Indian Antiquary Vol 52

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

Page 357

NOVEMBER, 1923) HISTORY OF THE NIZAM SHAH KINGS OF AHMADNAGAR
341
day until sunset, when the enemy retreated without having gained any advantage, and fell back out of the range of the heavy fire and retired to their quarters.
Chånd Bibi Sultan, however, remained where she was, and directed the builders to repair the wall of the fort and its foundations, and exercised such close supervision over them that on that very day the builders rebuilt the wall of mud and stones to the height of four yards, thus closing the breach to the enemy, heaping grenades and gunpowder behind the wall to act as a sufficient obstacle to the enemy. The queen next turned her attention to the defenders of the fort, wino now had some respite from the fray, and encouraged them to further efforts by acts of royal favour and generosity. Of the Foreigners, Khyâja Husain Kirmânî, who had displayed great valour and done great execution with his bow, sending many of the bravest of the enemy to the next world, was honoured with the title of Tir Andaz Khân, and Hasan Aqî Turkmân received the title of Qizilbâsh Khân. Chånd Bibi Sultan then exhorted all the troops to be watchful and on their guards, and then returned to her quarters.
Shah Murâd, whose prestige had received a severe blow and whose object had not been attained, was plunged in thought and anxiety, and shed tears of disappointment. He took council with his amirs touching the reduction of the fortress until the morning. At sunrise Shah Murad again drew up his forces and advanced towards the breach. When he reached the ditch he wished to press on to the attack of the fortress at once, but a number of his amirs, who were in attendance on him, seized his reins and prevented him from entering the ditch or from engaging personally in the fight. Following the advice of his loyal friends, the prince dismounted from his horse at the edge of the ditch and urged his troops on to battle, encouraging them with promises of favour and advancement. He sent one of his officers to the Khân khânân to ask him for help, but the Khân khânân, making his former faults his pretext, refrained from participating in the battle, and the prince in his zeal and jealous pride, ordered his own troops to attack the fortress with the utmost vigour and to fight like men. A body of Ahadis and special mansabdars, who were the bravest of the Mughul troops, attacked the fort with the utmost determination.384 The defenders were much encouraged by the success which they had had the day before, in spite of the ruin of a section of the wall, and also by their success in repairing the damage done and by the thought that they had so piled explosives against the wall as to make it like the gate of hell. They were therefore not apprehensive of the enemy's onslaught and began a vigorous fire of grenades, musketry and artillery which did great execution among the enemy. The battle raged furiously on both sides and young and old, great and small alike, fell victims to its rage. As often as the Mughuls advanced in compact masses towards the breach, so often did the artillery and musketry fire and the grenades of the defenders scatter them and turn them back with heavy loss, until the ditch was filled with their dead. The enemy displayed the greatest bravery, but in spite of their valour and their numbers, they failed, for the jealous wrath of God had so decreed, and the noble queen had help from heaven.386 The garrison fought that day suoh a fight as has never been seen. From dawn till dusk the battle raged, and when night fell Shah Murad, who now saw nothing but shame in store for himself, returned with heaviness of heart, tears and sighs towards his camp, gave up all intention of spurring his army on to further action and of acquiring name and fame, and despaired of gaining the kingdom and empire of the Dakan, which he had set before him as his object in this vain
304 Ahadia were troopers of a superior class, like the gentlemen of the Lifeguards" in Stuart days. Mangabdars were officers commanding less than 200 horse. Officers commanding 200 horse or more ranked as amirs.
386 According to Firishta (ii, 318) a relieving army had now reached the border of the Bir distrlot, about ninety miles from Ahmadnagar.