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Rubbee-ool-
Awul 25.

were both put to death on the 25th of the same month. One author relates, November 14. that they were carried bound to Beiram, who ordered them to be assassinated in prison. The reign of Sooltana Ruzeea Begum lasted three years, six months, and six days.

Those who reflect on the fate of this unfortunate princess will readily discover from whence arose the foul blast that blighted all her prospects :What connection exists between the office of Ameerool-Omra of Dehly and an Abyssinian slave; or how are we to reconcile the inconsistency of the queen of a vast territory fixing her affections on so unworthy an object?

MOIZ-OOD-DEEN BEIRAM

Ascends the throne.

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Yekhtyar-ood-Deen Aluptugeen and Khwaja Mehdy assume great power. The King endeavours to procure their assassination in open court. Aluptugeen is killed.-Khwaja Mehdy escapes with several wounds.—A conspiracy against the King's life, discovered by himself. The persons concerned gradually removed from court, and assassinated on their own estates, according to secret orders from the King. Invasion of Punjab by the Moguls of Chungiz Khan. · Lahore besieged. The minister sent with an army to oppose the invaders measures adopted by him to seduce the army from their allegiance. The army, under the minister, marches to Dehly to dethrone the King. - The citizens deliver the King over to his enemies — suffers death.

WHEN SOoltana Ruzeea Begum was confined in the fort of Bituhnda, her brother Beiram, one of the sons of Shums-ood-Deen Altmish, ascended the throne on Monday the 27th of Monday, Rumzan 27. A. H. 637. Rumzan, in the year 637. YekhApril 21. tyar-ood-Deen Aluptugeen, with the assistance of Khwaja Mehdy Ghiznevy, having espoused the King's sister, widow of the late Kazy Yekhtyar-ood-Deen, by degrees got the entire government into his own hands. He also maintained an elephant at his gate, a

A. D. 1240.

*At this period, I conclude, elephants were considered exclusively royal animals. Lieutenants of provinces were allowed them in their government, but in the royal camp they used all to be sent to the monarch. This practice of reserving elephants for the use of rulers still prevails in Siam.

piece of state reserved solely for royalty. This circumstance having excited much jealousy in the King's mind, he employed two Toorky slaves to feign drunkenness, and in that state to endeavour to assassinate both Aluptugeen and the Vizier. Accordingly, on a certain day, these Toorks, while the King was giving public audience, having pressed into the crowd, became very troublesome. Aluptugeen, who stood first in the rank of nobles, went to turn them out, but they drew their daggers, and first plunging them into his breast, ran to the Vizier, on whom, also, they inflicted two severe stabs; but he escaped through the crowd, without being mortally wounded. The slaves were immediately seized and cast into chains, but shortly after were pardoned and released.

The Vizier kept his bed for some days, on account of his wounds; but as soon as he recovered, he appeared again at court, as if nothing had happened. Budr-ood-Deen Sufeer Roomy, master of requests, formed a scheme to depose the King, and for this purpose, connected himself with a powerful faction at court. The conspirators met together at the house of Taj-ood-Deen Kotwal, Taj-oodon Monday, 17th Suffer. A. H. 638. Deen, however, relenting, informed Sept. 8. both the King and the Vizier of the A. D. 1240. whole affair. A faithful servant of the King, assuming the character of a madman, was allowed to overhear the conversation that took place at the meeting. The Vizier, although he secretly favoured the conspiracy, excused himself from attending the consultations.

Suffer 17.

The story of the kotwal being confirmed by the person whom the King sent to overhear the conspirators, a body of cavalry was despatched to surround the house and seize them; but they, having obtained previous intelligence, dispersed before the horse arrived. The next day, Budrood-Deen Sufeer, one of the principals, was made governor of Budaoon, while another, Kazy Julalood-Deen Kashany, was removed from office. In a few months after, Budr-ood-Deen and Taj-oodDeen were both assassinated by the King's emissaries, and Kazy Shums-ood-Deen, who was also engaged in the plot, was trodden under foot by elephants. These proceedings, without trial or public accusation, justly alarmed every one; and advantage being taken by the faction of this feeling, a mutiny was promoted among the troops, and secretly fomented by the Vizier Khwaja Mehdy, who had not forgotten the attempt lately made by the King on his life.

Meanwhile news arrived that the Moguls of Chungiz Khan had invested Lahore, on Monday the 16th of Jumad-ool-Akhir*, in the year 639; that Mullik Kurragooz, the A. H. 639. Viceroy, finding his troops mutinous, had been obliged to fly in the night,

Jumad-ool-
Akhir 16.

Nov. 22.

A. D. 1241.

and was actually on his way to Dehly, and that Lahore was plundered by the enemy, and many of the inhabitants carried away prisoners.

The King, on this urgent occasion, called a general council of state in the white palace, when

This invasion took place under a famous Toorky leader. named Toormooshreen Khan.

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it was determined to send the Vizier, and Mullik Kootb-ood-Deen Hussun Ghoory (Vakeel-oos-Sultanut), with other officers, towards Lahore, to oppose the Moguls. The army arrived as far as the river Beea, where the town of Sooltanpoor now stands, when the Vizier, who had every reason to be hostile to the King, began to sow the seeds of sedition in the minds of his officers; and the better to effect his purpose, wrote privately to the King, accusing certain nobles of disaffection, begging he would either join the army in person, or send written orders to him and his colleague Kootbood-Deen Hussun, authorizing them to make away with those officers who were discontented and disposed to revolt. Though previously aware of the treachery of his Vizier in the late conspiracy, the King had permitted this crafty courtier so to gain his confidence, that he gave full credence to this representation. Beiram Padshah replied, that the officers deserved death; at the same time, he recommended the Vizier to keep them quiet till he should be able fully to convict and bring them to punishment without danger. This was precisely what the minister required: for by producing the King's letter, he inflamed the minds of the officers, while he misled them with respect to the accuser. He even pretended to be apprehensive for himself; and having consulted with them regarding their general safety, they resolved to unite and support the Vizier against the King.

The news of this confederacy opened the King's eyes when too late. He now proceeded in great perturbation to the house of Khwaja Kootb-ood

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