the conduct of the war in the Deccan. His son Amurath was a drunkard.
The commander-in-chief, known as the Khan Khanan, who accompanied
Amurath, was intriguing and treacherous; he had probably been bribed by
the Deccanis. Abul Fazl was still the trusted servant and friend; he had
been raised to the rank of commander of two thousand five hundred. Akbar
had already recalled the Khan Khanan. He now sent Abul Fazl into the
Deccan to bring away Amurath, or to send him away, as should seem most
expedient.
Abul Fazl departed on his mission. He arrived at Burhanpur, the capital
of Khandesh. He soon discovered the luke-warmness of Bahadur Khan, the
ruler. He insisted that Bahadur Khan should join him and help the
imperial cause. Bahadur Khan was disinclined to help Akbar to conquer
the Deccan. He thought to back out by sending rich presents to Abul
Fazl. Abul Fazl was too loyal to be bribed; he returned the presents and
went alone toward Ahmadnagar.
Meanwhile Amurath was retreating from Ahmadnagar. He encamped in Berar;
he drank more deeply than ever; he died very suddenly the very day that
Abul Fazl came up. The death of Amurath removed one complication, but it
led to the question of advance. The imperial officers urged a retreat.
Abul Fazl had been bred in a cloister; he was approaching his fiftieth
year; he had never before been in active service, but he had the spirit
of a soldier; he refused to retreat from an enemy's country; he pushed
manfully on for Ahmadnagar. His efforts were rewarded with success. The
Queen-regent was assailed by other enemies, and yielded to her fate.
She agreed that if Abul Fazl would punish her enemies, she would
surrender the fortress of Ahmadnagar.
Tidings had now reached Akbar that his son Amurath was dead. He resolved
to go in person to the Deccan. He left his eldest son, Selim, in charge
of the government. He sent an advance force under his other son, Danyal,
associated with the Khan Khanan. The advance force reached Burhanpur.
There the disloyalty of Bahadur Khan was manifest; he refused to pay
respects to Danyal. Akbar was encamped at Ujain when the news reached
him. He ordered Abul Fazl to join him; he ordered Danyal to go on to
Ahmadnagar; he then prepared for the subjugation of Bahadur Khan.
The story of the operations may be told in a few words. Danyal advanced
to Ahmadnagar. Chand Bibi was slaughtered by her own soldiers.
Ahmadnagar was occupied by the Moguls. Meanwhile Bahadur Khan abandoned
Burhanpur and took refuge in the strong fortress of Asirghur. Akbar was
joined by Abul Fazl and laid siege to Asirghur. The siege lasted six
months. At last Bahadur Khan surrendered; his life was spared;
henceforth he fades away from history.
So far Akbar had prospered; he had conquered the great highway into the
Deccan--Malwa, Khandesh, Berar, and Ahmadnagar. He raised Abul Fazl to
the command of four thousand. He resolved on conquering the Deccan. He
was about to strike when his arm was arrested. His eldest son Selim had
broken out in revolt. He had gone to Allahabad and assumed the title of
padishah.
Akbar returned alone to Agra; he was falling on evil days. He effected a
reconciliation with Selim; he saw that Selim was still rebellious at
heart; that his best officers were inclining toward his undutiful son.
In his perplexity he sent to the Deccan for Abul Fazl. The trusted
servant hastened to join his imperial master. But Selim had always hated
Abul Fazl. He instigated a Rajput chief of Bundelkund to waylay Abul
Fazl. This chief was Bir Singh of Urchah. Bir Singh fell upon Abul Fazl
near Nawar, killed him, and sent his head to Selim. Bir Singh fled from
the wrath of the Padishah; he led the life of an outlaw in the jungle
until he heard of the death of Akbar.
Akbar was deeply wounded by the murder of Abul Fazl. He thereby lost his
chief support, his best trusted friend. Henceforth he seemed to yield to
circumstances rather than to struggle against the world. Other
misfortunes befell him: his mother died; his youngest son, Danyal,
killed himself with drink in the Deccan; his own life was beginning to
draw to a close.
The last events in the reign of Akbar are obscure. Outwardly he became
reconciled to Selim. Outwardly he abandoned scepticism and heresy; he
professed himself a Mussulman. At heart he was anxious that Selim should
be set aside; that Khuzru, the eldest son of Selim, should succeed him
to the throne. It is impossible to unravel the intrigues that filled the
court at Agra. At last Akbar was smitten with mortal disease. For some
days Selim was refused admittance to his father's chamber. In the end
there was a compromise. Selim swore to maintain the Mussulman religion.
He also swore to pardon his son Khuzru and all who had supported Khuzru.
He was then brought into the presence of Akbar. The old Padishah was
past all speech. He made a sign with his hand that Selim should take the
imperial diadem and gird on the imperial sword. Selim obeyed. He
prostrated himself upon the ground before the couch of his dying father;
he touched the ground with his head. He then left the chamber. A few
hours had passed away and Akbar was dead. He died in October, 1605, aged
sixty-three.
The burial of Akbar was performed after a simple fashion. His grave was
prepared in a garden at Secundra, about four miles from Agra. The body
was placed upon a bier. Selim and his three sons carried it out of the
fortress. The young princes, assisted by the officers of the imperial
household, carried it to Secundra. Seven days were spent in mourning
over the grave. Provisions and sweetmeats were distributed among the
poor every morning and evening throughout the mourning. Twenty readers
were appointed to recite the _Koran_ every night without ceasing.
Finally, the foundations were laid of that splendid mausoleum which is
known far and wide as the tomb of Akbar.
FOOTNOTES:
[59] Asoka was an illustrious king of the Maurya dynasty in India, who
died about B.C. 225. He did much for the advancement of Buddhism, and
has been called the "Buddhist Constantine."--ED.
CHRONOLOGY OF UNIVERSAL HISTORY
EMBRACING THE PERIOD COVERED IN THIS VOLUME
A.D. 1517-1557
JOHN RUDD, LL.D.
Events treated at length are here indicated in large type; the numerals
following give volume and page.
Separate chronologies of the various nations, and of the careers of
famous persons, will be found in the INDEX VOLUME, with volume and page
references showing where the several events are fully treated.
* Denotes date uncertain.
A.D.
1517. Protest of Luther against the sale of indulgences. See "LUTHER
BEGINS THE REFORMATION IN GERMANY," ix, 1.
Overthrow of the mameluke power in Egypt, by Selim I, who annexes that
country to the Ottoman empire.
Balboa beheaded by Pedrarias Davila, the new Governor of Darien, on a
charge of contemplated revolt.
Negro slaves first introduced into America. See "NEGRO SLAVERY IN
AMERICA," ix, 36.
1518. First preaching of the reformed doctrines by Zwingli, in
Switzerland.
Conquest of Arabia by the Ottomans.
1519. Death of Maximilian I; his grandson, Charles I of Spain--jointly
with Ferdinand his brother, in his hereditary realm--elected as Emperor
Charles V. Union under one crown of the German Empire, Spain, the
Netherlands, the Sicilies, Sardinia, and the Spanish Indies.
Cortes first enters Mexico. See "CORTES CAPTURES THE CITY OF MEXICO,"
ix, 72.
Mouth of the Mississippi discovered by Francisco de Garay.
Magellan starts on his expedition to circumnavigate the world. See
"FIRST CIRCUMNAVIGATION OF THE GLOBE," ix, 41.
1520. Papal bull of Leo X against Luther, who publicly burns it. See
"LUTHER BEGINS THE REFORMATION IN GERMANY," ix, 1.
Execution of nobles at Stockholm, following the successful invasion of
Sweden by King Christian II of Denmark; Sten Sture, the Protector, is
mortally wounded at Bogesund; Christian proclaimed king.
Henry VIII of England agrees to meet Francis I of France. See "THE FIELD
OF THE CLOTH OF GOLD," ix, 59.
Solyman the Magnificent, Sultan of the Ottomans, succeeds Selim I.
1521. Conquest of Belgrade by the Ottoman Turks.
Issue of the first of the Placards, edicts of Emperor Charles V against
heresy, in the Netherlands.
First of the wars between Charles V and Francis I; Navarre
unsuccessfully invaded by the French; France invaded from the north;
Milan lost to the French.
Treaty of Bruges between Henry VIII and Charles V.
Execution of the Duke of Buckingham for high treason; the office of
constable of England, his inheritance, abolished.
"CORTES CAPTURES THE CITY OF MEXICO." See ix, 72.
Magellan reaches the Ladrones and the Philippines; he is slain on an
island of the latter group.
1522. Conquest of Rhodes from the Knights of St. John by the Turks,
under Solyman the Magnificent.
Battle of La Biococca; the French defeated by the forces of Charles
under Colonna.
France invaded by the English under the Earl of Surrey.
A ship belonging to Magellan's fleet completes the circumnavigation of
the globe.
Luther publishes his New Testament; he writes his Reply to Henry VIII,
who had been dubbed "Defender of the Faith" by Pope Leo X, in
acknowledgment of a book, _A Defence of the Seven Sacraments_, written
against Luther.
1523. Invasion of France by Henry VIII and Charles V.
Italy invaded by the French.
Abrogation of the mass and image-worship in Switzerland.
Gustavus Vasa becomes king of Sweden. See "LIBERATION OF SWEDEN," ix,
79.
Frederick I, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein, succeeds to the throne of
Christian II of Denmark, who is deposed by his subjects.
1524. Retreat of Bonnivet; death of Bayard, "the knight without fear and
without reproach." Italy invaded by Francis I; he occupies Milan and
lays siege to Pavia.
"THE PEASANTS' WAR IN GERMANY." See ix, 93.
Voyage to the North American coast by Verrazano, an Italian navigator,
on behalf of France.
1525. Defeat of Francis I at Pavia. See "FRANCE LOSES ITALY," ix, 111.
Bloody conclusion of the Peasants' War.
A hereditary Protestant principality formed in East Prussia by the grand
master of the Teutonic Knights; the suzerain being Sigismund, King of
Poland.
1526. Treaty of Madrid; release of Francis I. See "FRANCE LOSES ITALY,"
ix, 111.
Battle of Mohacs; the Hungarians are overwhelmed by Solyman; Louis II
slain. Rival elections of John Zapolya and Ferdinand of Austria to the
vacant throne.
Foundation of the Mongol dynasty of India by Baber, who conquers Ibrahim
Lodi of Delhi at Paniput.
Tyndale's version of the English Bible printed at Worms.
1527. Storming of Rome; it is pillaged by the troops of the Constable de
Bourbon. See "SACK OF ROME BY THE IMPERIAL TROOPS," ix, 124.
Restoration of the republic in Florence; the Medici expelled.
Winning of the Hungarian crown by Ferdinand of Austria; Zapolya expelled
the country.
1528. War declared against Charles V by Henry VIII and Francis I.
Deliverance of Genoa from the French yoke, by Andrea Doria.
After tyrannizing over Scotland for more than two years, the Earl of
Angus is driven out of the realm.
1529. Fall of Cardinal Wolsey. See "GREAT RELIGIOUS MOVEMENT IN
ENGLAND," ix, 137.
Presentation of the Protest by the German reformers at the Diet of
Spire; from this the reformers take the name of Protestants.[60]
Peace of Cambrai between Francis I and Charles V.
Siege of Florence; united attempt of Charles V and Pope Clement VII to
restore the rule of the Medici.
Vienna unsuccessfully besieged by Solyman the Magnificent; he gives to
Zapolya the rule in Hungary.
Establishment in Sweden of Lutheranism as the state church.
1530. Coronation of Charles V, Pope Clement VII, at Bologna, performing
the ceremony, the last crowning by any pope of a German emperor.
Restoration of the Medici on the submission of Florence to the invaders.
Malta ceded to the Knights of St. John by Charles V, who also hands over
the Moluccas to the Portuguese.
Formulation of the reform (Protestant) profession of faith at the Diet
of Augsburg; prepared and read before the Diet by Melanchthon.
1531. Breach between Henry VIII and Pope Clement VII.
Battle of Kappel; defeat of the army of Zurich by Swiss Catholics; fall
of Zwingli.
Henry VIII of England first addressed as "supreme head of the Church."
Publication of Michel Servetus' treatise on the _Errors of the Trinity_.
1532. Restoration of religious peace, with freedom of worship, in
Germany, secured by the Pacification of Nuremberg.
Conquest of Peru. See "PIZARRO CONQUERS PERU," ix, 156.
1533. Cranmer annuls the marriage of Henry VIII with Catherine of
Aragon; he marries Anne Boleyn; her coronation.
Marriage of the Dauphin Henry with Catherine de' Medici.
Enforced flight of Calvin from Paris. See "CALVIN IS DRIVEN FROM PARIS,"
ix, 176.
Queen Margaret of Navarre, sister of Francis I, avows heretical
opinions; her mysteries, farces, and novels give a great impulse to
literature in France.
A taste for poetry and refinement of the English language follows the
writings of Howard, Earl of Surrey, and Sir Thomas Wyatt, in England.
1534. Throwing off of the papal authority in England. See "ENGLISH ACT
OF SUPREMACY," ix, 203.
Establishment of their disorderly reign of the Anabaptists, under the
lead of John of Leyden, in Muenster.
Unsuccessful attempt of the Bishop of Geneva and the Duke of Savoy to
reestablish their authority over Geneva; it is henceforth free.
First fierce persecution of the reformers in France begins.
Discovery of the St. Lawrence by Jacques Cartier.* See "CARTIER EXPLORES
CANADA," ix, 236.
1535. Suppression of the monasteries in England.
Publication in England by Tyndale and Coverdale of a new translation of
the Bible.
Settlement of Paraguay and founding of Buenos Aires. See "MENDOZA
SETTLES BUENOS AIRES," ix, 254.
Downfall of the Anabaptists at Muenster; John of Leyden put to death.
After being created a cardinal, Fisher is beheaded in England; the like
befalls Sir Thomas More.
1536. Completion of the union between England and Wales.
Henry VIII, on the charge of infidelity, commits Anne Boleyn to the
Tower of London; she is executed. Marriage of Henry to Jane Seymour.
Francis I takes Turin and attempts the surprise of Genoa.
Provence invaded by Charles V.
Discovery of California by Cortes.
1537. Death of Jane Seymour, Queen of England.
Further enslavement of the Indians forbidden by a brief of Pope Paul
III.
1538. General suppression of monasteries and destruction of relics in
England.
Truce of Nice, for ten years, between France and Spain.
Marriage of Mary de Guise with James V of Scotland.
John Calvin expelled Geneva.
1539. Publication of Cranmer's Bible in England.
Calvin, head of the Reformers, founds the University of Geneva.
Beginning of the explorations of De Soto, after his landing in Florida.
Emperor Charles V drives the citizens of Ghent into revolt against his
exactions.
1540. Marriage of Henry VIII to Anne of Cleves; she is divorced; the
King marries Catherine Howard.
Submission of Ghent to Charles V; he destroys its liberties; many of the
citizens find refuge in England.
Papal sanction given to the Society of Jesus. See "FOUNDING OF THE
JESUITS," ix, 261.
Cherry-trees, carried from Flanders, first planted in England.
First known printing in America; done in Mexico. See "ORIGIN AND
PROGRESS OF PRINTING," viii, 1.
1541. Charles V heads an unsuccessful expedition against Algiers.
Hungary overrun by the Turks, under Solyman the Magnificent.
King John III of Portugal requests Francis Xavier and other Jesuits to
undertake missions to his colonies.
De Soto reaches the Mississippi River. See "DE SOTO DISCOVERS THE
MISSISSIPPI," ix, 277.
1542. Discovery of Japan by the Portuguese.*
Execution of Catherine Howard, fifth queen-consort of Henry VIII. He
assumes the title of king of Ireland.
Battle of Solway Moss; successful invasion of Scotland by the English.
War renewed between Francis I and Charles V.
Trade with Japan by the Portuguese permitted.
1543. Marriage of Henry VIII with Catherine Parr.
"REVOLUTION OF ASTRONOMY BY COPERNICUS." See ix, 285.
Birth and accession of Mary Stuart to the throne of Scotland; Earl of
Arran is regent.
1544. Invasion of Scotland by the English under the Earl of Hertford;
they burn Edinburgh.
Mary and Elizabeth restored to the right of succession to the English
throne.
1545. Attempted invasion of England by the French.
Nineteenth general council. See "COUNCIL OF TRENT AND THE
COUNTER-REFORMATION," ix, 293.
Spanish discovery of the silver mines of Potosi.
Massacre of the Vaudois in Southern France.
1546. Burning of George Wishart as a heretic, by order of Cardinal
Beaton, the Scottish primate; he is assassinated.
Beginning of the War of the Smalkald League. See "PROTESTANT STRUGGLE
AGAINST CHARLES V," ix, 313.
1547. Death of Henry VIII; Edward VI succeeds his father on the English
throne; the Duke of Somerset protector.
Henry II succeeds to the throne of France, on the death of his father,
Francis I.
Capture of John Knox, the Scottish reformer; he is condemned to the
French galleys.
In Russia the Grand Prince of Moscow, Ivan IV (the Terrible), assumes
the title of czar or tsar.
1548. Publication of the Augsburg Interim. See "PROTESTANT STRUGGLE
AGAINST CHARLES V," ix, 313.
1549. In England the Act of Uniformity, regulating public worship, is
passed.
Formal uniting of the Netherlands with the Spanish crown by Charles V.
Francis Xavier lands in Japan. See "INTRODUCTION OF CHRISTIANITY INTO
JAPAN," ix, 325.
Book of Common Prayer adopted in England, under Edward VI.
1550. Promulgation against the heretics in the Netherlands by Charles;
the hateful Inquisition established there.
Peace between England and France; Boulogne restored to the latter.
Publication of his _Lives of the Painters_, by Giorgio Vasari.
1551. After a long siege Magdeburg is taken by Maurice of Saxony.
Turkish ravages on the coast of Sicily; an attack on Malta fails;
Tripoli surrenders to them.
Palestrina, the first to reconcile musical science with musical art,
made _maestro di capella_ by Pope Julius III.
1552. Adoption of the Forty-two Articles of the Church of England; these
were afterward reduced to Thirty-nine.
Alliance of Maurice of Saxony with France; they make war on Charles V,
on behalf of the Protestants. The Peace of Passau follows. See "COLLAPSE
OF THE POWER OF CHARLES V," ix, 337 and 348.
Seizure of the bishoprics of Metz, Toul, and Verdun by Henry II of
France. See "COLLAPSE OF THE POWER OF CHARLES V," ix, 337.
Subjugation of the Tartars of Kazan by Ivan the Terrible of Russia.
1553. Death of Edward VI; his sister, Mary, succeeds to the English
throne.
Unsuccessful attempt of the Duke of Northumberland to place his
daughter-in-law, Lady Jane Grey, on the throne.
After a stubborn defence by Francis, Duke of Guise, Charles V is
compelled to raise the siege of Metz.
Burning of Servetus at Geneva, with Calvin's approval.
1554. Rebellion of Wyatt, in support of Lady Jane Grey's attempt on the
crown of England; she is executed.
Queen Mary, of England, marries Philip of Spain.
Regency of Mary de Guise, mother of Mary Stuart, in Scotland.
Astrakhan conquered by Ivan the Terrible.
1555. Peace of Augsburg between the Roman Catholic and Lutheran parties
in Germany. See "THE RELIGIOUS PEACE OF AUGSBURG," ix, 348.
Persecution of the Protestants begun by Queen Mary in England; burning
of Latimer and Ridley.
The sovereignty of the Netherlands resigned by Charles V to his son,
Philip II.
Return to Scotland of John Knox.
Completion of the version of the Psalms, in English metre, by Sternhold
and Hopkins.
1556. Burning of Cranmer.
Emperor Charles V resigns the crown of Germany. See "RELIGIOUS PEACE OF
AUGSBURG," ix, 348.
"AKBAR ESTABLISHES THE MOGUL EMPIRE IN INDIA." See ix, 366.
1557. Philip II of Spain arrives in England; he obtains a declaration of
war against France and departs. Battle of St. Quentin; the Earl of
Pembroke joins the army of Philip II in Flanders, with 10,000 English
soldiers; defeat of the French.
Signing of the Solemn League and Covenant, "even to the knife," by
Scottish Lords of the Congregation.
FOOTNOTES:
[60] Sometimes given as 1530.