The King's brother, the Prince Mahomed, is sent with an army to demand the Beejanuggur tribute. — The Prince proposes to the King's ministers in his camp to assist him in declaring his independence — they remonstrate, and are assassinated. — The Raja of Beejanuggur aids the Prince, who takes Moodkul, Rachore, Beejapoor, Nuldroog, and Sholapoor. — The Prince is defeated, and is compelled to accept of Rachore as an equi­valent for the territory he has usurped. — The Concan in­vaded, and partially reduced. — Revolt in Berar, which is suppressed by Mullik-oot-Toojar with an army composed chiefly of foreign troops. — The foreigners are directed to take pre­cedence of the Deccanies at court.—The Raja of Beejanuggur enlists Mahomedan soldiers in his army — makes war with the King of the Deccan. — Three severe actions fought. — Peace effected. — Mullik-oot-Toojar proceeds to conquer the Concan — his army is destroyed, and he himself dies. — Animosity of the Deccany officers against the foreigners. — The King's in­difference to public business — is afflicted with a painful dis­ease — rumours of his death. — Insurrections in Berar and Tulingana. — Invasion by the King of Malwa. — Military arrangements for the defence of the kingdom. — The King dies — his character.

ALLA-OOD-DEEN SHAH ascended the throne at Ahmudabad Bidur, agreeably to the will of his father. He did not neglect his brother Mahomed Khan, but allowed him elephants, horses, and con­siderable estates. He appointed Dilawur Khan, one of the first officers of the court, to be his minister, with the title of Vakeel-oos-Sultunut, and Khwaja Jehan Astrabady to be vizier. Imad-ool-Moolk Ghoory, an ancient chief, who, after per­forming great services to the royal family, had re­tired from business, was prevailed on to accept the office of Ameer-ool-Omra, and he was despatched, together with his brother Mahomed Khan and Khwaja Jehan, with a powerful army, against the infidels of Beejanuggur; the Raja of which had withholden the tribute for five years, and now re­fused to pay the arrears. This army laid waste the country, and committed great devastation; and the Raja only obtained peace by giving up twenty elephants, a considerable sum of money, and two hundred females, skilled in music and dancing, for the King, besides valuable presents which he made to the Prince Mahomed Khan.

On the return of the army near Moodkul, some discontented officers represented to Mahomed Khan, that as his father had made him a partner in the kingdom during his life, it was but just that Alla-ood-Deen Shah should either admit him to sit with him on the throne, and have the joint ma­nagement of state affairs, or that he should make a division of the territories between them; but as the King showed no disposition to do either, his advisers observed, that the Prince had a right by force of arms to possess himself of half the king­dom. Mahomed Khan, entering into these views, endeavoured to persuade Khwaja Jehan, as also Imad-ool-Moolk Ghoory, to countenance his de­signs; both these officers, however, strenuously refusing to lend themselves to his project, and setting before him the criminality of his intentions, the Prince caused them to be assassinated. After which, having procured a considerable army from the Ray of Beejanuggur to aid him, he seized upon Moodkul and Rachore, as well as on Sholapoor, Beejapoor, and Nuldroog.

Alla-ood-Deen Shah was more affected at the death of Imad-ool-Moolk Ghoory than at any other part of these proceedings; observing, that he had performed invaluable services for the state, that he was dear to him as his father, and that he was certain no good would come to the murderer of so worthy and distinguished a personage. Mea­sures were now taken for collecting the King's troops, and large sums of money expended in equip­ments; after which, the King marched from the ca­pital to engage the rebels. A severe conflict shortly after ensued between the brothers, when victory declared in favour of Alla-ood-Deen Shah. Most of the officers who had excited the insurrection were taken prisoners, while the Prince Mahomed Khan fled, with a few attendants, to the hills and woods for shelter. The King, mean time, returned to the city of Ahmudabad Bidur, and after pardon­ing the crimes of several of the guilty officers, he released them from confinement. By assurances of forgiveness and safety, also, the King prevailed on his brother to deliver himself up. On his ar­rival, he was received with affection, and not long after obtained the fortress and revenue of the territory of Rachore, vacant by the death of his brother, Prince Dawood, governor of Tulin-gana. Here the Prince Mahomed Khan lived many years in the undisturbed possession of his estate, spending his time in a series of pleasures.

Mohurrum 1.
A. H. 840.
July 15.
A. D. 1436. On the 1st day of the year 840, Alla-ood-Deen Shah conferred robes of honour on Dilawur Khan, and intrusted him with an army to reduce the tract of country along the sea-shore called Concan, inhabited by a hardy race of men. The rajas of Rairee and Sonkehr, * being soon humbled, agreed to pay regular tribute; and Dilawur Khan, having secured the beautiful daughter of the latter raja for the King, returned to the capital ac­companied by her, and with some years' arrears of tribute. The King at first was pleased at his ser­vices, and charmed with the Raja's daughter, who was without equal in beauty, disposition, and knowledge of music. He gave her the title of Perichehra†, * and the fame of their loves became notorious. At length, learning that Dilawur Khan had received bribes from the rajas of Concan, and had not done his utmost to reduce their fortresses, he became cool towards that minister, who of his own accord resigned the seals of office, and by so doing saved himself from danger. This im­portant situation was now filled by the eunuch Dustoor-ool-Moolk; but all ranks of people soon became disgusted with his insolent behaviour, which, though daily represented to the King, made no impression on his mind. Alla-ood-Deen Shah regarded these complaints as proceeding from envy, and the result of a faction, on which account he showed him every day greater favour. At length Hoomayoon, the King's son, desiring the eunuch to accede to some petition which he had brought forward, he replied he could not attend to it immediately, but in a day or two would take it into his consideration. At the expiration of two or three days, the Prince again sent him word that the business was still unfinished, and desiring that he would conclude it without delay. The minister returned for answer, that the case did not come within the Prince's department, and that it was unbecoming in him to interfere.

The Prince, naturally violent, lost his temper at this affront, and calling one of his attendants, or­dered him to assassinate the eunuch; at the same time, he promised to protect him from the con­sequences. The soldier, who had himself suf­fered some injury from the minister, accepted the commission; and accordingly, on the same day, while Dustoor-ool-Moolk was coming from the court, the assassin approached him as if about to present a petition, when suddenly drawing a dagger from his girdle, he stabbed him to the heart. The Prince's guards, who were prepared for the event, favoured the murderer's escape, and a scuffle arose in consequence between them and the minister's attendants. The noise reached the King's apartments, and the Prince Hoomayoon went out as if to enquire the cause of the disturb­ance. On his return, he informed the King that a soldier of long service, and who had claims on the royal favour, having been contemptuously treated by Dustoor-ool-Moolk, and having, now especially, suffered abusive language from him, had stabbed him, and was seized by the troops, who waited orders concerning his disposal. The King, who throughout his reign was averse to pass sen­tence of death on any one, and suspecting the real truth from the Prince's manner, merely directed the murderer to be confined, and conferred the vacant office of minister on Meamun Oolla Dec-cany, one of the learned men of the time of Feroze Shah.

A. H. 841.
A. D. 1437. In the year 841, Mullika Jehan, the King's wife, (the daughter of Nuseer Khan, ruler of Kandeish,) jealous of her husband's preference to Perichehra, and offended with his coldness towards herself, wrote letters of complaint to her father. Nuseer Khan, making this a plea to wage war with Alla-ood-Deen Shah, and being supported by Ahmud Shah of Guzerat, projected the conquest of Berar. He accordingly made private overtures to the officers of that province, promising them great rewards if they would join his standard. His offers met with such success, that the Deccan chiefs unanimously resolved to join him; observing, that as he was descended from the great Oomr, if they fell in battle fighting against his enemies, they should die martyrs. Nuseer Khan accordingly entered Berar with all the troops of Kandeish, a consi­derable force having been also sent to his aid by the Raja of Gondwara. The treacherous officers attempted to seize their governor, Khan Jehan, who was too firmly attached to the house of Bah-muny to join the invaders; and he, obtaining in­formation of their designs, fled to the fortress of Narnala, where he shut himself up, and wrote accounts of the state of affairs to his court. The traitors, meanwhile, joined Nuseer Khan, and not only read the Khootba in his name, as King of Berar, but marched with him to besiege Narnala.