A. H. 851. man than his father. On the following A. D. 1447. year he marched to Budaoon, where he remained some time employed in laying out gardens, building pleasure houses, and making entertainments. Fancying the air of Budaoon agreed better with his health, he expressed an inclination to make that city his residence, from which the Vizier endeavoured in vain to divert him. Hindoostan was, at this period, divided into separate principalities. The Deccan, Guzerat, Malwa, Joonpoor, and Bengal, had each its independent king. Punjab, Depalpoor, and Surhind, as far south as Paniput, formed the territory of Bheilole Khan Lody; Mehrowly and the country within seven coss of Dehly, as far as the Seray Lado, was in the hands of Ahmud Khan Mewatty; Sumbhul, even to the suburbs of Dehly, was occupied by Duria Khan Lody; Kole Jalesur, in the Dooab, by Eesa Khan Toork, and Rabery and its dependencies by Kootub Khan Afghan; Kampila and Pattialy by Raja Purtab Sing, and Byana by Dawood Khan Lody; so that the city of Dehly, with a very small tract of country, alone belonged to the King. Bheilole Lody, about this time, made another attempt upon the capital, but was not more successful than before. The King, as soon as relieved from this danger, began to consider of the means to *This description of the territorial divisions is extremely useful: besides these, Kandeish, Sind, and Mooltan had each its separate Mahomedan king. recover part of his lost empire, and held a consultation with Kootub Khan, Eesa Khan, and : Purtab Ray. These chiefs, desirous to weaken -him still more, told him that the nobles were disgusted with his vizier, Humeed Khan; and that if he were removed from office, and imprisoned, they were ready to support him, and did not doubt that the affairs of his government would assume a more favourable aspect. Syud Alla-ood-Deen, becoming the dupe of those traitors, imprisoned and disgraced the minister, and immediately ordered preparations for removing the court to Budaoon; from which not all the remonstrances of his best friends could restrain him, though they represented, in a strong light, how impolitic it was, at such a juncture, to quit Dehly. A. H. 852. A. D. 1448. Alla-ood-Deen, accordingly, in the year 852, marched to Budaoon, leaving Hissam Khan in the government of Dehly. When he arrived at his new capital, Kootub Khan and Purtab Ray, waiting on the King, represented that as long as the Vizier was alive, the chiefs could not be induced to trust themselves at court. The King was thus prevailed on to order the Vizier's death; but the Vizier's brother, having discovered his intention, found means, with the assistance of some of his friends, to release Humeed Khan, who escaped to Dehly. There he took possession of all the King's effects, and sent the females of the royal household out of the city. Alla-ood-Deen deferring, by frivolous delays and excuses of weather and unlucky days, his march A. H. 854. to Dehly, allowed time for the Vizier to invite Bheilole Lody to assume the government. Bheilole, seizing the opportunity, amused the King by writing to him that he was on his march to chastise the Vizier; but having arrived, he quietly took possession of the capital, and was proclaimed King. This event occurred in the year 854; though the name of Alla-ood-Deen was, for form's sake, allowed to be read in the Khootba as usual. Bheilole, leaving his son, Khwaja Bayezeed, in Dehly, marched in person to Depalpoor, to organise, at his convenience, his Afghan army. While thus engaged, he wrote to Allaood-Deen, that his only motive for securing the capital was to expel the Vizier. To this letter he received for answer, that the King having adopted Bheilole as his son, he (Alla-ood-Deen) should ever esteem him as his brother; and formally abdicated the throne in his favour, on condition of his being permitted to reside quietly in possession of Budaoon. Bheilole Lody from that hour rejected the name of Syud Alla-ood-Deen from the Khootba, and publicly assumed all the insignia of royalty. Alla-ood-Deen remained at Budaoon unmolested till his death, which happened in the year 883 (A. D. 1478): his reign in Dehly being seven years, and his retirement at Budaoon nearly 28. BHEILOLE LODY AFGHAN. Origin of the power of Bheilole-permits Humeed Khan, the late King's minister, to resume his functions—at length he adopts a mode of seizing his person, without causing bloodshed, and compels him to withdraw from public life. — The chiefs of the petty principalities around Dehly refuse to acknowledge Bheilole Lody.— Bheilole establishes his supremacy over all but the state of Joonpoor, with which he contends during the reign of three kings, and eventually conquers it. Bheilole proceeds to Gualiar - falls sick returns towards Dehly-anticipates his death divides his kingdom into chiefships his son, Nizam Khan, is nominated his successor : The kingdom of Joonpoor is conferred on his son Barbik : - Kurra Manukpoor is granted to Alum:- Bhyraich to his nephew Kala P'har: — Luknow and Kalpy are bestowed on a relative, Azim Hoomayoon : — Dehly, and the rest of the territory, belong to his Son and successor, Nizam. Bheilule dies on his journey to Dehly, after a reign of 38 years. His character. Description of his government. It is related that in early times the tribe of Afghans, forming themselves into a commercial community, carried on trade between Persia and Hindoostan. In the time of Feroze Toghluk, Mullik Beiram Lody, the grandfather of Bheilole, being possessed of wealth, separated from his elder brother; and entering the service of Mullik Murdan Dowlut, raised himself to the government of Mooltan. Mullik Beiram * had five sons, viz. Mullik Sooltan, *The Afghans claim to be of Jewish origin; and though many of their customs favour this belief, the proofs are incomplete. Among other Hebrew peculiarities, is that of calling their chiefs Mullik. |