IBRAHIM KOOTB SHAH.

Account of his flight from Golconda; and his reception at the Hin­doo court of Beejanuggur described — is invited to ascend the throne — his arrival at Golconda — engages to attack the Bee-japoor territory — withdraws from the war — engages to assist the King of Beejapoor against Ahmudnuggur — he suddenly withdraws from the alliance — espouses Beeby Jumally, the daughter of Hoossein Nizam Shah — engages to assist in the reduction of Kulliany — the confederacy is dissolved — be­comes a party in the general league of the Mahomedans against Ramraj — is present at the battle of Talikota — his son, the Prince Abdool Kadur, aims at the throne — he is seized, and put to death. — The King's illness — his death.

THE following account may serve to show to what lengths the practice of duelling was at this period carried in the Deccan. While Ibrahim Kootb Shah, during his brother's lifetime, was at Beeja-nuggur, Ramraj showed him every attention, and assigned for his support an estate which was at that time possessed by Ambur Khan the Abyssinian, an officer in Ramraj's pay. Ambur Khan, enraged at the alienation of his estate, and meeting Ibrahim Kootb Shah in the streets of Beejanuggur, accused him of depriving him of it. The latter replied that monarchs were at liberty to dispose of their own property, and that the King of Beejanuggur had chosen to give him the estate. Ibrahim Kootb Shah proceeded on his way; but the Abyssinian called him coward, in refusing to dispute his title with the sword. Ibrahim warned him of his im­prudence; but the Prince's mildness only added fury to the Abyssinian's anger, who proceeded to abuse him in grosser language. On this the Prince dismounted and drew: the Abyssinian rushed upon him; but the Prince's temper giving him the advantage, he killed his antagonist, whose brother, standing by, insisted on taking up the cause, and he also fell a victim to his temerity. On the death of Jumsheed Kootb Shah, the ministers at court placed his son, an infant of two years old, on the throne. The Deccan nobles crowded into the palace, and were clamorous for situations, and became so riotous, that Moostufa Khan, the prime minister, immediately wrote off to Ibrahim Kootb Shah to Beejanuggur, inviting him to court. On his arrival on the frontier, he was met by Moostufa Khan, whom he honoured with the office of Meer Joomla and a dress of honour, and was shortly after joined by Sulabut Khan with three thousand foreign cavalry, besides many other officers who now deserted the Deccanies and the infant King. Before the arrival of Ibrahim Kootb Shah at the capital of Golconda upwards of six thousand horse had joined him, which ensured his accession to the throne; an event that took place on the following day, without opposition, in con­sequence of the extreme popularity of his minister, Moostufa Khan, to whom he shortly afterwards gave his sister in marriage.

A. H. 965.
A. D. 1558. In the year 965, Ibrahim Kootb Shah, in concert with Hoossein Nizam Shah, marched against the Beejapoor territories, when it was agreed the latter should take Koolburga, and the former Etgeer. The allies accordingly proceeded, in the first place, to Koolburga; but when Ibrahim Kootb Shah con­templated the great power of Hoossein Nizam Shah he was unwilling to assist in aggrandising it; after a few days, therefore, he suddenly de­camped to Golconda, and his ally, unable to cope singly with the Adil Shahy forces, retreated to Ahmudnuggur. At the period when the united forces of Ally Adil Shah and Ramraj moved against Hoossein Nizam Shah, those princes in­vited Ibrahim Kootb Shah to join them, to which he was induced from political motives. He was present at the siege of Ahmudnuggur by those monarchs; but after the fall of the place, according to custom, he suddenly broke up his army, without communicating with the allies, and leaving part of his camp standing, retreated to Golconda. After the war, Ibrahim Kootb Shah sent an envoy to Hoossein Nizam Shah, and begged an alliance with his daughter Beeby Ju-mally. The latter consented, on condition of Ibrahim Kootb Shah uniting his forces to dispossess Ally Adil Shah of the fort of Kulliany; and, con-

A. H. 971.
A. D. 1564.

sequently, in the year 971, the two monarchs marched from their respective capitals to reduce that fortress. On his arrival near Kulliany the nuptials between Beeby Jumally and the King of Golconda were celebrated, after which they both laid siege to that place. Ally Adil Shah had in the mean time formed a strong confederacy with Ramraj, Toofal Khan, and Ameer Bereed, against the kings of Ahmud-nuggur and Golconda: they thought it prudent to raise the siege, and retreat to their own capital. Ramraj and Ally Adil Shah pursued Hoossein Nizam Shah to Ahmudnuggur, devastating his country on the route; and on their return they encamped at the town of Orgy, on the Tulingana frontier, for nearly six months, during which they plundered part of Tulingana, and alarmed the whole kingdom, when Ibrahim Kootb Shah sent an envoy, and sued for peace. In the following year,

A. H. 972.
A. D. 1565.

972, Ibrahim Kootb Shah, in conjunc­tion with the other Mahomedan mo­narchs of the Deccan, marched against Ramraj, when that King was killed, and his terri­tory occupied. On his return from that glorious campaign, the King's minister and brother-in-law, Moostufa Khan Ardustany, having left him at the town of Rachore, under pretence of going on a pilgrimage to Mecca, joined the camp of Ally Adil Shah. In the reign of Moortuza Nizam Shah some account is given of the conduct of his mother, Khonza Sooltana, who caused discontent, and created factions throughout the empire. Ally Adil Shah at this time deputed his famous general, Kishwur Khan Lary, to build a strong fort on the Beejapoor eastern frontier, which he called Dharoor, having conquered at the same time se­veral towns of the Nizam Shahy government.

Moortuza Nizam Shah, now coming of age, was induced, from motives of self-preservation, to confine his mother in a fort; and he deputed Khan Khanan with a force to reduce Dharoor, at the same time inviting Ibrahim Kootb Shah to assist him; but before that monarch reached the place, it had fallen to the Nizam Shahy forces, and the allies marched on together into the Beejapoor territory. Ibrahim Kootb Shah, at this period, wrote a letter full of friendship to Ally Adil Shah, proposing terms of peace for himself alone. The latter sent his communication direct to Moortuza Nizam Shah, who, on discovering his treachery, sent a party of horse to attack his camp. Ibrahim Kootb Shah fled without opposition to Golconda, and lost one hundred and fifty elephants in his retreat, besides a number of his best officers and men. His son, Abdool Kadur, when he arrived on the frontier, begged of his father to permit him and some of his officers to lie in wait, and attack the rear of the enemy in their pursuit. The King, naturally jealous, supposing that the Prince intended to compass his death, and to effect his own elevation, confined him in a fort, and shortly afterwards or­dered him to be poisoned.

A. H. 989.
A. D. 1581. Ibrahim Kootb Shah died suddenly, in the year 989, after a reign of thirty-two years.