Faiẓī, open the ear of the heart and the eye of the mind.
Dedicate those eyes and ears to the work of the world.
Behold the wonders of the Age and close your lips.
Listen to the tale of the epoch and close your eye.
Sultan Malik Shāh Seljūqī took Syria1* from the Christians and made it over to his connexions and servants. When the dominion of the Seljūq family in 'Irāq and Khurāsān came to an end, the Seljūqs in Turkey somewhat increased in prosperity. The first (of the Seljūqs of Turkey) was Sulān 'Alāu-d-dīn Qulīj Arslān, then came his son Sulān Raknu-d-dīn, then Sulān Ghīāu-d-dīn, then 'Azza-u-dīn Kaikāūs, and then Sulān 'Alāu-d-dīn Kaiqubād. Many reckon 'Azza-u-dīn as the last of this dynasty, others add two other descendants of 'Alau-d-dīn. Seljūq was descended by twenty-four generations from Afrāsiyāb. He had four sons: Michael, Israil,* Mūsā, and Yūnas. In 375 A.H., 985-86 A.D., they came from the defiles of Turkistan to Transoxiana, and from there to Khurāsān. Then the sons of Michael, viz. Toghril and J'aafir Beg, became great. Their dynasty ended after 117* years. Then the prosperity of the Quarāmān Begs (of Caramania) began. This too came to an end after 173 years in the time of Ibrāhīm Beg. The Omān (Ottoman) dynasty began in 688 A.H., and the Omān year and month are counted from him (?). It is said he was born in 648.* Various accounts are given of his success. He reigned 37 or 39 years. In some ancient histories he is said to be descended from Aghuz K. (His genealogy is) Omān s. oghril s. Sulaimān, s. Qiyālat, s. Qazil Būqā, s. Payindar, s. Ajūl Ṣafī Āqā, s. ughān, s. Qandasūn, s. Māītwaqūn, s. Bāqī Āqā, s. Sūncaq Āqā, s. Bakhtumūr, s. Būsāqī, s. Lak 'Alī (Kok Alp K.), s. Aghuz, s. Qarā K. They say that Oṣmān's grandfather Sulaimān Shāh possessed the city of Mahān (in Khurāsān). When the Moghuls disturbed the world, he proceeded with his family to Rūmistān. On account of difference of religion, he attacked and plundered the country. He fought battles at Amāsīa,* and from there went on towards Aleppo. He lost his life in crossing the Euphrates. Ūr Khān (Orkhān) his (Omān's) son succeeded him, and died after administering justice for 55 or 32 years. His son Ghāzī Murād succeeded him, and conquered numerous territories. He became known as Murād K. With him began the practice of taking one-fifth of the captives* as the share of government. He also instituted the corps of the janissaries.* While he was hunting, Christian troops arrived and he fought bravely with them and was victorious. Suddenly some men in ambush came out of a cave and killed him. He died after 47 or 32 years of rule. He was succeeded by his son Īldarim Bāyazīd. He conquered Persia and Qirmān and attained high dignity. The accumulation of treasure, the keeping of accounts, and the drinking of wine in this country became current from him. He 664 fought a battle with Ṣāḥib Qarānī (Timur) near Angora and was made prisoner. For 14 or 16 years he was successful. He had six sons. Musafa Calabī was missing after that battle. Sulaiman, who was called Calabī, took some country. He sent presents to the court of Sāhib Qarānī, and was submissive. Some land was left to him. Mūsā, who was an attendant on the stirrup, obtained some of the land of Rūm. The brothers fought with one another. One day Sulaimān was drinking wine in his hot bath. Mūsā attacked him. He came out alone and took shelter in a village, and the villagers killed him. He reigned 7 years. Mūsā became sole ruler and indulged in arrogance. From excessive suspiciousness and deficiency of wisdom he degraded the great, and raised up the slaves of gold. Sultān Muḥammad his brother rose up to contend with him and there were several battles. While he was flying, his horse stuck in the mud and the lamp of his life was extinguished.* He reigned either six or three years. Sulān Muḥammad upreared the banners of sovereignty. One Muṣafa claimed to be a prophet. The Sulān fought with him and killed him. He reigned for 5 or for 2 years. When the pains of death came upon him, he summoned his son Sulān Murād from Roumelia, but died before he arrived. He arrived after forty days. They proclaimed his (S. Muḥammad's) death and committed the body to the earth. Some soldiers rebelled. An obscure man claimed to be Musafa Calabī the son of Īldarim Bāyazīd, and many believed on him. He took the country of Roumelia, and made an expedition against Anatolia.* The Sulān by the advice of some persons went to a saint, who was called Amīr J'aafirī,* and who lived a prayerful life in the city of Bursā (Brusa) which is the cemetery of the rulers of Turkey. The dervish inspired him, and in a short while the sedition-monger was seized and put to death. In the heat of success his heart grew cold to the world and he went into retirement, making his son Sulān Muḥammad his representative. He could not manage properly, and the violence of the Franks* somewhat disturbed the country. By entreaties, the leaders of the army induced that hermit to adorn again the throne. He quelled the disturbance and again retired into solitude. He left the administration to the same son. After some time the janissaries became unmanageable and conspired to kill Khādim Pāsha the chief councillor. He fled and took shelter in the Sultān's place of retirement. By endurance of burdens, planning and increase of pay, the mutiny was quelled. Able men by much supplication again brought the hermit to the palace, and victories showed their countenance. The whole time of 665 his rule was 27 or 30 years. When he went to the privy-chamber of non-existence, Sulān Muḥammad, after sixteen days, sate on the throne. Fortune rose up to do him homage. Apparently it was by her order that the tiara of rule did not show its glory during the lifetime of his father. He took Constantinople, which is famous as Istambūl, and made it the capital and chose it for his place of burial. He reigned for 31 years. On his death, his son Sulān Bāyazīd put the imperial crown on his head. The Egyptians prevailed against him, and some unfaithful soldiers joined his son Sulān Selīm. That turbulent one contended with his visible god (i.e. his father). And by the jugglery of the heavens he was victorious. He ended his (father's) life by poison* and acquired eternal abhorrence. Bāyazīd reigned thirty years. Afterwards the parricide obtained the sovereignty and fought a battle with Shāh Ismāīl Ṣ'afavī in the plain of Khāldārān between Dīārbikr and Aẕarbaijān. He defeated him and proceeded to attack the Egyptians. Sulān Qānṣūī (Qānsūh Ghūrī) the ruler of that country was killed, and the dynasty of the Circassians came to an end.* Malik Ṣāliḥ, who was the last prince of the Ayūb family, died at Cairo in 648. His clan and his slaves raised his mother* to the power, and 'Izau-d-dīn who belonged to the family was made commander-in-chief. When some time elasped base and mercenary people raised 'Izzau-d-dīn to the sovereignty, and he is the first of the Circassian dynasty. From that time the power in Egypt and Syria fell into the hands of low slaves (the Mamlūks). The dominion of the Banī* 'Abbās—which was only nominal—also came to an end. He (Selīm) reigned for ten or for seven* years and was succeeded by his son Sulān Sulaimān. Shāh Ism'aīl sent choice presents and condolences and congratulations. He (Sulaiman) wrote “reply unnecessary”* and put his seal on the front of the letter (of Ism'aīl) and made Ism'aīl exceeding sorrowful. Sulaimān took Cyprus* and many countries from the Christians. He reigned for 48 years. Then his son Sultān Selīm (II) succeeded him. His brother Sulān Bāyazīd took shelter with his four sons with Shāh ahmāsp the ruler of Persia, and lost his life. Sulān Selīm reigned seven or sixteen* years, and was succeeded by his son Sulān Murād. Though his empire became extensive the janissaries prevailed over him. They took the grand Vizier (buzurg dastūr) Muḥammad Pāshā (Sokolli) forcibly out of the palace and put him to a shameful death. He reigned for 25 years. In order to water my discourse I have gone somewhat out of my way to speak of this dynasty, and have provided a collyrium for the eyes. I return to the narrative of eternal dominion, which is my objective.
666 On 9 Bahman M. Yūsuf K. obtained leave to go to Jaunpūr in order that he might bring it into some degree of order and then return. On the 15th Shīdā Beg died. He was taḥwīldār of the Wardrobe. From self-indulgence and drinking he seldom appeared on parade (ba kashk). H.M. became angry and on one occasion had him stripped and soused* with cold water. He died of the cold. It appeared that he had laid presumptuous hands on the private dresses. H.M. said, “God has punished him with nakedness for having donned stolen garments.” At this time a supplicatory letter came from Khān Aḥmad Gīlāni. On account of long prosperity, the strength of his country, and bad company, he had been insolent to Shāh ahmāsp the ruler of Persia, and had been sent to the school of the prison. Sulān Muḥammad Khudābanda released him, and sent him back to the government of Gīlān. Envious tale-bearers incited Shāh 'Abbās against him. Out of ill-fatedness he set himself to fight (with 'Abbās). He was defeated and took refuge in Turkey. He was not appreciated there and not treated with favour. On the 23rd his envoy had an audience and presented a petition. It stated that he had long desired to have recourse to the subliṃe court, but could not accomplish his desire on account of the distance and the insecurity. At present he was passing his time in distress in Baghdad, and his old desire was occupying the skirt of his heart. The envoy was favourably received and made hopeful of royal favours, On 1 Isfandārmaẕ, after ten hours, a daughter* was born to Sulān Daniel by the daughter of Qulīj K. It is hoped that her advent may increase prosperity.
One of the occurrences was the conquest of Sīwī (Sibi).* It is a strong fort near Qandahār, and in old times was held by the ruler of Bhakkar. For a long time the Afghans had held it. Saiyid Bahāu-d-dīn Bokhārī the fiefholder of Ūc, and Bakhtiyār Beg the fiefholder of Sīwistān, and Mīr Abū-l-Qāsim Tamkīn the jāgīrdār of Bhakkar, and Mīr M'aūm and other soldiers of the province of Multan, received orders to proceed thither and to make advice the material of conquest. If they did not listen, they were to be punished. On 23 Dai they went out with this intention. The zamīndārs of Ganjāba* and the other chiefs there—such as Daryā K. and Dāūd— submitted. On 3 Isfandārmaẕ they arrived at the fort. 5,000 men came out to fight, and after a short engagement they were defeated and retired into the fort. After investing it and preparing to take it, the garrison came to terms and gave up the keys. By this victory the country up to Qandahār, Kac* and Mekrān was included in the empire. The soldiers were distressed in that desert* from want of water. They made the world's lord the Divine instrument of worship and prayed for water. By the Divine favour in a short space of time, the dry bed of a turrent became full of water, and there came occasion for thanksgiving.
On the 27th4* the festival of the lunar weighment took place. H.M. was weighed against eight articles, and the world sate down in the light of success.