Indian Antiquary Vol 52

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Stephen Meredyth Edwardes, Krishnaswami Aiyangar
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 311

OOTOBER, 1923)
HISTORY OF THE NIZAM SHAAT KINGS OF AHMADNAGAR
295
Supplement. CIX.-AN ACCOUNT OF THE MARCH OF THE MUGHUL ARMY TO THE
DAKAN, AND OF THEIR RETURN WITHOUT ACCOMPLISHING THEIR OBJECT. It is evident that when God opens the door of prosperity in the face of a fortunate man and fortifies him with trust in Himself, fulfilment hastens to greet his hopes in which direction soever they may turn. This proposition is well exemplified in the coming to the Dakan of the Mughul army and in their retreat, after besieging Ahmadnagar, and after much fighting, without obtaining a glimpse of victory or success, and also in the persevering loyalty of that Bilqis of the age, Chånd Bibi Sultan, daughter of Husain Nizam Shah I, may God most High extend the shadow of her majesty over the heads of all creatures.
The account of these events is as follows :- After the martyrdom of Ibrahim Nizâm Shah, Miyân Manjhů stepped aside from the path of obedience and faithful service and placed on the throne of the Dakan a young boy whom he named Ahmad Shah,369 and sent the true prince, Bahadur Nizam Shah, a prisoner to Jond, which is one of the strongest forts of the Dakan; nor did he content himself with this, but posted a body of doorkeepers around the private pavilion of the chaste Chånd Bibi Sultân to prevent the access of the servants and personal slaves to her, and to prevent any one from approaching the pavilion. Nay more, he entertained the thought of overthrowing her altogether.
The African amirs, however, refused to support Miyan Manjhů, and besieged the fortress of Ahmadnagar, 363 reducing the garrison to considerable straits. Miyân Manjhů in his difficulties, sent a petition to the prince, Shah Murâd, who was ever meditating the conquest of the Dakan and an expedition towards Ahmadnagar, enticing and instigating him to attempt the conquest of the Dakan. Before this letter reached Shâh Muråd, he had already received from Akbar Pådshah a farmán directing him to undertake the conquest of the Dakan, and all the amirs stationed on the frontier had received similar orders. Now that Shah Murad learnt from Miyân Manjhu's petition of the quarrels between the amirs of Aḥmadnagar, he seized his opportunity, and with the amirs of Gujarat, Malwa and other districts marched towards the Dakan.
When Raja 'Ali Khân, the ruler of Burhanpûr, heard of the approach of that great army, he gave up all hope of receiving any assistance from the army of the Dakan, and in obedi. ence to the orders of Akbar Padshåh, joined the prince and the officers of the army, and
352 Some years before this a person named Shah Tâhir had appeared in the Dakan, representing himself to be the son of Muhammad Khudábanda, son of Burhan Nizam Shah I, on whose death in A.D. 1554 all his sons, except Husain, his successor, had left Ahmadnagar. Shah Tahir said that Khudabanda had died in Bengal, and that he was his son. Some trustworthy men who had known Khudábanda per ronally were sent to Burhan II, then an amir at the court of Akbar, to investigate the matter. Burhan informed them that Khudábanda, who was his uncle, had died in his house, that all his offspring were still with him, and that Shah Tâhir was an impostor. Shah Tâhir was imprisoned in a fortress, lest he should create disturbances, and died, leaving a son, Ahmad-F. ii, 310, 311.
853 On September 5, 1595, Ikhlas Khan and the other African and Muwallad amfrs drew up their forces in the plain of the Kala Chabútra. Miyan Manjhù enthroned Ahmad Shah on a bastion of the fort and sent out his son, Miyan Hagan, with 700 horse, to attack the Africans. A ball struck the umbrella of Ahmad Shah and caused much consternation, and Miyan Hasan's force was defeated and fled within the fort, which was then besieged. The Africans were then reinforced by Abhang and Habashi Khan the Muwallad. who were released by the commandant of Daulatábad. The governor of Jond, however, refused to release Bahadur without an order from Miyan Manjhů; and the Africans, who had ten or twelve thousand horso, but required a figure-head, set up a child picked out of the bazars of Ahmadnagar, whom they entitled Moti Shah. It was now that the traitor Miyan Menjhd applied to Sultan Murad for help-F. ii, 311, 312.