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collected perfectly the shape and size of the ruby given to the soldier's wife: a piece of wax was accordingly given to each witness, and being separated, they were directed to make models of the gem. Those of the two brothers corresponded; but the models of the witnesses being dissimilar, the King concluded they could never have seen it; and having thus convicted them of perjury, they were induced to tell the truth, and the woman's innocence was proved. Sikundur Lody was himself a poet, and highly appreciated literary merit. During his reign many works were composed both in prose and verse; among others, is the Furhung Sikundry, whose author informs us this Prince reigned 28 years and five months.

IBRAHIM LODY AFGHAN.

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Ibrahim offends his countrymen by his avowed indifference to them. The King's brother Julal, governor of Kalpy, proceeds to Joonpoor, and assumes the title of king.— He is defeated, and flies to Gualiar.- Gualiar besieged. - The Raja dies.-Julal flies to Malwa, and eventually to Gondwara, where he is seized, and delivered over to the King. Julal suffers death.Gualiar taken. — The Afghan chiefs rebel in several quarters. - The King's cruelty. All the country east of the Ganges occupied by the son of Duria Khan Lohany, who assumes the title of Mahomed Shah. Dowlut Khan Lody, governor of Lahore, rebels-invites Babur from Kabul to invade India. - Babur's first attempt, accompanied by Alla-ood-Deen Lody, the King's brother, fails. - Babur invades India in person. - Ibrahim opposes him—is defeated, and slain. - End of the Afghan dynasty.

SIKUNDUR LODY dying at Agra, his son Ibrahim succeeded to the throne. At a very early period, contrary to the custom of his father and grandfather, he made no distinction among his officers, whether of his own tribe or otherwise, and said publicly, that kings should have no relations nor clansmen, but that all should be considered as subjects and servants of the state; and the Afghan chiefs, who had hitherto been allowed to sit in the presence, were constrained to stand in front of the throne, with their hands crossed before them.

A. H. 923.

A. D. 1517.

Shortly after his accession a conspiracy was formed by the Lody chiefs, by whom it was agreed to leave Ibrahim in quiet possession of Dehly and a few dependent provinces, and to raise the Prince, Julal Khan *, his brother, to the throne at Joonpoor. The Prince, accordingly, marching from Kalpy, in conjunction with the disaffected chiefs, ascended the throne of Joonpoor. He appointed his cousin, Futteh Khan, his vizier, who gained over all the officers of the eastern provinces to his interest. Khan Jehan Lohany was at this time proceeding from Rabery to congratulate Ibrahim on his accession; when falling in with the disaffected nobles, he blamed them severely for causing divisions in the kingdom, which, he said, would be attended with fatal consequences to the family of Lody. The chiefs, admitting the impropriety of their conduct, determined, as the Prince Julal Khan could not be yet well established, to divest him of his newly-assumed dignity; and accordingly they sent Heibut Khan Julwany, with letters, to recall him be. fore he reached Joonpoor. Heibut Khan, however, having overacted his part, the Prince, Julal Khan, suspected some plot, and excused himself from coming. The chiefs, unaware that he suspected them, deputed Sheikh Mahomed Firmully and others to enforce their request; but the Prince proceeded to Joonpoor. Finding all endeavours

* It will be recollected, that this prince was made governor of Kalpy by his father.

to reclaim the Prince had failed, Ibrahim Lody issued a proclamation, declaring every officer who should adhere to his brother the Prince Julal a traitor to the state; at the same time he sent presents and deputations to all his principal officers, which had the effect of detaching the nobles from the pretender, and by degrees bringing them over to the King's interest. The affairs of the Prince rapidly declining, he conceived that nothing but desperate measures could retrieve them. Accordingly he marched to Kalpy, and placing his family in security in that fort, he collected all his troops, and assumed the title of King, under the title of Julal-ood-Deen. At the same time, he sent a trusty person to Azim Hoomayoon, who was at the time besieging Kalunjur, to join him. Azim Hoomayoon did so; but recommended the Prince, in the first instance, to establish himself firmly at Joonpoor. The Prince accordingly marched against the son of Moobarik Khan Lody, governor of Oude, and compelled him to retreat to Luknow. Ibrahim Lody, hearing of these proceedings, marched his army to that quarter, and confined his other brothers in the fort of Hansy, Zeehuj 24. where they remained for life. February 6. event took place on Thursday the 24th of Zeehuj, A. H. 923. On his march towards Oude, the King was informed that Azim Hoomayoon, having deserted the Prince Julal, was now on his way to join him, on which the King sent some chiefs to escort him to his camp, where he was favourably received.

A. H. 923.

A. D. 1518.

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number of other officers also joined Ibrahim, and he despatched the greatest part of his army, under the command of Azim Hoomayoon Lody, against the Prince. But before the King's troops could come up with him, he threw a garrison into Kalpy, and marched with 30,000 chosen horse, by forced marches, to Agra, while Azim Hoomayoon Lody was content to lay siege to Kalpy. Julal Khan had it now in his power either to take possession of Agra, or to plunder the treasury; but the governor, Adam Khan, in order to save the place and the country, entered into negotiations with the Prince, and went so far as to promise him, on the part of the King, the independent possession of Kalpy, and other advantages, for which he had no authority. Adam Khan sent notice of the whole transaction to Ibrahim; but the King having taken Kalpy, and the treaty having been concluded without his knowledge, he took no notice of it, but marched against the Prince, Julal Khan, who, now deserted by his army, was obliged to fly to Gualiar, and solicit the protection of the raja of that place. Ibrahim Lody came to Agra, where he remained in order to regulate the affairs of the government, which, since the death of his father, had fallen into disorder. Two nobles, Kurreem Dad Toork, and Dowlut Khan, were sent to take charge of Dehly, and Sheikhzada Mahomed Fir

* It is necessary to keep in mind the distinction between Azim Hoomayoon Lody and Azim Hoomayoon Sheerwany. ૨ ૨

VOL. I.

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