THE founder of this dynasty was the son of Mirza Zoolnoon Beg Arghoon, the commander-in-chief and head of the nobles at the court of Sooltan Hoossein Mirza, King of Khorassan, * his family having always been considered, since the invasion of Chungiz Khan, as the first in the empire. Sooltan Hoossein Mirza, in the year 884, (A. D. 1479,) nominated Zoolnoon Beg Arghoon to the government of Kandahar, and the provinces of Zemeen-Dawur, Samira, Lowluk, and Ghoor, not­withstanding one of the princes of the blood-royal was styled Prince of Kandahar, and some­times, for form's sake, went to visit his principality. Zoolnoon Beg, at length taking advantage of cir­cumstances, declared himself independent. On this occasion he nominated his son Shooja Beg, commonly called Shah Beg, to the government of Kandahar. The provinces of Samira and Lowluk were given in charge to Abdool Ally Turkhan, and the government of Ghoor to Ameer Fukhr-ood-Deen, while he himself spent the remainder of his days in the government of Zemeen-Dawur. About the period when he established his inde­pendence, a lucky incident occurred which se­cured it for him. The Prince Budee-ool-Zuman Mirza having quarrelled with the King, retired in disgust to his old friend, Mirza Zoolnoon Beg, who not only received him with hospitality, but even gave him his daughter in marriage; and on the reconciliation of the father and son, Zool-noon was not only forgiven, but the interest ob­tained through the marriage of his daughter pro­cured for him confirmation in his government. Mirza Zoolnoon Beg was subsequently killed in action; and after his death the province of Kan-dahar devolved on his son Shah Beg, who after having first reduced the towns of Sewly and Bhukkur, as before mentioned, resolved to extend his conquests over Sind. At this period, Babur Padshah having invaded the province of Kandahar, Shah Beg, in spite of his efforts, was unable to resist him, he therefore availed himself of the op­portunity that occurred, in the differences between Jam Feroze and Sulah-ood-Deen, to carry his fa­vourite project into effect; and having subdued Sind, settled himself as king in that country. His

A. H. 930.
A. D. 1523.

reign was, however, but of short dur­ation, for he died two years after the conquest, in the year 930.

Shah Beg was exceedingly well read, and is mentioned as the patron of literature by many authors in their works. His courage was so fierce as to be nearly allied to rashness: he always led his own troops into battle. He has been often heard to say, after an action, that he was as much astonished at himself, as others who related his conduct, and constantly confessed that he lost all self-control after the first charge.*