Assud Khan of Belgam is left protector during the minority of the Princes Mulloo and Ibrahim — suspends the coronation till the army returns to Beejapoor. — The nobles divided in their inclinations towards the princes. — The ladies of the royal family are consulted as to the choice of a successor, and they recommend the coronation of Mulloo, the eldest son of the late King. — Assud Khan becomes minister — is disgusted with the conduct of the young King — resigns his office, and retires to his estate at Belgam. — Ismael Khan Deccany is made minister. — The King's vices disgust his nobles, who quit the court, and retire to their estates. — The King's grandmother employs Yoosoof Khan Toork, an officer of rank, to depose the King, and to raise his brother Ibrahim to the throne. — Mulloo Adil Shah deposed, and both he and his brother Alloo are deprived of sight. — Ibrahim Adil Shah is raised to the throne.
WHEN Ismael Adil Shah was about to take his departure from this temporary mansion of care, he addressed Assud Khan, saying, that although he feared his eldest son, Mulloo Khan, had not abilities to govern, yet paternal affection led him to wish he might succeed according to his birthright. He appointed Assud Khan protector of the kingdom, with full powers to place the Prince Mulloo on the throne; conjuring him to remain steadfast in his loyalty towards him; and concluded by saying, that he had full reliance on the minister's abilities, which he was sure would make up for any deficiency or imprudence to which his son might be prone.
The Prince Ibrahim, the King's youngest son,
who had long entertained ambitious views towards
the throne, had gained over many of the nobles to
his interest; so that when their father's death could
no longer be concealed from them, the brothers
were on the eve of coming to open war, though in
an enemy's country, and actually conducting the
siege of Kowilconda. Sooltan Koolly Kootb Shah
of Golconda, obtaining information of the state of
affairs, conceived the opportunity so favourable that
he directed his troops to hover round the Adil
Shahy camp, and stop its supplies of provisions;
and he even caused the ears and noses of the prisoners
to be cut off, and then released them in this
mutilated condition to return to their camp.
*
The
officers of the army having espoused opposite
parties refused to lead detachments against the
enemy, lest advantage should be taken by their
rivals of their absence; and the camp followers suffering
from the attacks of the Tulingas, and unsupported
by their own troops, refrained from bringing
in forage or grain, so that famine began to rage,
and discontent and consternation pervaded the
army. Assud Khan, who was respected by all,
finding the disorders daily increasing, boldly resolved
to put an end to them by the exercise of
his authority. In the first place, he seized and
put to death those evil-disposed persons who had
excited the princes against each other, and calling
together all the nobles, he forbade them to visit
either of the princes. He directed them, for the
present, to attend him, as usual, daily at the audience-tents,
in order that they might conduct public
affairs till the time should arrive for seating one or
other of the princes on the throne. Both parties
submitted to these measures; and the whole army
approved of the conduct of Assud Khan, and promised
to fulfil his wishes. Having assumed the
title of Protector, he detached a force to dislodge
the Tulingas from the vicinity of the camp, and
placed strong guards of his own dependents over
the princes; informing them, that the astrologers
had declared ten days must elapse before the favourable
moment for accession to the throne; and as
it was his opinion, that remaining much longer in
an enemy's country would be imprudent, he advised
the immediate march of the army to Kool-
The princes acceding to this proposal raised the
siege of Kowilconda, and the army moved to Kool-
Mulloo Adil Shah, free from all restraint, abandoned himself to excess as to women, wine, music, dancing, and low vices; in the indulgence of which he spent the whole of his time, leaving the direction of his affairs to a few profligate favourites. His conduct soon became offensive to all the respectable part of his subjects, whose children, if they pleased him, he seized by force, and dragged to his palace for shameful purposes. At length, he insisted on having one of the children of Yoosoof Khan, a Turkish nobleman of rank, sent to him. Yoosoof Khan refused compliance; and the King became so incensed, that he sent some of his guards, with orders, if Yoosoof Khan persisted in his refusal to bring his head. Yoosoof Khan being prepared for resistance repulsed the soldiers, and on the same day retired, in spite of great opposition, to his own jageer of Kittoor, with all his family and followers. Other persons of distinction soon followed his example, left court, and repaired to their estates; but the King took no notice of these indications of revolt, nor did he alter his conduct.
The Dowager Booboojee Khanum, mother to
the late king, equally offended at the King's
shameful vices, resolved to depose him, and wrote
to Yoosoof Khan, that as Mulloo Adil Shah was
unworthy to reign, she wished he would assist her
in dethroning him, and in elevating his younger
brother Ibrahim to the musnud. Yoosoof Khan,
despatching one of his friends to Belgam, informed
Assud Khan, that owing to the tyranny of Mulloo
Adil Shah he had fled from Beejapoor, and explained
the overtures made to him by the Dowager-