policy of Murtaza Nizâm Shâh as his own229 and concurred in it without the slightest hesitation. After this Asad Khân and Salâbat Khân assembled the bravest amirs and officers of the army, such as Mirzâ Yâdgâr, entitled Khânjahân, Muhammad Khân the Turkmân, Shâhvardi Khân, and Chaghatâi Khân, and of the Hindû amirs, Chandar Râi, Lamtya and Sâtya, and many siláḥdars of the royal guards, and sent them with a force of 20,000 horse against Bidar. The amirs with this army marched to Bidar, encamped before the place and reduced Malik Barîd, 230 the ruler of Bidar, to a state of terror.
APRIL, 1922]
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Malik Barid, being unable to withstand the army of Ahmadnagar, shut himself up in the fortress, which he strengthened, in order that it might be able to resist the attacks of the besiegers. The army of Ahmadnagar meanwhile invested the fortress, set to work on the trenches, and opened fire against the place.
The fortress of Bidar is a byword in Hind and Sind for strength, being second only to the fort of Khaibar for strength, and it could not, therefore, be captured at once; and the siege dragged on. Barid and the garrison were reduced to great straits by the long continuance of the siege, and he appealed to 'Ali 'Adil Shâh for help, sending to him a eunuch of whose beauty 'Alî 'Adil Shâh had long heard and whom he burned to possess, and other gifts, entreating him to help him in repulsing the army of Ahmadnagar.
When informers brought to 'Alî 'Adil Shâh the news of Barid's difficulties and of the approach of the beautiful eunuch whom he desired, he was so delighted that before he even met the eunuch he sent several of his amirs and chief officers, with about 10,000 horse, 231 to Bidar to the assistance of Malik Barid, and himself marched on to Sholâpûr, at which place Barid's envoy and the eunuch had arrived, burning with desire to meet the eunuch. After he had met the envoy and the eunuch, he sent the former to the dwelling which had been prepared for him, and the latter to his own private apartments. When all the attendants and servants of the bedchamber had departed and gone to their own quarters, the king approached the eunuch, and that wretched slave, who with the object of avenging his honour had concealed a naked dagger about his person, seized his opportunity and stabbed the king with his dagger scindens jecur ejus quod ardebat amore sui. Since the wretched and bold slave struck well home, the good king heaved one sigh of agony and fell to the earth, while
339 The Qutb Shahi and Barid Shahi kings were usually on bad terms, partly owing to religious differences, but it was never part of the policy of the former to acquiesce in the annexation of Bidar, either by Ahmadnagar or by Bijapur. It may be added that this account of the siege of Bidar is a mere repetition and amplification of the account already given of the siege of the city by Murtaza Nizam Shah and Sahib Khan. Murtaza did not besiege the city twice, but only once.
330 All Barid Shah.
331 This is a gross exaggeration. 'Ali 'Adil Shah sent only one thousand horse.