[Sidenote: A. D. 1359.]
In the year 760, having attained my twenty-fourth year, being much
disgusted with the infamous conduct of Kutlug Timūr and Sultān Kūly, and
being without any other remedy, I mounted my horse and proceeded to the
(Oulus) tribe of Byan Selduz, and implored him to join me in taking
revenge on the murderers of the late Amyr and Khān; he agreed to unite
with me, and we put on the swords of revenge. Although the fortress of
Shadmān belonged to me, yet I divided with Byan Selduz, in a brotherly
manner, and gave him possession of it, in order to secure his
co-operation, and to prove to mankind that the murderers of Kings should
always suffer retaliation.
I also prevailed on Hajy Berlās, a descendant of Kerachār Nuyān, to join
us in revenging the death of the _Amyr_ and the _Khān_; I therefore drew
my troops out of Samerkund, and proceeded towards Kesh; when arrived in
its vicinity, I sent to Hajy Berlās, who came and joined me; we then
agreed to proceed to Samerkund, and to depose Timūr Khān from the
Khānship.
In compliance with this determination, we marched with all our forces to
Samerkund, and dethroned Timūr Khān, and took possession of the whole
kingdom of Maveralnaher, and we three persons divided it between us; I
got possession of Kesh, with its dependencies, and fixed my residence
there.
Thus we three persons ruled the country of Maveralnaher like three
brothers, and whenever any noble, soldier, or citizen proved
disobedient, we united in punishing him: we agreed very well together,
and divided the revenues in a brotherly manner, till at length Byan
Selduz, from excess of drinking, suddenly bade adieu to this world.
I then said to Hajy Berlās, “shall we divide the portion of Selduz
between us, or shall we give it to his son, so that his troops may
remain faithful, and things may go on as usual;” but he would not listen
to this, and seized on some part of the share of Selduz, in consequence
of which violent disputes took place between the followers of Selduz and
him.
When this intelligence reached the ears of the surrounding chiefs, each
of them exalted the standard of Sovereignty, but I continued to govern
my own country quietly and with regularity.
About this time, several disturbances broke out in Maveralnaher, on
which occasion both the Nobles and Plebeians of Turan came to me and
explained their situation, saying, there is now no King in this country
(and the petty Tyrants harass us), we are resolved to abandon the
country, till some person is placed on the throne of power (who can
protect us). On hearing this, my ambition was rouzed, and I wished to
take possession of the whole kingdom, and become absolute Sovereign of
it, but I found that I could place no reliance on the support of the
people. I therefore thought it better for the present to keep on terms
with the different chiefs who had independence, and endeavour to throw
the ball of discord among them, so that, by degrees, I might bring each
of them under my subjection; but to effect this, I saw that, patience,
perseverance, and (divine) aid were requisite.
During this same year, which was A. H. 760, I began to take measures for
extirpating these petty princes of Maveralnaher (Mulouk al Tuāef), and I
wrote to each of them a separate letter, requesting them to join me, and
that we should divide the country in a brotherly manner between us two.
They all gave a favourable answer to my letters, but none of them were
aware of my correspondence with the others.
Having thus excited the ambition and cupidity of each of them, and
having agreed that whatever country should be subdued, was to be equally
divided between the parties, they individually bound themselves with the
girdle of fealty to me. This was in fact a very important affair, for
Elchy Bughā Selduz had raised the Standard of Royalty in Balkh; Amyr
Bāyezyd Jelayr had taken possession of Khujend; Khuajeh Ayzdy had
established himself in Shumerghānat. The Kings of Badukhshān were
contending with each other in the mountains of that province. Hy Khusero
and Altaja Berdy had seized upon Khutelan and Arheng, and Khizer Yusury
was in possession of all the country from the bridge of Tashkund to the
vicinity of Samerkund. Now, to take the kingdom from such chiefs, each
of whom vied in splendour with the other, was indeed a difficult
undertaking, but I resolved to do it by setting them at loggerheads.
I therefore wrote to Elchy Bughā, that the inhabitants of Badukhshān had
complained to me of their rulers, and had requested me to proceed
thither to relieve them, that I had determined to do so, and, if he
would join me, that country should be annexed to his dominion:
otherwise, as it was my duty to administer justice to the oppressed, I
should do every thing in my power to assist them. When he received my
letter, he immediately drew out his army to attack the Kings of
Badukhshān, and they forthwith sought refuge with me, and offered, if I
would deliver them from their peril, they would make over the whole
country to me, and become my subjects.
I also wrote to Hajy Ayzdy, the Ruler of Shemerghān, that the province
of Balkh being now unoccupied, I had sent an army to take possession of
it; but that if he had any ambition to partake of the conquest, he might
become my partner in this business; this rouzed him, and he immediately
invaded Balkh. When this intelligence reached the ears of Selduz, he
returned from Badukhshān, and came to Hissar Shadmān and Balkh.
And the Kings of Badukhshān bound the girdle of fealty around their
loins, and promised that whenever, or wherever, I should summon them,
they would attend me with all their followers.
When Selduz entered the province of Balkh, Hajy Ayzdy of Shemerghān drew
out his army and engaged him; but, being defeated, sought refuge with
me; having thus made him one of my dependants, I drove out Selduz, and
restored Shemerghān to him.
This same year, Amyr Hussyn, the grandson of Amyr Kūrgen, who sought the
inheritance of his grandfather, marched from Cābul, with all his tribe
and followers, and came towards Maveralnaher; he also wrote me a letter
requesting my assistance; as his sister was one of my wives, the sinews
of my affection were put in motion.[48] I therefore encouraged him to
advance towards Maveralnaher. This in fact was the greatest error I
committed during my whole reign, for I thus admitted into my friendship
a person of vile disposition, proud, and miserly, but I being then
ignorant of his character, advised him to invade Badukhshān, which he
did, and made himself master of that country.
In this year, 760, a son was born to me; as he was my first, I named him
Muhammed, after the Prophet, upon whom, and upon his descendants, be the
Grace of God; and, as it occurred at a period when I was very
successful, I considered it an auspicious omen, and added Jehangyre,
(Conqueror of the World). I also gave a grand feast, to which all the
principal inhabitants of Maveralnaher came, except two of the Nobility;
the first was Amyr Bāyezyd Jelayr, the other, Amyr Hajy Berlās.
I however did not shew any displeasure, but acted kindly to all their
dependants and followers, which induced them to take my part; in
consequence of which the tribe of Berlās, which was under the command of
Amyr Hajy, but who were disgusted with his conduct, repaired to me; also
his wife’s father, ambitious of getting the command of the tribe for his
grandson, by which he himself would get the power into his own hands,
attempted to assassinate him: but the Amyr having discovered the plot,
sent the scoundrel to hell; he then came to consult me whether he should
destroy the family; I told him, that to take revenge upon children would
be highly improper, and only cause poverty and distress.
In this same year, A. H. 760, Amyr Hussyn got possession of the whole
kingdom of Badukhshān, and took prisoners three of the Princes of the
country, heirs of the former kings, whom his minister, Mahmud Yusury,
very unjustly put to death, but the revenge of their blood seized hold
on the skirts of Amyr Hussyn; and their heirs obtained legal retaliation
on him, as will be hereafter mentioned.
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Footnote 48:
See Note, page 42.