PERSIA AT THE TIME OF JINGHIS KHAN’S DEATH
When Jinghis had returned to his birthplace Persia was left as a desert
behind him. This was true of all Eastern parts of it, especially. “In
those lands which Jinghis Khan ruined,” exclaims the historian, “not
one in a thousand is left of the people. Where a hundred thousand had
lived before his invasion there are now scarce one hundred. Were
nothing to stop the increase of population from this hour till the day
of Judgment it would not reach one tenth of what it was before Jinghis
Khan’s coming.”
The ruin inflicted by that dreadful invasion spread terror on all
sides. People stunned by the awful atrocities committed in Persia,
believed that the Mongols were dog-headed and devoured human flesh as
their daily and usual nourishment.
Mohammed, the Shah of Persia, had three sons to whom portions had been
given. Jelal ud din, the eldest of these sons, had sought a refuge at
Delhi. At Sutun Avend Rokn ud din, the second son, had been slain by
the Mongols, while Ghiath ud din, the third son, had retired to Karun,
a Mazanderan stronghold, and saved himself.
When the Mongols had gone from the country Persian Irak was the cause
of a conflict between the two Turk leaders Edek Khan and Togan Taissi
the Atabeg. These rivals divided the province between them at last,
and, since Ispahan fell to the former, Ghiath ud din wished to win him
as a vassal. He therefore promised Edek his sister in marriage, but
while settling the terms of agreement Edek was slain by his rival, the
Atabeg, Togan.
Ghiath marched against Ispahan promptly, received Togan’s homage, and
gave him the sister just promised to Edek. In quick time he thus found
himself master of Irak, Mazanderan and Khorassan.
Jelal ud din when defeated at the Indus, which he swam with such
daring, had been pursued fiercely in India by Jinghis Khan’s warriors
until he was very near Delhi.
The sovereign at that capital was Shems ud din Iletmish, a Turkman and
once a slave of the Sultan of Gur, the last ruler of his line in that
country. When the Gur dynasty fell, Iletmish seized a good part of
north India and was ruling unchallenged. He feared now the coming of so
brave and incisive a man as Jelal ud din, hence he sent him rich gifts
and declared that the climate of Delhi was unwholesome. Jelal would
find, he felt certain, a far better residence in Multan and a much more
salubrious climate. Jelal withdrew, but he gathered much booty of value
as he traveled.
Meanwhile from Irak came many generals who were enraged at Ghiath ud
din, his brother. They brought with them warriors who were ready for
service since service meant plunder. Jelal could meet now the Scinde
prince, Karadja, whom he hated. He entered Karadja’s dominions, sacked
many cities and routed his army. Hearing that Iletmish was advancing to
strengthen Karadja he set out at once to encounter the Sultan of Delhi.
But Iletmish offered peace, and the hand of his daughter instead of
hostilities; Jelal took peace and the woman. Still Iletmish made a
league with Karadja and others to drive out the Kwaresmian if need be.
Jelal, who could not make head against all, took advice of his
generals. Those who had quitted his brother wished a return to home
regions. It would be easy, they told him, to snatch command from Ghiath
his brother, a weakling, and foolish. But Euzbeg, one of the generals,
declared that Jelal should remain where he was in full safety from
Mongols who were more to be feared than all the princes in India. Jelal
ud din, swept off by the hope of regaining his father’s dominion,
decided on going to Persia. He left Euzbeg to watch over his fortunes
in India and to Vefa Melik he gave the whole government of Gur and of
Ghazni.
While crossing the desert lying north of the Indus Jelal lost a part of
his army by disease, exhaustion and hunger, and when he reached Kerman,
his whole force had shrunk to four thousand. A Turk commander named
Borak, with the surname Hadjib, that is Chamberlain, had won that whole
region. Borak had served Shah Mohammed as chamberlain, hence the
surname Hadjib from his service. Later on Ghiath ud din gave him office
in Ispahan, making him governor, but, embroiled in the sequel with
Ghiath’s vizir, Borak got permission to go to Jelal then in India.
While crossing Kerman the Kevashir governor attacked him, incited to do
so by Ghiath, who wished at that juncture to seize all the baggage and
women belonging to Borak’s assistants.
The aggressor was beaten, put to flight and driven into a neighboring
fortress, where Borak killed him. Borak not satisfied yet with this
outcome had attacked Kevashir where the son of the recent, but then
defunct, governor was commanding. While thus engaged he heard all at
once that Jelal was in Kerman. Borak sent rich gifts to his visitor
straightway and hurried off to receive him. He offered one of his
daughters while greeting the Sultan, who took her in marriage without
hesitation. When Jelal stood before Kevashir the place yielded and
opened its gates to him.
The Sultan had passed a whole month in Kerman when he learned that his
father-in-law was pondering treason. Orkhan, a general, advised the
arrest of Borak and a seizure of all his possessions, but the vizir,
Khodja Jihan, declared that if haste were exhibited in punishing the
man who had been the first to acknowledge the Sultan many minds would
be shaken, since there was no chance to prove clearly the existence of
treason.
Jelal chose to feign ignorance, and continued his journey. Borak
remained master of Kerman. After him nine of his family during
eighty-six years succeeded in authority. These formed the Kara Kitan
dynasty of Kerman, so called because of this Borak, the Hadjib, its
founder.
Jelal advanced into Fars where for twenty-four years had been reigning
the Atabeg, Sád, son of Zengwi, a prince who claimed his descent from a
Turk chief named Salgar. Sankor, the grandson of Salgar, was
established in Fars, and when the Seljuks had fallen he made himself
master of that region, and princes descended from Salgar, that is the
Salgarids, thus gained dominion.
On nearing Shirez, Jelal announced his arrival to the Atabeg, who sent
his son with five hundred horsemen to welcome the Sultan, and excused
himself saying that he had once made a vow not to meet any person
whatever. Jelal accepted the statement. He knew that the Atabeg was
hostile to Ghiath, who had invaded his country a short time before and
had even retained certain parts of it. Jelal gave back those parts then
to Sád and to gain the man thoroughly married his daughter.
The Sultan made a brief stay in Shiraz, being eager to win back Irak
from his brother, for Ghiath could not restore peace to those countries
given up to disorder and anarchy since the return of Jinghis to
Mongolia. Each little district had its own cruel master and those petty
tyrants completed in great part the ruin begun with such terror by the
Mongols. Ghiath’s name was repeated at prayer in the mosques, but no
man gave him tribute. Having no money to pay his Turk troops he was
forced to permit them to take what they could from the people and thus
strip the country. When an officer of rank came for pay to the Sultan,
the man had to take the next higher title, an emir was made melik, and
a melik made khan. That was the reward for his service. He was forced
next to subsist by real robbery in some shape.
After Jelal had reached Ispahan he set out very quickly with a picked
band for Rayi near which his brother was recruiting an army. He had
given all his horsemen white banners like those used by the Mongols.
When Ghiath saw those white banners he thought that Mongols were
advancing to attack him, and he took to flight straightway, but
returned soon with a force thirty thousand in number. Jelal had
recourse now to a stratagem. He sent to his brother, through an
equerry, this message: “Having suffered cruel hardships I have come to
find rest here, but since you meet me with swords, I withdraw to other
places.”
Ghiath believing this message, and thinking besides that his brother
was powerless to harm him, came back to Rayi and dismissed his large
forces.
Jelal sent out an agent who gave immense promises to the generals of
his brother, and gave them rings also in proof of his favor. Many
yielded while others went promptly to Ghiath and showed the rings given
them. He had his brother’s agent arrested. But Jelal, feeling that most
of the warriors were with him, advanced with only three thousand picked
horsemen. This advance was successful; Ghiath fled to a fortress but
reassured by mild messages he left his asylum and went to his brother’s
headquarters.
The supremacy of Jelal was generally acknowledged; commanders came to
him each with a shroud on his shoulders, and fell at his feet to win
pardon. The Sultan treated these men with a kindness which scattered
their fears and attached them to his fortunes. Soon he saw also at his
court that entire horde of small tyrants who had sprung into power
during anarchy in all parts of Persia. These men, in great dread lest
they lose their sweet morsels, came of their own will to render him
homage. Those who were best, or at least those whom he thought best for
his own interests, got permission to return to their places.
Jelal’s first campaign after securing power was against Nassir, the
Kalif of Islam, and the enemy of his father. Marching to Kuzistan
quickly he laid siege to Shuster, the chief place of that province. His
army lacked all things and rushed through the country in various small
parties to find what they needed. They drove back great numbers of
horses and mules; they found what provisions were requisite, but at the
end of two months the siege was abandoned, and the Sultan moved upon
Bagdad directly. He halted at Yakuba, seven parasangs [9] distant from
the capital.
Kalif Nassir strengthened Bagdad. He gave one million dinars [10] to
his troops before sending them to battle; that done he waited.
Jelal begged by letter Moazzam, the Prince of Damascus and nephew of
Saladin, to aid him in this struggle with Nassir who had brought, as he
stated, savage people to Persia, and destroyed Shah Mohammed. Moazzam
replied that he would make common cause with the Sultan in everything
save only a struggle against the high chief of all Moslems.
Kush Timur led the forces of Bagdad which were twenty thousand in
number. A pigeon was sent to Mozaffar who was prince then in Erbil with
an order to attack the Sultan’s rear guard and bar retreat to him.
Since Jelal’s forces were small he sent a message to Kush Timur saying
that he had not come as an enemy; he desired the good-will of the Kalif
whose aid was to him indispensable in that great struggle with the
enemy who menaced all Islam. If the Kalif would act and agree with him
he, the Sultan, could be the safe-guard of Persia.
Kush Timur’s single answer was to range his men in order of battle.
Jelal, forced to fight with an enemy greatly superior, put a part of
his small army in ambush; he charged thrice after that with a troop of
five hundred and fled, as it were, in disorder. The enemy followed,
fell into the trap, and were attacked on both flanks with great fury.
Kush Timur was cut down in the struggle; his army was broken and then
pursued to the gates of the capital.
Jelal after winning this victory captured Dakuka (1225), and sacked it.
Next he moved against Takrit, and learning that Mozaffar, the Prince of
Erbil, was approaching with an army, and had gone ahead with a small
force to surprise and take him, he set out with a handful of heroes and
captured Mozaffar, whom he freed afterward on his promise to return to
his own lands and stay in them.
Jelal dropped all his plans against Bagdad; Azerbaidjan was the place
which now lured him. Marching first to Meraga he fell to clearing away
the ruins, but left that task quickly on hearing that Togan Taissi, his
uncle on the mother’s side, and also his brother-in-law, was moving
from Azerbaidjan to take Hamadan and the neighboring districts, the
investiture of which had been given him by the Kalif. Togan had spent
the whole winter in Arran and on his journey through Azerbaidjan he
pillaged that country a second time.
Jelal arrived about midnight near the camp ground of Togan, around
which were gathered vast numbers of sheep, mules, horses, asses, and
cattle.
When this Turk general, who thought that the Sultan was then in Dakuka,
saw his troops after daybreak, and knew by the regal umbrella that
Jelal himself was there with them, he was so disconcerted that he
forgot every idea save the single one of winning favor. He sent his
wife, Jelal’s sister, to make peace if possible. She made it and Togan
thereupon ranged his troops with the Sultan’s and under his banners;
after that they returned to Meraga.
Euzbeg, who was ruler in Azerbaidjan, had gone from Tebriz to Gandja
the capital of Arran. In spite of the dangers which threatened his
country he passed his time drinking, leaving all cares of State to his
consort, a daughter of Sultan Togrul, the last Seljuk ruler in Irak.
She had remained in Tebriz, and Jelal, who was eager to win that famed
city, laid siege to it. After five days of fighting and just as he was
ready to storm it, the inhabitants asked to surrender. The Sultan
reproached them with murdering, a year earlier, certain warriors of his
father, and sending their heads to the Mongols. They assured him that
not they but their ruler had to answer for that; they had been
powerless to stop him.
The Sultan accepted this statement and spared them. They begged him to
guarantee Euzbeg’s wife the possession of Khoï, and a few other places.
Jelal consented, and sent an escort to convey her to Khoï.
When Jelal had taken Tebriz he stayed for some days in that city.
Meanwhile his men seized the neighboring districts. Then he set out on
an expedition against Georgia (1226).
Since Euzbeg was neglectful and indolent the Georgians made raids into
Arran and Azerbaidjan; they ravaged Erzerum also, and later on Shirvan.
They had scourged the Moslems of these regions severely. Eager for
vengeance Jelal had no sooner made himself master at the Caspian than
he declared war on the Georgians, who sent back this answer: “We have
measured our strength with the Mongol, who took all his lands from thy
father and destroyed him. He was a man of more courage and power than
art thou. Those Mongols who killed him met us, and ended by fleeing.”
Jelal began by the capture of Tovin, which the Georgians had seized
some years earlier; next he marched against the main Georgian army,
seventy thousand in number, attacked it in the valley of Karni near
Tovin, and put it to flight with a loss of twenty thousand. Many
generals were captured, among others Shalové, the master of Tovin. The
chief commander, Ivane, escaped to the fortress of Keghe, which the
Sultan invested while the rest of his army spread out over Georgia,
bringing fire and the sword to all places. He would have begun a real
conquest had he not thought that he must go to Tebriz. When ready to
march into Georgia the Sultan got news from his vizir that a plot had
been formed in Tebriz to give back the country to Euzbeg. The Sultan
kept this knowledge secret and only when Georgia was crushed did he
tell the whole tale to his generals. He gave then command of his army
to Ghiath his brother, hastened back to Tebriz, put its mayor to death,
and arrested the ringleaders of the conspiracy. When he had
strengthened thus his authority he married Euzbeg’s wife, and while in
Tebriz urged forward troops who took Gandja, the capital of Arran,
whence Euzbeg made his way to Alandja.
Tebriz and Gandja being brought to obedience, Jelal returned quickly to
Georgia, whose people meanwhile had raised a new army in which were
found Alans, Lesgians, Kipchaks and others. This army struck now by
Jelal lost heavily and was scattered. After the victory Jelal marched
on Tiflis, which he captured through aid from Mohammedans who lived in
that city. All Georgians were put to the sword except those who
acknowledged the supremacy of the Sultan. Women and children fell to
the conquerors, the city was yielded to pillage. Jelal took full
vengeance on the Georgians for all that they had done to Mohammedans.
His troops were enriched by the property of Christians, he slew a vast
number of those “infidels,” as he thought them, and drove their
children and wives into slavery.
Leaving Georgia, a desert in great part he turned his face next to
Khelat on the north of Lake Van in Armenia. This city belonged to
Ashraf, an Eyubite prince, lord over Harran and Roha. His brother,
Moazzam, the prince of Damascus, who defended himself against Ashraf,
and Kamil, his eldest brother, who was Sultan of Egypt, had sent his
chief confidant, an officer, to Jelal then in Tiflis, and begged him to
make an attack upon Khelat, and give in this way assistance. Moazzam
admired the Kwaresmian Sultan immensely, and held it an honor to wear a
robe which had come from him, and ride on a steed which Jelal had
thought proper to send him. During night banquets Moazzam never swore
except by the head of the Sultan.
The Kwaresmian warriors laid siege to Khelat very willingly since the
place promised booty in abundance. But they had barely arrived at the
walls of the city when advice came to Jelal that Borak, the governor of
Kerman, had withdrawn from allegiance, and even sent men to the Mongols
to explain the increase and importance of Jelal’s new army.
The Sultan abandoned the siege and set out for Kerman. Borak, who had
learned that he was coming, withdrew to a stronghold and sent words of
feigned loyalty and obedience. It would have been difficult to capture
the stronghold, so Jelal thought it best to dissemble, to receive at
their literal value the words brought to him; hence he sent a rich robe
of honor from Ispahan to the faith-breaking Borak, and confirmed him in
office.
Meanwhile news came from Sherif ul Mulk, the vizir, of hostile action
by Ashraf against a corps of Kwaresmians which he had beaten.
The Sultan’s troops left in Georgia lacked almost everything. They made
an incursion toward Erzerum, drove away flocks and herds and took many
women. While on the way back from this forage they passed near Khelat;
the commandant rushed out from his fortress and seized all their booty.
The vizir in alarm begged the Sultan to hasten with assistance.
Jelal moved to Tiflis by swift marches, and thence farther to Ani; he
attacked this old city and Kars also with its very strong fortress.
Returning soon to Tiflis he made a long march to Abhasia, October,
1226, as it were to subdue it. This was merely a feint to rouse false
security in Khelat. Ten days only did he stay in Abhasia and turned
then with great speed toward Khelat, which he would have captured had
not the commandant been advised two days earlier by his confidants who
were serving in the suite of the Sultan.
Jelal hurled his force on the city the day that he reached it; a second
assault was made the day following. His troops took the outskirts which
they pillaged, but were forced to withdraw from them. After some days
of rest the assault was renewed, but resistance was so resolute that
this plan was abandoned. The people knowing well the ferocity of
Kwaresmians, and the deeds which they did in each captured city,
resisted with desperate valor. Ashraf went to Damascus, moreover, and
swore obedience to Moazzam, his brother, begging him meanwhile to stop
Jelal from ruining Khelat, but Jelal remained till the cold and deep
snow drove him from the place. Azerbaidjan also called him. A large
horde of Turkmans were pillaging the people, and plundering caravans.
The Sultan made a swift march and came on them suddenly, shutting off
their retreat to the mountains. Surrounding the robbers he cut them to
pieces. Their families and all the rich booty which they had taken fell
to the Sultan who retired to Tebriz with his captives. The Kwaresmians
had abandoned Tiflis for the winter, so the Georgians at Ani, Kars and
other places united. They moved on Tiflis in a body and put to death
all Mohammedans, and since they despaired of defending the city against
Jelal they fired it.
The Ismailians, that is, the Assassins of Persia, had just killed a
general to whom the Sultan had given Gandja and the lands which went
with it. To inflict vengeance for this act Jelal took fire and sword to
the land of those death dealing sectaries. A division of Mongols
meanwhile had moved westward toward Damegan. Against this force the
Sultan marched swiftly; he repulsed and then hunted it for many days in
succession.
While Jelal on the east was thus occupied Hussam ud din Ali, Ashraf’s
commander at Khelat, appeared in the west unexpectedly, invited to
Azerbaidjan by those of the people who liked not the Sultan’s strange
ways, and who were brought down to need by the greed of his warriors.
Euzbeg’s former wife too was active. She had had her own way with her
first husband. Fixed now to Jelal through marriage she could not endure
the effacement that came from this union. She remembered the past and
joining the people of Khoï took action. She invited Hussam to seize
that whole region. He consented and took many places; that done, he
marched back to Khelat, Jelal’s new, but dissatisfied, consort going
with him.
But there was need soon to face a more serious opponent. The Mongols
were moving in force toward Irak and soon appeared at its border. Jelal
sent four thousand horsemen toward Rayi and Damegan to watch them.
Pressed by the Mongols these four thousand fell back upon Ispahan,
where the Sultan had fixed his headquarters. The enemy following
stopped one day’s march from the city, and east of it. The Mongol
force, made up of five divisions, was commanded by Tadji Baku,
Anatogan, Taimaz and Tainal. Astrologers counseled the Sultan to wait
four days before fighting; he complied and showed confidence of a kind
to rouse courage in all who came near him.
At the first news of that Mongol approach his generals were alarmed and
repaired to the palace in a body. He received them in the courtyard,
and talked long of things which concerned not attack on the city, to
show that he was in no way uneasy. Then he seated them and discoursed
on the order of battle. Before the dismissal he made all take an oath
not to turn from the enemy or prefer life to the death of a hero. He
took the same oath himself, and appointed a day for the struggle.
Command was then given the chief judge and the Ispahan mayor to review
the armed citizens.
Since Jelal did not move from the city the Mongols supposed that he had
not strength or even courage to meet them, hence they prepared for a
siege and sent two thousand horse into Lur to collect provisions. The
Sultan hurried three thousand men after them. These took every defile
in the rear of the foragers, and barred retreat; many Mongols were
killed and four hundred were captured. Jelal gave some of these men to
the populace, by whom they were massacred in the streets of the city.
The Sultan cut off with his own hand the heads of others in the
courtyard of his palace; and their bodies were hurled out to be eaten
by vultures and dogs.
August 26, 1227, was the day fixed for battle—Jinghis had died in
Tangut eight days earlier. While the Sultan was ranging his men for the
conflict Ghiath, his own brother, betrayed him,—deserted. Jelal did not
seem to take note of the defection. Even when he saw the Mongols in
order of battle he thought that his men were more than sufficient to
conquer such an enemy, and ordered the Ispahan guards to reënter the
city. At the beginning of the conflict the two wings of the Sultan’s
forces were too far from each other for mutual assistance. During a
fierce onset his right wing pierced the left of the enemy, and pursued
it to Kashin. The left had not yet been in action. The sun was
declining and Jelal was resting at the edge of a defile. Just then Ilan
Buga, an officer, approached Jelal and said with animation: “We have
long implored Heaven for a day such as this to take vengeance on those
outcasts. Success is now with us, and still we neglect it. To-night
this vile enemy will make a long two days’ journey, and we shall repent
when too late that we let them escape us. Ought we not to make this
day’s victory perfect?”
Struck by these words the Sultan remounted, but hardly had he crossed
the ravine when a chosen corps of the enemy hidden by a height, rushed
on the left wing, rolled it back on the center and broke it. The
generals of that wing now kept their oath faithfully and died weapons
in hand, except three of them.
The Sultan remained in the center, which then was surrounded
completely. He had only fourteen of the guards near his person, and he
slew with his own hand his standard bearer who was fleeing; then he
himself cut a way through the enemy. Fugitives from the center and left
rushed in every direction. Some fled toward Fars, others toward Kerman,
while Azerbaidjan was a refuge for a third group. Those who had lost
their horses in the battle went back on foot to the city. At the end of
two days the right wing came from Kashan, believing the rest of the
army victorious. When they heard of its defeat they disbanded at once.
Though the Mongols won the battle, their sufferings and losses were
greater than those of the Moslems. Advancing to the gates of the city
they were repulsed and pursued with such speed that in three days of
flight they reached Rayi whence by the Nishapur road they fled farther.
On this retreat they lost many men both in killed and in prisoners.
No one knew whither the Sultan had vanished. Some sought for his corpse
on the battle-field, others thought that the enemy had captured him. At
Ispahan people talked of a new sovereign, while the mob wished to seize
the women and goods of the Kwaresmians. But the cadi prevailed upon all
to wait a few days till the Bairam feast opened. He agreed, however,
with the principal citizens that should the Sultan not come to the
prayer on that feast day they would choose as ruler Togan Taissi, who
through his virtues deserved supreme power before others.
When the people had assembled on the feast day Jelal came to the prayer
and caused great rejoicing. Fearing lest he might be besieged in the
city he had not returned to it when the battle was over, but had waited
on the Luristan side till the enemy had vanished. The Sultan now stayed
some days waiting for fugitives and rewarding chiefs of the right wing
by giving the title of khan to those who were meliks. He gave high rank
also to simple warriors who had deserved fame for their action in the
battle. Certain cowardly generals were led through the city with veils
on their faces in the manner of women.
Ghiath ud din, Jelal’s brother, had retired to the mountains and was
striving to win back dominion through assistance from the Kalif. Hatred
between the two brothers had been intensified by murder. Mohammed, son
of Karmil, of a family illustrious in Gur, was in very high favor with
Jelal who, charmed with his manners and speech, had admitted that youth
to his intimate reunions. Some days before the late battle Mohammed had
taken a few men to his service from the corps under Ghiath. These men
had left Jelal’s brother since no pay had been given them. One evening
when Ghiath and Mohammed were at a feast given by Jelal, Ghiath asked
Mohammed if he would send back his guardsmen. “They desire food,” was
the answer, “and serve him who will give it.” Ghiath was roused by this
statement, and the Sultan, who noted his anger, asked Mohammed to
withdraw from the table. The young man obeyed, but a few moments later
Ghiath went out also, entered the man’s dwelling and stabbed him.
Mohammed died some days later. The Sultan grieved greatly for his
favorite, and sent this message to Ghiath: “Thou hast sworn to be a
friend to every friend of mine, and an enemy of my enemies, but thou
hast killed my best friend without reason. Thou hast broken thy oath
and agreement. I am bound to thee no longer. I will let the law do its
work, if the brother of thy victim comes to me begging for justice.”
The Sultan commanded that the funeral procession move twice past the
gate of the assassin. Tortured by this public punishment Ghiath took
vengeance on the day of the battle by deserting. From his Kuzistan
place of retirement he sent his vizir to Bagdad to declare that he had
gone from his brother. He then proffered proofs that his reign had been
friendly to the Kalif, while Jelal had acted with enmity, and had
brought fire and sword to the suburbs of Bagdad. He begged aid of the
Kalif in recovering his dominions, and promised true obedience to the
heir of the Prophet.
The vizir was received with distinction, and a subsidy of thirty
thousand dinars was then given him, but after the retreat of the
Mongols Ghiath did not think himself safe from his brother. Jelal sent
a corps of mounted warriors to follow the Mongols to the Oxus, and
hurried himself to Tebriz for a season. He was playing ball with a
mallet on the square of the city when he heard that his brother was
returning to Ispahan. He set out at once for that city, but learning on
the road that Ghiath was on his way to the land of the Assassins he
changed his route quickly to follow, and ask the Alamut chief to
surrender the fugitive. “Your brother,” said the chief, “is here in
asylum; he is a Sultan himself and his father was a Sultan,—we cannot
surrender him, but he will not take your dominions, we guarantee that.
Should he commit any act of hostility you are free to treat us as may
please you.”
This statement seemed satisfactory to Jelal, and an oath added strength
to it. Jelal on his part swore to give the past to oblivion, and the
question was ended. But Ghiath himself went from Alamut to seek refuge
in Kerman. Some days after his arrival Borak showed a wish to marry
Ghiath’s mother, Beglu Aï, who had come with him. They were both in
Borak’s power and resistance would have been futile. Still the princess
yielded only after much resistance. Conducted to Kevashir the capital
of Kerman, the mother and son had hardly arrived when two relatives of
Borak proposed to assassinate that governor and install Ghiath. Ghiath
rejected the offer, but Borak, hearing that his relatives had made it,
tortured the two men so cruelly that they confessed to him. They were
then cut to pieces in the presence of Ghiath who, confined straightway
in the citadel, was strangled with a bowstring. His mother, who had
rushed in at his cries, met her death in the same way. The five hundred
followers who had come with him were cut down every man of them.
Borak sent the head of his victim to Ogotai Khan who received it with
gladness. This gift secured Mongol friendship and Borak was confirmed
in his Kerman possessions.
The Kankali Turks and the Kipchaks had been closely connected with the
reigning Kwaresmian family by marriages; because of this fact, Jinghis
Khan had attacked both those peoples inflexibly, and Jelal now sought
their friendship with growing endeavor. After his Ispahan failure the
Sultan sent to get men and aid from the Kankalis. They agreed, as it
seems, with much readiness to give them. Kur Khan, one of their
leaders, embarked with three hundred men on the Caspian and passed the
next winter with the Sultan on the plain of Mughan, a rich pasture land
in that season. It was decided that Jelal was to gain the strong fort
at Derbend with its one narrow pass and retain it. By this pass alone
could large armies go south of the Caucasus from Kipchak. A force of
fifty thousand from the north was to aid in securing this road near the
sea, while Jelal was to give the prince ruling Derbend other fiefs in
payment for it. The plan failed, however. Jelal secured now the
district Gushtasfi between the rivers Kur (Cyrus) and Araxes. This land
was a part of the Shirvan Shah’s kingdom, and he had given it to his
son Jelal ud din Sultan Shah and sent him to Georgia to marry the
daughter of Rusudan, the famous and beautiful queen of that country.
Detained there perforce he was freed when Jelal took Tiflis and laid
waste the country.
Jelal claimed tribute now from the Shirvan Shah for all his
possessions. This was done, since Jalal’s house had succeeded the
Seljuks, to whom when in power those Shirvan Shahs had paid tribute.
The unquiet ambition of Jelal had forced many people of the Caucasus to
a league with the Georgians against him. An army made up from nine
nations and forty thousand in number had gathered north of Arran. The
Sultan marched against this army and pitched his camp at Mendur. Since
his forces were greatly inferior in number to those of the enemy,
Sherif ul Mulk, his vizir, advised at a council to limit all action to
stopping provisions and meeting the enemy with advantage when want
came. This advice enraged Jelal so seriously that he struck his vizir
on the head with a writing case. “They are mere sheep; would a lion be
troubled by the number of such weak little animals?” cried he, and he
fined the vizir fifty thousand dinars for daring to offer such counsel.
Next day the armies were facing each other. The Sultan, to encourage
his men, gave them presents, and shared with some his best horses. From
the top of a hill he saw two tumans of Kipchaks who had come to give
aid to the Georgians. By an officer he sent bread and salt to those
Kipchaks and told them that he had saved the lives of many of their
people taken captive by his father. “Will you now raise the sword to
repay me with bloodshed?” asked he.
The Kipchaks withdrew on receiving this statement. The Georgians
advanced, but Jelal sent this message to their leader: “Your men must
be wearied by long marches; if they wish rest for to-day the best
warriors from both sides may amuse themselves by trying their strength
and address in the presence of the armies.” This proposition was
accepted.
One of the bravest of Georgia’s great veterans rode forth to the space
between the two forces. The Sultan rushed to meet this strong champion,
and pierced him through with one lance thrust. Three sons of the man
came forth then to avenge him and were killed in succession by Jelal.
Next came a fifth man, enormous in stature. The Sultan’s horse was
wearied, there was no time for a change, and had it not been for his
marvelous skill in escaping from blows and in parrying, Jelal would
have seen his last hour in that conflict. But when the Georgian was
rushing lance in rest at him, the Sultan sprang to the ground, disarmed
the oncoming giant, and killed him. He gave with his whip then a signal
for the onset, and, in spite of the truce, his whole army rushed at the
Georgians, surprised and defeated them.
Free of his enemies now Jelal marched in 1229 on Khelat to besiege it a
second time. He remained all the winter before it, but was forced by
keen cold and deep snow to lodge a great part of his troops in the
villages of that region. To his camp came the Erzerum prince, Rokn ud
din Jihan Shah, who belonged to a branch of the Seljuks of Rūm. This
prince, having had quarrels before that with Jelal, wished now to
arrange them, show homage, and give presents ten thousand dinars in
value.
The Sultan received him with every distinction, and in taking farewell
asked for siege engines. Rokn ud din sent a great catapult, shields and
many engines of value. The princes of Amid and Mardin sent their
submission through envoys. Next came an embassy from Bagdad. Nassir,
the Kalif, had died during 1225 in the forty-sixth year of his rule,
the longest rule of any man in the whole line of Abbasids. Zahir,
Nassir’s son and successor, had been only nine months in office when he
died. Mostansir, his son, then succeeded. Mostansir now sent an envoy
to make two demands upon Jelal; first that the Sultan would claim no
rights of a sovereign in Mosul, Erbil, Abuye and Jebal whose princes
were vassals of the Kalif; second that he would restore the name of the
Kalif in all public prayers throughout Persia. Shah Mohammed, his
father, had abolished this practice when he was marching on Bagdad, and
had not restored it. The Sultan granted both requests straightway and
commanded that in all his states every Moslem should pray for
Mostansir. When the envoy returned a chamberlain of the Sultan went
with him. This chamberlain came back with two officials, who brought
from the Kalif a robe of investiture to Jelal, and splendid presents to
him and his highest officials. Jelal asked earnestly for the title of
Sultan. Bagdad refused, having given thus far, as was stated, that
title to no ruler, but while investing him the Kalif gave the title
Shah in Shah (Shah of Shahs). In letters after that Jelal styled
himself servant of the Kalif whom he called lord and master.
While besieging Khelat the Sultan commanded to adorn Ispahan with a
college, and a domed mausoleum of rich structure. This building was to
hold the sarcophagus of his father which meanwhile would rest on the
Demavend mountain in Erdehan, a strong fortress three days’ journey
from Rayi toward the Caspian. He requested by letter his aunt, Shah
Khatun, a widow of the Mazanderan prince named Ardshir, to attend the
“great Sultan’s” remains to the fortress. The chief men of her country
and the Moslem Ulema were to go with her. Mohammed of Nessa, who
indited the letter with this request, declares that he sent it
unwillingly, since he knew well that Mohammed’s remains were far safer
on that island in the Caspian than they ever could be in the fortress;
for the Mongols burned the corpses of all kings whose graves they
found, believing them of the Kwaresmian dynasty. They dug up in Gur the
remains of Mahmud, son of Sebak Tegin, though this prince had been dead
two whole centuries. “The event failed not to justify my fears,” adds
Mohammed Nessavi. [11] “After Jelal had been slain the Mongols took the
Erdehan stronghold and sent the body of Mohammed to Ogotai who burned
it.”
Before beginning the siege of Khelat, Jelal sent an envoy from Meraga
to the Sultan of Rūm, Alai ed din Kei Kubad, with a letter expressing
his wish for relations of friendship, and showing the need of close
union, since they were one in the East and the other in the West, the
two bulwarks of Islam against raging infidels. Kei Kubad read this
letter with favor, and to strengthen an alliance proposed that Jelal
give a daughter in marriage to his, Kei Kubad’s, son, Kei Kosru. Two
envoys from Kei Kubad came bringing friendly expressions to Jelal while
he was in front of Khelat, and besieging it.
These envoys were forced to deliver their presents just as did subjects
when bringing gifts to their sovereign. They asked a daughter of Jelal
for Kei Kubad’s son, and received a refusal. They complained of
hostility shown Kei Kubad by his cousin and vassal, the Erzerum prince,
and asked that Jelal yield this prince up, and let Kei Kubad take his
country. This request roused Jelal, who answered with spirit: “Though I
have complaints against Jihan Shah, he has come to my court and now is
a guest in it. It would not be proper for me to deliver him to an
enemy.” Discontent in the envoys was heightened immensely by insolence
from Jelal’s vizir.
One day when Nessavi was visiting this minister he heard rude speech
and boasting: “If the Sultan permitted I would enter your country and
subject it with the troops at my order,” said Sherif. “When the envoy
had gone I asked the vizir,” says Nessavi, “for the cause of his
rudeness, since Kei Kubad had testified friendship. ‘The presents
brought by those envoys.’ replied the vizir, ‘are not equal to two
thousand dinars.’”
The envoys, accompanied by three others from Jelal, went home little
pleased with their mission. When they arrived at the boundary of Rūm
the two hurried on in advance to their sovereign. On hearing their
narrative Kei Kubad despatched one of them straightway to make an
alliance with Ashraf.
After six months of siege work Jelal stormed Khelat and took it April
2, 1230. He wished that his men should not pillage and ruin the city,
but his generals declared that the siege had been long, that the
warriors had lost many horses with cattle and property, that if he
forbade pillage no new campaign would be possible at any time; all
might desert in a body. The generals insisted so firmly that Jelal had
to yield to them.
Khelat was given up for a time to the army; for three days and nights
did wild, savage men work their will on it. A great many people expired
under torture inflicted to force them to tell where their treasures
were hidden. Women and children were saved for captivity. The Georgian
wife of Prince Ashraf was taken by Jelal, who made her his concubine.
Two younger brothers, Yakub and Abbas, fell into the power of the
conqueror also. The Sultan now had the walls of the city repaired, and
gave land in that region to his generals. Jelal was preparing to strike
Manazguerd when the Erzerum prince, who during the siege of Khelat had
given him provisions, and thus earned the hatred of Ashraf, came to
inform him that Ashraf and the Sultan of Rūm were concluding a treaty,
hence he advised with all earnestness to forestall the two princes by
attacking their forces before they could possibly unite them.
After the death of Moazzam of Damascus Ashraf had received from his
brother Kamil, who was Sultan of Egypt, Damascus in barter for Surud,
Harran, Roha and three other districts. When he heard of the fall of
Khelat and the capture of his consort, Ashraf rushed away to his
brother Kamil, who was at that time in Rakka. Ashraf met there that
envoy from the Sultan of Rūm who was charged with concluding a treaty
with him against Jelal. The Khelat Prince took advice from Kamil the
Sultan of Egypt, who favored the alliance, but Kamil himself hurried
back straightway to Cairo on learning that Salih, his son whom he had
left there, was plotting to dethrone him.
Ashraf set out with seven hundred horsemen for Harran. There he
demanded contingents from Aleppo, Mosul and the lands lying between the
Euphrates and Tigris. When those troops had appeared he went at the
head of them to join Kei Kubad at Sivas whence they would march with
combined armies on Khelat.
Jelal had resolved to advance on Kharpert, hoping to attack the first
of the armies which moved to join the other. He summoned his troops to
Kharpert and went thither himself in advance of them, but falling ill
at that place he was in such straits that the generals thought his life
lost and were ready the moment breath left him to rush off and seize
each man the province that pleased him. Jelal recovered, but meanwhile
his enemies had united their forces. His army was small if compared
with the troops ranged against it. He had not summoned in men from
Arran, Azerbaidjan, Irak or Mazanderan who had gone on leave somewhat
earlier. His vizir’s corps was at Manazguerd, another corps also was
attacking Berkeri, still he moved on and in Erzendjan met the enemy.
Kei Kubad’s force was twenty thousand, Ashraf’s only five, but all
chosen warriors. Jelal was defeated most cruelly, and lost many
warriors. Among prisoners was the Erzerum prince who had promised Jelal
a good part of Kei Kubad’s kingdom, but who was forced then to yield up
strong places and treasures of his own to his cousin. The victors
beheaded all the Kwaresmian officers whom they captured.
Jelal fled to Manazguerd, and taking the troops then besieging that
fortress marched on Khelat which he stripped of all that had value and
was movable; that done he burned the remainder. Then, taking with him
the Georgian wife of Prince Ashraf and Ashraf’s two brothers, Yakub and
Abbas, he moved into Azerbaidjan. The vizir with his troops was posted
in Sekman Abad to follow the movements of the enemy; he himself halted
near Khoï. His generals had deserted.
Jelal’s enemies did not pursue. On the contrary his vizir got a letter
from Ashraf, who had parted with Kei Kubad after the victory, and gone
to Khelat, which he found a sad ruin and deserted. “Your master,” wrote
he to Sherif, “is the Sultan of Moslems, the first rampart of Islam
against Mongol enemies. We know that to weaken him signifies ruin to
religion, that his losses will affect every Moslem. Why do you with
your wonderful experience not give him peace-loving counsels? I
guarantee to the Sultan true friendship with the strong aid of Kei
Kubad, and my brother, the Sultan of Egypt.”
These propositions were followed by discussion, and the two princes
made peace. The Sultan agreed to cease all attacks upon Khelat, but
despite every effort he would make no promise regarding Kei Kubad. He
could not forgive him the alliance with Ashraf. He knew only later how
his vizir had offended that prince’s envoys. But when he learned that
the Mongols were entering Irak he swore to respect all the lands of Kei
Kubad.
This Mongol army, thirty thousand in number, was taken from all the
troops under Ogotai. It was led by Chormagun, whom the Grand Khan had
deputed to finish the conquest of Persia and establish himself there
with his warriors. Chormagun, who wished first of all to hunt Jelal to
death, as Jinghis the great Khan had hunted Jelal’s father, moved
through Khorassan very swiftly by the Esferain road, and past Rayi.
Jelal, who had gone from Khoï to Tebriz, hoped that these Mongols would
winter in Irak; he needed delay of that length to gather in forces and
concentrate. He despatched a Pehlevan straightway to Irak to watch all
the movements of the Mongols. This man met a vanguard of the enemy
between Zendjan and Ebher. He fled with fourteen men, all he had, and
was the only survivor so fiercely did the Mongols rush after him. He
came alone to Tebriz with his tidings to the Sultan.
Jelal did not delay; he left the place at once for the steppes of Mugan
on the Caspian to gather in forces. Not having time to secure proper
safety for his harem, it remained at Tebriz. He spent that winter in
Mugan and in Shirvan. Two officers of distinction from Mazanderan and
Khorassan were sent forward to have a keen eye on the enemy, report to
Jelal, and keep relays of good horses at Firus Abad and at Ardebil.
While waiting for his warriors, summoned through heralds who presented
red arrows, Jelal with a body-guard of only one thousand amused himself
at hunts during daylight, and spent his evenings drinking with his
intimates. One night two officers of the vanguard whom he had trusted
to warn him let a Mongol division pass without challenge or notice.
They surprised Jelal on a hill close to Shirkebut and he barely escaped
from the peril by rushing on toward the river Araxes. The Mongols
thought that he had crossed it and they hurried on farther toward
Gandja, the capital of Arran, but Jelal had turned back toward
Azerbaidjan and sent Prince Yakub his prisoner to explain to Ashraf,
Yakub’s brother, the great need of sending men promptly to drive back
the Mongols, whose plan was to crush down and ruin the whole world of
Islam.
Yakub was conducted to Sherif ul Mulk, Jelal’s vizir, who had been
directed to send with him an envoy having proper instructions. Sherif
ul Mulk, who was now a full traitor, had a vizir of his own whom he
sent, but with orders entirely opposed to those given by the Sultan.
Jelal’s harem left in Tebriz unprotected was sent now to Arran by
Sherif and lodged in Sind Suruk, a strong fortress, while his treasures
were hidden in various castles which belonged to the chief of the
Turkmans of Arran. That done, Sherif went to Khizan and raised there
the banner of rebellion. He was angry since the Sultan, because of
Sherif’s immense outlays, had taken from him command of the taxes, and
income of all sorts. Thinking Jelal lost when he had fled in Mugan and
had been almost captured, he wrote to Kei Kubad and Ashraf declaring
that if they would leave Azerbaidjan to him coupled with Arran he would
render homage for both and have the two princes’ names mentioned at all
public worship. “Fallen Tyrant” was the name given the Sultan in this
letter. Many missives which were similar to this one in part went to
governors to corrupt them. One of these was sent to the Sultan who knew
now that Sherif stopped all Kwaresmian officers who came near his fort
and wrung their possessions from them by torture. He learned also that
Sherif had instructed the Turkman chief not to yield up the harem or
treasures of the Sultan to any one, not even to Jelal himself should he
come for them. In this letter also he styled him “Fallen Tyrant.” The
Sultan, knowing now the vizir and his treason, had orders sent to
disregard his authority.
Jelal, who remained all the winter (1231) in Mugan, went to Arran in
the spring upon hearing that the Mongols were moving from Odjan to find
him. When near Sherif’s castle he sent for the traitorous vizir and
feigned to know nothing of his treason. Sherif came with a shroud on
his neck. Jelal had wine brought to him, an act not agreeing with
etiquette, since the Kwaresmian sultans never admitted vizirs to their
banquets. Sherif thought himself then at the summit of favor, but soon
he had reason to think otherwise, for though he followed the Sultan the
latter assigned him no duties.
The bad condition of Jelal’s affairs affected the people of the two
Caspian provinces recently subjected. In Tebriz the population, roused
to anger by the men who commanded in the name of the Sultan, were ready
to massacre all the Kwaresmians and thus win good grace from the
Mongols. Revolts broke out in many places of Azerbaidjan and of Arran.
Men in the service of the Sultan were killed and their heads carried
off as presents to the enemy.
Jelal wishing to assemble the troops of Arran, and unable to trust any
Turkman in his service, prevailed on Mohammed of Nessa to accept this
most delicate mission, which he carried out with such thoroughness and
so deftly that Jelal soon had a strong force at his command. At report
of this exploit the Mongol division which had marched into Arran
withdrew to the main camp at Odjan. An envoy sent to the Bailecan
governor to effect his surrender was brought before Jelal immediately.
On being asked touching Chormagun’s army, and promised his life if he
told the truth sacredly (the man was a Moslem), he declared that the
army roll counted twenty thousand on the day of review near the Bokhará
suburbs. Jelal, lest his troops lose their courage and scatter, had the
man killed at once.
Then, fearing that the vizir might rush away on a sudden and rouse many
men to rebellion, the Sultan set out for Jaraper followed still by the
traitor. He ordered then the commandant of the Jaraper fortress, a
cruel old Turkman, to arrest the vizir and put him in irons the moment
that he, the Sultan, moved farther. This was done, and soon after, the
old Turkman sent six guards to take life from Sherif. The moment he saw
the men coming the vizir knew that his last hour was present. He begged
a short respite during which to implore the Almighty. He made his
ablutions, then prayed, read some lines in the Koran, and said that the
guards might enter. On reappearing they asked him which he preferred,
the cord or the sabre. “The sabre,” answered Sherif. “It is not the
usage that great people die by the sabre,” said the guard, “and death
by the cord is far easier.” “The task is yours,” replied Sherif. “Do
what seems best to you. I receive that which comes to him always who
trusts the ungrateful.” These were the last words of Sherif. He was
strangled.
Jelal’s next move was a quick march on Gandja, where the populace had
slain all Kwaresmians in the city. He pitched his camp at the wall and
strove to persuade the seditious to obedience by pleasant messages and
mildness; but the crowd grew more insolent and rushed forth to fall on
him. The Sultan charged fiercely. The populace fled, and returned
through the gate in disorder. The victors were eager for plunder, but
the Sultan restrained them. He wished above all to discover the leaders
of the outbreak. Thirty were named and Jelal cut their heads off.
The Sultan remained fifteen days in the city, thinking on action. At
last he resolved to ask aid a second time of Ashraf. He hated to do
this, but yielded to counsel.
Ashraf, on hearing that envoys were coming from Jelal, took a journey
to Egypt. The envoys were made to delay at Damascus, where the Syrian
prince forced them to loiter and amused them by letters declaring that
he would return soon from Cairo with troops for their master.
At last Jelal’s envoys sent word to him that Ashraf would stay in
Egypt, as they thought, till the whole Mongol question was settled
without him. Jelal sent his chancellor then to Mozaffer, who had
received Khelat from Ashraf his brother. He invited this prince to come
with his own troops and bring with him also the princes of Mardin and
Amid, with their forces. He said that then he could win without Ashraf.
His envoy was to explain to Mozaffer with all clearness possible that
if they, with God’s favor, should conquer the Mongols he would put
Mozaffer in a country compared with which Khelat and its lands were as
nothing. This was said by Jelal in the presence of his generals, but to
Mohammed of Nessa when alone with him his speech was as follows: “I
have no faith in the people to whom you are going, but these here,”
meaning his Turkman commanders, “are satisfied only with visions, and
their highest desire is to escape serious fighting. Thus have they
baffled every plan made by me. I send you now on this mission knowing
well that you will bring back an answer taking from them all hope of
aid.”
The Sultan had fixed on Ispahan the capital as his stronghold. At his
command six thousand men went to pillage in Rūm whence they drove back
immense herds of cattle.
When Mohammed of Nessa gave Mozaffer the message, that prince replied
in this fashion: “If I have given an oath to Jelal, I have given one
also to Kei Kubad; I know too that your sovereign has ravaged Kei
Kubad’s country, and that is not what he promised on the day of the
oath taking. Besides I am not my own master; I depend on my brothers,
the Sultan of Egypt, and the ruler of Syria, I could not help any man
unless those two permitted. Moreover what aid could my little army give
Jelal, or others? As to the princes of Mardin and Amid, they are not my
dependents. They are discussing with the Sultan touching aid. I know
that, I know too that he is trying them. He will find soon that they
are not truthful, while Ashraf is eager in the interest of the Sultan,
and is faithful to promises. His only object in going to Egypt is to
get troops and lead them back with him.”
At the end of some days Mohammed took leave of Mozaffer while declaring
that whatever the end was the latter would regret his decision. “If
Jelal triumphs,” said he, “you can never be reconciled; if he is
conquered the Mongols will bring bitter grief on you if not
destruction.” The Khelat prince answered that he doubted not the words
of the envoy, but added, “I am not my own master.”
A letter borne by a pigeon from Perkri announced that the Mongols were
searching for the Sultan, and had passed by that city. Jelal went to
Hany, but finding there only the women and baggage, he set out for
Jebal Jor without waiting. A Mongol escaping from punishment had come
to the Kwaresmians and declared that the Mongols were advancing. The
man was a commander of one thousand who would not endure reprimands
from superiors, hence had fled from them. Following the advice of this
runaway Jelal left his baggage at the wayside, and settled in ambush
near by to fall on the Mongols while they were pillaging it. Otuz Khan,
one of his generals, with four thousand horsemen, was to move on the
enemy, engage and then flee after fighting, thus luring them on into
ambush. Otuz Khan being neither keen nor courageous, came back and
declared that the Mongols had gone toward Manazguerd. On hearing this
false statement the Sultan came out of his ambush and went on to Hany
where he was met by Mohammed of Nessa whom he commanded to report in
the presence of all, on the outcome of his mission.
Convinced after listening to this report that no help would come from
any one, all resolved straightway to fall back on Ispahan, taking only
those of their children and wives who were dearest to them.
Two days later, came an envoy from Prince Massud of Amid. That prince
wished the Sultan to make himself master in Rūm, a conquest which he
declared would be easy. Master of Rūm and strong through the Kipchaks
who were firmly attached to him, Jelal could make himself terrible to
the Mongols. Massud promised to strengthen the Sultan with four
thousand horsemen and stay with him till Rūm should be conquered.
This entire plan of that Amid prince was caused by his rage at Kei
Kubad, who had snatched away some of his castles.
Jelal’s ambition was roused to activity. He abandoned the Ispahan
journey and started off toward Amid without waiting. Pitching his camp
near that city he passed the whole evening in drinking. At midnight a
Turkman rushed in with tidings that he had seen foreign troops at the
place where the Sultan had passed the night previous. Jelal declared
this a lie, and a trick of the Amid prince to force him from the
country at the earliest. But at daybreak the Mongols were present. They
surrounded the Sultan’s pavilion while he was still sleeping off his
carousal. One general, Orkhan, galloped up with his troops and drove
the enemy away. The officers of Jelal’s own household strove hard in
this trial; they had barely time to give Jelal a light colored tunic,
and put him on horseback. He thought at that moment of one of his wives
who was with him, a daughter of the Fars prince, and commanded two of
his principal officers to guard her while fleeing.
Seeing that the Mongols were terribly swift in pursuing, Jelal ordered
Orkhan to rush in another direction with his forces, and draw off the
enemy. He himself took the road to Amid with one hundred horsemen. The
gates of that city were closed to him. Persuasion was powerless to open
them, hence he fled on toward the Tigris, but soon turning aside he
rushed back, and thus followed the counsel of Otuz Khan, who declared
that the best way to flee from the Mongols was to double back and be
behind them. He reached a small village in the region of Mayafarkin and
stopped for the night at a granary. While he was sleeping Otuz Khan
slipped away, and deserted. At daybreak the Mongols caught up with the
Sultan, who had barely the time to mount and be off while his guards
fought the enemy.
Most of Jelal’s men were slain while defending their master that
morning. Fifteen of the Mongols, on learning that he who had fled was
the Sultan, rushed along after him madly. Two reached the swift rider,
but he slew both of them. The others could not come up with the
fugitive whose horse beyond doubt was superior.
Jelal hurried on alone now, and made his way into the mountains. There
he was captured by Kurds, whose work was to strip every wayfarer and
slay him. They stripped the Sultan at once and were going to kill him
when he told their chief secretly who he was, asking the man to conduct
him to the Erbil prince, Mozaffer, who would load him with benefits for
doing so; if not to conduct him to some place in the Sultan’s own
kingdom. The Kurd chose the latter and taking with him to his own
habitation the Sultan, whom he left in the care of his wife, he went
out to find horses. Meanwhile another Kurd came in, and inquired of the
woman who the Kwaresmian was, and why they had not killed him. She
replied that he was under her husband’s protection, and added, that he
was the Kwaresmian Sultan. “How know that he is telling you the truth?”
asked the Kurd. “But if he is the Sultan, he killed at the siege of
Khelat my own brother, a far better man than he is.” With that he
sprang at Jelal ud din, pierced him with his javelin, and killed him.
Aug. 15, 1231.
With Jelal ud din perished the Kwaresmian dynasty.
“Jelal ud din,” says Mohammed of Nessa, “was of medium stature. He had
a Turk face, his complexion was very dark, for his mother was from
India. He was brave to excess, calm, grave and silent, never laughing
except at the points of his lips. He spoke Turkish and Persian.” Jelal
ud din was no statesman, he had neither foresight nor wisdom; attached
to his whims he reconciled no man. Music and wine gave him most of his
pleasure. He always went to bed drunk, even at times when the Mongols
were hunting him like bloodhounds. He did not retain the affection of
his warriors, who receiving no pay had to live on the country and ruin
it. Reckless conduct estranged from him those who might have upheld
him. A wise and strong leader could have raised up and directed a
resistance which would have stopped Hulagu in his conquests. What might
have come afterwards is of course a new problem.
Soon after the death of this Sultan, Prince Mozaffer sent men to
collect his effects. They found his horse, saddle and sabre. These,
being shown to his generals, were recognized. Mozaffer then had his
corpse brought and put in a mausoleum.
In after years report ran that Jelal had been seen in various places of
Iran. A man at Ispidar gave himself out as the Sultan. The Mongol
commanders called in men who had seen Jelal ud din. The imposter was
discovered and put to death promptly. Twenty-two years after this death
of the Sultan a poor man dressed as a fakir while crossing the Oxus
spoke to the boatmen as follows: “I am Jelal ud din the Kwaresmian Shah
reported as killed by the Kurds in the mountains of Amid. It was not I
who was killed then, but my equerry. I have wandered about many years
without letting men know me.” Taken by the boatmen to an officer of the
Mongols close to that river he was tortured, but insisted till death
that he was Jelal ud din the Kwaresmian Sultan.