*

The Prince Hussun, the King's youngest son, is raised to the throne by the ministers, and an attempt made to seize Hoo-mayoon. — The plot is frustrated. — The young Prince is de­posed, and Hoomayoon assumes the crown. — The contrivers of the plot are punished. — The Prince is deprived of his eye­sight. — Khawaja Mahmood Gawan is created minister. — Changes in the government. — Sikundur Khan of Nowlgoond goes into rebellion — is killed in action. — Attack on the fort of Dewurconda. — The Hindoos procure reinforcements. — The King's troops defeated. — The King orders his general to suffer death, and the second in command to be disgraced. — Fresh efforts to reduce Dewurconda interrupted by news of the escape of the King's brother — his rebellion — is taken at Beejapoor. — The King's cruelty to him, and all persons con­nected with him. — Exercises the greatest brutality towards his subjects — falls ill, and dies.

AT the time Alla-ood-Deen Shah was breathing his last, the Prince Hoomayoon was in his own palace, and Seif Khan and Mulloo Khan, two nobles of distinction, concealing the circumstance of the King's death, privately raised his youngest son, Hussun Khan, to the throne. In this plot they were joined by Hubeeb Oolla†, * and some other chiefs, who regarded the measure as an un­expected blessing. A party of the insurgents now proceeded to plunder the palace of Hoo-mayoon Shah, and secure his person. Hoomayoon opposed this attack with resolution, obliging the insurgents to retire, and pursuing them towards the royal apartments. On the way, the elephant-drivers, perdehdars, * silehdars, and body guards, with other persons of the household, who were ignorant of any preconcerted plan for the King's destruction, joined Hoomayoon, so that he entered the grand hall of audience without opposition, and seized his brother, who sat panic-struck and trem­bling upon the throne. Hoomayoon instantly as­cending it in his stead, was acknowledged King without further opposition. After these prompt measures, he caused Seif Khan, the whole con­triver of the plot, to be dragged through the city chained to the foot of an elephant, and di­rected his associate, Hubeeb Oolla to be confined as well as the Prince Hussun Khan, whose eyes he caused to be put out.†*

Agreeably to the will of his father, he conferred the office of Vakeel-oos-Sultunut on Khwaja Mah-mood Gawan, with the title of Mullik-oot-Toojar, and the government of Beejapoor. Mullik Shah, an officer who claimed descent from Chungiz Khan, was appointed governor of Tulingana, with the title of Khwaja Jehan, he had also an estate in that province, with the rank of com­mander of one thousand; and the title of Nizam-ool-Moolk was conferred on the nephew of Imad-ool-Moolk Ghoory, a young nobleman of distinction. Sikundur Khan, son of Julal Khan, a favourite companion of the King before his ac­cession, disappointed at not having the govern­ment of Tulingana, left court without taking leave, * and joining his father at Nowlgoond, began to raise troops.

Hoomayoon Shah lost no time in sending Khan Jehan, governor of Berar, who had come to court to congratulate the King on his accession, against Sikundur Khan, but Khan Jehan being defeated, Hoomayoon Shah thought it necessary to march against the rebels in person, not without hopes, that upon his arrival in the vicinity of Nowlgoond, Julal Khan and Sikundur Khan would see their error and submit. In these expectations, how­ever, he was disappointed; for Sikundur Khan made a sudden attack on the King's camp by night, with some success, which induced him on the next day to lay siege to the fort. Sikundur Khan, having great dependence on the attachment and bravery of his troops, marched out to offer battle with eight thousand Deccanies and Rajpoots; but the King, in consideration of their former intimacy and relationship, sent him word that though ap­pearing in arms against his sovereign was a heinous offence, yet as he wished not to destroy him, he would grant him free pardon, and confer on him an estate in the province of Dowlutabad. Sikundur Khan returned for answer, that though Hoomayoon was the grandson of Ahmud Shah he was also his grandson by his daughter, con­sequently his partner in the kingdom of their grandfather, so that he must resign the sovereignty of Tulingana to him, or prepare for battle.*

Hoomayoon Shah, enraged at this insolent language, instantly ordered out the line, to attack. Sikundur Khan did not decline the contest, and repeatedly repulsed the most vigorous charges of the royal army. The action continued long indeci­sive, till Mullik-oot-Toojar Mahmood Gawan, with the Beejapoor division, and Khwaja Jehan Toork, with the army of Tulingana, charged the right and left wings at the same instant, and the rebels began to give way to the shock. The King, observing their confusion, supported the attack from the centre with five hundred bowmen, and five hundred spearmen, at the head of whom, mounted on an elephant, he rushed on the enemy. This assault was opposed so resolutely, that the King found himself nearly deserted by his followers, who re­treated in confusion, while Sikundur Khan, availing himself of the moment, with his spear in the rest, attacked the King personally; when the elephant on which Hoomayoon was mounted seized Sikun-dur Khan in his trunk, drew him from his horse, and dashed him forcibly on the ground. His followers, who were on full speed to support his charge, unable to stop, rode over him, by which he was crushed to death. On the loss of their chief, the rebel army fled; and the King, rally­ing his troops, pursued the fugitives, with great slaughter, a considerable distance from the field of battle.

The next day the King commenced the siege of Nowlgoond; and at the end of a week, Julal Khan, seeing no resource but submission, offered to sur­render. Through the mediation of Mullik-oot-Toojar and Khwaja Jehan, Julal Khan was par­doned, and threw himself at the King's feet, with an offering of his wealth, accumulated during forty years of high and profitable employment. His life being spared, he was confined in a castle, where he ended his days.

Hoomayoon Shah, on the fall of Nowlgoond, meditated the reduction of the fortress of Dewur-conda, belonging to a zemindar of Tulingana, who had lent his support to Sikundur Khan. To ac­complish this service, he detached Khwaja Jehan and Nizam-ool-Moolk, while he marched himself to Wurungole. The Tulingas uniting fought several battles in the field, but were on all occa­sions defeated by Khwaja Jehan; and at length re­tired within the fortress, which was closely besieged on every side, though situated among high moun­tains and difficult woods. The Tulingas, on this occasion, applied for assistance to the Ray of Orissa, who being tempted by offers of great sums of money sent a considerable body of troops, with several war-elephants, to the support of the Tulingas, promising to advance quickly himself with his whole force. The Tulingas, inspired by these hopes, held out obstinately; and the two generals, hearing of the approach of the expected reinforcements, became doubtful how to act. Nizam-ool-Moolk proposed raising the siege and marching out of the hills and passes, in order to engage the auxiliaries to advan­tage on the plain, and prevent their junction. To this measure Khwaja Jehan objected; saying, that the Tulingas would attribute a retreat to fear, and issuing from the fortress would attack them on their march; so that it was better to continue the siege, and make preparations to oppose the junc­tion of the reinforcement on the spot. On the next day the troops of Orissa arrived; and the Tulingas sallying from the fort, both attacked the King's forces at the same instant, whose cavalry being unable to act, from the nature of the ground, a total defeat was sustained by the Mahomedans. The two generals effected their escape with the greatest difficulty from the field; nor did they halt till they reached Wurungole, being pursued for eighty miles by the enemy. Hoomayoon Shah, on enquiring into the cause of the disaster, was falsely informed by Khwaja Jehan, in order to save his own life, that he acted by the advice of Nizam-ool-Moolk, although that general entirely dis­approved of the measure; and the King, in his rage, without further examination, caused that gallant nobleman to be put to death; while his relatives and followers flying, enlisted into the service of Sooltan Mahmood of Malwa. Khwaja Jehan was also disgraced, and sent close prisoner to a fortress.

Hoomayoon Shah, determined on wiping away the disgrace sustained by his troops, was busily pre­paring a fresh army to go against Dewurconda, when advices were brought him from the capital, that one Yoosoof Toork having set at liberty the blind Prince Hussun Khan and Shah Hubeeb Oolla, had fled with them into the country of Kandeish. The King, losing all patience, left his minister, Mahmood Gawan, to protect Tulingana,

A. H. 864.
A. D. 1459.

and returned in the year 864 by forced marches to his capital, where his wrath knew no bounds. But it is necessary, before his cruelties are recorded, to mention their original cause.