The Prince Tahmasp had two sons, Ibrahim Adil Shah and the Prince Ismael. The latter was brought up with his brother till he arrived at the age of puberty, when Dilawur Khan sent him to be kept prisoner in the fortress of Belgam, according to the usual policy of governments. * After the expulsion of the Regent, Ibrahim Adil Shah sent one of his confidential servants to his brother, to express his concern that reasons of state policy did not permit him to satisfy the desire he had that they should live in the same place together, and to assure him of every indulgence and mark of affection con­sistent with his situation. At the same time he sent orders to the governor of Belgam to give the Prince Ismael the full liberty of the fort, and to provide him with every convenience and amuse­ment that could make his captivity less irksome: he also allowed him a monthly income of one thousand hoons† * for his private expenses. The Prince for some time seemed satisfied with his con­dition; but suddenly losing all sense of the gene­rosity of his brother conspired against him, and by degrees bringing over the governor and garrison

Rumzan 9.
A. H. 1002.
May 12.
A. D. 1593.

of Belgam to his interest, and secretly corrupting many of the officers of the court, on the 9th of Rumzan, 1002, he took possession of the fort, and openly raised the standard of revolt.

Ibrahim Adil Shah, regarding this behaviour as proceeding chiefly from the treachery of some of his ungrateful nobles, and unwilling to proceed to extremities against his brother, endeavoured to try the effects of admonition upon his mind; for which purpose he sent the venerable Shah Noor-Alum to wait on him, with solemn assurances that if he laid aside his extravagant designs, he should be pardoned, and be treated with every respect and mark of affection as before. The Prince, instead of listening to the remonstrances of this holy man, put him into confinement, and expedited his pre­parations to take the field; at the same time he sent ambassadors soliciting the assistance of Boorhan Nizam Shah, who promised to support him with a considerable army. The Prince Ismael had also gained over to his interest Ein-ool-Moolk, Ameer-ool-Omra, and the adopted son of Ankoos Khan. The former not wishing that the disputes for the throne might soon be settled, declined for the pre­sent giving any open assistance, so that Ismael was obliged to content himself in the mean time with the fortress of Belgam and its environs, where the Khootba was read in his name. Ein-ool-Moolk, in order to deceive Ibrahim Adil Shah, redoubled his semblance of loyalty, till matters should be ripe for the execution of his designs in favour of the Prince. The King, on learning the conduct of his brother towards Shah Noor-Alum, was much incensed, and directed Elias Khan (meer nobut) to proceed with an army to quell the rebellion, and to besiege Belgam.

Elias Khan, with six thousand men, soon ar­rived before Belgam; and as Ismael had not yet been joined by his adherents, he shut himself up in the fort, which was closely besieged by the royalists. Ein-ool-Moolk, also, agreeably to the King's orders, joined the besiegers, in order to preserve appearances; but being secretly attached to the Prince, he kept up constant correspondence with the besieged, and supplied them at night from his camp with grain and other necessaries. Intelligence of this treacherous conduct reaching the King, he, in order to try the fidelity of Ein-ool-Moolk, despatched an order summoning him to court, on pretence that he wished to have his advice on some affairs of importance, which could not be communicated to any other than himself. Ein-ool-Moolk, for fear of exciting suspicion, set out, with many of his friends, to Beejapoor, where he acted with so much art, as left the King in doubt of the accusations against him; and Ibrahim Adil Shah, unwilling to destroy an old servant on bare suspicion, hoped, that should it have any found­ation in reality, the favours he received at his hands would sink so deeply in his mind, as to make him lay aside any treacherous designs he might have formed. With this view, and in order to do him honour, he received him with the greatest marks of attention in a full court. Ein-ool-Moolk, accord­ing to custom, kissed the ground three times, and advanced to the throne, the feet of which he also kissed; but his conscience at this time smote him so forcibly, that he was seized with a trembling, which being observed, he was desired to sit down, and the King turned his face away, in order to give him time to recover. He afterwards permitted him to eat with him; and after evincing every mark of kindness, and having conferred upon him a dress of great value, a dagger set with jewels, some fine horses, and a bracelet of diamonds, he was permitted to return to the army without delay. The traitor departed from the capital the next day, and, forgetting his Majesty's clemency, renewed his correspondence with the Prince Ismael, and afforded him every aid as before; which conduct soon became the topic of common conversation throughout the royal camp. Not long after this, Heiat Khan, kotwal of Beejapoor, who had been to escort ammunition and stores, passed, on his return from camp, near to the residence of Ein-ool-Moolk, who invited him to an entertain­ment. Heiat Khan, in hopes of obtaining a sum of money from him, upbraided him with his treachery, of which he had received full proofs in the camp; at the same time threatening to dis­close all he knew to the King. Ein-ool-Moolk, concluding that his designs were now beyond the power of concealment, put Heiat Khan into fetters, and openly declared his defection; writing letters to the governors of garrisons to join him without delay, in favour of the Prince. Most of them sent fair promises, but waited to see the turn of affairs before they dared to act openly; but the soldiers of the garrison of Mirch, having confined their governor, proclaimed Ismael King. Ein-ool-Moolk now sent expresses to Boorhan Nizam Shah, re­questing him to expedite his march from Ahmud-nuggur, as the affairs of Ismael were in a prosper­ous train, and with his aid would easily be brought to a happy issue; for which the forts of Sholapoor and Shahdoorg, with their dependent districts, were to be delivered into his hands. Boorhan Nizam Shah, allured by this offer, began his march, and Ein-ool-Moolk withdrew his division, acting in concert with Elias Khan, from before Belgam; upon which great confusion prevailed through all the territories of Beejapoor. The Hindoos of Ma­labar, seizing the opportunity, invaded the districts of Bunkapoor; and Elias Khan, either through fear or treachery, raised the siege of Belgam, and returned, without orders, to the capital, where his arrival threw the whole court into great con­sternation. Dangerous insurrections ensued, and many courtiers formed designs of taking possession of the palace for the rebel prince, to gain his favour; but the firmness of mind evinced by Ibra-him Adil Shah on this trying occasion prevailed over all the schemes of the seditious. He disgraced Elias Khan, Hajy Mahomed, and Roomy Khan, and put them under strict confinement, in order to deter others from treachery, of which he had strong presumptions they were guilty; at the same time he issued orders to all the nobles to repair to the capital.

Ein-ool-Moolk, seeing no army to oppose him in the field, marched with ten thousand horse and twenty thousand foot to Belgam, where he prevailed upon Ismael to quit the fort, and with­out waiting for the junction of Boorhan Nizam Shah, who had already begun his march from Ahmudnuggur, resolved to move against the King at Beejapoor. Ibrahim Adil Shah, upon intelli­gence of this design, appointed Humeed Khan to the command of his army, and sent him against the rebels. On his arrival at Eesapoor he was met by some confidential persons from the rebel army, to induce him to join them. Accord­ing to the secret orders of the King, he received the messengers favourably, assuring them that he had no designs of opposition, and meant to join the Prince Ismael; who, if he would quit the fort and take command of the army, might gain possession of the throne without trouble, or putting himself under any obligations to Boorhan Nizam Shah. Ein-ool-Moolk was deceived, and for­getting his usual caution, imprudently moved with the Prince Ismael to an extensive plain at some distance from Belgam; where, fancying himself quite secure, he was intent only on making pre­parations for the reception of Humeed Khan and the other chiefs of the royal army. Ghalib Khan, the son of Ein-ool-Moolk, who had remonstrated with his father in vain on his ingratitude towards Ibrahim Adil Shah, now warned him against Hu-meed Khan, and begged of him at all events to be upon his guard against surprise. Humeed Khan advanced in good order towards the camp of the rebels, where the Prince and Ein-ool-Moolk waited, with their principal adherents, in a magnificent tent to receive him; so that he was allowed to approach close to their lines with­out opposition. He then suddenly removed the mask, and made a vigorous charge, which threw the camp into disorder. The Prince and Ein-ool-Moolk, on being undeceived, mounted their horses, and endeavoured to collect their troops, but in vain. Ein-ool-Moolk, having received a sabre-wound, fell from his horse, and his head was immediately cut off by Soheil Khan. The Prince Ismael was taken prisoner in trying to effect his escape to Ankoos Khan, with whose assistance he intended to join Boorhan Nizam Shah. The rebel army dispersed to different quarters, and Humeed Khan sent the head of Ein-ool-Moolk, with congratulatory accounts of his victory, to Beejapoor. Ibrahim Adil Shah ordered the head of the traitor to be placed on a high pole, before the principal gate of his palace, where it remained nearly a week, and Shoojat Khan Koord was sent to the camp; where, in order to prevent fresh rebellions, he put an end to the existence of the Prince Ismael by the King's order. Humeed Khan returned to Beejapoor, and with many other nobles was highly distinguished by the King's favour. The head of Ein-ool-Moolk being put into a great gun was blown into the air, that no traces might remain of it; and seventeen persons of the garrison of Mirch, who had confined their chief and declared for the rebels, were put to death for example's sake, after being brought in chains to Beejapoor. Boorhan Nizam Shah, who had ad­vanced as far as the fort of Purenda, to assist in the rebellion, on hearing that it was quelled, and the authority of the government restored, retired with expedition towards Ahmudnuggur.