[Sidenote: A. D. 1367.]
In the year 769, I entered my thirty-third year, and being of a restless
disposition, I was much inclined to invade some of the neighbouring
countries; but at this time my spies came and informed me that the Jete
army was approaching, I considered this a fortunate circumstance, and
employed myself in equipping my army; soon after I had received this
intelligence, a messenger arrived from Amyr Hussyn, who stated, “that
the Jete army, resembling a dark cloud, were advancing, and that a
sun-like Timūr, was requisite to disperse it,” and made use of many
other flattering expressions. In reply to these fulsome compliments, I
produced to the messenger, the agreement written by Amyr Hussyn, for the
division of the country of Cabūl, and said, “after having conquered that
place, your master did not even thank me for my assistance, much less
fulfil his promise of giving it to me.”
When Amyr Hussyn received my message, he immediately sent his general,
Musā, to me to say, “that the whole of the country of Cabūl was at my
service,” but I did not credit this speech, and replied, “if it shall
please God, I will retake the country from the Jetes, without being
under any obligation to your master.” I then resolved to allow the Jete
army to enter the country.
At this time, Amyr Hussyn sent an order to Musā, to cross the river
Sihūn, with all his forces; Musā complied, and having crossed the river,
came in sight of the Jetes, who immediately marched from their
cantonment, near Tashkund, and made a rapid charge on the army of Musā,
the latter being defeated, re-crossed the river. When this news reached
Amyr Hussyn, he marched from Balkh, and halted in the plains of Kesh:
during this time, the Jetes being puffed up by success, continued to
advance; on which Amyr Hussyn being greatly alarmed, came to my
habitation, and having entered, said to me, “when our enemies the Jetes
shall have destroyed me, what do you mean to do;” I replied, “whatever
God shall please, I will do;” the Amyr was much affected by my speech,
and said, “God grant that you with a strong heart, may mount and take
command of the advanced army, and march against the enemy, while I
protect the rear, for I see that Providence has written the signs of
victory and success on your forehead;” on hearing this, my chiefs were
very much incensed, and said, “how long are we to fight the battles, and
be killed and wounded in the service of another, and wear the clothes,
and eat the morsels of a stranger.”
In the public assembly, Amyr Hussyn wrote out and offered to me an
agreement, that Samerkund should be mine as formerly; I replied, “I will
not accept Samerkund from you, but if it shall please God, I will take
it from the enemy by the power of my sword.”
When Amyr Hussyn saw my magnanimity, and that I would not accept of
Samerkund from him, he put on a melancholy countenance, told me of the
defeat of his forces, and of the power of the Jetes; although he was
apparently sincere in his desire to make friends, the real fact was,
that he wished me to be defeated, as Amyr Musā had been, and compelled
to retreat.
But I placing my confidence in the aid of the Prophet, and his
illustrious companions, determined to fight the Jetes, and having
assembled two thousand horse, marched from the plain of Kesh, towards
the bank of the river Sihūn. As we went on, it entered my mind, that as
there was a great jealousy existed between Kummer Addyn and Hajy Beg,
the enemy’s two generals, if I could foment a quarrel between them, I
might soon settle the business of the Jetes. It so happened as I had
wished, for they openly quarrelled, in consequence of which, one half of
the army took the part of Kummer Addyn, and the other half, the part of
Hajy Beg, and a regular battle took place between them. When I received
this news, I immediately marched to attack the Jete forces; when I
approached them, they were alarmed, and fled towards their cantonments;
thus by the Almighty aid, I returned victorious and successful. When
intelligence of this event reached Amyr Hussyn, he came to meet me, took
me in his arms, ordered the carpet of pleasure to be spread, and made
great rejoicings.
While thus employed, information was brought that the Princes of
Badukhshān had placed their feet on the path of transgression, and had
plundered the city of Kundez; this intelligence caused Amyr Hussyn much
anxiety, and he turned the face of entreaty towards me, for such was the
practice of that Prince, that whenever any misfortune occurred, he cried
like a woman, but when successful, he boasted as if he had been a hero:
another of his bad qualities was, that he was very envious, in so much,
that he envied his own servants, whom he had promoted, whenever they
were fortunate, and by his bad conduct to them and folly, caused them to
rebel. Thus whenever he had appointed a new governor to a district, he
wished to take from the preceding one, every thing he had made, and
never allowed any governor to remain more than a year in any country, so
that they never had an opportunity of realizing their expences.
It was in this manner he treated the Princes of Badukhshān, who had been
very submissive to him, and paid him a large tribute, which this year he
had encreased far beyond their power of liquidating, and had even taken
Kundez from them, contrary to agreement. In consequence of this
oppression, they were incensed, and plundered part of Hussyn’s
territory; the Amyr sent an army against them, which was defeated, for
the fact was, that many of his officers were so disgusted with his empty
professions and conduct, that they united with the Princes of
Badukhshān, in a determination to depose Hussyn, and even wrote letters
to me on the subject, with complaints against him. When intelligence of
these circumstances were communicated to the Amyr, he came during the
night to me, and with much supplication, begged that I would preserve
him and his government: I shewed him the letters I had received, on
reading them, he was astonished and bewildered; I therefore comforted
him, and said, “I will bring over the Princes to you, either by war, or
by peace; but there are two of your generals who have been always
hypocrites, my advice is this, do not trust to them, but let me arrange
the army; I will advance against the Princes of Badukhshān, and do you
keep one days’ march in the rear:” he having agreed to this measure, we
repeated the prayer for success; I then made long marches, and crossed
the Jihūn, and encamped in the desert of Keshem, which is part of the
territory of Badukhshān.
At this time, I received a letter from Amyr Hussyn, informing me that he
had sent his son Jehān Mulk, to join me; I also was informed that the
Princes of Badukhshān had taken possession of the summits and passes of
the mountains of Hindū Kūsh, and had blocked them up; I therefore sent
Jehān Mulk, who by this time had arrived, to force the passes, and clear
the country, and then wait for my arrival.
Jehān Mulk immediately marched, and entered the passes of the mountain,
and began to ravage and plunder the country; but the Princes of
Badukhshān having dismounted their troops, closed up the ends of the
passes, and opposed him valiantly; at length, the young man finding
himself unable to contend with them, commenced his retreat, losing not
only the plunder he had collected, but all his own effects; beside
which, four hundred of his father’s soldiers were taken prisoners; in
consequence of this misfortune, Jehān Mulk lost all self confidence, and
retreated to me for safety.
I now placed my foot in the stirrup, and having arrived near the summit
of the mountain, at the first charge I gained possession of the pass,
cleared it of the Badukhshians, and took some of them prisoners. The
remainder of them continued their retreat to the summit of Jerm, where
they took post, and resolved to oppose me; I again mounted my horse, and
having ordered the trumpets to sound, proceeded towards the enemy; when
they saw my standards, and knew that I was advancing against them in
person, they were terrified, and sent an ambassador to beg for mercy.
The next day a number of the respectable inhabitants and prelates of the
city of Badukhshān, came and supplicated that I would spare the country,
and requested that I would come and take up my abode with them. I
therefore had compassion on their feelings, sent them back, and followed
them to the city of Badukhshān.
At this place, the great men and officers of the army, and some of the
Princes, waited on me, and brought me a number of presents, and returned
all the plunder and cattle that had been taken from Jehān Mulk.
In consequence of their conduct, I resolved to remain in the city till I
could ratify a peace between the Princes of Badukhshān and Amyr Hussyn.
But the Amyr being dissatisfied at my delay, suspected that I was
confederating with the Princes against him, he therefore sent an officer
to inform me that Shykh Muhammed, son of Byān Seldūz, and Ky Khuserū,
had assembled all their clans, had raised the standard of rebellion, and
that he being satisfied with the reduction of Badukhshān, was on his
return to Sali Seray. On receiving this information, I immediately put
my foot in the stirrup, and followed the Amyr.
When I arrived at Sali Seray, which was his capital, I discovered the
cause of the enmity of Shykh Muhammed and Ky Khuserū, for when I reached
my own cantonment, I received letters from them, (_written in the Tūrky
language_) saying, “we are afraid of the severity and stratagems of Amyr
Hussyn, and are convinced that your Highness being an unsuspicious
character, will shortly fall a prey to his deceit and fraud; we speak
with the frankness of Tūrks, and have repeated with our tongues whatever
was in our hearts.”
At the same time, I learned that these two chiefs had written letters to
Amyr Hussyn; I therefore shewed him the letters I had received, hoping
that he would with the same openness and friendship, shew me those
addressed to him, but he kept whatever was in his mind concealed,
although I guessed that the contents of the two letters were nearly the
same, in order to foment a quarrel between us; but Amyr Hussyn still
believed that I was inimical to him, and meant to play him some trick; I
further learned that the Amyr had said in a council of his confidential
people, “as long as Timūr lives, my sovereignty and dominion is in
danger, and that he was resolved to seize me:” I replied to my
informant, “it is impossible, for Hussyn has taken his oath on the
Korān, and promised never to attempt any thing against me, if he is no
longer a Muselmān, the holy book should be taken away from him.”
About this time, I also received a letter from Aādil Sultān, whom Amyr
Hussyn, supposing him to be a descendant of Jengyz, had raised to the
dignity of Khān, informing me that Hussyn certainly planned treachery
against me: when I had read this letter, I was convinced that Hussyn
having forgotten God, had some evil intentions against me. I however
remained quite tranquil, and continued in appearance my friendship
towards him, till the quarrel between him and the two before-mentioned
chiefs, arose to extremes.
When Hussyn was convinced that Muhammed, son of Seldūz, and Ky Khuserū,
were in an actual state of rebellion, he was much alarmed, and placing
his foot in the stirrup, we both marched to the bank of the river Jihūn,
and encamped there; the next day he directed his generalissimo, Amyr
Musā, to cross the river with his troops, and attack the rebels, but the
general refused, saying, “he was unequal to the task;” upon which, the
Prince being helpless, came to my tent, and said, “I am well convinced
that nothing can be effected without your assistance, I therefore
entreat that you will take measures for quelling these rebels;” I
immediately acquiesced, and having repeated the prayer for success,
crossed the river. When the rebel chiefs were informed of this
circumstance, they drew up their forces in order of battle. I did not
delay an instant, but without giving them time to wait, advanced against
them; when I arrived near them, Ky Khuserū said, “Timūr is too fortunate
a personage for us to contend with, there is no utility in our drawing
the sword against him, it will be better for us to separate, do you go
to Khujend, and I will go to Alay,” and they accordingly set off.
When I received intelligence of their motions, I pursued them, but not
being able to overtake either, I turned my reins towards Tashkund, and
having written a report of all the circumstances, sent it to Amyr
Hussyn: on the receipt of my letter, Hussyn being well satisfied,
returned to Sali Seray: I amused myself some time in hunting, and then
came back to my residence at Kesh.
Soon after this time, I received a letter from Amyr Hussyn, informing
that he intended leaving Arheng Seray, and going to reside at Balkh, and
asked me to accompany him, saying, “that after we are conjointly seated
on the throne of dominion, we will take possession of all Khurasān, and
then divide the countries of Turān and Khurasān between us, in a
brotherly manner.” At the same time, a friend of mine, who was one of
his council, wrote to me, advising me to say, “that I was quite
satisfied with my residence at Kesh, and did not wish to change it;” he
further cautioned me to be on my guard against Hussyn’s stratagems. From
this hint, I was convinced that the Amyr had designs either to kill or
confine me, I therefore refused to go to Balkh. This circumstance
encreased the animosity between us, and he devised several plans for my
destruction, and used many stratagems to get me in his power, but
finding he could not succeed, he then endeavoured to disperse my
followers, and send my Kushūn and horde into the desert. As his avarice
and envy exceeded all bounds, he forgot all his solemn promises and
oaths to me, and sent Pulād Bughā and Amyr Khēlyl, who were nearly
connected with him, to expel my tribe out of the country, and compel
them to remove to the district of Balkh.
The enmity of Amyr Hussyn being thus evident, I delivered him to the
vengeance of the holy book, but my twelve chiefs came to me in a body,
and having made their salutations, said, “if your Highness wishes to
keep the command of your horde and clan, exert yourself; if not, let us
go, that we may do the best we can for ourselves; till this day we have
worn the sword of manliness, and have often used it in your service; now
Pulād Bughā and Khēlyl are come, and wish to treat us as peasants, to
tie us hand and neck, and oblige us to remove to Balkh.” Although I
endeavoured to comfort them, they would not be satisfied, till I took an
oath that I would not do any thing without their advice and concurrence:
when I had thus tranquillized them, I said to them, “Amyr Hussyn has
sworn on the Korān never to injure me, if he should break his promise,
be assured that the sacred volume will throw him into my power;” and it
turned out exactly as I said.
When the violence of Amyr Hussyn rose to the extreme, his disposition
totally changed, and he became proud, haughty, and arrogant, and did
every thing he could to annihilate me; it therefore became requisite to
take measures for averting the danger, and of living in safety. I in
consequence arranged my army, and placing the foot of courage in the
stirrup of resolution, I ordered Pulād Bughā and Amyr Khēlyl, although
the agents of, and supported by Amyr Hussyn, to be brought before me, I
addressed them as follows; “what has Amyr Hussyn become a renegado, and
turned Christian, that he forgets his oath taken on the holy Korān, and
has bound round him the sword of vengeance against me, and against my
horde and clan? He shall not do so with impunity; three times has he
sworn by the sacred volume, and given me solemn promises, and now breaks
his vows, and has beaten the drum of enmity, and seeks my life; I have
therefore made my preparations, and will shortly pay him a visit.”
I then summoned all the (Oulemā) learned body, and having explained to
them all the circumstances above related, demanded their (Futwā)
decision, they replied, “as he has been the first to break his promise,
and has dared to forswear himself, doubtless he will fall into your
Highness’s power.” When Pulād Bughā and Khēlyl heard these words, they
trembled, I therefore sent them away that they might inform their master
of what they had seen and heard. As soon as this intelligence was
communicated to Amyr Hussyn, he beat the drum of discord, and sought an
opportunity of seizing me by intrigue, but I placing the foot of
determination in the plain of sincerity, boldly declared whatever came
into my mind, and said, “as long as Hussyn chose to be my friend, I was
his friend, but now that he has chosen to be my enemy, he shall find me
an enemy, and placing my trust in the favour of God, I loudly
proclaimed, that up to this time, I have been amicably inclined towards
him, but he, having broken his oath and promises, seeks to destroy me, I
will therefore do every thing in my power to avert his evil designs:” on
hearing this speech, my chiefs were all delighted, bound on the sword of
unanimity, and prepared their clans for war.