The Bābur-nāma in English (Memoirs of Bābur)Babur, Emperor of Hindustan
History
The Bābur-nāma in English (Memoirs of Bābur)
Babur, Emperor of Hindustan
Babur, Emperor of Hindustan, 1483-1530; Mogul Empire
After the battle Bābur went to near Ḥiṣār, was there joined by many
local tribesmen, and, some time later, by a large body of Ismā`īl's
troops under Aḥmad Beg _Ṣafawī_, `Alī Khān _Istiljū_ and Shāhrukh Sl.
_Afshār_, Ismā`īl's seal-keeper. The following particulars, given by
Khwānd-amīr, about the despatch of this contingent help to fix the order
of occurrences, and throw light on the price paid by Bābur for his
auxiliaries. He announced his victory over Mahdī and Ḥamza to the Shāh,
and at the same time promised that if he reconquered the rest of
Transoxiana by the Shāh's help, he would read his name in the _khuṯba_,
stamp it on coins together with those of the Twelve Imāms, and work to
destroy the power of the Aūzbegs. These undertakings look like a
response to a demand; such conditions cannot have been proffered; their
acceptance must have been compelled. Khwānd-amīr says that when Ismā`īl
fully understood the purport of Bābur's letter, [by which would seem to
be meant, when he knew that his conditions of help were accepted,] he
despatched the troops under the three Commanders named above.
The Persian chiefs advised a move direct on Bukhārā and Samarkand; and
with this Bābur's councillors concurred, they saying, according to
Ḥaidar, that Bukhārā was then empty of troops and full of fools. `Ubaid
Khān had thrown himself into Qarshī; it was settled not to attack him
but to pass on and encamp a stage beyond the town. This was done; then
scout followed scout, bringing news that he had come out of Qarshī and
was hurrying to Bukhārā, his own fief. Instant and swift pursuit
followed him up the 100 miles of caravan-road, into Bukhārā, and on
beyond, sweeping him and his garrison, plundered as they fled, into the
open land of Turkistān. Many sulṯāns had collected in Samarkand, some no
doubt being, like Tīmūr its governor, fugitives escaped from
Pul-i-sangīn. Dismayed by Bābur's second success, they scattered into
Turkistān, thus leaving him an open road.
_c. Samarkand re-occupied and relations with Ismā`īl Ṣafawī._
He must now have hoped to be able to dispense with his dangerous
colleagues, for he dismissed them when he reached Bukhārā, with gifts
and thanks for their services. It is Ḥaidar, himself present, who fixes
Bukhārā as the place of the dismissal (T.R. p. 246).
From Bukhārā Bābur went to Samarkand. It was mid-Rajab 917 AH. (October
1511 AD.), some ten months after leaving Kābul, and after 9 years of
absence, that he re-entered the town, itself gay with decoration for his
welcome, amidst the acclaim of its people.[1336]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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