English
Abdullah quickly advanced to the town of Jhosi, which is on the other Bide of the Ganges facing Allahabad, and encamped there. As he had taken a flotilla of large vessels with him from Bengal, with the help of cannonade crossing the river, he encampe at the pleasantly-situate city of Allahabad, whilst the main body of Shah Jahan’s army pushed up to Jaunpur. PRINCE SHAH JAHAN'S FIGHTINGS WITH THE IMPERIAL ARMY, AND HIS WITHDRAWAL TO THE UAKHIN. When news of Shah Jahan’s advance towards Bengal and Orissa reached the Emperor, he sent orders to Prince Parvia and Mahabet Khan, who were in the Dakliin, to march quickly towards theSubahs of Allahabad and Behar, so that in case the Nazim of Bengal was unable to oppose successfully the advance of Shah Jahan’s army, they were to engage Shah Jahan. In the meantime, news of the fall of Nawab Ibrahim Khan Fateh Jang, at Chausa to proceed to Allahabad, Jahangir Qoli Khan fled from Jaunpur to Allahabad and joined Mirza Rustam Safavi there. He subsequently became Governor of Allahabad, and on ghah Jahan’s accession, was appointed Governor of Surat and Junagarh. He died in mil A.H. at Surat. (See Maasir-ul- Umara, p. 524, Vol. I, Pers. text). 1 Mirza Rnstam Safavi was a son of Saltan Hns&in Mirza, grandson of Shah Ismail, king of Persia. Mirza Rustam was appointed by A kbar, Gover¬ nor of Mnltan; Akbar also made him a P&njhaz&ri, and gave him Multan aa Jagir. One of his daughters was married to Princo Parviz, and another to ghah Shuja’. He enjoyed great influence with Jahangir who made him a Shathhazarl, and also Governor of Allahabad, which ho successfully held against Shall Jahan's General, Abdullah Khin, forcing the latter to retire to Jhosi. He was subsequently Governor of Behar. ghali Julian pensioned him off, and he died at Agra in 1051. It is worthy of interest to note that his grandson, Mirza gafshikao (son of Mirza Hasan Safavi) was Fanjdarpf Jessore in Bengal, where he died in 1073 (see Bloch. Tr., Ain, p. 3]4VqL I). After him, I guess Mirzanagar (a seat of old Jessore Musalman Faujdars) is named. The family still survives there, thongh impoveriahecW^afshikan’s son, Mirza Saifu-d-din. gaf&vi, accepted the title of “Khin” undaj* Emperor Aurangzob. (See Afaasir-ul-Umara, Pers. text, p. 478, VoL tti^ The Maasir (printed toxt) states that on the death of his father, Mirza Hasan $afavi, Mirza Safshikan was appointed Fanjdar of ' Hear ’ iu Bengal, ‘ Hasr ’ is evidently a misprint or & misreading for * Jasar (Jc 3 soro). 198 Nazim of Bengal, reached the Emperor, who thereon repeated his previous orders to Prince Pai’viz * and Mahabet Khan. Prince Parviz with Mahabet Khan and other officers marched towards Bengal and Behai*. As the Commander of Shah Jahan’s army, drawing the boats towards his side, had fortified the ferries of the river Ganges, some delay was caused in the arrival of the Imperialists. The Imperialists, with considerable difficulty,, col¬ lected thirty flotillas of boats from the zamindars, and under the lat¬ ter’s guidance selecting one ford, succeeded in crossing over. For some days, both the armies arrayed themselves in front of each other. As the Imperialists numbered 40,000, whilst Shah Jaban’s army did not number more than 10,000, the advisers of Shah Jab an dissuaded the Prince from offering battle. But Rajah Bhlra, sou of Rana Karan, unlike other advisers, displayed rashness, and with the rashness common to Rajputs insisted that he would part company, unless they agreed to fight. Prince Shah Jahan, of necessity, considered it expedient to humour Bhira’s wishes, despite paucity of troops, and passed orders for fighting. Both sides rallying into ranks, commenced to fight. * On both sides, the troops rallied nto ranks, Holding in hand daggers, arrows and spears. I Prince Parviz was the second son of Emperor Jahangir, and a great favourite with the latter. He imitated his father in everything, “ in dress, in quaffing wine, in eating, and in night-keeping ” (Iqbalnatnah-i-Jahangiri, Faac. 3, p. 279), and “ never disobeyed his Imperial father’s wishes.” He died at the age of 38 years in the Dakhin, where he was employed in sub¬ jugating the country and in quelliug the insurrection of Malik Amber, in 1035 A.H., that is, in the twenty-first year of Emperor Jahangir’s accession to the throne. He rendered also important services to his father, in opposing Shah Jahan’s invasion of Bengal, Behar, and Orissa, and with the help of his generalissimo, Mahabet Khan, defeated Shah Jahan at Benares, and obliged the latter to abandon Behar, Bengal and Orissa, and to beat a hasty retreat to the Dakhin. (See pp. 233, 239, 240, 273, 279, Iqbalnamah-i-Jahangiri, Faso 3, Pers. text, which is a contemporary record). t See description of this battle at Benares between the Imperialists under Prince Parviz and Mahabet Oau, and Shah Jahin’s troops, in the Iqbalnamoh • i-Jahangiri, a contemporary record, p. 233, Pers. text, ghih Jahan was totally defeated, owing to the rashness of his favourite officer, Bajah Bhirn, who himself fell fighting, being cut to pieces by the Imperial^. The Maauir-ul- Utnara states that the battle took place on the side of ^ (Nahr.i-Tunus) in the Suburbs of Benares. 199 Tlioy tramped up to the field for fighting, Ye a the fire of war blazed up. First from both sides, the artillery of the gunners, Commenced scattering fire on the hosts. From the smoke of the gun-waggons of the two forces, You might say a pitchy cloud had formed. The cannon-balls showered like hail, Yea a storm of destruction blew : Yea the heads and hands, the breasts and feet of the Corn- Blew like wind on all sides. [manders, From blood, yea on ever)' side a stream flowed. Yea like fish, the bodies of the heroes throbbed. On every side showered stone-rending arrows ; They passed right through every body that they lodged in. From swords and spears, breasts were torn to shreds ; The corpses of heroes fell on the ground. But the Imperialists, like stars, Hemmed in on the army of the Prince. They surrounded the latter in that battle, Yea as the ring encircles the finger. From Shah Jahan’s army, Rajah Blilm the valorous, Was not cowed down by t his .slaughter. Some of his race who were his comrades. Hurled themselves on the enemy’s force. They spurred their horses, yea like lions in firht. They drew swords, yea like wafci dragons. By one gallant charge, they broke the enemy's ranks, And swiftly attacked the euemy’s centre. Whoever stood in the way of flint force, They hurled down his head on the dust. But the veteran Imperialists, When they saw that suddenly a calamity had come. Spurred on their chargers from every side. And attacked that elephant-like hero, Bhim. They cut up his body with the sword, And hurled him down from his steed on the dust. Other commanders and officers (of Shah dalian'. Could not advance to his (Bhim’s) rescue. The gunners, on seeing this crisis, leaving the artillery, 200 fled, and the arsenal was captured by the Imperialists. Daria Khan and other Afghans and Generals ceasing to flght, decamped. The Imperialists, collecting from all sides like a circle formed by a pair of compasses, surrounded the Prince, who remained at the centre. Save and except the elephants carrying flags and standards, and select targeteers who were behind the Prince, and ‘Abdallah Khan who stood to his right-hand side at a short distance, not a single soul remained. At this moment, an arrow hit the horse of the Prince. When ‘Abdullah Khan saw that the Prince would not retire from the field, he moved up, and by use of great entreaties and exhortations, succeeded in bringing out the Prince from the field, and placing before him his own horse, induced the Prince to mount it. In short, from the battle-field up to Rohtas, the contest did not cease. As at this time, Prince Murad liakhsh 1 was born, and long marches could not be made, leaving him to the protection of God and appointing Khedmit Parast Khan and some other trusty servants to take care of him, Shall Jahan with other Princes and adherents slowly marched towards Patna and Behar. At the same time, letters were received from people in the Dakhin, especially from Malik ‘Ambar’ the Abyssinian l He was tbc fourth and youngest son of §nnh Jnhiin, whose other 80 ..R were (1) Darn Shekel., (2) Shf.h Shuja (3) Anrangzcb.-See p. 300, Iqbal. niiiiiah-i-Jaluinjh i, Fuse. 3, Pers. text. # a Ho ave no end of trouble to Jahangir. His insurrection .a Tally described in the I^balnamah.iJahm.giri, a contemporary record, Fesc. 3, pp 234 to 238. The author of the Jqbalnamah-i-Jahangn'i pays a high tribute 10 his military genius and generalship, to 1,1s administrative c.,pac,t, ami vigorous rule in the Dakhin. (See p. 371, Fuse 3, r,ha!nam/n.-Jol,anj m Pcrs text). Ho died at the ripe old age of eighty, holding his ou ga f he imperialists to tho is*. After Malik Amhar the Abyssinian's dsath, In. generalissimo Yaq.it Khan the Abyssinian, together with Malik Ambers son, officers of Nizam-ul-Mulk. submitted to Kljan Jah.n, Jahangir's Viceroy or Subadar in tho Dakhin, in tho twenty-first year of Jahangir's secession. (Sec p. 380. Fuse. 3, Pers. text, The Maasir-ul-Umnra (Vol. Ill, p. 7), gives some add. tional facts abou him. It states that Malik Amber was an Abyssinian slave of the B.j p 1 • vr a am Rhih When in 1009 A.H., Queen Chami Sultan or Chan “t“ i A "f:: and Bahadur Nizam Shah was taken pnsoner, and kept in the ( Malik Amber and Kaju Mian proclaimed their mdopento ^ brought to his control tho territory -^end.ng from he ^ of T U g^ ^ a point, four kroh from Ahinaduagar and eight kroh from 201 requesting the Prince's return towards the Dakhin.