The occurrence of all great events, which may not even have entered into the conception of the human mind, becomes clear and manifest at its own proper time, and in the list of extraordinary and unlooked-for events, may be mentioned the elevation of Ahmad Sháh, son of Muhammad Sháh, to the throne.
And the history of these events is detailed as follows:—
Muhammad Sháh had received from his ancestors, dominions of large extent, which they had by dint of prowess and successful exertion wrested from other illustrious Kings and annexed to the territories already under their rule. But instead of being impressed with the importance of attending to the affairs of his kingdom, and turning his earnest attention as became an Emperor towards the management of the country, Muhammad Sháh, from the commencement of his reign, displayed the greatest carelessness in his government, spending all his time in sport and play. This neglect on the part of the Sovereign was speedily taken advantage of by all the amírs and nobles, who usurped possession of súbas and parganas, and appropriated to themselves the revenues of those provinces, which in former days were paid into the Royal treasury, and amounted to several krors of rupees. From these provinces not one farthing found its way into the Royal chest; but a small revenue was still derived from those few khálisa parganas which as yet remained faithful to their allegiance. As the Royal treasury became gradually emptied, the Emperor's army was reduced to great straits, and at last entirely broken up; whilst the nobles of the land, who in the time of former sovereigns could never have got together such an amount of wealth, or so large a force, now amassed large sums of money from their own jágírs, and from those Government lands of which they had seized possession, and from the jágírs of others, a twentieth portion of which they did not give to the rightful owners. With this wealth they were able to keep up an immense army, with which the Emperor was unable to cope. Thus the Emperor found himself more circumscribed than his nobles, upon whom he, in fact, became dependent, and was unable to depose or displace any one of them.
This state of things lasted till the period of Nádir Sháh's arrival in Hindústán, from Írán, about the year 1151 A.H. As Muhammad Sháh had no means whatever of resistance, he was completely dependent upon his nobles, with whose forces he went out to meet Nádir Sháh. But owing to the want of unity in all the councils and actions of the nobles, they were unable to effect anything like a stand against him, and soon were defeated by the enemy. * *
The condition of the country after the departure of Nádir Sháh was worse than before. The amírs took what they liked. The Emperor spent what remained to him in sports and pastime. He locked up his son, Ahmad Sháh, in one part of the citadel, not wishing him to appear in public. He kept him in the greatest indigence, and would not allow him to indulge in the game of chaugán, hunting, shooting, or any royal sports, such as he practised himself. * *
At the time (of Ahmad Afghán's first invasion) Muhammad Sháh was suffering from an attack of paralysis, and was not able to sit on horseback; but he ordered his chief nobles to set out and quell this rebellion on the frontier. For this purpose Kamru-d dín Khán Nusrat Jang Wazíru-l Mamálik, * * Safdar Jang Mír-átish, Sa'ádát Khán Bahádur Zú-l fikár Jang, third paymaster; Násir Khán Bahádur, and Rája Isrí Singh, Zámíndár of Amber and Jaipúr, with other nobles and sardárs, took their departure on the 18th of Muharram, in the thirtieth year of the reign. In the space of fifteen days or so, this army had proceeded fifteen miles from Dehlí, when news came of Ahmad Afghán having reached Láhore with his force. Also news came that Hayátu-llah Khán had guarded all the gates and streets, and had sent a force under Sadar Zilla Khán Kasúr Pathán to oppose him. But Zilla Khán immediately went over to the enemy with his whole force, and Hayátu-llah Khán, seeing resistance no longer possible, fled, without striking a blow, and left all his property and treasure in Láhore. I'timádu-d daula wrote to the Emperor, representing that all the sardárs and nobles were declaring themselves independent, but that if the Emperor would send his son Prince Ahmad from Dehlí, to take charge of the army and to remain at its head, the war could easily be put an end to.
Muhammad Sháh was most unwilling to part with any authority to his son; but being in great straits, and completely helpless, he sent for his son on the 19th of Safar, kissed him in open Darbar, gave him a copy of the Kurán and then dismissed him. He would not give him any title or rank to assume, but provided a suitable sawárí of elephants, horses, etc., and Sa'ádat Khán, his maternal uncle, was appointed his counsellor, that he might give him the best advice on all occasions. The management of all war affairs was given over to I'timádu-d daula.
When the Royal army reached Máchíwára, the spies gave information that Ahmad Afghán had reached Philor, which is about thirty miles from Máchíwára. The generals entered into deliberation, whether they should cross the Sutlej or not; but they came to the resolution not to do so, lest the enemy, avoiding an attack, should cross over at some other place. They therefore determined to remain where they were. They soon heard that the enemy had crossed at the ford near Lúdhiyána, which is about twenty miles distant from Máchíwára, and having laid waste the country round about the high road, was proceeding towards Sirhind. As Ahmad Afghán carried on his person no signs of superior rank, Prince Ahmad was unable to learn whether he was with his army or behind, and fearing lest he should be in the rear, and suddenly fall on his army, he marched two or three miles a day along the river towards Lúdhiyána in search of the enemy. He then heard that Ahmad Afghán had passed straight on to Sirhind with his force, and had set that city on fire, and got possession of the wazír's treasure. When this intelligence reached Dehlí, the greatest consternation and dismay prevailed, and the inhabitants prepared to fly with their families. * *
News was brought that Prince Ahmad, with I'timádu-d daula, had fallen back from the banks of the Sutlej and met with Ahmad Afghán's force about six miles from Sirhind, and had immediately erected batteries on four sides of his force. The enemy also erected batteries on his side in the gardens of Sirhind. A fire on both sides was opened on the 13th Rabí'u-l awwal, 1161 A.H. (3rd March, 1748 A.D.), and many men were killed in both armies. The firing continued for eight days, when Ahmad Afghán, seeing that this kind of warfare would never end, threw up a battery on a mound near the Prince's force, from which the guns threw their fire right into the Royal camp, passing over the batteries of his own army. Many members of the Royal army were killed. The whole responsibility of the war rested upon I'timádu-d daula, and to him all the soldiers cried out to be led into a general action. But to this I'timádu-d daula would not consent, saying that the enemy would soon be ruined of himself.
The soldiers therefore began to make themselves as secure as they could in the camp, when of a sudden, one day, Ahmad Afghán sent a camel, with melons, apples, etc., and a letter to the Prince, desiring peace, and stipulating that if the Emperor would leave him Kábul and Thattá, which Nádir Sháh had given him, and all the gold which Nádir Sháh had brought from Dehlí, he would evacuate the country.