Tadhkirat Al-Sh.U Lara

Mir Dawlatshah Samarqandi Tadhkirat al-sh.u lara

Mir Dawlatshah Samarqandi was the son of Amir Ala'uddawla Bakhtishah Isfarayini, one of Shahrukh's courtiers, and nephew of the powerful Amir Firozshah. Unlike his fore- bears, who "passed their time as aristocrats in ostentatiousness and opulence," Mir Dawlatshah, who was of a dervish bent and had some poetic talent, "sought seclusion and contented himself with a life of spiritual poverty and rustication to acquire learning and perfection."! At the age of fifty he began his Tadhkirat al-shu'ara (Memorial of poets), anecdotes about and short biographies of 150 Persian poets, ancient and modern, which he completed in 892/1487. The judgment of Mir Ali-Sher Nawa'i, to whom the work was dedicated, was that "anyone who reads it will realize the merit and talent of the compiler." Although the book deals primarily with poets, since poets generally were inextricably bound to royal patrons, it contains valuable anecdotal information on many pre- Timurid, Timurid and Turcoman rulers. The synopses of rulers' careers and anecdotes illustrative of their characters included by Dawlatshah are translated and given here. * SULTANUWAYS JALAYIR2 out of a greedy poet's house is a difficult task," and gave him the candlestick. That [po288] It is said that one night Khwaja is how rulers rewarded poets in bygone Salman [Sawaji] was drinking in Sultan times.... Uways's assembly. As he departed, the sultan ordered a servant to light the way Dilshad Khatun was the noblest and for him with a candle in a golden candle- most beautiful lady of her time. She was stick. The next morning the servant asked the wife of Amir Shaykh-Hasan Noyan.' for the candlestick, and Khwaja Salman to whom the rule of Baghdad and Azer- sent this verse to the sultan: baijan fell after Sultan Abu-Sa'id Khan.4 He was only nominally the ruler, for all The candle burned out last night, and today, affairs of state were run by Dilshad Kha- if the king asks for his candlestick, I shall tun, a lady as magnificent as the Queen of bum in misery. Sheba. Of her splendor Khwaja Salman When the sultan heard this line, he says: [295] laughed and said, "To get a candlestick

I, Ali-Sher Nawa'i, Majalis al-nafayis, p. 108. 3Shaykh-Hasan the Great, founder of the Jala- 2Usually known as Shaykh-Uways (1336-74), yirid dynasty, died in 1356. son and successor of Shaykh-Hasan Jalayir. 4The I1khan Abu-Sa'id, ruled 1317-35.

11 12 DAWLATSHAH

A thousand times a day the mighty splendor man wept bitterly at the foot of Sultan of her veil shatters the spires of Sanjar's Uways's bier and recited this elegy: crown. Alas, suddenly the rose of the garden of Sultan Uways was a refined and artistic fortune withered during the days of youth. ruler, handsome, generous and quite ca- Alas, he was a cavalier who hunted nothing pable in various arts. He drew pictures in but hearts on the steed of success. the Wasiti style at which painters were astonished. Khwaja Abdul-Hayy, the This occurred in the year 775 [A.D. most outstanding exponent of the art in 1374]. his day, was his protege and pupil. Sultan Among the great poets who flourished Uways's specialty was the science of in Sultan Uways's time and who were music and modes. He was also so hand- contemporaries of Khwaja Salman were some that on the days he went out to ride, Ubayd Zakani, Nasir Bukhari, Khwaju most of the inhabitants of Baghdad ran Mir Kirmani, and Mawlana Muzaffar out into the streets to see him, struck Harawi. dumb by his beauty. In ecstasy they re- cited this verse: * SULTAN AHMAD JALAYIR The aroma of Joseph's coat was lost to the world: finally it emerged from your collar. It is told that Sultan Ahmad, the king of Baghdad, was a great admirer of Khwaja After his reputation for beauty and learn- Hafiz, but no matter how often he invited ing spread throughout the world, and him, and no matter how much favor and from Rayy to Rum was subjugated to his patronage he showed him, Hafiz had no command, the scribe of fate penned the desire to leave Fars for Baghdad and rescript of his deposition and the cheating contented himself with a patch of his na- opponent death played false with him. In tive soil rather than taste the honey of the full bloom of youth he went from this foreign cities. He sent this g hazal in transitory prison to the eternal gardens. praise of Sultan Ahmad to Baghdad: As he lay dying he composed these lines, .reducing friends' hearts to tears of grief I praise (ahmadu) God for the royal justice and turning strangers' eyes into rivers: of Ahmad son of Shaykh-Uways son of Hasan Ilkhani. 5 One day I went from the capital of the soul Khan son of khan, king of kings of imperial to the province of the body: I was a stranger lineage, whom it is fitting to call the soul of here for a few days. Then I went home. the world. If the moon rises against you, an Ahmadi I was a rich man's slave. I ran away from 6 my master. Finally I went before him in miracle and divine favor will cut it in half. shame, holding a sword and my shroud. Lineage, excellence and affection: all pertain Though I am deprived of this world, 0 to you. Away with the evil eye, for you are companions of mine, may you live happily both soul and beloved. [341] in this abode after I am gone. [296] The bud of pleasure has not bloomed for me among the roses of Fars. Praise be to the Tigris of Baghdad and fragrant wine. Justly hearts of stone tum to bloody tears at the hardheartedness of this dustheap, and tears roll from the clouds' eyes over 5It should be Ilkani, not Ilkhani. See CHI, VI, the celestial spheres' tyranny. The bud's 5. chemise is rent in mourning for rosy 6The line is full of puns: Ahmadi refers cheeked ones, and the rose's ruby crown obliquely to Sultan-Ahmad but principally to the is cast to the dust in grief. Khwaja Sal- prophet Muhammad (the Ahmad), whose miracle of splitting the moon in two by pointing is re- ferred to. TADHKIRAT AL-SHU' ARA 13

Shake loose your Turkish locks, for in your The more Isee you the more Idesire you: in ascendant are royal fortune and Genghis my desire for your countenance evening Khan's position. becomes a morning of felicity.

Khwaja Hafiz himself told many humor- In the science of music and modes he ous stories, and many anecdotes are told was a master, and several books in this about him. It would seem incumbent to science were composed by him. Khwaja include something of Khwaja Hafiz's Abdul-Qadir was in his retinue and, it is humor in this volume: said, was his pupil. Even today many compositions of his are current among It is related that when Sultan Sahib-Qiran entertainers and singers. However, de- Amir Timur Kuragan subjugated Fars in the year 795 [1393] and put Shah Mansur to death, spite such accomplishments, he was a Khwaja Hafiz was still alive. Someone was sent murderous and untrustworthy man. He to summon him. When he arrived [Timur] said, ate opium, and from time to time his mind "By the gleaming sword I have subjugated most suffered derangement; for no fault what- of the inhabited quarter of the globe. Ihave dev- soever he humiliated noble people. On the astated thousands of towns and provinces in or- slightest pretext he reduced people to ex- der to make prosperous Samarqand and Bukhara, my homeland and capital. And you, you little tremities, so it is no wonder that his sub- pipsqueak, would sell our Samarqand and jects and army despised him and his Bukhara for one 'Shirazi Turk's Hindu mole' amirs and commanders continually wrote when you say, 'If that Shirazi Turk would but letters to the Sahib-Qiran Timur Ktiragan steal our heart, for the Hindu mole I'd give Sa- until, in the year 791 [1389], he led his marqand and Bukhara.' " Khwaja Hafiz kissed the ground in servitude army to Baghdad to exterminate Sultan and said, "Sultan of the world, it is just such Ahmad. Before [Timur] reached there extravagance that has reduced me to this state." Sultan Ahmad composed this poem and The Sahib-Qiran was pleased by this humor- sent it to him: ous reply and, far from punishing him, rewarded and showed him favor," Why should we humbly submit to the cruelty of fate? Why should we worry over Sultan Ahmad was the son of Sultan every insignificant thing? Uways Jalayir, after whom he acceded to Let us leave ocean and mountain and pass the caliphal throne in Baghdad, having by. Let us put land and sea beneath our seized the kingdom from his brother Sul- wing, like the phcenix, tan Husayn. He also controlled Azer- Either let us place our foot on the neck of the celestial sphere in triumph, or let us baijan and possessed splendor beyond bravely endeavor to be highminded. description. His rule extended to the bor- ders of Rum. He was a talented ruler, a When [Timur] realized the contents of patron of the arts and of a poetic dis- this poem, he was grieved and said, "I position. He composed good poetry in wish I could compose poetry so that I Arabic and Persian [342] and was pro- might compose a decisive reply. Perhaps ficient in many crafts such as painting, one of my sons or grandsons [343] can illumination, bowmaking, arrowmaking, answer Sultan Ahmad." He wrote to Mi- inlay (khatambandi), etc., and wrote the ranshah, or, as is also said, Khalil-Sultan Six Pens.f This verse is by him: Bahadur, [who] sent the following re- sponse to Sultan Ahmad:

7 The story is entirely apocryphal. The Submit humbly to fate and do not tum generally accepted date of Hafiz's death is away. A great thing cannot be considered 792/1390 (Rypka, HIL. 264). insignificant 8The Six Pens (shish qalam), the six classic styles of Arabic calligraphy. 14 DAWLATSHAH

Why do you head for Mount Qaf like the SHAH MANSUR MUZAFFAR phoenix? Be small like the wren and shed your wings and feathers. In his book Jawahir al-asrar, Shaykh Put from your mind impossible thoughts lest a hundred thousand heads roll on Adhari gives a qasida by Mawlana Sha- account of your own head. rafuddin Rami that includes all the rhe- torical devices and embellishments of po- When Sultan Ahmad read this he realized etry. There is no necessity to copy it in that in relation to Timur's mountainous this volume. Mawlana Sharaf was the army his own was but a molehill, and that King of Poets of Iraq during Shah Man- he was nothing more than a gnat strug- sur b. Muhammad's reign. He was from gling against the hurricane of Timurid Tabriz, and his divan is not to be found in fortune. Acting upon the dictum, "To flee this region [Khurasan], although it is well from him who cannotbe resisted is one known in Iraq and Azerbaijan. All of his of the customs of the apostles," he bade qasidas and occasional pieces are solid, farewell to Baghdad and went to Rum rhetorically ornate and written with talent. (Anatolia), and the kingdom of Baghdad He composed a quatrain from which the fell into Timur's hands. He assigned name of his patron, Khwaja Fakhruddin Khwaja Mas'ud Sarbadar, a nephew of Muhammad al-Mastari, can be derived. It Khwaja Ali Mu'ayyad, to the governor- is as follows: ship of Baghdad and appointed Khwaja Ali Tusi as head of fiscal affairs in Bagh- The world is insignificant in the face of your dad. [Timur] himself withdrew under a generosity. Pride (fakhr) and dignity of religion (din) are among your titles. favorable ascendant, but after his with- You are a mine of good qualities drawal Sultan Ahmad received assistance (mahamid), and so splendid is its essence from the Cesar of Rum and moved that the dagger disappears from the diamond against Baghdad. Khwaja Mas"ud, hav- (almas) of your mind.l0 [345] ing insufficient force to resist, left the city to him. Taking advantage of Timur's Shah Mansur ruled over Fars and Iraq preoccupation with Toqtamish Khan, the after Shah Shuja'. He was a courageous ruler of the Qipchaq Steppe, Sultan Ah- and noble padishah. The Sahib-Qiran mad ruled another few years in Baghdad. Amir Timur Ktiragan led his army to Fars He did battle and made truce several times to attack him. Shah Mansur did not have more with Timur, the details of which the power to resist and wanted to flee. will not fit into this volume. The day he was passing through the gates In 8089 Sultan Ahmad was martyred by of Shiraz an old woman said to him from Qara Yusufthe Turcoman, who had been a rooftop, "You bastard Turk, you have one of his father's herdsmen, and the title ruled the kingdom for a long time, and of sultan fell away from the House of now you are abandoning the Muslims to Jalayir as the Turcomans came to power. the hands of a foreign army. Where do An account of the origin and history of you think you're going?" Shah Mansur the Turcomans will come later, God will- was affected by the old woman's words mg. and turned back. With twelve thousand men he went out and did battle with Amir * Timur. Several times he broke the Sahib- 9According to Fasihi (Mujmal, 202) he was lOPakhr and din of course give Fakhruddin. executed after the battle that took place on 18 When the "dagger" (alif) is removed from ma- Rabi' u 813 (August 20. 1410). A chronogram hamid. it becomes Muhammad. Almas is the by Khwaja Abdul-Qadir given by Fasihi also es- beginning of al-Mastarl; the final solution is tablishes 813 as the year of his death. elusive. TADHKIRAT AL-SHU' ARA 15

Qiran's center and flank, and he nearly gions of the east, and in a short time he defeated the amir's army completely, but had to the farthest reaches of the west God did not give him the victory. In his under the shadow of his protection. Zafarnama Mawlana Sharafuddin Ali Yazdi relates that four times Shah Tell me who of the kings of the world has Mansur brandished his sword over the given his horse fodder from Tiflis and water Sahib-Qiran, and Qumari Inaq and Adil from Oman! (360) Akhtachf had to hold their shields over An account of his career would not fit his head. into the records of humanity. How then Later the heroes of the invincible army can this memorial volume contain them? surrounded Shah Mansur, and he per- His Highness was born and grew up in ished in that battle. The Sahib-Qiran the area of Kish.U He was the son of grieved over the loss of Shah Mansur and Amir Taraghay, a great amir of the Barlas said, "I have fought forty battles and have [tribe], than whom there are none more contended with champions and warriors, noble or high-ranking among the Cha- but never have I seen anyone to equal ghatay nation. Amir Taraghay was the Shah Mansur in bravery." grandson of Amir Qarachar N.oyan, wh.o After Shah Mansur was killed the sul- was a cousin of the great arrnr Genghis tanate of the Muzaffar dynasty came to an Khan. With his son Chaghatay Khan end, and Fars and Persian Iraq passed to Genghis Khan sent Amir Qarachar the control of Amir Timur Kiiragan and Noyan to govern Transoxiana, Turkistan his noble sons. That was in the year 795 and dependencies. For a long time the [1393]. autonomous rule of the Chaghatay nation was in Qarachar Noyan's powerful One is taken away, another is put in his place. The world does not remain without hands. He was the brother of Amir Ta- someone to govern. ghachar, who took Syria and Egypt in the time of Hiilagtl Khan. Genealogists of the Turks say that Amir Timur Karagan' s * line and Genghis Khan's line met in Alan AMIR TIMUR KORAGAN Qoa Khatun, who was married to one of the grandsons of Imam Ali Zaynul- As for the mighty Sahib-Qiran, sultan Abidin, and from her sprang this noble of sultans, axis of truth and religion, family. 12 Amir Timur Kuragan: The felicitous birth of the Sahib-Qiran was in the year 736 [1336] in the pleasant A hundred centuries of time go by before plains of Kish. From his youth the signs fortune hands the reins of rule to a lord of the conjunction like you. of greatness and splendor of rule were apparent on his world-adorning brow. The learned and historians are agreed that in the time of Islam, nay from Adam's era until this very moment, no lord of the 11Also called Shahr-i Sabz, now in Uzbekis- conjunction of Solomonic power like tan. Amir Timur Kuragan has set foot from 12Both the marble slab covering Timur's the abyss of nonexistence into the world grave and the nephrite cenotaph in the mau- of being. The obstinate of the world soleum in the Gur-i Amir in Samarqand record bowed their heads to his authority, and the legend that Alan Qoa conceived "from a crowned heads put the ring of servitude light" that was "one of the descendants of the to him in their ears. The standard of his Prince of the Faithful Ali b. Abi-Talib" without specifying which descendant. Ali Zaynul-Abidin, reign was raised like the sun over the re- the Fourth Imam of the Shia, died in 94n12-13. 16 DAWLATSHAH

Above his head a high star of brilliance progeny or would he or his sons be taken shone. to task for their offenses. His clan are the tarkhans, and until this day they are tar- Amir Taraghay always had the Sahib- khans in Turkistan. Many such instances Qiran manage his property ttahammul-i of the Sahib-Qiran's perspicacity oc- ma'tish) during his youth, and he was curred in his youth. constantly occupied with administering In the year 771 [1369-70] His High- the yasa and assuming authority. Things ness Sultan Sahib-Qiran sat successfully that common people do he never did, and enthroned in the Khanid capital and, people were amazed by his acumen, dis- having passed beyond taking tolls and crimination, perspicacity and intelligence. tribute, had Amir Husayn b. Qazaghan They say that when Sultan Sahib-Qiran put to death at the gates of Balkh.14 Amir Amir Timur Karagan was seven years Husayn had fled to the top of a tower. A old he once went with his father to stay in bailiff who had lost a camel and gone up the house of one of his relatives, a man of the tower to look for it caught Amir Hu- great wealth and riches [361] upon whom sayn and took him straightaway to the fortune had smiled. He had seventy Sahib-Qiran. slaves, Turks and Hindus, and from that it can be estimated what other wealth he A camel went to the top of a minaret and possessed. The host complained to the cried out, "I am hiding here. Don't give me Sahib-Qiran's father, saying, "God has away!" [362] given me vast wealth, but I am unable to In the year 797 [1395] with ninety control it all. My slaves do not respect thousand soldiers he attacked Toqtamish me, and my sons are worthless. For these Khan in the Qipchaq Steppe and van- reasons I fear that my property will di- quished the khan. While pursuing him minish." northwards he reached a place where, ac- The Sahib-Qiran interrupted and said, cording to the sect of the great Imam "Father, give your sons a share of your Abu-Hanifa of Kufa, the nighttime prayer property, and then do not interfere in their is incorrect because in that region the true affairs and let them be. Put your Turkish dawn breaks while twilight still lingers. 15 slaves in charge of the Hindus to have Then he set out against Rum. He took under their command. Appoint one slave tribute from the Cesar of Rum and re- as overseer to every ten 13 slaves, and se- duced the Ildmm of Rum to wax.l" Syria cretly have the seven overseer slaves who he darkened with the dust of his Turkish are together in charge of the seventy keep horsemen, vilifying the House of Yazid watch on each other, and do not let them speak to one another very much." The man immediately said to Amir Taraghay, "By God, this child of yours 14Amir Husayn was actually a grandson of will be the emperor of the earth. One can Qazaghan, who founded a line of Turco-Mongol see in his words that this child is the princes in Transoxiana. sheer power of the Lord of the Universe." 15Dawlatshah has confused the two campaigns Then he had pen and ink brought and against Toqtamtsh Khan. In the campaign of right there obtained a letter from the 793/1391 Timur pursued Toqtamtsh far to the Sahib-Qiran .to the effect that, when the north; the final battle of the 797/1395 campaign was fought in the northern Caucasus. See CllI, phcenix of his fortune had the expanse of VI, 72f.; Yazdi, Zafarnama, 1,380. , the horizons beneath its wing, neither 16The Ildlnm (or Yildmm, "thunderbolt") of would anyone tax him, his sons or his Rum was the sobriquet of the Ottoman Sultan Bayezid I, whom Timur defeated at the Battle of 13Text has "three," surely an error for "ten." Ankara in 804/1402. TADHKIRAT AL-SHU'ARA 17 and destroying the grave of Mu'awiya.l? Sultan Timor, a king like no other, in seven The Plenipotent of Egypt gave him trib- hundred thirty-six came into existence. ute, and the Sharif of Mecca accepted to In seven hundred seventy-one he emerged; in eight hundred and seven he bade the world pay homage. The infidels of Georgia farewell. were deafened by the noise of his invin- cible army's drums, and Hindustan Among the shaykhs of Sufi orders, turned into a Turkistan with the encamp- ulema, learned men and poets who flou- ment of his triumphant forces. With In- rished in the time of Sultan Sahib-Qiran dian prisoners and slaves Khurasan be- Amir Timur Karagan were: Amir Sayyid came a Hindustan, and from Delhi to the Ali Hamadani, who died at an advanced Qipchaq Steppe and the farthest reaches old age and is buried in Khuttalan; the of Khwarazm, and from the borders of ulema Amir Sayyid Sharif Jurjani and Kashghar and Khotan to Syria, Egypt and Mawlana Sa'duddin al-Taftazani al-Na- the Maghreb came into his grasp by the sawi; and the poets Mawlana Bisati glittering sword. For thirty-six years he Samarqandi, Khwaja Ismatullah Bukhari, ruled in most of the inhabited quarter of Mawlana Lutfullah Nishapuri, and Hay- the globe by the spread of friends and dar Bari (may God have mercy upon conquest of enemies. He was kind to his them). subjects and overthrew those he con- quered. On the 18th of Sha'ban in the year 807 * [February 19, 1405] in the city ofUtrar in MIRANSHAH Turkistan, while leading his army to Cathay, he heard the summons, "0 thou As for Prince Miranshah Kiiragan, in soul which art at rest, return unto thy the days of the Sahib-Qiran Timur Kiira- Lord, well pleased with thy reward, and gan's reign he was padishah of Khurasan well pleasing unto God,"18 and the parrot for seven years. Thereafter [Timur] gave of his great spirit, breaking the bonds of Khurasan to Shahrukh Sultan and Tabriz its sensual cage, set out for the eternal and Azerbaijan with its appendages to city. He was seventy-two years, one Miranshah Mirza. For several years he month and eighteen days old. ruled independently in Azerbaijan. He The palace of his rule had four stable was a handsome prince with a talent for pillars, i.e., the four princes who issued poetry and mild mannered. Concerning from his loins, Jahangir Sultan, Umar- his looks and position the poets have Shaykh Sultan, Miranshah Kuragan, and composed the following: Shahrukh Bahadur Ghazi. May the mag- nificent grandsons and progeny of the People have said that you are a second Sahib-Qiran and of these four pillars of Joseph. Having seen you well, I [know that] in truth you are more beautiful than that. governance rule the world until resur- rection, and may the shade of the heaven- However, one day he fell from his horse, scraping parasol of this padishah of Islam and his mind became disordered. Despite remain over the heads of this awesome the treatment the physicians gave him, it and magnificent dynasty forever, through was useless, and his mental disorder in- the prophet and his glorious family. [363] creased until it became melancholia and reached the level of insanity. [369] He 17Damascus was taken by Timur in 1401. The continually kept company with low-lifes House of Yazid and Mu'awiya are references to and tormented his amirs and deputies, to the Umayyad caliphs (r. 661-750), whose capital whom he refused audience. He was so was Damascus. disrespectful of grandees and nobles that 18Koran89:28. 18 DAWLATSHAH he removed Khwaja Rashid's body from The end of the affair is far away, heretic. his tomb in the Rashidiyya at Tabriz and Whether you go or not, it is not in the hands of free will. had the bones buried in the Jews' ceme- If, like Mansur, they carry you to the foot of tery.l? He ordered his wife Khanzada, the gallows (pay-i dar), stand manly and whom Amir Timur Karagan favored firm (pay dar), for the world does not last highly, to be bound, and he tortured and forever (paydar). tormented her. Khanzada managed to es- cape from him and went to the Sahib- His Majesty the Sahib-Qiran, after Qiran in Samarqand, where she showed having Prince Miranshah's companions him her bloody shirt and told the father executed, did not see [the prince] for two about the son. The amir wept and spoke months and transferred the rulers hip of to no one for a week. He gathered his Azerbaijan to [Miranshah's] son Prince army and set out for Azerbaijan, the rea- Abu-Bakr. [370] He also entrusted care son for the dispatch of the anny being of the father to the son and conferred the this very case. That occurred in Jumada I title of sultan upon Prince Abu-Bakr, 795 [March 1393]. who looked after his father. The father Three excellent and virtuous men who was nominally the ruler, but the affairs of were Prince Miranshah's intimate com- the kingdom were absolutely in Abu- panions, Mawlana Muhammad Kakhki Bakr's hands. Miranshah Kuragan Quhistani, who was extremely knowl- passed some time in this manner, but in edgeable in astronomy and the esoteric the year 80921 he was killed by Qara sciences, Mawlana Qutbuddin Nayi and Yusuf the Turcoman. Abdul-Mu'min Guyanda, all three of Amirzada Abu-Bakr Bahadur was a whom were learned men, [Timur] ordered good-natured prince, handsome, brave executed because Prince Miranshah's and high-minded. It is said that his sword mind had been deranged by association weighed seven maunds. After Miranshah with them.2o Accordingly, the three were was killed, he was defeated by the Tur- ordered hanged in Qazwin. At the time of comans and fled to Kennan. He was execution Mawlana Muhammad Quhis- killed in 810 [1407-8] at the age of tani said to Ustad Qutb Nayi, "You held twenty-two.V Miranshah ruled nine precedence in the king's assembly. You years in Khurasan and eleven in Azer- go first here too." Mawlana Qutb replied, baijan. "Y ou damned heretic, you have brought things to such a pass, and still you don't leave off your witticisms!" At the time of * execution Mawlana Muhammad recited SHAHRUKH the following verse: It is told that Sayyid [Ni'rnatullah WaH] was of a high spiritual degree, and pres- 19Rashiduddin Fazlullah (ca. 1247-1318), ents and gifts were constantly being sent court physician, historian and sadr to the 11- him by rulers and worldly people, all of khans, author of the voluminous world history Jami' al-tawarikh and builder of the Rab'-i Rashidi (the Rashidiyya) in Tabriz. 21810 according to Mirkhwand (RS. VI, 559). 20According to Fasihi more than three were Fasihi (Mujmal. 179) gives the date of the battle put to death:' Shamsuddin Muhammad Kakhki with Qara Yusuf, 24 Dhu'I-Qa'da81O (April 21, Quhistani, Qutbuddin Nayi (the flute player), 1408). Khwandamir (HS, III, 570) gives 24 Habib Udi (the lutanist), Ardashir Changi (the Dhu'l-Qa'da 809 (May 2, 1407) as the date of harpist), Abdul-Mu'min Guyanda (the singer) Miranshah's death. and Khwaja Yahya Narrad (the backgammon 22Khwandamir (H S, III, 571) gives 811. player) were all executed in 802/1399-1400 Fasihi (Mujmal, p. 185£.) records him as still (Mujmal. 143). alive at the beginning of 811. TADHKIRAT AL-SHU'ARA 19 which he accepted and [374] then sent to take a lamb to the sayyid. That very day the deserving. my son arrived safely, and I was so hap- Once Shahrukh asked the sayyid, "I py I put a lamb over my shoulder and set hear that you partake of suspect mor- out for town. Your steward took the lamb sels.23 What is the justification for that?" from me unjustly, and no matter how Sayyid Ni'matullah quoted this line in re- much I pleaded, it was of no use." ply to the prince: Sultan Shahrukh, realizing that God [375] esoterically preserves his saints If the whole world is ground to mincemeat, from illicit and suspect things, apologized how can a man of God eat other than what is to the sayyid and never thought of testing licit? him again .... The sayyid died in 827,24 during Shah- Shahrukh was not pleased by this an- swer, and in order to test [the sayyid], rukh's reign, in the village of Mahan, a dependency of Kerman. His hospice and several days later he ordered his steward to go and seize a lamb by force from an khanaqah are frequented by the great and old woman, not to pay for it and to bring by the poor, and it is a flourishing, much visited and pleasant holy site. [The say- it and have it cooked. To carry out this order, the steward went outside the city, yid's] age was more than seventy-five where he saw an old woman coming when he responded to God's invitation down the road with a lamb over her and was elevated to the station of the shoulders. Immediately he cracked his blessed and pure. Whip, snatched the lamb from the old As for the felicitous khaqan, the Shad- woman and took it to the kitchen to have ow of God upon the earth Shahrukh Ba- it prepared. The sultan invited the sayyid, hadur Karagan, he was a king crowned who partook of that meal along with the by divine success, propitious fortune and sultan. great good luck. He constantly practiced "You said that you could eat only licit justice and had complete compassion to- food, whereas I ordered this lamb taken ward the elite and common alike. The unjustly from an old woman," said the peace and freedom from want that the sultan, telling the sayyid the whole story. peasantry enjoyed during the days of his "Sultan of the world," said the sayyid, reign have never been known in any other "order an investigation into this, for God epoch from the time of Adam until today. must have a [hidden] purpose herein." His conduct was praiseworthy and he The sultan ordered the old woman followed the divine law, snatching the brought and asked her, "Where were you ball of propriety from all other sultans. taking this lamb? How did you get it?" For fifty years his banner of world rule "I am an old widow woman," she re- waved, and he caused the realm of Islam lated, "and have a flock of sheep I inher- to flourish. From the region of Khotan ited from my husband. I also have a son and Kashghar to the Qipchaq Steppe and who took a few sheep a week ago to the realms of India, from Mazanderan to market in Sarakhs. I had received some Darband and the realm of Georgia, and distressing news about him when I heard from Fars to Basra and Wasit were all that Sayyid Ni'matullah Wali had come to under his reign. It is said that in the first Herat from Kerman. I vowed that if my campaign to Azerbaijan there were son came back to me in safety, I would 30,000 cameldrivers [to haul the booty] in the victorious Shahrukhid armies: one can judge his other riches therefrom. His- 23Luqmahd-yi shubha-amez, i.e., food whose origin or manner of acquisition is suspect in 24Fasihi (Mujmal. 267) gives his death date as terms of the religious law. 22 Rajab 834 (April S, 1431). 20 DAWLATSHAH torians, especially Mawlana Fazil Jarda, ie, I set out at dawn for the Emperor of Islam have related that three hundred princes, all Shahrukh Bahadur. When I entered the king's pavilion, before I could bow my head and make of whom were worthy to rule, were gath- obeisance, he said, "A1a'uddawla, I was awake ered at Shahrukh's court. [376] Of His when the first drop of rain fell. Were you awake Majesty's mighty sons and grandsons or not?" I began to cry [377] and fell at the and great relatives it is certainly hoped, king's feet. He asked me the cause of my weak- nay it is absolute certainty that this Chos- ness, and I told him the story. He recited this roes, [Sultan-Husayn] a Jamshid in for- hemistich: tune, a Faridun in ambition, a Bahram in Even from our hut there is a way to the dignity, who is heir to the deeds of the king's court. great of this fortunate house, may attain- nay, has attained-many times over the Without doubt a king who passes his good fortune of those past sovereigns. days in justice and equity and in main- Shahrukh Sultan, through perfect relig- taining the Muhammadan law will find ious observance, purity of innate nature grace in the sight of God. More than this and good moral character, reached the will not fit into this memorial volume. station of sainthood and was aware of Shahrukh Bahadur Sultan was born on things unseen. Saintly miracles are related the 14th of Rabi' 1779 [August 20, 1377] of him, one of which is as follows. in Samarqand. He lived for 71 years. For One morning at dawn in Rayy he was seven years during his father's lifetime he busy with his devotions when suddenly ruled Khurasan, and for forty-three years he cried out, saying, "Qara Yusuf the after Timur Karagan he reigned autono- Turcoman died last night!" The date was mously over Iran and Turan and the lands recorded, and ten days later the news of of India and the Turks. In the month of Qara Yusuf's death arrived. Dhu'l-Hijja 850, late in the morning of Another instance is as follows. This Nawroz [March 13, 1447] he died in humble author's father was one of Sultan Fasha Rud, a dependency of Rayy. Shahrukh's confidential servants, and he related the following: Shahrukh, that king as puissant as fate, refuge of Islam, he who wielded a lion's By God's decree a dreadful year of drought claw in the jungle of kingship, befell Khurasan, especially the capital Herat. It Pitched his tent in paradise above in Dhu'l- reached such proportions that from the beginning Hijja and said, "Throughout the world THE of winter until the middle of spring not a drop SWORD remains of us as a date.,,25 fell from the sky to the earth: Five exalted princes were born of that The sky was so miserly toward the earth that highness, all of whom were pearls from a neither crops nor groves wet their lips. royal sea and manifestations of divine Ancient springs dried up; the only water left grace: Mirza Ulughbeg Kuragan, Ibra- was the tears of orphans. him-Sultan, Baysunghur Sultan, Soyur- The Emperor of Islam and the great ones of the ghatmish Bahadur, and Muhammad-Juki time were perplexed by this calamity and, in- Mirza. There were also two other jewels stead of rain, poured moisture from their eyes. from the royal mine, Yarudr and Khan One night I beseechingly raised my hands in Oghlan,26 who went from the cradle to supplication to the Court of the Almighty, say- the grave in infancy. These padishahs had ing, "Send us rain, 0 thou .who helpest those in need!" At dawn the next morning I was still sit- ting awake when suddenly a drop of rain fell 25Shamshir (sword) = 850. against the window of the house, followed by 26Muhammad- Yarudi's name is garbled in the torrents of rain. I bowed my head in thanks and text, and Khan Oghlan is given as Jan Oghlan thought, "0 Lord, is anyone in this court awake (see Fasihi, Mujmal, 154; Mu'izz al-ansab, fol. to have witnessed the first drop of rain?" Ecstat- 137). TADHKIRAT AL-SHU'ARA 21 nearly twenty princes who were elegant Lord, as he deprives our children of hope, cypresses in the meadow of leadership, make his line extinct!" The gates of heav- nay souls for the body of the realm. The en were open, and those innocent injured sun would turn dark in envy of their men's prayers were answered, for that beauty and the universal intellect was mighty padishah's line was ended and the incapable of comprehending their worth, sultanate reverted to its original locus.28 but in a short time inauspicious fate at- (0 God, may the sultanate continue until tacked those meritorious sultans [378] the day of resurrection the rightful prop- and sentenced them to the prison of the erty of this heir.) grave. Today nothing but a memory re- Although the Shahrukhid era and his mains of those renowned, all-conquering progeny have passed, [379] the mighty heroes. "Might is God's. Wherefore take offspring of the great Timurid family re- example, 0 ye who have eyes."27 main powerful in Iran and Turan.

Where are the mighty kings Hushang, What if one rose fades, when everything is Jamshid and Isfandiyar? made verdant by you? Your countenance is All have dust and clay for pillows, and sufficient for us as a souvenir of the rose. happy is he who planted only seeds of goodness. Among the shaykhs, great ulema and poets who flourished during Shahrukh's It is related that at the end of his life time were: Shamsuddin Muhammad al- Shahrukh led his army to Iraq to attack Hafizi al-Bukhari known as Khwaja Par- his grandson, Sultan-Muhammad son of sa, Khwaja Sayinuddin Turka Isfahani, Baysunghur. When Sultan-Muhammad Mawlana Fazil Husayn Khwarazmi, was defeated, Shahrukh Sultan blamed Mawlana Sharafuddin Ali Yazdi, and the the sayyids, grandees and ulema of Isfa- poets Shaykh Adhari, Baba Sawda'i, han [for Sultan-Muhammad's rebellion] Mawlana Ali Shihab, Amir Shahi Sab- because they had salaamed Sultan- zawari, Mawlana Katibi Turshizi, and Muhammad. In Sawa he issued an order Mawlana Nasimi. The works and divans for the execution of Shah Ala'uddin, a of all these are known throughout the in- great Husaynid sayyid, Qazi Imam, and habited quarter of the globe. Khwaja Afzaluddin Turka, one of the However, there were four skilled men great ulema of Isfahan, and at Gawhar- in the capital Herat who had no peers shad Begim' s instigation those great men anywhere during their time: Khwaja were unjustly and cruelly put to death. Abdul-Qadir Maraghi in the science of It is said that twice the rope around modes and music, Yusuf Andigani in Khwaja Afzal's neck snapped. He cried recitation and singing, Ustad Qiwamud- out, "Tell Shahrukh that this torment of din in geometry, design and architecture, ours will not last more than an instant, but and Mawlana Khalil the painter, who was do not destroy the good name you have a second Mani. acquired over more than fifty years." No matter how hard men of influence tried, it was of no avail as Shahrukh refused to * consider an appeal. After eighty days Shahrukh Sultan died, and some say that when those oppressed men despaired of their lives they cursed Shahrukh Sultan and Gawharshad Begim, saying, "0 28Dawlatshah wrote these words during the time of Sultan-Husayn, a descendant of Umar- Shaykh; for that reason the Shahrukhid line is 27Koran 59:2. denigrated. 22 DAWLATSHAH

BAYSUNGHUR "Your father is the emperor of Mus- lims," the sayyid said. "For what reason [Qasim al-Anwar], [385] whose origins does he expel me?" were in Azerbaijan, was born in Surkhab, "My lord," said Prince Baysunghur, Tabriz, of which region he was among "why do you not act upon your own the great sayyids and sharifs. During his words?" youth he was a disciple of Shaykh Sad- "Which words?" he asked. ruddin Ardabili and for a time was trained " 'Qasim, cut short your speech, arise [in Sufism] by him. He underwent much and go forth: cast sugar to the parrot, car- spiritual exercise in Sufism and spiritual rion to the vulture,' " [quoted the prince]. poverty and [386] was well trained. Amir Sayyid Qasim applauded the Thereafter he set out with the shaykh's prince and immediately had a pack animal permission for Gilan, where he lived for a brought, the nobles [of Herat] helping, time training dervishes. When his fame and set out for Balkh. For a time that re- had reached all comers of the earth, he set gion was the recourse of elite and com- out for Khurasan and stayed for a while mon, but once again he returned to the in Nishapur. However, the Zahiri ulema capital Herat, [387] where he stayed for a of Khurasan protested his presence, and period of time .... [390] he went to the capital Herat. The people The felicitous birth of Prince Baysun- of Herat trusted him completely and gave ghur was in the year 802.29 He possessed him their allegiance. He was a powerfully both beauty and perfection, good fortune attractive man, and every skeptic who and propitious luck; in patronage of the came before him departed a believer. arts and artistic ability he was renowned When most of the nobles and princes of throughout the world. During his time Herat had become his disciples, self-in- calligraphy and poetry gained currency, terested people told the emperor of the and artisans and literati, hearing of his age, Sultan Shahrukh, that it was not reputation, entered his service from all prudent to allow this sayyid to stay in the regions and areas. city. As most of the youths had become It is related that forty calligrapher- -his disciples, there was a danger that cor- scribes were engaged in his kitabkhana, ruption might occur. The emperor ordered with Mawlana Ja'far Tabrizi at their head. the sayyid expelled, but no matter how [The prince] favored artists and loved many times the amirs and ministers of poets. He strove to create opulence and state took the emperor's order to the rewarded his comrades and companions sayyid, it was useless: Amir Sayyid with exquisite objects. After Chosroes Qasim would say, "For what crime does Parvez none of the sultans of the ages Shahrukh expel me from a Muslim lived in such luxury and refinement as realm?" Baysunghur Sultan. He composed and In the end it was determined that the understood poetry well in Turkish and sayyid would have to be forcibly ejected Persian and wrote the Six Pens of callig- from the area, but no one had the courage raphy. Here is a line by Mirza Bay- to carry it out. Prince Baysunghur said, "I sunghur: will set this sayyid on the road by means of refinement and wit. There is no neces- Baysunghur is a beggar in your lane: a sity for harshness." He rose and went to beggar in the lane of beauties is a king. the sayyid, with whom he had a pleasant conversation, during the course of which the matter of the sayyid's leaving was 29All other sources are agreed upon 799 as his broached. date of birth. Fasihi (Mujmal, p. 140) gives 21 Dhu'l-Hijja 799 (September 15, 1397). TADHKIRAT AL-SHU'ARA 23

It is related that during Baysunghur's year 837 [1433].30 He was thirty-five time Khwaja Yusuf Andigani [391] had years of age. no equal in all the world in recitation and The poets who were in Baysunghur singing. Khwaja Yusuf's Davidic voice Bahadur's retinue during the time of pierced the heart, and his Chosroic mel- Shahrukh Sultan were: Baba Sawda'i, ody augmented the agony of passion. Mawlana Yusuf Amiri, Amir Shahi Sultan-Ibrahim b. Shahrukh in Shiraz Sabzawari, Mawlana Katibi Turshizi and several times asked Baysunghur for [392] Amir Yamin uddin Nazlabadi. Bay- Khwaja Yusuf, but he refused. Finally he sunghur's properties and fiefs during sent 100,000 dinars in cash for Prince Shahrukh's reign were six hundred Baysunghur to send him Khwaja Yusuf. Kepeki tiimdn» in the provinces of As- In reply Sultan Baysunghur sent this line: tarabad, Jurjan, Dihistan, Tus, Abiward, Nasa, Khabushan, Simnan, Kashan in We do not sell our Joseph. You keep your Persian Iraq, and Shabankara in Fars.U black silver. The poets composed many elegies for Baysunghur, but Amir Shahi surpassed Among Ulughbeg Kuragan, Baysun- them all with this quatrain: ghur Bahadur and Ibrahim-Sultan many witticisms and much correspondence At your funeral time itself wailed; tulips were exchanged-more than could be put spilled the blood of their eyes into their into this volume. However, treacherous laps. time and cruel fate assassinated that suc- The rose rips the collar of its crimson cloak; cessful prince in the full bloom of youth, the dove puts black felt around its neck. and the wardens of fate and destiny had no mercy on his youth. One night, having * had too much wine, he was overtaken by [267] The literati have been unable to the heavy sleep of annihilation in re- collect [all] Amir Khusraw's poetry.t? sponse to the command of the Lord of since they have rightly contemplated that Lords. The people of Herat supposed his the sea cannot be contained in a vessel, death was due to a stroke. and divine knowledge cannot fit into a word. Sultan Baysunghur Khan exerted They say that death is a novel form of sleep: that heavy sleep seized us. much effort, and the poetry of Amir Khusraw he achieved in collecting Half drunk, the prince crept into the amounted to 20,000 lines. Thereafter mastaba of the earth, to rise again with a [another] two thousand lines of Khus- heavy head on the mom of resurrection raw's ghazals that were not in the [Bay- along with the throng suffering from the sunghurid] divan were found somewhere. hangover of resurrection and to request Realizing that to collect these poems was from the cupbearers the pure wine that an impossible task and an unrealizable cures a hangover. The hope is certain that hope, he abandoned the search. In one of the Merciful Judge will forgive his sins, which can be washed away only by the dew of compassion. The dreadful death 30The date of his death, 7 Jumada I 837 (December 20, 1433), is given by Fasihi (Muj- of Baysunghur Sultan occurred in the mal. p. 272). capital Herat in the Bagh-i Saped in the 31Pasihi (Mujmal. p. 219) records the fiefs Baysunghur was given in 817/1415. 32Amir Khusraw of Delhi (1253-1325), au- thor of a divan, a Khamsa (quintet) in imitation of Nizami's Khamsa, and numerous versified histories. 24 DAWLATSHAH

his essays Amir Khusraw says, "My po- happened that the prince and Amir Shahi etry is less than 500,000 and more than were left alone together, the other riders 400,000 lines." His Khamsa is 18,000 having charged off after the animals. The lines, while Shaykh Nizami of Ganja's is prince turned to Amir Shahi and said, 28,000. It is amazing that in some poetry "Your father took just such an oppor- there is longwindedness and in others tunity to destroy his enemy and died in a there is brevity; in either case, elegance manly way." and eloquence are the goals. Amir Shahi said angrily, "It is written: Prince Baysunghur preferred Khus- 'wa-/a taziru waziratun, '35 which is to raw's Khamsa to Nizami's, while his late say that a son who does not engage in his highness Ulughbeg Kiiragan did not father's labor cannot be counted among agree and was a proponent of Shaykh his father's friends." After this he es- Nizami. Between these two learned chewed the service of sultans and took an princes there was on occasion heated de- oath never to serve them again so long as bate over these [conflicting] claims, and he lived. they compared the two Khamsas line by line. If there were such partisanship these * days, the minds of critics, who are the ass ayers of the market of literary excel- [484] It is said that for a time Bay- lence-long may they live-would have sunghur Sultan used the pen name Shahi, found a method of preference and re- but seeing that that pen name had been moved all doubt. accepted as Amir Aq Malik's and become famous from east to west, he abandoned * it. What the destiner of pre-eternity has written cannot be changed. Some are Amir Shahi was born and grew up in given kingship in form, others in content. Sabzawar. His name was Aq Malik son of Malik Jamaluddin Firozkohi, and his * ancestors were grandees of the Sarba- -dar,33 his mother being Khwaja Ali [178] Mawlana Shamsuddin Tabasi Mu'ayyad's sister. During Shahrukh was one of the most learned men in Kuragari's reign, when the Sarbadars Khurasan. Although he was the cadi and were on the wane, he went to Prince son of the cadi of Tabas, he resided in Baysunghur, who patronized him and got Herat. Along with his great learning, he released some of his ancestral property held a high position as a poet and was a [481] that had been sequestered by the man of good character and mien. state during the Sarbadar interregnum. Baysunghur ordered Mawlana Sham- Amir Shahi was a close companion to the suddin's divan to be copied by Mawlana prince. Shamsuddin the calligrapher, who was It is said that Malik Jamaluddin, Amir known among calligraphers as Shams Shahi's father, stabbed one of the Sar- Baysunghuri. [The prince] said many badars to death on a hunting outing.v' times, "To have this type of poetry and One day Prince Baysunghur was on a this sort of calligraphy, both of which are hunt in the Kahdistan meadow in Herat. It God-given talents, by these two men . named Shams is a rare coincidence."

33The Sarbadar dynasty ruled in Sabzawar, 1337-79. 34According to Fasihi, in 799/1396-97 Amir * Shahi's father stabbed Amirzada Muhammad- 35Koran 53:38: "A burdened soul shall not Sultan in Damghan (Mujmal. p, 140). bear the burden of another." TADHKIRAT AL-SHU'ARA 25

KHALIL-SULTAN When the news of the ingrate officers' take-over and Prince Khalil's imprison- Prince Khalilullah reigned in Samar- ment reached the hearing of [396] Shah- qand after the death of Amir Timur Kii- rukh Sultan, he gathered a huge army and ragan, He was a handsome prince, of set out from Herat for Samarqand. When good character and of refined nature. He the Shahrukhid victory-bearing banners threw open the treasury that Amir Timur crossed the Oxus, the rebels lost heart Ktiragan had amassed throughout his and, abandoning Samarqand, fled toward reign from the taxes on Iran and Turan Turkistan, pillaging the possessions of and, like the April rain, nay like the mines the people of Samarqand. of Badakhshan and the sea of Oman, It is related that when Shahrukh Sultan scattered silver and pearls over soldiers regained Samarqand, he went into the and civilians. The learned received pa- Timurid treasury, which was kept in the tronage in his time and in describing their Kok Saray and citadel of Samarqand. situation sang: [395] Finding the treasury as empty as the minds of idiots and as void as the hearts In your time no one can distinguish the of the ignorant, suddenly the Mirza's ground from gold, so much has your staff struck a minted dirhem. He picked it generous hand trod wealth under foot. up, put it in his pocket and left the treas- In the same vein Katibi says: ury, saying to his companions, "With this dirhem we have our share of our father's Dirhems from your hand cover the earth by legacy." the trayful. Of your generosity there are It is said that Prince Khalil-Sultan com- jewels covering the heavens by the shieldful. posed this ghazal when he was impris- oned and sent it to his uncle Shahrukh: In the end, the treasure that the Sahib-Qi- ran had amassed by the sword Sultan- o bestower of gifts, 0 grantor of desires, we Khalil gave away to the shield. For four can bear no more of this separation. years in Samarqand and Transoxiaria he III luck has become our neighbor and sung ruled. Finally Khudaydad Husayni, Khu- out, "Welcome!" Good fortune has departed, saying, "Adieu!" daydad Jata, Berdi Beg and other officers May my life be sacrificed to the aroma of rebelled against him, the reason for which the breeze that comes to us from our was as follows. He had fallen in love beloveds'region. with and married Shad Malik Agha, one As sorrowful and happy ones pass from the of Amir Hajji Sayfuddin's concubines, monastery [of this world], do not sorrow and she interfered in the affairs of state. over tribulation or rejoice over good fortune. [397] The officers refused to stand for it, and in The brand of the world left Kaus Kay's 811 [1409] they seized Prince Khalil and breast; when was Kay-Qubad gleeful over bound him in golden chains. They cut off bad luck? Shad Malik's ears and nose and sent the If Khalil is imprisoned in the six directions prince to be imprisoned in Shahrukhiyya of separation, one day the spheres will Fortress, and the rebellious officers release you. God's decree has given me into the hands of reigned autonomously in Samarqand. the lowly: it is wrong to complain to people Prince Khalil-Sultan composed this qua- of God's decree. train in his prison: When Shahrukh Sultan read this com- Yesterday such soul-increasing union; today position by Prince Khalil, he wept and such world-burning separation. made it his sole ambition to reduce those Alas that fate one day writes one thing in ingrates to beggary. Amir Shahmalik, one the register of my life, another day another. of Shahrukh's great officers, intentionally 26 DAWLATSHAH fomented disagreement among that group. such thought. Sultan-Khalil was taught He killed Khudaydad JtiUi and Khuday- poetics by the khwaja, and when Prince dad Husayni, and himself went into exile. Khalil was deposed, Khwaja Ismat com- The kingdom of Transoxiana came under posed this g hazal in longing for the Shahrukh's subjugation, and Sultan- prince's court: Khalil, released from prison, was hon- ored to kiss the carpet of his uncle's good Would that you had ordered my execution fortune. Shahrukh Sultan, insofar as was by the sword of separation so that my enemies might not have seen me abject on possible, had compassion upon the de- such a day. posed prince and took him with himself, Tell the gardener to plant me at the foot of crossed the Oxus and gave the rule of the garden wall if I think of the cypress and Samarqand to his son "Prince Ulughbeg. lily without remembering him. He assigned Amir Shahmalik to [Ulugh- When will my cavalier again strut forth so that I, like a madman, may cast myself in beg's] retinue to govern the region. That his path, covered with dust and blood? [399] was in the year 811 [1409]. Shahrukh From the veins of both eyes I rain my then took Sultan-Khalil to Herat, gave heart's blood, for in separation from him him the governorship of Rayy, Qum, every hair on my body is a bloody lancet. Hamadan and Dinawar up to Baghdad Ismat, when will the monuments of Khalil's and sent him off with banners, kettle- era come again so that I may smash these idols I wrongly worship? drums and naqarakhana, and high- ranking officers accompanied him for ... [400] The learned have admired several stages. Sultan-Khalil ruled as his Khwaja Ismat's qasidas. He composed uncle's viceregent for two and a half this qasida on Sultan-Khalil's divan: years and died in Rayy on the 18th36 of Rajab 814 [November 5, 1411] at the age It is a shoreless sea that holds the world in of twenty-eight. As he lay dying he reci- its embrace-the diver of the universal ted this verse: [398] intellect can never comprehend its essence • (pearl). In ignorance I said, "No one can draw our The moon is a reflection of the rays from its bow." Death came and drew, and our gilt lawh; the sun is a reflection of its notions were all wrong. illuminated pages. The depiction of angelic, tulip-cheeked Khwaja Ismat Bukhari was a high- beauties has locked the houris of paradise in their palaces in shame. born, worthy man of learning descended Hot spins the sun on the lawh of the from Ja'far ibn Abi-Talib. His forefathers celestial sphere in order to put a seal on the were great men of learning in Bukhara, pages of this register. and his father Khwaja Mas'ud was one It takes black from the night and golden ink of the leading men of the city. Khwaja from the moon; the azure sphere makes leather for it from Taurus's hide. Ismat, despite his high lineage and posi- From the succession of black and white and tion, was a notable poet in qasida, gha- night and dawn the Maker's craft has zal, mathnawi and qit'a. During Sultan- produced a binding for its two sides. Khalil's time Khwaja Ismat received great When the rulings are made, red is drawn patronage and was highly respected by from sunset's reflection using a silver the prince, to whom he was a constant compass lent by Gemini's sphere. You would say Jupiter showed his companion and comrade. The envious countenance in the dead of night when the imagined that the khwaja had an eye for golden dots shone from around the lines. the prince, but his heart was free of any All who have seen it have scattered rubies [yaqut) from the pupils of their eyes (ibn-i

36The 16th according to Fasihi (Mujmal, 207). TADHKlRAT AL-SHU' ARA 27

muqla) over the raw silver of its amber- "This is a treasury deposited by mighty scented geometric lines}7 ones, a compilation of marvels by a poet Every word is a pearl of the treasure trove of king." meani'1f: other than a moneychanger When Sultan-Khalil came to the throne, the (sayrafi),3 who could establish the price of fire of sedition was quenched by his blade this gem? [401] and dagger. [402] Every charming line that was confirmed A Leo-attacking Jamshid, by the blow of (muhaqqaq) in beauty is a commentary whose mace the convex heaven is made (ta'liq) on its illuminated pages}9 concave. To acquire merit the intellect has memorized The sphere was split apart by the arc in order every novel meaning that manifests itself to achieve union with his circular dart.44 therein. o commander, to all who have seen your Every string of pearls versified forms an exalted might the nine spheres appear as ordered whole in the thread of the mastar.40 insignificant as dust. Salman borrows from the light of the All who have rolled the dice of opposition qasidas; with the spirit-nourishing ,fihazals to you have been imprisoned by grief on the Sa'di has come to life again. playing board of pain and calamity. Khaqani has been inspired by the rhetoric of No enemy has found a way to escape your the poetry; Anwari is eclipsed by the dagger-unless death leads him to his fate. brilliant (anwar) metaphor.42 If the sea holds up its ~alm (kaff) in Nizami's spirit is gladdened by the indigence (beguhari),4 you enrich it mathnawis; Ibn-i Yamin praises it for the instantly from the cloud of generosity. singlets and occasional pieces.43 Scented nostrils derive from you the scent of Perplexed by the marginalia, the pen moves; the musk sack of whose aroma time is glad. I am amazed at what images he has in his Be there dust upon the head of anyone who head. has rubbed his forehead in service at your I said, "Let me enter in thought and threshold and then takes refuge with another! contemplation, let me learn the beauty of his You place a crown of acceptability on the hidden meanings." head of every beggar, who then spurns As I stood astonished at what I saw, a voice Darius and Casar's opulence. informed me of the master of this refined The abundance of meanings comes from the poetry, saying, effulgence of praising you, otherwise what would be the use of repeated words? 1403J Given a choice, any would elect to die but still not abandon your service. 7 For as long as God allows the seven climes 3 Puns on the famous calligraphers Yaqut al- to acquire the sun's light Musta'simi (died 1299) and Ibn Muqla (died May your essence remain at the zenith of 940). rule; may fortune smile and the throne of 38 A pun on the calligrapher Abdullah al- felicity tower. Sayrafi (fl. 13io-44). 39With puns on muhaqqaq and ta'liq, both calligraphic styles. * 40 A mastar is a cardboard sheet strung with ULUGHBEG thread used by copyists to make horizontal writ- ing lines on the page. His late Highness Ulughbeg Ktiragan 41Salman Sawaji (ca. 1300-1376), Persian poet renowned for his qasidas; Sa'di (ca. 1215- was a learned, just, victorious and high- ca. 1290), one of the most famous poets of Per- sian, renowned especially for his ghazals. 44'Arc' (or 'bow,' qaws) is also Sagittarius; 42Khaqani (1121-1199), poet known for the 'dart' (or 'arrow,' sahm) is also the constellation brilliance of his rhetorical devices; Anwari (ca. Sagitta. 1125-ca. 1170), a poet known for particularly 45Kaff means both 'palm of the hand' and abstruse panegyric. 'foam' (on the surface of the sea); beguhart is 43Nizami (1141-1209), the poet par excellence 'indigence' but literally means 'pearllessness.' of the metrical romance; Ibn-i Yamin (1286- According to legend pearls are made from April 1368), known for his single lines and qit'as raindrops falling into oysters, which then sink to ("fragments"). the bottom of the sea and produce pearls. 28 DAWLATSHAH minded king. He attained an exalted de- When justice rules over a king, a gazelle can gree in astronomy and was quite adept at eat its fill next to a ferocious lion. understanding poetry. During his reign It is told that Mirza Ulughbeg's mem- scientists were given the greatest respect, ory was prodigious. He recorded by date and in his time the position of the learned every animal he put into the field and ev- reached exalted heights. In geometry he ery prey those animals caught. This in- pointed out the subtlest things, and in formation he wrote in a ledger, on what cosmography he unlocked the secrets of day it was, in which place and what prey the Almagest. The learned and wise are was caught by which animals. When the agreed that in the history of Islam-nay book was accidentally lost, the librarians from the time of Alexander until this searched high and low but could not find moment-there has never reigned a king it. Ulughbeg said to the fearful librarians, so wise and learned as Ulughbeg Kura- "Don't worry. I remember all the infor- gan. At the arithmetical sciences he was mation from beginning to end." He asked perfectly adept. Along with the wise men for- a book, and as he dictated the dates of his age, such as Qazizada Rumi and the scribes wrote down the date and in- Mawlana Ghiyathuddin Jamshid [Kashi], formation until the ledger was finished. he set down observations of the stars. By chance after a time the original ledger When those two great ones died before was found; the two were compared, and, the work was completed, the sultan set with four or five exceptions, they found his whole mind to the completion of the no discrepancies. task and finished the observations. What Many such stories are related of the he produced [is known as] the Zij-i sul- prince's keen mind, such as the following tani,46 which he put out in his own name. by Shaykh Adhari: Today that table is current among and credited by scientists, and some prefer it In the year 800 [1397-98] in Qara Bagh, in the 47 to the Ilkhanid Zij-i Nasiri. [404] company of my .uncle, Amir Timur's storyteller, In Samarqand he had built a superb I was introduced to Prince Ulughbeg, who was madrasa, more beautiful and ornate than then a child. For several years I played with the any other building. Today there are more prince in the exuberance of youth and told him than a hundred students in residence in delightful and entertaining stories. As is the custom of children, he was very much at home that madrasa. with me. Then, in 852 [1448], when the mon- During his father Shahrukh Bahadur's arch conquered Khurasan and was encamped at reign he ruled autonomously in Samar- Isfarayin-and by that time the dawn of white qand and Transoxiana for forty years, hair had enflamed the night of youth [405]-1 maintaining praiseworthy principles of hastened to his service. government and dispensation of justice. It He saw me from afar in dervish garb, and after the customary greetings and polite preliminaries is said that during his reign ejarib of land were dispensed with he said, "Dervish, you look with an income of four kharwars was like our old companion and playmate. Aren't taxed at 4/6/ulus, which would be 1/6 of you our storyteller's nephew?" a silver dirhem. Amazed at the monarch's sharpness of mind and flawless memory, I said, "Yes, I am." He told stories of Qara Bagh and the Georgian cam- paign and the remarkable things that had hap- pened in that region. I responded to what I could 46Entltled Zij-i jadid-i sultani, U1ughbeg's remember." tables of the latitudes and longitudes of the fixed star.s were e<1!lytranslated for use in Europe (a Latin translation was made by Hyde in 1665). There are more such stories of the mon- 47The astronomical tables generally known as arch's memory than could possibly fit the Zij-i Ilkhani compiled by Nasiruddin Tusi into this volume. (1201-1274). TADHKIRA TAL-SHU' ARA 29

After Shahrukh's death Prince Ulugh- proof of Prince Ulughbeg's weakness. beg Kuragan led his forces from Trans- [406] Not knowing what to do, he set out oxiana to Khurasan seeking the kingdom for Samarqand, but soon Abdul-Latif he had inherited. Prince Ala'uddawla re- crossed the Oxus headed for Samarqand. sisted him, but in the vicinity of Tarnab, a In Sha'ban 853 [September 1449], a bat- dependency of Badghis, a battle took tle was fought in the vicinity of Samar- place, and Ulughbeg Ktlragan won and qand between father and son in which subjugated all of Khurasan. He had Abdul-Latif was the victor. Ulughbeg 90,000 soldiers, and during that campaign sought refuge in the Samarqand Fort, but a devastation of which traces can be seen Miranshah the Qorchi, who had been his today was wrought upon Khurasan. protege, showed his ingratitude by re- In Ramadan 852 [November 1448], fusing him entry into the fort. Perforce he when Ulughbeg was consolidating Khu- fled to the borders of Turkistan, leaving rasan, Abu'l-Khayr Khan laid siege to Abdul-Latif to take the throne of Samar- Samarqand.P Ulughbeg's soldiers, see- qand. ing limitless booty, wanted to take all the Since his own appointees in Shahru- booty home and ran away in legions. khiyya would not allow Ulughbeg to en- Ulughbeg Kuragan saw no alternative to ter, he was about to take refuge with withdrawal. When he set out for Iraq and Abu'l-Khayr Khan when, thinking there was returning via the Ab-i Rawshan might still be some affection left between bridge, which is a dependency of Ju- father and son, he went to his knavish wayn, Amir Yar-Ali, son of Sikandar b. son in Samarqand. Appearing without Qara Yusuf [Qaraqoyunlu] who had been warning before his ruthless son in Ra- imprisoned for years in the Tiratu For- madan of that same year, at first he was tress near Herat, escaped, rebelled and warmly received, but the devil took com- seized Herat. This event too served to mand of the son and made him want to weaken Ulughbeg Kilragan. He gave kill his father. On the banks of the Such Balkh and its dependencies to his son River outside Samarqand that just and Abdul-Latif and himself crossed the learned padishah was martyred. Some Oxus. seven months later the Final Executioner In return for the honors and favor he took his revenge, and [Abdul-Latif] drank had bestowed upon his younger son from the same goblet he had given. Sic Abdul-Latif, Abdul-Latif was seduced by semper tyrannis. the devil to rebel against his father, and Ulughbeg was forced to engage in com- A patricide is not worthy of kingship. Even bat with Abdul-Latif for three months be he worthy, he will not last six months. along the banks of the Oxus. During this, In his book Hadayiq al-anwar the great the Arghun folk, who are Turcomans of Fakhruddin Razi tells that there was no Turkistan, raised Sultan Abu-Sa'id as one more noble in royal families than padishah and, breaking away from Sheree, who was Sheree son of Parvez Ulughbeg's army, went to Samarqand son of Hurmuz son of Anushirvan son of and besieged the city. This was clear Qubad son of Firoz son of Yazdigird son of Bahram Gor. Bahram's lineage went 48Abu'l-Khayr Khan (died 1468) of the Shay- back to Ardashir Papakan, whose lineage banid Uzbeks, who by virtue of Mongol descent went back to Kay Qubad, whose lineage through Genghis Khan's grandson Shiban (which went back to Faridun, and Faridun's lin- was changed to Shayban by analogy with the eage went back several generations to Arab tribe Shayban) claimed the right to legiti- Gayomarth, who Persian genealogists say mate rule. Eventually the Uzbeks succeeded the Timurids in all of Transoxiana. was the father of mankind. That great 30 DAWLATSHAH prince [Sheree] did an ignoble deed [407] On the night he was killed a tumult arose, and killed his father. After six months he and the date is RESURRECTION EVE.50 went to hell of the plague. In the Abbasid Among the learned, religious dignitaries caliphal dynasty the most noble was Mustansir, who was Mustansir b. Muta- and poets who flourished in Ulughbeg's wakkil b. Mu'tasim b. Rashid b. Mahdi time were Mawlana Ala'uddin Shashi, b. Mansur b. Ali b. Abdullah b. Abbas. Khwaja Hasan Attar, and the poets With many generations of caliphs behind Khwaja Ismatullah Bukhari and Mawlana him, Abbas's noble lineage went back to Kamaluddin Badakhshi. the Bani-Hashim, who were among the most high born of mankind. Mustansir also killed his father and did not live six * ISKANDAR B. UMAR-SHAYKH months thereafter. Thus it is obvious that one should not boast of noble lineage but Prince Iskandar, son of Umar-Shaykh rather of fear of God. Abdul-Latif's story Bahadur b. Timur Kiiragan, snatched the proves the same. He was Abdul-Latif b. ball of precedence from his peers in no- Ulughbeg b. Shahrukh b. Timur Kura- bility of character, manliness and g~n- gan, and Amir Timur's forefathers were erosity. After the death of the Sahib- grandees and sultans. This infamous Qiran, he took possession of Fars and prince was reared in Shahrukh's favor, Persian Iraq. He was a convivial prince of and Shahrukh loved him more than any good nature. He formed a well trained of his other children and grandchildren. army and took Fars from his brother Pir- Despite this honor, favor, noble lineage Muhammad Mirza. In Ramadan 807 and descent, he too, like the other infa- [March 1405] he did battle at the Khar- mous two who have just been mentioned, dara Bridge with Qara Yusuf the Turco- gained ill repute for all time and reproach man's generals Ma'sum and Bistam. Af- by all. This verse is appropriate to him: ter that he led his troops against his brother Rustam in Isfahan. He besieged If you realize how hideous evil is, you will do nothing that is not good. the city, and Rustam Bahadur fled to Azerbaijan. Iskandar took Isfahan and Ulughbeg lived for fifty-eight years. He executed Khwaja Ahmad Sa'Idji], the ruled in Khurasan for eight months and in cadi ofIsfahan. On the 4th of Dhu'l-Hijja Samarqand for forty years during his fa- 813 [December 31, 1410] the Iskandarid ther Shahrukh's time. The chronogram power over Fars and Persian Iraq reached for his death has been versified thus: its zenith. He was always proud of his splendor Ulughbeg, an ocean of knowledge and and daring and boastfully recited heroic wisdom, defender of the prophet's faith, verses, even composing his own: Drank the cup of martyrdom from Abbas, and the date is ABBAS KILLED [him].49 What importance can the Gog [and Magog] of worldly events have for me, who am like [408] Another is as follows: Alexander's dam in splendor?

Sultan mighty as the spheres, happy When Shahrukh heard reports that his Ulughbeg, on the eighth of the month of own brothers and family had been dis- Ramadan was martyred. possessed, that Iskandar was intent upon taking the capital, and that the roar of au-

50Shab-i qiydmat = 853; 8 Ramadan 853 = 49'Abbds kusht = 853. October 25, 1449. TADHKIRAT AL-SHU'ARA 31 tonomy was affecting the balance of his Perhaps I misheard, or perhaps the secretary mind, in 81451 Shahrukh Bahadur Ktira- made a mistake- Or perhaps in Turkish besh yuz altun means gan took his army to Persian Iraq to at- two hundred. [419] tack Prince Iskandar. Prince Rustarn took refuge with Shahrukh Sultan, and Iskan- When the magnanimous Prince Bayqara dar Mirza was defeated in the environs of Bahadur read this fragment, he laughed Isfahan. In the end he was taken prisoner and applauded the mawlana, saying, "In by Shahrukh and, through the machina- Turkish besh yuz altun means a thousand tions of Gawharshad Begim, Shahrukh dinars," and ordered a thousand dinars in Sultan gave his approval for both the cash to be handed over to him at that very prince's eyes, which were the envy of the assembly. During the same assembly the black-eyed houris, [417] to be stripped of mawlana composed this line: the garb of sight, like the eyes of the narcissus. That occurred on Friday, 2 One would say that the effulgence of the Jumada I 817 [July 20, 1414]. shah's mind is the Oman Sea; one would Among the learned and poets during say his jewel-raining hand is the April Sultan-Iskandar's time in Persian Iraq cloud. and Fars were Mawlana Mu'inuddin The exalted Sultan Umar-Shaykh Ba- Natanzi, who was the most learned man hadur was the apple of Timur's eye, and of his age and wrote a history of Iskan- none of Timur's offspring received the dar, and Mawlana Haydar, who wrote favor he did. At first he gave him the beautiful poetry in Turkish and Persian rulership of Ferghana, which is called and composed a Turkish imitation of Andigan, and he was so brave and daring Nizami's Makhzan al-asrar dedicated to that he destroyed the foundations of the Prince Iskandar. Mughul khans and defeated Qamaruddin. The Mughuls submitted to him and * ceased raiding the borders, never drawing BA YQARA B. UMAR-SHAYKH an easy breath for fear of him. He con- trolled that area for a time, but the Sahib- It is related that when Prince Bayqara Qiran, perceiving greatness in him, ap- was ruling in Balkh, he ordered a prize of pointed him to Fars up to the borders of five hundred dinars for a eulogy Maw- Basra and Khuzistan. That exalted prince, lana Burunduq had composed for him, who patronized his friends and defeated but the secretary wrote down two hun- his enemies, was mortally wounded by an dred dinars. Therefore Mawlana Burun- arrow during a battle for a fortress in duq composed this poem and sent it to the Khuzistan when the army of Anatolia had prince: invaded. The Sahib-Qiran was sorely grieved by his loss and, reciting this qua- Vanquisher of enemies, rewarder of friends, train to describe his state, wept bitterly: that conquering king who holds the world Granted me besh yilz altun (500 gold You have been driven before me to the arena pieces): the sultan's favor to his slave is of death, and a hundred wounds have been great inflicted upon my heart. Three hundred disappeared, and now two I said, "You, who would have been my heir hundred appears on my chit. in any legal code, have departed and left me your heir." [420]

51A mistake in the text; Shahrukh's campaign Timur appointed the prince's sons to set out in Rajab 816 (October 1413; see Khwan- his position, assigning to each of the damir, HS, III, 588; Abdul-Razzaq, Matla', II, 143). princes a governorship, as has been pre- 32 DAWLATSHAH viously described regarding Prince Pir- It is also said that it was not so and that Muhammad, Prince Iskandar and Prince the person who was sent to Samarqand Rustam. was not Prince Bayqara, who was killed Prince Bayqara Bahadur was unique in Shahrukh's camp. [421] It is reported among the sons of Umar-Shaykh: he that when Prince Bayqara was brought possessed a beauty that Joseph never before Shahrukh Sultan, he asked, "Are dreamed of and a bravery of which Rus- you not Bayqara?" He denied it. A person tam never heard in his seven labors. The who masquerades as a sultan can be following lines describe that prince's killed, and feigned ignorance, which is an perfection: affectation of poets and liars, was adopted by that prince for the sake of prudence. You are a Rustam in battle, a Hatim at That person was indeed Prince Bayqara, banquet. The heavens give you reins and but [Shahrukh] employed this ruse lest he goblets so that you can stir up an ocean [of be accused of killing his own nephew. 53 generosity] when it places a goblet before you, and so that you can wreak vengeance upon the sun when it puts the reins into your hands. * UMAR B. MIRANSHAH After the death of his brothers, Bayqara Mirza rebelled in Fars and, raising a val- Prince Umar b. Miranshah Kuragan iant army, was determined to rule auton- assumed the rule in Rayy and Firozkoh omously and to make conquest. He was after the death of his father. He was a truly generous, manly and brave, and the prince who was of good strategy and learned have reported that in the Timurid brave. He subjugated Astarabad and Jur- House there appeared no prince so hand- jan. When he rebelled against his uncle some, of such good conduct or so brave Shahrukh Sultan, he mustered an army as Bayqara Bahadur. On the 2nd of from Jurjan and Astarabad and set out to Sha'ban 810,52 Shahrukh Sultan took his do battle with Shahrukh Bahadur. He was army to Fars to repel [Bayqara], who defeated in battle in the province of Jam wanted to do battle with his uncle; how- in 809 [1407].54 ever, his officers refused and turned away It is related that as Sultan Umar was from him. He went via the wilderness going to fight Shahrukh, he went to visit towards Kuch and Makran. For a time he Shaykh Muhyiddin al-Ghazali al-Tusi in wandered in the wilderness until in the Islamiyya, Tus. vicinity of Garmser and Ghur once again "Shaykh," he said, "I implore you to he rebelled against Shahrukh, who was say a Fatiha for me so that God will grant constantly wary of him. In 819 he came me victory over Shahrukh." willingly before his uncle, and Shahrukh Sultan sent him to Transoxiana, where, with Shahrukh's consent and Ulughbeg's 53Pasihi (Mujmal, 252) reports that in 826 connivance, that excellent prince was Bayqara was discovered in Badghis and was poisoned. brought to the royal camp for questioning and then executed. Khwandamir (HS, III, 596) says 52CIlI (VI, 101) gives 817. According to that he was sent to Samarqand in 820 and was Fasihi (Mujmal, 222), Shahrukh set out from never heard of again. Herat against Bayqara on the 17th of Jumada II 54Khwandamir (HS, III, 565): battle fought at 818 (August 24, 1415), reaching Shiraz on the Bardawayh, Jam on 9 Dhu'J-Qa'da 809 (April 3rd of Ramadan (November 6), where Bayqara 17, 1407). Urnar was wounded in battle, died in was admitted for audience on the 5th of Ra- Herat on the 25th and was buried at Fakhruddin madan (November 8) and ordered to leave Per- Razi's tomb in Herat. See also Abdul-Razzaq, sian Iraq for Garmser and Qandahar. Matla', II, 53. TADHKIRAT AL-SHU' ARA 33

"My prince," the shaykh answered, company and had complete trust in him. "this is something I will never do, for [427] He besought the mawlana to write a Shahrukh is a just, God-fearing man, and memorial volume for Timur, and Mawla- you are reckless and daring. Moreover, na Sharaf composed that book in his old he is like a father to you. To ask for his age at the prince's request and called it the defeat and your victory is counter to both Zafarnama. The learned are of one ac- dervishdom and the divine law. I will cord that in that history the mawlana has never do it." achieved true eloquence, and the deeds of Prince Umar was offended by the the family, grandsons and offspring of shaykh and looked upon him in anger, the Sahib-Qiran will remain until dooms- saying, "How do you see me, shaykh?" day through that great man's glorious ef- "I see you," he said, "as a creature less forts. Truly, none of the literati has ever than any in strength, more than any in ig- written in a purer style, though they may norance, equal to all in mortality and least have labored more. The Zafarnama is a of all at resurrection." singular collection, free of excess ver- The prince wanted to torment the biage and pleasing to poetic natures. shaykh but thought, "I have something It is said that it took the mawlana four more important to do than to torment him. years to finish the history. Ibrahim too If God gives me victory then I will know spent great sums. From sultans' libraries for certain that the psychic power of der- in various countries he gathered the his- vishes has no effect, since things will tory that the clerks and journal keepers of have turned out in reverse. If I am de- the great amir's time had recorded and, feated, then why should I worry over the relying on trustworthy and aged men who truth he has spoken?" He rose and left the were in positions of authority during shaykh. Timur's days, he researched and edited The shaykh's disciples and friends said, and, with God's assistance, the history "Shaykh, if God gives victory to this was completed in all truth and trustwor- man, we [424] will not be able to remain thiness. in Khurasan." Prince Ibrahim-Sultan b. Shahrukh was "God's pleasure is more than Khura- appointed to the sultanate of Fars in Rajab san," he said. "It is more than eighteen 819 [September 1416]. He was a virtuous thousand worlds. If we cannot stay in and talented prince who patronized the Khurasan, we can go to Iraq. However, arts, an exceptional administrator and re- one cannot escape from the snare of ligiously observant. Mawlana Shara- hypocrisy and God's wrath." fuddin Ali composed the following in What a happy time when dervishes praise of him: could speak the truth to sultans in this fashion and fear no reprisal-not like to- In the days when destiny was apportioned, day, when the gates of advice and words two Abrahams were given: By one Azar met his defeat, by the other of truth have been completely closed. Muhammad's religion was [maintained] in orthodoxy.55 [428]

* During his father's lifetime Prince IBRAHIM-SULTAN B. SHAHRUKH Ibrahim was renowned the world over for his excellence and talent and for the In the days of Prince Ibrahim-Sultan b. Shahrukh Bahadur, Mawlana Sharafud- din Ali Yazdi was the foremost among 55In the Islamic version of the Abraham leg- the learned men in Iraq and Fars. The end, Abraham overturns the idols of his father, prince constantly sought his excellent Azar the idol monger. Ibrahim = Abraham. 34 DAWLATSHAH graceful insight and subtle intellect he ISKANDAR QARAQOYUNLU possessed. It is well known that he wrote the Iskandar was the son of Qara Yusuf, records of Fars in his own hand, and his the son of Qara Muhammad. The [Qara- calligraphy was so good that he copied qoyunlu Turcomans] were originally the writing of Qiblat al-Kuttab Yaqut al- from the Ghazqard mountains of the far- Musta'simi, sent it out and sold it, and thest reaches of Turkistan, but long ago not one keen-sighted critic was able to tell they went to Azerbaijan and Bitlis. They the dlfference.w Even today remain the were pastoral nomads, and Sultan Uways inscriptions he wrote on buildings, [439] Jalayir made them his herdsmen mosques and schools in Fars, and to this and shepherds. Qara Muhammad rebelled day scrolls and exercises adorned with against [Sultan-Uways's] son Sultan his writing are to be found among callig- Ahmad of Baghdad and seized Tabriz. raphers. The Turcomans were once defeated by Nonetheless, in the full bloom of youth Sultan Ahmad, who built a tower of their that happy prince was stricken with heads on the Khoy plain. Qara Yusuf de- chronic diseases, and treacherous fate and stroyed that tower and ordered the heads the unjust celestial spheres drew the line of his kinsmen buried. On the site he had of annihilation through the daybook of a hospice (langar) constructed, and Sul- that exalted prince's life: in the year 834 tan Ahmad was killed by Qara Yusuf, [1430-31] he charged the steed of life who gained ascendancy. from the arena of this world .... Amir Timur Ktiragan drove Qara Mu- hammad and Qara Yusuf from Azer- He departed, and in the revolving world baijan many times, and they always fled there remained on the page of time as into Anatolia. As long as the Sahib- memorial of him the grace of his calligraphy Qiran's shining blade was being wielded, and the grace of his nature. those brigands' seditiousness was kept at bay, and they were continually defeated, * fleeing into Syria and Anatolia. However, after Timur's death, Qara Yusuf rebelled and, as has been mentioned, put Miran- shah Kuragan to death. Sultan Shahrukh 56The story is given by Mustafa Ali (Mana- Bahadur repelled [Qara Yusuf] , who was qib-i hunarwaran, p. 26): "Among the nobly- killed during the struggle. born Timurid and Persian princes there was After Qara Yusuf's death, his son Ibrahim-Sultan son of Shahrukh Khan, who in 817 was appointed to the rulership of Fars and Iskandar raised the banners of unmerited who, in addition to his high station in the arts rule, and he was daring and audacious pertaining to poetry and calligraphy and the rules enough to engage Shahrukh Sultan in of penmanship, held an exalted position in battle. He defeated Shahrukh's right and beneficence to his subjects. During his time he left flanks, but in the end "truth triumphed copied a specimen of Yaqut Musta'simi's callig- over falsehood," and [Iskandar] fled in raphy and, adding [Yaqut's] own signature, sent it to the bazaar, where no one was able to distin- defeat to Anatolia. That was on Wed- guish [it from Yaqut's own], so sublime was the nesday the 19th of Rajab 824 [July 20, penmanship. Since it was thought to be Yaqut's, 1421]. Shahrukh Sultan offered the rule it was weighed in jewels and was bought for of Azerbaijan to all of his sons and great gold and silver. What marvelous calligraphy, officers, but none would accept it out of what flawless writing whose jewels of letters fear of Iskandar b. Qara Yusuf, and could not be distinguished from Yaqut's words, and whose blossoms of letters were found to be therefore that region was left in chaos worth rubies and emeralds (yaqui):" [Translation when [Shahrukh] returned to the capital. mine.] TADHKIRAT AL-SHU'ARA 35

Someone has composed the following to The prince said, "Truly that is how it describe the situation: is." Soon, however, he decamped and returned to the capital Herat, and all were 'Skandar struck our army and ran; our king saved from the putrid air of that abode of took a kingdom and fled. affliction. Prince Muhammad-Juki Bahadur son In short, between Shahrukh Sultan and of Shahrukh Sultan was a brave prince, the sons of Qara Yusuf and the Turco- dignified, wise and grand. He always en- mans strife continued for many years. joyed his father's favor, and [Shahrukh] [440] After Shahrukh Bahadur twice always had in mind to make him his heir more led his army against the Turcomans, apparent, but for reasons of state he never finally Iskandar was totally defeated in declared it openly. The happy prince was 839 [1435-36] and took refuge in the always occupied with the canons of rule. Almjaq Fortress near Nakhichevan. Sul- The following describes his prowess in tan Shahrukh named Jahanshah b. Qara archery: Yusuf amir of Azerbaijan and ordered him to besiege the Almjaq Fortress. Your arrow is like a bird that can snatch a Qubad, one of Iskandar's sons who had seed like a mole on the cheek of a Negro fallen in love with one of his father's during the dark night of injustice. concubines, rewarded his father for his evil and, in league with the slavegirl, It is related that four emissaries from stabbed him to death. By Shahrukh's or- foreign lands-one from Anatolia, one der and edict, Azerbaijan was given to from Syria, one from Hurmuz, and one Jahanshah, of whom and whose sons from Shirvan-once gathered at Shah- more later, God willing. rukh's court. On a holiday these four emissaries were present, and the king set out for the place of holiday prayer. How- * ever, before discharging the prayer, he MUHAMMAD-JUKI stopped to watch the target practice that was going on. Squad after squad the It is related that Mawlana Ali [Shihab princes, archers and renowned youths Turshizi] went to Qandahar in attendance who would have unloosed the bond be- upon Sultan [Muhammad]-Juki, who as- tween Gemini with the points of their ar- signed the maw lana a tent next to his own rows, and who could have snatched a in the rikabkhana. One night, out of feather from Aquila with their darts, longing for the capital, the prince recited: poured onto the field, but their swift chargers were as incapable of performing Now that the zephyr passes raining musk, as the fortune of the ill-starred, and their alas for a life that is spent without the face silvery-shafted arrows fell to the ground. of the beloved. [444] [445] Immediately the mawlana ran before the No one hits the target of fate contrary to the prince and said, "0 lord of the world, the dictates of destiny. line does not go like that." "How does it go then?" asked the The banner of the prince of the planets prince. was high, and to miss the prayer would "Like this," he said: have been unseemly.l? However, royal honor seized fortune by the hem, and he Now that the zephyr passes raining musk, alas for a life that is spent in Qandahar. 57I.e., it was about noon, and if he lingered much longer he would miss the holiday prayer. 36 DAWLATSHAH

cried out to Prince Juki, "Come in." The princes, and in a short while they were prince reared his bejeweled, prancing knocked from their positions as knights, steed. turned into pawns and ground into the dust by the checkmate of annihilation. The first arrow from his thumb ring hit the target and split it in two. Small wonder that roses blossom from the dirt, for so many with bodies like rose A great roll came from the kettledrums, petals have gone to sleep in the ground. and a shout from the bowmen arose to the heavens. The emperor of the face of the Prince Muhamrnad-Qasim died a natural earth was so overjoyed that he bestowed death, but Prince Aba-Bakr was caught in kisses upon the bowed eyebrows of that the web of Ulughbeg's intrigue. Unsus- darling of the arched celestial sphere and, pecting, the prince joined [Ulughbeg], as was befitting to the occasion, recited: who in the end, worried over revolt des- pite repeated oaths of loyalty, had him The two mihrabs of your eyebrows are my executed in 852 [1448~9] in the Sa- intended qib/a: my dust-covered face is marqand citadel in the Kok Saray prison. always in prostration to you. It is said that Prince Aba-Bakr sent this quatrain to Mirza Ulughbeg at the time of Prince Juki was given the province of his execution: [447] Khuttalan, the homeland of the Haytals, and it was decided that one of the nine At first you trapped me in your net: in a horses that [the emissaries] had brought hundred ways you wooed and charmed me. to Shahrukh's court, along with a saddle When you knew that you had me, you acted studded with rubies and turquoise, be like a total stranger. given to Prince Juki. That was in 833 [1429-30], and today the remnants left by Ulughbeg regretted his deed, but there that exalted prince in Herat and other was nothing to be done. For many nights places hold a high place in the regard of he wept and wailed over this tragedy, archers. saying: Through the false affection of fate and To realize when it is too late is to bring the the tyranny of fortune, the prince was panacea of all ills after Suhrab is dead. stricken during his youth with chronic disease and was confined to bed for a time. Finally the illness became so severe * that he had to be taken to Sarakhs, where SULTAN-MUHAMMAD he died in 848 [1444-45] at the age of forty-three. [446] As for the royal prince Sultan-Muham- His princely progeny were, like their mad b. Baysunghur, ... he was a prince of forefathers, patrons of the great of their noble nature, talented and a connoisseur time: of poetry. He was manly, brave and handsome. After Baysunghur's death Two eyes of the realm without envy or [Baysunghur's] post, fiefs and rank were guile, Muhammad-Qasim and Sultan Aba- given to Prince Ala'uddawla, whom Baler. Gawharshad Begim favored. SuItan- They were at the apex of exaltedness, but Muhammad and Babur-Sultan were left in its usual manner the chameleon chess- with nothing but name and title. Since board sent in the crooked queen of death, Sultan-Muhammad had attained the rank aided by the knight of the celestial of saffdar and bahadur, and the aura of spheres, to attack those Shahrukhid fortune was obvious on his world- TADHKIRAT AL-SHU'ARA 37 adorning brow, Shahrukh wanted to ele- The flame of white camphor has dawned in vate him to the rank of sultan and appoint my musky black hair: youth has deP\rted, him ruler over a section of the kingdom. the era of old age has arrived. The generals and ministers of state were The kingship will inevitably be inherited all in accord with this, but Gawharshad by my children, what difference do two Begim disagreed, saying, "Sultan- or three days make one way or the Muhammad is an impetuous youth. Do other?" And he would recite this line not give him an opportunity to revolt." In from the Divan of Amir Khusraw: the end the Emperor of Islam [Shahrukh] granted [him the rulers hip] and, with the Let me die today in your presence so that great generals exerting themselves [on his you may be shamed by me: tomorrow when behalf], Sultan-Muhammad was ap- the command comes, what obl~ation will pointed to the governorship of Qum, you owe, my soul?5 Rayy, Nihawand and its appendages up to Baghdad. With his grandfather's ap- Gawharshad Begim once again turned the pointment the prince became the ruler of emperor from the path of beneficence and that region, where he reigned for three kindness, and he set out unwillingly for years in all seriousness of purpose. Iraq to attack Sultan-Muhammad. To In the end, out of youthful impetuosity maintain appearances, he had it look as and the desire to rule independently, he though he were going to attack Isfandiyar rebelled openly against his grandfather b. Qara Yusuf in Baghdad, and therefore and attacked Hamadan, the governor of it was known as the Baghdad Campaign, which, Hajji Husayn, he put to death. of which someone has said: After that, he took his troops and con- The drums of fortune must be sounded up to quered Isfahan too, putting the governor, the gates of Baghdad: for the people's Amir Sa'adat b. Amir Mirkhawandshah, afflicted eyes rue must be burned. in chains. When Shahrukh learned of his rebellion, he conferred with his generals, In the year 850 [1446] the Emperor of who did not consider it politic for the the Face of the Earth set out from the Emperor of Islam to take on one of his capital Herat for the two Iraqs, and at the own grandsons in battle. They said that same time Sultan-Muhammad was be- no one was more competent to rule Per- sieging Shiraz. When he heard that sian Iraq than Sultan-Muhammad and it Shahrukh had encamped at the River was imprudent for the emperor to be up- Rayy, he left Shiraz. Prince Abdullah b. set, for to attack his own offspring would Ibrahim-Sultan, who was the governor of detract from the honor of the kingdom. Fars, escaped his cousin's occupation. The prince should be sent a robe of honor Sultan-Muhammad fled via the vicinity of and he should be given Iraq. [457] Mirza Kushk-i Zar toward Kurdistan and Shahrukh approved of this plan and was Baghdad, and Shahrukh advanced to about to carry it out, but Gawharshad Qum and Sawa. As has been reported, he Begim would not give her approval, for ordered the grandees of Isfahan executed she patronized Mirza Ala'uddawla, who and determined that his winter quarters was the heir apparent after Shahrukh. She would be at Fasha Rud, Rayy. Sultan- did not know that it is useless to struggle Muhammad composed this ghazal in against God's destiny. Time and again the complaint of his brothers and of his own sultan said to his lady, "I am old and situation and sent it to Shahrukh. weak.

58Khusraw Dihlawi, Diwan, p. 190, ghazal 559, line 6. 38 DAWLATSHAH

I, like a dust mote, have turned my face The Chosroes of the face of the earth sat from the sun because of the cruelty of fate deservedly upon the throne of sultans over and the torment of my brethren. the realm of Iraq. I had the sultan's protection. I did not cease in battle. I dispersed my servants in every When his realm was secure and con- direction. solidated, pride and conceit, which are the Rustarn son of Dastan did not wage war traits of Adam's children, seized the skirt with Afrasiyab as I did with Hajji Husayn for Hamadan. of that paragon of felicity, and he began In Iraq I wanted to test my servant. The king to quarrel with his brother, Sultan Abu'l- imagines I attacked Isfahan. Qasim Babur Bahadur, who had seized For the sultan I constantly wield the sword the throne of Khurasan. It was impossible in Iraq; I have made my breast a shield for to resolve the disputes, no matter how the Khurasan. Jahanshah attacked me, and his army came advisors and generals tried. In 853 [1449] from ambush: I ground that army into the Sultan-Muhammad set out from Iraq with dust. his mighty army to attack Khurasan, and Others indulge in pleasure; our hope is the in the environs of Farhadjird, a depen- battlefield. I have lived in manliness, not dency of the province of Jam, a pitched like them. battle occurred between the two brothers. Offspring of Sultan Baysunghur Khan am I: in the field of battle I have always paraded on a fleet-footed steed. If a needle fell from a cloud, the only room I have the name Muhammad for the sake of for it would be on the tip of a sword. the Ahmad's religion: I have devoted my Arrows pierced plates of armor like a life to the King of Men.59 nocturnal breeze attacking a dew-coated rose petal. [460] By God's destiny, as has been men- In the end the Iraqi army gained victory tioned, Shahrukh died at Rayy, and the over the warriors of Khurasan, and Sul- nobles and princes mostly supported tan Babur fled to Dihistan and Nasa while Sultan-Muhammad, who [459] reigned in Sultan-Muhammad attained the rule and complete independence, bringing under acceded to Shahrukh's throne in Herat. his sway all of Persian Iraq, Fars, Ker- That winter he spent successfully in man and Khuzistan up to Basra and Wa- _ sit. After Sultan Ulughbeg Kuragan Herat, but when spring came Babur Sul- tan seized power once again with much gained victory over Prince Ala'uddawla, assistance from the Jalayirs, Turcomans Gawharshad Begim, the tarkhans and and the army of Astarabad. Once more most of the Shahrukhid generals and Sultan-Muhammad attacked his brother , ministers, turned to Sultan-Muhammad in and Hajji Muhammad Qanashiri[n], who fear of Ulughbeg. Prince Ala'uddawla, was the son of a Shahrukhid general and who was left with no hope from any had attained high rank during the reign of quarter, also sought his protection. The Sultan-Muhammad, hastened with his sun of Sultan-Muhammad's fortune be- troops from Mashhad against Babur Sul- gan to rise and, as can be imagined, he tan. Babur Sultan did battle with Hajji had mercy on all. He kept Gawharshad Muhammad at Mashhad, defeated his with all honor in his retinue and recon- firmed the generals and ministers in the troops and killed him. When Sultan-Muhammad learned of posts they had held under Shahrukh. Hajji Muhammad's death, he lost heart and began to worry that he was following a bad strategy. Taking a group of select warriors, he galloped posthaste toward Babur and, at noon on Thursday, the last 59The King of Men (shah-i mardan), epithet of Ali b. Abi-Talib. day of Safar 854 [April 13, 1450], at- TADHKIRAT AL-SHU'ARA 39 tacked his brother the day after Babur had unholy thing to break one's pact. This put Hajji Muhammad to death and was should never have happened; however, confident of his victory. With his 700 now that it has happened, it would not men he defeated Babur's army of 30,000 now be prudent for you to go to Babur and put Babur to flight. Incalculable Bahadur. It would be better for us to go booty remained on the ground, which to Herat. When you have taken Herat, those few men were unable to appropri- where all of Babur Sultan's women and ate. By chance Prince Ala'uddawla, who children are, of necessity Babur's men had been appointed by Sultan- will come to your side in droves." Muhammad to the governorship of Ghur, Sultan-Muhammad did not approve of Garmser and Ylikli OIling, seized the the plan and shouted at the amirs, "Never opportunity to go to Herat and take the say these words in my presence again. Shahrukhid throne. Sultan-Muhammad The people suspect I am afraid of Babur. had left his uruq in Radkan at the time of I swear that if Babur has 100,000 armed the attack in the care of the great minister men, I will beat him with a hundred of finance Ghiyathuddin Pir-Ahmad. horsemen." When several of the amirs [461] When everything was in chaos and countered these words, he flew into a the news of Prince Ala'uddawla was rage-for he was a sharp-tongued, foul- heard, the people of the uruq plundered mouthed man-and cursed them in the each other and were devastated. When foulest language. It is said that once, Sultan-Muhammad learned of the devas- when he was drunk, he urinated on the tation of the uruq, he left Mashhad-i Zar beard of Shaykhzada Qush-Ribati, who and went to Radkan, finding nothing of was one of his amirs and proteges. [462] his uruq and his riches left. Also hearing The amirs despised him and wished him the news of Prince Ala'uddawla's seizure dead. of the Herat throne, he hesitated, with no On Sunday the 13th of Dhu 'l-Hijj a 855 alternative but to withdraw to Iraq via [January 6, 1452], in the vicinity of Cha- Chahar Ribat and Yazd. naran, which is near Isfarayin and a de- During Sultan-Muhammad's absence pendency of Shaqan, a battle was fought Prince Khalil b. Jahangir had taken the between Sultan-Muhammad and Babur province of Fars, put the great shaykh Bahadur. Sultan-Muhammad's officers Abu'l-Khayr Jazari to death and rebelled all deserted him, and the ingrate Shaykh- against Sultan-Muhammad. In the vicinity zada exercised hypocrisy and showed his of Istakhr Sultan-Muhammad defeated cowardice. The late Amir Nizamuddin him in battle. Once again he held power Ahmad b. Firozshah served his master in Iraq and Fars, and the old enmity be- faithfully and did his best on his behalf. tween him and Babur Sultan arose. In Babur Sultan had Sher-Ahmad, the gov- 855 [1451] he set out once more for ernor of Astarabad, executed. In the end Khurasan to fight his brother. When he defeat was Sultan-Muhammad's lot, and reached the border of Firozkoh and the prince, after much valiant effort, fell Damghan, and Babur Sultan was in the prisoner to Abu'l-Qasim Babur Bahadur vicinity of Sultanabad, the nobles of through the treachery of his ungrateful Samarqand attempted to make peace be- officers. tween them. He deceived his brother with words of peace, but then he broke his o world, I do not know what your custom pact and, headed for Khurasan, camped in is. It is not of love but of vengeance that for the sake of these transitory five days you Juwayn. From Juwayn he went to Is- have such enmity for your brethren. farayin, where some of the amirs ob- To raise one's standard to the spheres is not jected, saying, "Lord of the World, it is an worth killing a brother. 40 DAWLATSHAH

A wise man said that kingship is sweet but seigniority the common people give you barren. Barren the wise man may have called they take back as quickly as a loan. [464] it, but if you are healthy, kingship is infirm. The learned men and poets who were The veil of vanity fell over Babur's outstanding in the time of Sultan-Mu- foresighted gaze and severed his family hammad b. Baysunghur were Mawlana ties, and the water of his compassion was Sharafuddin Ali Yazdi the scholar and overwhelmed by the fire of his wrath: he Mawlana Hasanshah, Wali Qalandar and gave his consent to his brother's execu- Badi'i Samarqandi the poets. tion, and the executioner of divine wrath with the merciless sword [on which is inscribed,] "When your time of death * comes neither can you postpone it for an ALA'UDDA WLA instant nor can you hasten it," dispatched Prince Sultan-Muhammad to the gallows Prince Ala'uddawla b. Baysunghur was of annihilation. [463] a handsome prince, good-natured and noble in character. During Shahrukh's Comrades, the world is a strange abode, so reign he had control of his father's posts, flee from this inconstant place. and for many years he ruled from the You see how the great are humbled in this world. If that is how the great are treated, Baysunghurid throne. After his grand- what of the small? father's death he became the Shahrukhid viceroy in Herat [466] and, opening Chronogram: Shahrukh's treasury that been amassed over the years, gave money away to the Shah Sultan-Muhammad, whose blood Mars soldiers and subjects like the spring shed during Dhu'l-Hijja, greeted in saluta- breeze casting dirhems over the heads of tion and praised the MOON-FACED ONE60 who gives the date. orchard denizens. It is said that the Shahrukhid treasury It is related that one day before the bat- squandered byAla'uddawla amounted to tle Sultan-Muhammad camped and gath- twenty thousand tumans in minted silver, .ered his comrades and warriors for a not counting the golden vessels, jewels speech of encouragement at the Nu'man and other luxurious objects. In the end, waterfall in Isfarayin. "Be brave," he said, the only recompense he received for such "and do not forget what you owe me." Of generosity was ill fortune, as the great one accord three thousand youths lifted never see anything but frowns from the their turbans from their heads and said, faces of their contemporaries: kings may "May our heads be sacrificed for you." bestow upon their favorites thrones, but The next day they abandoned the prince never fortune; and emperors can increase miserably and fled. It is said that of that their servants' salaries, but not their lives. army, save the blood of the prince that was spilled, there was not so much as a What need has he of wealth who was created fortunate, and what can he do with bloody nose. Hence it is known to those prosperity? of keen observation and insight that there is no reliance upon the allegiance and If kings were kings by means of wealth flattery of the hoi poloi. and treasure, then a rich king should rule forever; however, there is no treasure Give your ersatz overlordship to God so that better than the support of godly people. he can grant you true mastery. The and anyone fortunate enough to possess

60Mahrukhi (moon-faced one) = 855. TADHKIRAT AL-SHU'ARA 41 that treasure will enjoy both this world Seize every treasure and every horde kings and the next. have amassed. With your gold and silver buy every slave there is in Bulgar, Rum and China. Seek might from fortune, not from your Cut robes for yourself of all the silk and father's legacy. Realize that your daily satin in Rum and Shushtar. sustenance is from God, not from sown Bite the apples of the cheeks and taste the fields or fruit trees. lips of elegant, graceful squint-eyed Turks. Sit with intimate friends and close comrades Sultan Ala'uddawla, as has been men- and drink filtered wine. tioned, was defeated by Ulughbeg Ktira- Your wealth is like a fly, and you are like a gan's onslaught and was besieged for a spider: spin a spider's web around the fly. time. After that, humbled and humiliated, Alas, on the day of death you will have a he was spurned by his brothers, and hundred regrets. Sa'di, your body is like a cage, and your wherever he turned fortune turned its spirit like a bird: one day break the cage and back on him. let the bird fly away.61

Every day a different station, every night a In short, the allotment from the celestial different place-melancholy heaped on my vat to Ala'uddawla's goblet was always head by separation. [467] Unfortunate are those who voyage across the painful dregs, and in the end, out of mal- ocean of the world, like shipwrecked sailors ice on the part of his brother Sultan in every sea. Babur, instead of the collyrium of good fortune, his world-seeing eye saw the Sometimes in Ghur, sometimes in Sari- needle of ill luck. However, God looked neither help nor friendliness from anyone. upon him with favor and safeguarded the Sometimes wandering in the desert, sometimes destitute on the road to Iraq. pupil of his eye from being permanently blinded. For a time he pretended to be The, heart of a mountain would have blind, and in the end he fled from Mash- melted at the harshness of that noble had and never again depended upon his prince's misfortune, and a cloud would brother or any other living creature. He have felt compassion for the brazenness went to the Qipchaq Steppe, where he with which that sad prince's star fell. The lived unknown and unheard of for several stone mountain with its echoing tongue years. and the cloud with its dewdrop tears After Babur's death in 861 [1457] he would have recited this verse: returned from among the Uzbeks and Qipchaqs to Khurasan, [469] and his son Neither does my fortune show a friendly face Ibrahim-Sultan took over the governance nor is there any hope of kindness from a of Khurasan. Once again, just as before, friend when Icry out, he was humiliated by his audacious son. o Lord, thus I suffer the agony of being a For a few days that year he led a patch- lover: may no one in the world ever be so afflicted. work government at Nawroz, beleaguered on one side by Jahanshah the Turcoman Alas, such is the cruelty of fate, and such and on the other by Sultan Abu-Sa'id. is the cunning of the treacherous celestial Finally he set out in the company of his sphere, upon which there is no reliance son for the mountains of Ghur and Ghar- for fortune. He is happy who passes jistan. There were several disputes be- courageously through its treachery. tween father and son in Sijistan, but in the end they agreed to fight Sultan Abu- o heart, take the world as you would have it; repose therein for a thousand years like Noah. [468] 61Given in Sa'di, KulliYYOI, p. 864f., with a great deal of variation. 42 DAWLATSHAH

Sa'id, by whom they were defeated in ABU'L-QASIM BABUR Kulan, a dependency of Badghis. In his flight Prince Ala 'uddawla reached Rus- As for Prince Abu'l-Qasim Babur Ba- tamdar, and that respected but deprived hadur, [485] prince prayed day and night that he had suffered reversal of fortune enough and His pen was the key to the treasury of was ready for death. In 863,62 near generosity, his sword effected the realm of existence. Rustamdar, he departed this world. In his time the banners of world con- quest reached their heights. His army was * well equipped, with more brave and dar- ABDULLAH B. IBRAHIM-SULTAN ing young men than Alexander ever saw in his dreams of world dominion or Prince Abdullah b. Ibrahim-Sultan b. Faridun ever heard of. Shahrukh Sultan Kiiragan was a noble and handsome prince of good character. What Shahrukh gathered through labor and After his father's death he ruled in Shiraz striving in forty-five [years], and Fars. After Shahrukh's death Sultan- Weapons, pack-animals, horses and slaves- Muhammad [b.] Baysunghur drove him whatever can be given a name, The heavens presented to the hero-born out of Fars, so he took refuge with his Babur on a platter. uncle Ulughbeg Ktiragan, who received him warmly, gave him his daughter in God gave him authority and, despite his marriage and took him to Samarqand. being younger, bestowed upon him After the murder of Abdul-Latif b. superiority over his brothers. Nonethe- Ulughbeg, the rule of Samarqand passed less, he was a prince who loved der- into Abdullah's hands. Like the spring vishes, a military man who favored the cloud raining down upon the inhabitants, downtrodden, who knew what was in he scattered Ulughbeg's treasury, which men's heartscwhose generous hand ef- Abdul-Latif had been too parsimonious to faced misery and whose pure heart was touch. It is said that he gave away a hun- chosen by the best and the virtuous. -dred thousand tilmans, from which one However, because he was a king who can guess what other wealth was there. was religious, a mystic, inoffensive and [480] easy to obey, his ministers became in- dependent, and the subjects suffered on Do not bother for treasure among these that account. ruins. When spiritual poverty is the currency of your life, you can heap dust upon the head of treasure. A tyrannical but brave king is better for a realm than a just but weak and tractable one. Spiteful fate, which rewards the mean It is related that when Shahrukh died in and puts down the noble, cast the stone of Rayy, [486] Prince Babur, who was in adversity into that prince's path. Sultan the Shahrukhid camp, set out for As- Abu-Sa'id rebelled against him and, with tarabad. Amir Hinduka Nawyaqut, who assistance from Abu'l-Khayr Khan, gave did not have a very exalted position dur- him battle in 854 [1450] in Samarqand. ing Shahrukh's reign, was in Astarabad Sultan Abdullab was martyred at the at that time and hastened to join Prince hands of Sultan Abu-Sa'id. Babur's retinue. Gaining high position and advancement, Amir Hinduka, in ac- 62865/1460 according to Khwandamir, HS, cordance with the Koranic verse, "Those IV, 19f. and Abdul-Razzaq, Matla', n, 1231. who have preceded shall precede; these TADHKIRAT AL-SHU'ARA 43

are they who shall approach near,"63 be- vants, not in building up a bulging trea- came commander-in-chief, and since he sury. [487] was an aged and experienced warrior, the In short, Prince Babur ruled success- . prince acted upon his advice. Once he fully for eleven years, and everywhere he said to the prince, "Sultan of the world, turned fortune appeared propitious: his your brothers and cousins are indepen- generals spoke of emperorship, and his dent in their lands, wealth and armies officers were the foundation of his rule. have fallen into their hands, and the off- Had Hatim Ta'i been alive he would have spring of the great of this ruling house are laid down his claim to generosity and lib- in their retinues. If you listen to my erality. After the death of his brother words, the kingship will probably come Sultan-Muhammad, he set out for Fars to you. Otherwise, these people will de- and Persian Iraq, which regions he sub- prive you of it" jugated, and in most of the land of Iran "What is the best way?" the prince the khutba was read in his name. Wher- asked. ever he turned he could not be resisted, "First," he replied, "patronize base men and all obeyed his command. of no family, for the sons of the great will However, during his reign Iraq slipped not bow to you. Second, be generous to a from the hands of the House of Timur, fault so that people will hear of your gen- and the Turcomans occupied that region erosity and flock to you. Third, do not in 855 [1451]. This occupation was apply punishment too strictly and do not caused by the bad planning of Prince burden the people; thereby they will feel Babur, who, after the death of his brother secure with you. Fourth, do not forbid the Sultan-Muhammad, hastened ill armed to army to pillage and plunder so that your Iraq. Jahanshah and his son Pir-Budaq interests may be furthered through their seized the opportunity, and Prince Babur ignoble greed. When your interests are had no chance to oppose the Turcomans. foremost, your kingship is assured. Be- He withdrew from Iraq, over which they ware, beware lest you ignore these igno- became rulers. After that, Prince Babur ble means or act counter to these infa- amassed a huge army to drive off Jahan- mous principles, for such things are done shah and the Turcoman army, but while out of exigency." he was marching to Iraq and Azerbaijan, When the prince realized that Hinduka Sultan Abu-Sa'id Kilragan took his army was speaking to establish the foundation from Transoxiana in 857 [1453] and of his fortune, he accepted his advice and killed Pir-Darwesh Hazaraspi and his acted upon it, and his rule was firmly es- brother Mirza Ali, the governor of tablished. However, when such innova- Balkh. Prince Babur canceled his cam- tion and such principles had been allowed paign against the Turcomans and took his to take hold, it was not possible to es- forces toward Samarqand via winter chew them all at once. The Muslims camp at Sultanabad, Jurjan, to strike at passed some time in dismay because of Sultan Abu-Sa'id. Crossing the Oxus at Hinduka's evil policy-and in truth his Panj Ab in 858 [1454], he surrounded superficial policy was totally erroneous, Samarqand, and there were battles and for God has based continued rule upon skirmishes for over two months. When justice, not upon the whim of a soldier, midwinter came Sultan Babur agreed to a and has created rulership and good name truce because the weather was cold, many in the spread of compassion for his ser- animals were being lost and the soldiers were suffering. The elders made a peace settlement between Sultan Abu-Sa'id Ktiragan and Babur Bahadur, and Prince 63Koran56:10. 44 DAWLATSHAH

Babur returned to Khurasan. On that trek The great and wise have said that the Babur's men suffered greatly, returning best conduct among humans is generosity home hungry and naked. This was a blow and liberality, for such demeanor covers a to Babur's fortune, and thereafter he multitude of sins. made no campaigns, passing his days in luxury and pleasure. [488] Liberality, I have read, is the conduct of Sultan Babur's generosity encompassed leaders-nay, I am wrong, it is the character of prophets. common and elite alike, his compassion and humility could not be gainsaid, he However, generosity is a two-edged had a poetical nature and composed gems sword: if carried to excess it leads from of verse. This ghazal is by him: the rank of humanity down the road of devilishness. "Those who squander are In our time one of the ancient cavaliers is the brethren of devils." In any case, the wine. And he who boasts of popularity is straight and narrow path is the golden the reed. This sultanate, which we got by being a mean, which is the choice of the wise and beggar, neither Dara nor Kay-Kaus ever had. learned .... [490] ... Drink wine and give a draught to suffering When the sun of Babur's fortune had me: a wine-bibing rascal is better than a reached its zenith, it began to decline. Just Hatim Ta'i. as people had grown fond of his rule and Wine is the touchstone: bring wine: what separates the sheep from the goats is this tongues moved in thanksgiving for his wine. liberality, while he was yet young and Do you know why the arched eyebrows of successful, the prince transferred from the beauties are black? Because the smoke from procession of life to the howdah of the people's hearts twines around their ears. other-worldly caravan, and all wept and Our heart girdled by that tress holds the wailed over his loss, reciting the follow- blackness of infidelity and all it entails. Babur, your bitter moan has reached the ing: beloved's ears: Layli is aware that Majnun is in this quarter. o slow-moving celestial sphere, you have done a hard thing: you have destroyed the One of the many stories told of Babur's kingdom of Iran by the death of the shah. . generosity is as follows. When Babur You have pulled down a sun from its zenith and dashed it to the ground. Bahadur subjugated Fort Imad, which It is no small thing, for indeed when you housed the principal treasury, purses full move you shed blood, plunder possessions of valuable jewels were brought to him. and uproot faith. He gave one of them to one of his elite corps. Khwaja Wajihuddin Isma'il Sim- However, since Shah Babur was a der- nani, his vizier, said, "Lord of the world, vish at heart, a monotheist and mystic, he first open the purse. It may contain a had little attachment to this treacherous king's ransom in jewels." dustheap and departed like one of God's "Khwaja,' the king replied, "I am told saints. that [489] there are precious gems in this purse-nothing more. If I open it, I will Lovers who die knowing melt like sugar before their beloved. be dazzled by the beautiful jewels and will regret what I have said. It is better to As he lay dying he told everyone that put into.practice this verse: he was about to go, made his last will, commended his son [491] Shah-Mahmud Better to close our eyes to the candle of his face: since there is no use, let us not see and to his officers and ministers, pronounced not bum [with regret]." the testament of faith, and died with these words on his lips: TADHKIRAT AL-SHU'ARA 45

My soul has joined God, and I am going was an untrustworthy and evil-tempered after my soul; although the way is difficult, man who jailed his commanders on any I am traveling light. pretext-and his jail was an eternal Upon departure my beloved smiled at me and left. Having seen that face, I am going prison. As has been mentioned, in 839 smiling. [1435-36] Shahrukh gave him the ruler- The cold wind of death makes me hasten to ship of Azerbaijan, [517] and after the go, but I am so weak I go rising and falling, death of Shahrukh and defeat of Sultan- like the zephyr. Muhammad b. Baysunghur he gained as- cendancy over the two Iraqs, Azerbaijan His body was borne by his amirs and laid and most of the land of Iran. From the to rest in the shrine of Imam Riza, near sons of Shahrukh he usurped the two the Imam's tomb, in Shahrukh's madra- Iraqs, where he ruled autonomously for sa under the dome on the qibla side. thirty-five years. During his time the Turcoman ascen- If you live with humility for two days in the world, when you depart you will reside in dancy waxed, and he attained a high de- the bosom of paradise. gree of conquest and victory. The learned hold that in the whole history of Islam no May God make that prince happy in the more godless king than he has ever ap- afterlife. The date of his death has been peared: he had little regard for Islam and versified as follows: indulged in debauchery and ungodliness. After the death of Babur Bahadur in Shah Babur was a king by whose justice 861 [1457], he had designs on Khurasan Nushirwan's justice was obliterated. [492] and Astarabad. He did battle with and Since he was firmly rooted in generosity and liberality, the date of his death was FIRM.64 defeated Prince Ibrahim b. Sultan Ala- 'uddawla outside of the city of Astarabad. Another, clearer chronogram is: In that battle most of the renowned amirs of the Chaghatay nation were killed by Suddenly with divine power fate dashed Jahanshah, and that was a mortal blow to Babur Khan's crown to the earth the Chaghatay nation. Jahanshah took the In eight hundred sixty and one of the throne of Herat by force and ruled in apostolic date on the six-and-twentieth of Khurasan for nearly eight months. Rabi' II [March 23, 1457]. During that time, in accordance with the Among the great, the learned and the Koranic phrase, "Say the truth has come scholars who were renowned during and falsehood is vanquished," the breeze Babur's time are Shaykh Sadruddin of fortune began to blow from the source Muhammad al-Rawasi al-' Akkasi, Maw- of aspiration, and Sultan-Husayn Baha- lana Muhammad Jajarmi, and the poets dur, who today graces the throne of the Mawlana Tuti of Turshiz, Khwaja Mah- caliphate, set out from Marw-i Shahijan mud Barsa and Mawlana Qambari Zihtab and led his army via Nasa and Baward to of Nishapur. Astarabad, where he did battle with Amir Husayn Sa'dlu,65 a kinsman of Jahan- shah and governor of Astarabad. Dealing * him a blow similar to that which Jahan- JAHANSHAH QARAQOYUNLU shah had dealt to the Chaghatay nation, he took revenge on the Turcoman forces. Amir Jahanshah b. Qara Yusuf was a Most of Jahanshah's renowned warriors victorious and prosperous king, but he and commanders were dispatched to

64Rasikh ("firm") = 861. 65Sa'dlu, for the Sa'atlu of the text. 46 DAWLATSHAH annihilation by that renowned prince's My son, turn from the way of opposition. ruby-dripping, glittering blade, and he Lay down your sword, for I am the sun. caused Husayn Beg and his kinsmen to [519] I am the king: the kingdom of the caliphate pass beneath the sword of execution in is mine. You are my offspring: rebellion is a revenge for the Chaghatay amirs. There- sin in you. fore this exalted prince was justified in Usurp not our ancient post, for usurpation is reciting these lines from the Shahnama to not allowed in our religion. boast of his achievements: My son, if you are worthy of kingship, lead not [your troops] against your father. Draw not the sword lest you be shamed. Had I not gone to Mazanderan and crushed Have you no shame before me? Be ashamed skulls with my weighty mace, [518] of yourself! Who would have disemboweled the White Have you not heard what the sword Suhrab Dev? In whose arm would there have been a drew against Rustam suffered from the hope [of accomplishing this]? world? Do not brandish the sword against one like Thus Sultan Abu'l-Ghazi [Sultan- me: see my might and be not brash. Husayn] became a dam between Jahan- If my soldiers put their feet into their shah and the kingdom of Iraq. Because of stirrups, they are as numerous as the sands this Jahanshah suffered a fall, and weak- of the desert ness appeared in him. He withdrew from The mountains quake when I move; the celestial sphere rises when I stand up. Herat and set out for Iraq and Azerbaijan, Although you are not without wisdom in perforce having to make a truce with Sul- your youth, this is not from youth but from tan Abu-Sa'id Kiiragan. He withdrew, madness. and Sultan Abu'l-Ghazi was left in power No matter how clever a child is, even in Astarabad. Jahanshah passed through though a prophet he is still small. When will this degree of skill come to you? Damghan, disregarding the deaths of his From my father to me, from me to you. kinsmen and followers, and Abu'l-Ghazi [520] Sultan-Husayn Bahadur Kiiragan re- garded him as nothing. Pir-Budaq's reply to his father was as follows: What might and fortune, what power and _ status has God bestowed upon the king's Heart and fortune are happy to encounter aura! you. May you long have glory, prosperity and fortune. Indeed it is incumbent upon rich and I am not that child that you first saw. I am poor alike to pray for the continued good mature, and kingship is proper for the fortune of this exalted monarch, for were mature. It is not polite to call me a child when fate it not for his efforts, who of the royal has put me in a great position. family could have repulsed the evil and Both my fortune and I are young: do not corruption of the Turcomans? ... attempt to fight with two young ones. When Jahanshah the reprobate reached It would be foolhardy for you to contend the two Iraqs, the people stood in less with me for kingship. dread of him. Out of greed and lack of Do not draw your sword against your son: do not put a blemish in your precious pearl. compassion an enmity sprang up between You are experienced in rule, do not speak him and his son Pir-Budaq, who rebelled immaturely: I was born of you, not you of against his father and set out from Shiraz me. for Baghdad. Jahanshah also headed for An ancient root is the basis of the orchard; a Baghdad to deal a blow to his son and young tree is an ornament for the garden. My land is not less than yours; my army is laid siege to the city for a year and a half. not fewer than yours. During the siege he wrote these lines to The realm of Baghdad was perfected by me. his son: Why should I give it up for a silly whim? TADHKIRAT AL-SHU'ARA 47

How can you demand the throne of me? I Since Pir-Budaq was a pillar of Jahan- will not give it up. Take it if you can! [521] shah's kingdom, the assassination of his son-particularly of such an eldest son- Pir-Budaq was young, brave and noble became the cause for the decline of Ja- while .Jahanshah was experienced, craft~ hanshah's rule in the world and religion. and wily. That unholy deed caused fortune to tum against him, and out of greed and acquis- Although a young buck may be brave, it is no match for an old lion. itiveness, despite the vast extent of his realms, he had designs on Diyar Bakr, the The confrontation between father and son ancestral home of Amir Abu-Nasr Hasan reached a point where agreement was im- Beg [Aqqoyunlu]. He marched his army possible, and Jahanshah, out of spite, there, but Amir Hasan Beg took him by tormented his underlings, subjects and surprise on his return. Without warning soldiers for a long time in the heat of he attacked Jahanshah in a mountain pass Baghdad. It went so far that the soldiers' near Diyar Bakr and killed him and most infant~ died in their cradles, and people of his sons, amirs and ministers. The crept into subterranean chambers. Inside smoke of defeat rose from the House of Baghdad too, as the siege continued, there Qara Yusuf, [523] and the time of Tur- was famine and the stores of the citizens coman glory came to an end. That was in and citadel were depleted. Helpless, Pir- the year 872 [1467-68]. Budaq agreed to a truce. J~hansh.ah lived to the age of seventy, During the truce Muhammadi, another ruling thirteen years in suzerainty to o~ Jahanshah's sons, began to worry that Shahrukh Sultan in Azerbaijan and Pir-Budaq would escape and rise to reigning autonomously for twenty-two power again and so talked his father into years after [Shahrukh's] death in the two agreeing ex silencio to Pir-Budaq's death. Iraqs, Azerbaijan, Fars and Kerman as far At noon on Tuesday, the 4th of Dhu'l- as Hurmuz. Qa'da 871 [June 7, 1467], that schemer The world does not give kingship to with a group of Jahahshah's amirs, en~ anyone without having its day of reckon- tered Baghdad with the intention of ing in the end, like Jahanshah. Lordship killing his brother. They entered the pal- over the world consists of being happy ace while Pir-Budaq was taking his noon and content. Happy the heart that makes rest and martyred that mine of nobility its living in this craft. and generosity. Let us assume that fate makes you prince of Rayy: in the end it will roll up the scroll of Curse this perishable world, that for the sake your life. of two unstable days Let us assume that you have more wealth A father could take his son's life, or that a than Solomon. The world was not faithful son could rejoice over his father's death. to him: why should it be to you? And know that one who takes his brother's life is an Angel of Death, not a sibling. [522] Evil is not unknown to kinship: Ibn Ziyad * was a kinsman of Husayn .... 66 SULTAN ABU-SA'ID KORAGAN

In the year 861 [1456-57] in the Bagh-i Zaghan in Herat, Sultan Abu-Sa'id Kti- ragan held a celebration that was in no 66Ubaydullah ibn Ziyad, governor of Kufa when Husayn ibn Ali, the prophet Muhammad's way defective in splendor. Poets from all ~ndson and distant relative of Ibn Ziyad, was parts produced congratulatory verse for killed near Kufa at Kerbela in 680. the event, and Khwaja Mahmud [Barsa] 48 DAWLATSHAH recited the following qasida on that occa- This qasida goes on at length describ- sion: ing Abu-Sa'id Knragan's festival, and Khwaja Mahmud was applauded and re- The lote tree in paradise is but the threshold warded by the Sultan of the Age. In spite of your exalted thronel Of the pavilion of such glory and respect his reign came (chartaq) of your might the heavens themselves are but one arch. to an end, and in the year 872 [1469] the The arena of your palace of joy is as star of his life declined from the apex of delightful as Iram, the castle of your eternity, and the wealth he had accumu- grandeur is as splendid as paradise. lated, and the hopes and expectations he The world, with its hundred thousand eyes, had in that heap of chattel, went to dust has never seen the likes of celestial you. and his life shed its petals like a rose to The battlements of your palace are as far above Farqadan as the heavenly throne is the wind, as someone has aptly said: above the flat earth. Your palace is the Gallery of China and Why do you gather worldly goods, when the Khawarnaq,67 the envy of gardens and object of the world is no more than an old orchards in beauty and ornamentation. cloak and a crust of bread? All else is The farrash adorns your court by erecting a superfluous. canopy over the seven tents of the celestial Frustration and agony are all that can be spheres. gained from the world; and even if you Both Ridwan and the houris have fallen into attain your desire, of what use is it? [536] doubt as to whether your courtyard is Ridwan's garden or paradise.68 Abu-Sa'id Kiiragan was a grandson of To scatter at your feast, time itself has Miranshah b. Amir Timur Karagan. He brought every jewel the keeper of mines had in his shop. [535] was a wise and victorious king, magnifi- The highest judge of the court of the cent and a good shepherd to his flock. He celestial sphere elatedly bestows a mantle was also a man of strict and summary upon your instrumentalists. justice. In 854 [1450-51] he rebelled It is fitting if the minstrels at your feast against Sultan-Abdullah b. Ibrahim b. have the stars as jangles on their drums on the celebration day. Sultan Shahrukh Bahadur at Samarqand From first the world was created until the and won the victory. He executed Sultan- trump is blown, no one can point to a Abdullah and became the ruler of Sa- festival to match this. marqand, Transoxiana and Turkistan. Today Venus and the sun are at their apex; In 858 Prince Sultan-Uways [b. Mu- today Jupiter and the moon are in hammad], who was one of the mighty conjunction.69 This is a feast in paradise, with a hundred grandsons of the renowned Prince Bay- thousand houris, each one in beauty the qara [b. Umar-Shaykh] Bahadur and leaven of eternal life. cousin to the Emperor of Islam, God's Statuesque beauties, countenances glowing, Shadow Abu'l-Ghazi Sultan-Husayn walk gracefully in the meadow under the Bahadur, by whose noble existence and shade of cypress and pine. protectivejustice Iran and Turan are today adorned, rebelled against [Abu-Sa'id Kiiragan] and marshaled the army of Turkistan. The amirs, tarkhans and war- 67Khawamaq, the fabled palace built by the riors of Turan alljoined the darling of the Lakhmid Nu'man in Him. The story is told at the beginning of Nizami's Haft paykar (Khamsa, sultanate [Sultan-Uways], who was a re- pp. 631-37). gal prince of handsome visage and 68RidwaO, the warden of paradise. praiseworthy mind, a wise, courageous 69Astrologically Jupiter and Venus are known and generous man. respectively as the greater and lesser lucky stars (sa'd-i akbar, sa'd-i asghar); their conjunction [qirdn al-sa'dayn) is the most auspicious time. TADHKIRAT AL-SHU'ARA 49

One would say that from head to foot that Ibrahim-Sultan and Prince Sanjar70 graceful mien was the royal splendor and joined forces to expel Sultan Abu-Sa'id. shadow of God's grace. A great battle took place between them and Sultan Abu-Sa'Id at Kulan in Like Afrasiyab he brought all of Tur- Badghis, and they almost gained the vic- kistan under his rule, but Abu-Sa'id was tory. In the end Abu-Sa'id won, by so brave and cunning that he won over God's command, and put Prince Sanjar to [Sultan-Uways'] amirs and commanders death. Prince Ala'uddawla and his son so that they, like the cruel celestial Ibrahim-Sultan fled. spheres, played false with him. When It is a very strange thing that, after [Sultan-Uways] fell into Abu-Sa'id's Khurasan was consolidated by Abu- hands, that untrustworthy ruler martyred Sa'id, Shah Mahmud, the son of Babur the poor prince and thereafter ruled com- Mirza [b. Baysunghur b. Shahrukh], fortably from the throne of Samarqand, Sultan-Ala'uddawla and his son Ibrahim- and his daring and bravery became fa- Sultan, one of whom was in Sijistan and mous worldwide. Qandahar, another of whom was in Rus- After the death of Babur Sultan, he tamdar, and the third of whom was in looked with desire upon Khurasan and, Mashhad-i Zar, a dependency of Baward, crossing the Oxus, established himself at all three were killed within two months of Balkh. Some of Prince Babur's amirs in each other and the regions passed totally Balkh and vicinity took counsel with into the hands of Sultan Abu-Sa'id. [538] Sultan Abu-Sa'id Kiiragan, [537] and in 861 [1456] he set out from Balkh for This is the custom of the vale of vanity: to Khurasan to conquer Herat. He took the one it is a funeral, to another a place of capital Herat and put Gawharshad Begim rejoicing. to death. Soon thereafter, because Prince Abdul-Latif [b. Ulughbeg Kiirliglin] had After the deaths of the above-mentioned rebelled in the vicinity of Balkh and sultans, Sultan Abu-Sa'id rested securely seized power, he left Herat and returned as the ruler of Khurasan, Transoxiana, to Balkh. That winter he stayed in Balkh, Badakhshan, Kabul and Khwarazm, and but the next spring Jahanshah the Turco- the sun of his prosperity reached its ze- man conquered Herat, and Sultan Abu- nith. He held Khurasan in check for eight Sa'id assembled a valiant army of archers years. Out of respect Sultan Abu'l-Ghazi and warriors from Transoxiana, Khutta- [Sultan-Husayn] did not resist him and Ian and Balkh to attack him and set out left him to reign, but Abu-Sa'id was con- for Herat. Because Sultan Abu'l-Ghazi stantly wary of that brave and daring Sultan-Husayn Bahadur had seized prince, never drawing an easy breath lest power in Astarabad and killed Husayn the spheres again revolve in their game. Beg the Turcoman, Jahanshah lost heart Sultan Abu-Sa'id twice led his army from and sued for peace with Sultan Abu- Khurasan to repel Prince Juki b. Abdul- Sa'id, leaving him Khurasan and depart- Latif Mirza at Samarqand and Shahru- ing for Iraq. Sultan Abu-Sa'id Kuragan khiyya. Finally he captured the prince and reigned autonomously in Khurasan, and had him executed. What transpired be- dread of him was firmly established in the tween Sultan Abu'l-Ghazi Sultan-Husayn hearts [of wrongdoers], and his subjects and Sultan Abu-Sa'id will be reported at in Khurasan were happy with him. the end of the book, God willing. At the beginning of 863 [1458] the Timurid princes Ala'uddawla, his son

70Ala'uddawla, son of Baysunghur b. Shah- rukh; Sanjar son of Ahmad b. Umar-Shaykh. 50 DAWLATSHAH

In the benign shadow of justice Sultan I went in and chided him, saying, "What in- Abu-Sa'id maintained the peasantry of gratitude is this you are displaying toward your Khurasan, which had been devastated by master? Even if all are saying the same thing, you should at least admit that you have been pa- Babur's revolt and Jahanshah's tyranny tronized by this court. Don't speak like this, for and pillage. He distributed largesse to his shamel" subjects and extirpated heresies. "You are right," the man said, "but I was After Jahanshah's death all the lords of praying like that because of the destitution this Persian Iraq and Kerman took counsel king inflicts upon Muslims with his wild am- bitions. Don't you realize that with one favorable with Sultan Abu-Sa'id Kuragan, who glance God has bestowed upon him from Fars to dispatched viceroys and prefects with Baghdad and from Rayy to Anatolia, which can post horses, and the subjects accepted his be said to be half the world? Of course he wants rule, thus bringing from the borders of to subjugate the whole world in one month and Kashghar to Tabriz under his sway and thinks nothing of the suffering of God's ser- the subjugation of his amirs. vants." Finding this man in the right, I ceased up- Then tyranny and pride began to work braiding him and hastened to recite this verse: on the king. In 873 [1468-69] he mus- tered a vast army and set out from Khu- Go easy on your men, for it is a law of rasan for Iraq and Azerbaijan. Jahan- nature that the spheres are hard on the shah's sons also joined him, and he, overly ambitious. thinking that there was no power greater than his in all the world, stepped beyond In short, fortune's jealous eye turned the limits of equity and justice. It has been against that mighty sovereign, and his heard from reliable sources that many army, in all its magnitude and might, was times he said, "The inhabited climes of surprised by a group of Turcomans. Sul- the world cannot contain more than one tan Abu-Sa'id was checked not by the king." But he did not realize that all sons paucity of his army and soldiery but by of Adam share in the heritage of the earth. Divine Power. The arrow of his machi- nation missed the target, and the sword of One silver drachma contents a beggar: execution remained veiled in the scabbard Faridun was only half content with the of futility. kingdom of Persia. When destiny lowers its wing from the In the end, when he reached the borders celestial heights, rational men become deaf of Azerbaijan, Amir Abu'l-Nasr Hasan and blind. Beg sued for peace, but it was rejected. Despairing of peace, he made a manly The Chosroes who vied with Parvez in and brave resolve and day after day foiled the arena of heroism was humbled in ex- Sultan Abu-Sa'id's machinations. Abu- ile and penitence; the Jamshid who would Sa'id's soldiers, in desperate straits, fa- have espoused the Lady of the Fourth tigued from the long road they had trav- Heaven fell into the snare of the Zahhak eled and suffering from hunger and cold, of calamity. were ready to die or be taken prisoner. A reliable source has related the following: The Egypt of kingship you saw was devastated; the Nile of magnificence you heard of became a mirage. One night as I was passing by the tent of one of the king's courtiers I heard a voice at prayer. I perceived that someone was beseeching God, In short, the amirs of Khurasan who saying, "My God, assist Hasan Beg to achieve feared the king, and the warriors of Sa- victory, take my wife and children prisoner and marqand who nurtured hypocrisy in their sell us in bondage to the Anatolians. I am at my hearts, went over to the side of the rebel wit's end!" and left that renowned king in the lurch. TADHKIRAT AL-SHU'ARA 51

Describing this state, the heavens sang to given him such a great triumph, thank~- them this verse: giving for such fortune was proper, In accordance with the dictum, "Amnesty o friend, do not wound your beloved's heart after victory is a noble quality." He was with nonsense. I fear you may regret when it also worried by Sultan Abu'l-Ghazi is too late. [Sultan-Husayn]'s vengeful sword, for if Those who observed the ill-starred he inflicted harm upon the Chaghatay na- tion, that majesty's shining blade would hour, which occurred on Monday the take revenge on him as it had on Jahan- 21st of Rajab 873 [February 4, 1469], shah's men in Astarabad, and so the Em- have reported that the banners of that peror of Islam's protection from Khura- happy prince, Abu-Sa'id, were over- san was placed over the Iranian prisoners. turned and the traces of his good fortune were effaced. At dawn that day, when the [542] king learned of the perfidy of his amirs, If they take not refuge under the shadow of he saw that he had lost control and the your good fortune, all people will be lost in arrow of fate had flown. He saw no misfortune. alternative to admitting defeat and, with a few friends, tried to reach the shore of May God extend the shadow of this safety from the whirlpool of catastrophe. mighty emperor's protection over all the The Turcomans [541] pursued him, and poor people of Khurasan .... he was captured by Ztimbiil, son of Amir Sultan Abu-Sa'id's reign in Transoxi- Hasan Beg. ana was eight years, and in Khurasan Amir Abu'l-Nasr Hasan Beg was too eight years, making a total of sixteen generous and wise to want to inflict in- years. For nearly a year the khutba and jury upon that exalted prince, and the an- coinage were in his name from the bor- cient devotion that his ancestors had had ders of Baghdad to the reaches of Fer- for the family of Amir Timur Ktlragan ghana and Turkistan, and from the realm did not allow him to wax angry. How- of India to the borders of Khwarazm, and ever, some of the tarkhan amirs, harbor- his name was a watchword for justice, ing in their hearts an old rancor against equity and swift punishment. that noble king for having killed Gaw- It is said that he forbade himself sleep harshad Begim, turned Amir Hasan Beg during the day lest perhaps a litigant come from the right way so that he acceded to for justice or a needy person approach his the execution of the monarch. Four days court for remedy of his need. He used to after the above-mentioned date that happy say, "If I am asleep and a litigant or needy prince Sultan Abu-Sa'id was martyred in person comes, who will give justice to the the Muqan Plain. oppressed, and who will tend to the needs of the poor? For this reason I deprive The fourth sphere became the scene of a myself of sleep." His years had not ex- wake: Gabriel went to console the sun. ceeded forty-two when he was elevated to The grandees of the Chaghatay nation, the rank of martyr, and today his noble who had spent one hundred years in sons, the darlings of the sultanate and might and majesty, were humbled. How- caliphate, are powerful in the rule of ever, Arnir Hasan Beg was a wise and Transoxiana, Tokharlstan and Kabul and foresighted king, honorable, chivalrous are favored and patronized by the em- and generous. He afflicted no one with peror of the world, Sultan [Abu]'l-Ghazi anything other than favor and grace, and [Sultan-Husayn], to whose world- thought to himself that since God had receiving court they are sincere servants. 52 DAWLATSHAH

Among the shaykhs, ulema and poets the Khaqan and presenting, in the manner who lived in Sultan Abu-Sa'id's time are: of a Turkish offering, a toquz (set of Khwaja Ahrar [son of] Khwaja Nasirud- nine) of the amazing battles and encoun- din Abdullah, upon whose noble breath ters in which he engaged. the world rests today; the Qazi'f-Quzat One should know that this exalted Mawlana Qutbuddin Ahmad Imam al- prince is noble in [maternal and paternal] Harawi; and the poets Mawlana Abdul- lineage, and among the progeny of the Samad Badakhshi and Khwaja Mahmud Sahib-Qiran no one else has the honor to Barsa. be descended from the great Sahib-Qiran through both father and mother.72 On his mother's side he also has a connection to * the ancient sultans of Transoxiana, but SULTAN-HUSAYN there is no necessity to explain his rela- tionship to Padishahzada Mirza Mirak, It is not within human capability to de- who was king of Transoxiana, since it is scribe adequately his career. If,for exam- more obvious than the sun in the sky and ple, Muhammad Jarir al-Tabari, Hamza is mentioned in the Zafarnama. When Isfahani, Istakhri and the historiographers this renowned ruler reached the age of and Greek philosophers were alive, they youth, traces of authority and greatness would not be able to record more than a shone from his brow. decimal of a tenth of the exploits of this After the death of Babur Sultan in Chosroes as brave as Rustam and Marw-i Shahijan, he raised the banners of Suhrab. How then can the feeble pen of conquest, and in the year 861 [1457] he this emaciated one flow in this major un- ascended the throne of Marw-i Shahijan, dertaking? Nonetheless, it would be best the mother of all cities of Khurasan. to record one of a thousand or a few of his many exploits and thus finish this With a spear [as straight] as a cypress you book. first issued a call, like Abu-Muslim, from Merv. It is the shape of a citron on the branch that promises the fruit spring later brings. After emergence and accession, his first exploit was the conquest of Astarabad The noble time of His Highness is the and the execution of Husayn Beg Sa'd- spring of life. Consequently his acts, lu,73 of which something has already deeds and exploits [590] are the blossoms been written. It is considered a major bat- and herbs of this spring. It is the custom tle by the rulers of the world, for none of of historians and writers to order things the sultans of the past has ever done such chronologically; otherwise, the super- battle or made such a conquest. iority of the Seal of the Prophets over the The second was his battle with Sultan- prophet Ezra and the precedence of the Mahmud Mirza in the vicinity of Astara- Koranic chapter Ikhlas over Tabbat are bad and the conquest of that region in obvious."! Therefore following the great 865. Sultan Abu-Sa'id Ktiragan had men of the past, we are finishing the book given the province of Astarabad to his with a mention of His Exalted Highness son Sultan-Mahmud Mirza and gone

71T'abbat, chapter 111 and one of the earliest 720n her paternal side Sultan-Husayn's and least significant chapters of the Koran, im- mother, Firoza Begim Taychiut, was a grand- mediately precedes the late Ikhlas (112), which is daughter of Timur's daughter Aka Begi; her probably the most highly esteemed chapter. I.e., mother Qutlugh Sultan was a daughter of Precedence in chronological order does not nec- Miranshah. See Beveridge, Babur-nama, I, 256. essarily indicate precedence in merit 73For the Sa'atlu of the text. TADHKIRAT AL-SHU'ARA 53

himself to Samarqand and Shahrukhiyya ment of ten thousand armed men, he put to repel Mirza Juki the son of Prince his trust in God and was not worried. Abdul-Latif. Amir Shaykh Hajji Jandar, a Like Rustam he hurled himself against Shahrukhid officer and experienced war- that force and smashed them to rior, had been assigned [591] to Prince smithereens. In one instant that mass had Sultan-Mahmud. His Caliphal High- its doomsday, and Muhammad Ali ness 74 seized the opportunity and set out Bakhshi fled back to his master. His for Astarabad with a few soldiers from Highness the Emperor of Islam pardoned Khwarazm and the Qipchaq Steppe. Sul- the crime of the rest and forgave them all. tan-Mahmud Mirza and his high-ranking From Turshiz he wanted to set out to do officers made a fierce stand with an battle with Sultan Abu-Sa'id, but his enormous army. At a place near As- officers and attendants did not think it tarabad called Jawz-i Wali a great battle wise. In accordance with the dictum took place. In the end His Highness "Retreat is praiseworthy," he returned in gained the victory, and with his oppo- glory and splendor to his base at nents vanquished the prince's tall banners Khwarazm. were raised high in triumph. Sultan- The fourth exploit [592] was the con- Mahmud Mirza fled in defeat to Herat, quest of Khurasan and accession to the and Amir Shaykh Hajji was killed. His throne of Herat, This took place on Naw- Caliphal Highness had mercy on the rest roz of the Year of the Ox in the month of of the soldiers and took them under the Ramadan of the year 873 [March 1469]. regis of his clemency and quarter. After that victory the realm of Khurasan was God wanted the kingdom, religion, law and his. faith to flourish, so he offered the fiefs of Khurasan to the sultan. His third battle was at Turshiz, as fol- lows. When Sultan Abu-Sa'id Karagan When Sultan Abu-Sa'id was [defeated] in acceded in all autonomy to the throne of Azerbaijan, as has been described previ- Herat, His Highness set out from the ously, this renowned prince had come Qipchaq Steppe and Khwarazm toward from the Qipchaq Steppe with the inten- Khurasan. Without asking permission he tion of subjugating Khurasan, and he had made his camp at Nishapur. Sultan Abu- it almost conquered. The news of Sultan Sa'id Ktlragan flew into a rage and Abu-Sa'id's defeat was itself the cause wanted to go there himself, but he for the glory of this exalted prince, and in thought better of it lest something dis- the month of Rajab of that year [January graceful happen, for he had already seen 1469] he set out in splendor from Abi- what His Highness was capable of. ward to Marw-i Shahijan. Assigning the Nonetheless, he dispatched at full gallop great amir Shuja'uddin Wali Beg Bahadur most of his renowned officers under to take Holy Mashhad and Nishapur and Amir Muhammad Ali Bakhshi to Turshiz the rest of the province of Khurasan, he and Nishapur to do battle with His High- hastened thither. Through the fortune of ness. In 868 in the province of Turshiz divine grace and regal luck, a crowd His Highness fought a battle with that gathered around the great amir and that army. Although His Highness had no area was conquered. more than ninety armed men with him, At that time Prince Mahmud, defeated and the enemy army was at full comple- in Azerbaijan, went to Khurasan, and a great crowd of soldiers joined him along 74"His highness" (hadrat-! a'la), "his caliphal the way. When he reached Herat and highness" (hadrat-t khildfatpandhi) and "Em- heard that His Highness was heading peror of Islam" (padishah-! is/am) refer through- from Marw-i Shahijan to Herat, his com- out this passage to Sultan-Husayn. 54 DAWLATSHAH

posure failed and perforce he fled, taking Taking an infantry and cavalry with him, the road to the Khuttalan Fort. At that he set out for.Khurasan. The renowned time the invincible army was camped at amirs of Khurasan and Sultan Abu- Chihil Dukhtaran in Badghis, and by in- Sa'id's commanders he sent hither in finite divine grace the leaders and com- company with the prince. Yadgar- manders of Sultan Abu-Sa'id's army Muhammad, encouraged by Hasan Beg came over to His Highness in droves and and with expectations raised by the attained the honor of paying homage, as renowned amirs, set out from Persian God has said, "They enter into the reli- Iraq for Khurasan, headed first for As- gion of God by troops."75 His Highness tarabad. He took that region, defeating too embraced all with regal favor and, Amir Shaykh Zahid Tarumi, who was disregarding the past, con finned them in governor for His Highness. When the the posts they had held under Sultan news reached the royal ears on the throne Abu-Sa'id. [593] Out of the infinite feel- of Herat, Sultan-Husayn immediately or- ing and devotion that was part of this dered his army to do battle with Yadgar- king's innate nature, he many times ex- Muhammad at Astarabad. [594] Some of pressed his sorrow for Sultan Abu-Sa'id, the amirs, who arrived at a gallop prior to saying, "He was like a father and mother the royal train, were distressed by the to me. I wish he had remained untouched overwhelming enemy and took shelter in by this tragedy and I had not acquired the mountainous summer pasture of authority." This he said as tears rained Khwarazm in the vicinity of Darband down his blessed cheeks from the foun- Shaqan until their luck should turn. In the tains of his eyes. Oh, what compassion month of Safar 874 [August 1469] the and equity! what devotion and feeling! Emperor of Islam reached the amirs, who As a consequence God made this exalted recited these lines in rejoicing: prince the heir to the Sahib-Qiran's em- pire. The throne of former sultans is "Welcome!" cries fortune. Around your face adorned by his noble being. May this an- the rose makes its chemise a robe. The stars see your train and make praise; the gelic padishah remain meritoriously in the angels see your face and offer prayer. sultanate for centuries! And may the sul- . tan ate and caliphate remain to his The next day the enemy descended upon successful sons and renowned progeny the Shaqan mountain. until the day of resurrection! The fortunate prince busied himself The fifth exploit was his first battle with with the arrangement of his forces, and Prince Yadgar-Muhammad son of Sul- when the enemy's mass could be seen tan-Muhammad b. Baysunghur. The rea- from the summit of the mountain, the son for this battle is as follows. When, by commanders were worried, some saying divine grace and heavenly favor, the sul- that it would be wise not to lose these fast tanate of Khurasan came into the posses- mountains because the enemy army ap- sion of the Emperor of Islam [Sultan- peared so massive. The Emperor of Islam Husayn], and the great officers and cried out to the amirs and recited this line: grandees of the region were all in obedi- ence to his regal command, Amir Abu- If I become fearful of the enemy, it would be Nasr Hasan Beg appointed as governor better to be at one with the dust. of this region Yadgar-Muhammad, who was a royal heir and had grown up from Instantly he arranged his right and left his early youth among the Turcomans. flanks. [595]

The next day, when the azure sphere fixed 75Koran 110:2. the yellow orb of the sun's body, TADHKIRAT AL-SHU'ARA 55 the Emperor of Islam mounted the steed in this manner, for it is mentioned in his- of good fortune to engage the enemy. In tories that Bahram defeated the Khaqan the vicinity of Darband Shaqan was with three hundred men, while the Kha- fought a battle in comparison to which qan had ninety thousand. Moreover, [Rustam's] seven labors were no more [Bahram Gor's] surprise attack was made than a gallop and Isfandiyar's battle in in the open field, while the renowned Zabul was nothing more than a ride Chosroes' feat was accomplished right in around the parade field. the capital city. Despite so many block- ades and guards and watchmen of the The billet of death came from the hand of royal camp, might and power are God's the seizer of spirits; with a hundred wails [to dispose as he wishes]. The cause is as spirits lamented the ghosts. follows. The zephyr of victory finally began to When Prince Yadgar-Muhammad was blow in the direction of the fortunate defeated, he once again sought help from prince, and Gabriel started to recite the the Amir Kabir Abu'l-Nasr Hasan Beg. litany of victory. It did not take long be- Once again the amir mustered a vast army fore the opponent's banners were over- for the prince and sent to Khurasan in the turned and the enemy's fortune was re- prince's company his own relative Yusuf versed. Prince Yadgar-Muhammad man- Beg with several Turcoman amirs led by aged cunningly to escape the whirlpool of Ya'qub Beg. That army joined Yadgar- disaster, but some of the Turcoman and Muhammad, and set out for Khurasan. Chaghatay amirs in his retinue were taken They took Isfarayin, Sabzawar and Ju- captive. By the time of evening prayer the wayn. When His Caliphal Highness prince stopped in Chanaran and sent out heard that Yadgar-Muhammad was messages of triumph to all parts of the approaching this region, he set out from realm. To set an example two or three Herat to battle the Turcomans and Turcoman and Chaghatay amirs were fed Yadgar-Muhammad. Near Jajarm, be- to the wild beasts and birds, but he tween Jajarm and Juwayn, the advance looked upon the rest of the prisoners with guard of the two sides met. After a the eye of compassion and said: pitched battle Yadgar-Muhammad Mirza's advance guard was defeated. Offer prayers on my behalf eternally. Go, Ni'mat Khwarazmi, who was outstanding captives, to your homes. in his time and one of the champions of Yadgar-Muhammad Mirza's army, was All the prisoners, craftsmen and soldiers, captured along with several of the who were near their homes, set out, easy prince's elite. His Highness ordered of mind and praising the Emperor of Is- Ni'rnat and most of the others punished lam, for Herat and the districts of Khura- for their crime, and they were put to san via Isfarayin and Kuban. Victorious, death. Due to this Yadgar-Muhammad the exalted prince galloped to the capital Mirza and the Turcoman army became Herat. [596] That victory was in 874 apprehensive, and that night they fled [1469-70], which corresponds to the from Jajarm. His Highness returned vic- Year of the Tiger. torious and triumphant. He appointed In the sixth [exploit] Prince Yadgar- Hasan Shaykh Temur as governor of Muhammad was killed and Herat was Astarabad and established himself in the conquered a second time. At this labor by Radkan Meadow, where he gathered his the renowned prince all stand agog. Such forces and the Turcomans of Khurasan. a feat had not been performed by Rustam, Yadgar-Muhammad Mirza, after [597] and Bahram Gor did not fight the Khaqan his defeat, again consolidated his position 56 DAWLATSHAH

and parlayed with Hasan Shaykh Temtir it possible for such tyranny to occur in from Janashk, a dependency of Bistam. the realm of Islam while I am still alive?" That wily fox summoned Yadgar- Those present said of one accord, "Maya Muhammad Mirza and, meeting him out- thousand souls be sacrificed to the Em- side of Jurjan, went over to the enemy. peror of Islam! We consider this war Shaykh-Ali Purnak, a great Turcoman equal to the great holy war." Immediately amir and relative of Hasan Beg, brought he arrayed the army in Maymana and set auxiliaries from Iraq. out for Herat. He commanded a thousand Once more with strength and power, experienced warriors to gallop at break- Yadgar-Muharnmad set out in Dhu'f- neck speed; Qa'da 874 [May 1470] from Firozghand with high hopes for victory in Khurasan. From Maymana the felicitous sultan set His Highness, totally -prepared for war, forth. luck and victory to the right and fortune to the left wanted to engage at Radkan and give the pretender his due. However, the young In short, three nights and three days soldiers and some of the impudent, inex- they traversed highway and byway. At perienced sons of amirs turned away eventide of the fourth day they came upon from the fortunate prince and played false a number of the rebel soldiers in Badghis with him. His Highness was distraught near Ribat-i Yaghi. When questioned they by this and went to Herat. Every day sol- said that Yadgar-Muhammad Mirza was diers deserted the victorious camp in busy enjoying himself, his amirs and sol- droves to join the enemy. His Highness diers likewise, every one asleep with a saw clearly that these imbeciles were un- beauty, each couched with a lass. When dermining themselves, but they were too His Highness heard how his opponents hapless to distinguish right from wrong, were, he rejoiced and said, and no one save God almighty can con- tend with the wishes of the "hoi poloi like o darling sweetheart, how do I find thee? cattle." His Highness saw no alternative to relinquishing the throne for a time until Immediately he encouraged his warriors his fortune should improve. With this re- and distributed mail and armor among his .solve he set out from Herat with his champions, assigning to each of the great household, baggage train, personal ser- amirs one of the enemy amirs. In haste he vants and devoted followers for Qaysar, came down from Mount Kay tun and Maymana and the vicinity of Balkh. reached the vicinity of the Pir of Herat Yadgar- Muhammad Mirza entered He- Khwaja Abdullah Ansari's blessed shrine rat with a host of Turcomans and began at midnight. He prayed for assistance his tyranny and infamy. God's servants from the miracle-granting spirit of the were exposed to injustice, the pillage of saint and entered the Khiyaban as the first foreign soldiery and the padishah's stu- rays of dawn were breaking. Speedily he pidity. Vile, foul-mouthed Turcomans set rode to the Zaghan Garden. Several about tyrannizing and indulging openly in guards and watchmen made an attempt [to depravity and abominations. That hapless, stop them] but were unsuccessful. By stupid prince was so incapable, not only blows with their battleaxes they broke the of understanding anyone but also of lock on the gate, and His Highness en- dealing with anything, that old women tered the garden in triumph. By chance and peasants cried out for help. that night Prince Yadgar-Muhammad When this news reached His High- Mirza was drunk and asleep in his mis- ness's hearing, Islamic zeal took hold of tress's arms. When the sounds of a com- this great king, who said to his amirs, "Is motion reach him, he jumped up and saw TADHKIRAT AL-SHU'ARA 57 that the night had turned into the day of o Lord, of thy grace and kindness safeguard resurrection. Confused, he wanted to always this eternal state from disintegration conceal himself in a comer of the garden, and revolution. [599] but a group of His Highness's The seventh exploit was the conquest of bodyguards seized him and brought him Andkhud and battle with Prince Sultan- before the sultan. The prince's courage Mahmud. The truth of this affair is that had probably failed him altogether, for he when that prince left Herat in defeat for was so disconcerted that all he could do the region of Hisar, he gathered a great was stare at the ground and, as was his and mighty following in a short while. old habit, remain taciturn. His Highness Ambitious for conquest, he arrayed an turned to him and said, "Knave! You army and conquered Balkh. His Highness have disgraced our family! Have you no was busy at that time repairing the devas- shame? The Turcomans always obeyed tation the Turcoman soldiers had wrought the will of our ancestors. Are you not in Khurasan, but when news of the fall ashamed to be sat upon the throne of [of Balkh] reached his ears, he concen- Shahrukh Sultan by Turcomans and tum trated all his energies on repelling that loos~ ~ bU!1chof bandits to wreak tyranny prince. From Jurjan and Mazanderan to and mjustice upon the subjects of our an- the farthest reaches of Murghab soldiers cestral kingdom?" gathered around that exalted prince, and he began by sending a letter of advice to Disgraced one, you have shamed your Sultan-Mahmud, saying, "Beloved of the house. sultanate, fruit of the tree of the caliphate, At once he motioned to the swordsmen of do not create opposition. Be equitable and execution to let that prince join his dead strive for peace, for today I stand behind clansmen. That was on Wednesday eve an army and fortune smiles upon me. Be the 17th of Safar 875 [August 15, 1470]. content to be a brother and son to me and Th~ next morning the Turcoman army, know for certain that old enemies lie in WhICh was beyond enumeration, fled in ambush and adversaries lurk in the cor- ners." This advice was of no avail and droves, their hair standing on end' in fear . ' of the king. The great emirs brought the Pnnce Sultan-Mahmud transgressed in enemy to the world-receiving court from claiming the kingship and calling for war everywhere they had been stationed. His and battle. When His Highness despaired Highness had Amir Ali Jalayir executed of advising him, he unsheathed the sword but pardoned all the rest. In accordance of vengeance from the scabbard of zeal. with the dictum, "Be merciful and you will be shown mercy," by the authority Beware lest you lose the battle [even] if you know you will win. If there is no alternative vested by God in this prince the ornament to fighting, you must have fortitude and of pardon was drawn on the register of patience. everyone's deeds. The compiler of this memorial volume says: The Emperor of Islam gathered his forces, and in the vicinity of Andkhud Who among kings gave his steed barleycorn [601] in a place called Chakman Saray: from the produce of Faryab and water from battle broke out. the springs of Murghab? He charged the throne of Herat at dawn like Betimes falling, betimes boiling, betimes the sun and washed the sleep from his glittering, betimes shining-warrior's head opponent's eyes. [600] vein of blood, spear point, dagger's edge. ' Who in the world has such good fortune? Who else but a divinely aided shah attains such success? 58 DAWLATSHAH

The courageous prince mounted a mam- of Balkh when he killed the murderer of moth steed and encouraged and gave [his son] Hushang at that spot. To cele- heart to his knights and warriors to battle. brate he founded the city right there. In I myself, the author, was in that battle in any case, the greatness and magnificence the royal retinue and saw it with my own of Balkh no one disputes. Wise men have eyes, and I am certain that the shout of dubbed Balkh "mother of towns," "dome Allahu akbar I heard came not from the of Islam," "worldly paradise," and "the soldiers but rather from people of the in- best earth." Anwari says ofBalkh: visible realm. It is my belief that some who were present on that day at the battle If heaven were an infant, Balkh would nurse had the feelings expressed in this line: it because it knows so well how to mother the inhabited world. He who is aided by the impeccable assistance of God has all bodies as support The citadel and city walls, which are now for the army. in good repair, are called Hisar-i Hindu- an. After the destruction of the ancient In short, in one instant the breeze of city of Balkh it was devastated [again] at victory began to blow, the banners of the the hands of Ahnaf ibn Qays and Qutay- sultan waved in triumph, and the oppo- ba ibn Muslim al-Bahili .... Anyway, to nent was vanquished. The warriors of the conquer the Balkh fortress is impossible age reckon this battle as one of the most because water lies close to the surface of famous of all time, nay they consider it the ditch around the fortress so tunnels the most heated of battles. The laurel for cannot be made. this battle His Highness gave to none of When the Emperor of Islam conquered the great amirs or champions of the age. Balkh, he confirmed Ahmad Mushtaq as That is a task for me to accomplish, for governor and warden, as has been men- the amirs and heroes said that the prize tioned. After a short time the vile Turco- went absolutely to the Sultan of the Age mans mutinied against the Emperor of himself as they recited this: Islam and showed their ingratitude to their benefactor. Joining the sons of Sul- Your standard is planted on the moon and tan Abu-Sa'id, they rebelled. This event reaches to the Pleiades; the face of victory is was grievous to the all-conquering em- obvious in the mirror of your sword. peror, who quickly raced his steed to be- siege Balkh. He led his army to the gates After that victory His Highness added of Balkh, and although he maintained the Balkh and its dependencies to his realm. siege for some time there was no victory. He appointed the governance of Balkh to Battles and skirmishes constantly took Ahmad Mushtaq, a commander from place, and the warriors of the invincible Iraq, and [602] returned to Herat. That army were wounded. Some of the great was in Muharram 876 [June-July 1471]. amirs represented to the Emperor of Is- The eighth exploit was his siege and lam, saying, "To take the Balkh fortress is conquest of Balkh. This affair is among an impossible task. It is senseless to the strangest and most marvelous. You waste our time in this labor. [603] If the should know first that Balkh is an ancient king of the face of the earth would decide city, the first to be built in the world ac- against pursuing the conquest of this ruin cording to the claim of most historians. it would be in his best interests." Some have said that Damawand is older, and others say that Babylon is more an- Take a goblet of wine in merriment in cient. Some say that Balkh was founded Khiyaban [Herat]. Think of old Balkh as by Balakh son of Enoch, while others nothing more than Rayy. maintain that Gayomarth was the builder TADHKIRAT AL-SHU' ARA 59

His Highness the Emperor of Islam, Why should only Badakhshan fit into my benefactor to the human race, signet? Let from China to Badakhshan enter therein. Why should 1 ride only in Kohistan? Let the entire face of the earth be Swore an oath by the Ultimate Judge. by the my parade ground. light of day and dark of night: "I will reduce these battlements to the dust 1 will capture these villains." A prince whose delicate nature pierced a pearl of this type and composed poetry in And he sent an order to all parts of the this manner, whose belvedere was the kingdom for copper so that the master shining sun and who was nurtured from catapult builders and artillerymen might the mines of Badakhshan-who can bring those dogs of Balkh to their knees know the worth of such a gem? Who is with missiles, catapults and balistas. They able to speak of his excellence? made huge cauldrons and sawhorses, and In short, the prince fought and made the naqabchis of the whole realm came to peace many times with his brethren. Fi- Balkh. When their awesomeness reached nally he gained the upper hand over the [Turcomans] and Ahmad Mushtaq, Prince Sultan-Mahmud Mirza and con- life became so bitter in Balkh that he quered Hisar Shadman and its dependen- longed (mushtaq) for his promised mo- cies. After a short time he was defeated ment of death and saw no alternative to by Sultan-Mahmud Mirza and went to seeking pardon. Opening the gates to the Herat, where he was honored by His prince, he sought the intercession of the Highness and shown great affection. He amirs, who requested the prince to for- was honored to be made his son-in-law, give him. The Emperor of Islam, as was and for a while he served in His High- his accustomed manner and inherited ness's retinue. However, corruptors se- style, which was innate and instinctive to duced him and made him so cynical that this manifestation of grace and benefi- he erred in his mind and turned his face cence, forgave the ingrate's audacity and away from the emperor of the age's crimes. For a second time the city of threshold, at which the angels make their Balkh entered his realm, and that was in nest, and fled. Next, for no offense he 878 [1473]. had Amir Sayyid Farid Arghun put to The ninth exploit was the victory over death, without compassion for that Prince Abu-Bakr son of Sultan Abu- wronged amir's noble lineage and long Sa'id, the death of that prince and a num- service. From the vicinity of Tirmidh he ber of Turcoman amirs. This affair un- set out to attack Khurasan. His Highness folds as follows. Prince Abu-Bakr's sent a group of amirs to fight Prince Abu- mother was of the royal line of Badakh- Bakr in Merv, and there he was defeated. shan, and during his lifetime Sultan Abu- Returning to Balkh, he found no foothold Sa'id appointed this prince while still an and so set out for Kabul and India. From infant to the sultanate of Badakhshan. around the Indus he headed for Kech [604] [606] and Makran and then Kerman. After his father's death the prince at- There Wali Pir-Ali and a Turcoman force tained full glory. Indeed he was a prince joined him. They encouraged him to take of handsome countenance, brave, coura- Persian Iraq until the army of the Amir geous and worthy. Not content with the Kabir Ya'qub Beg, who today governs kingdom of Badakhshan, he constantly Iraq, Azerbaijan, Diyar Bakr and Fars, spoke of conquest and expansion and re- and who is the son of the Amir Kabir cited this verse of his own composition: Abu'l-Nasr Hasan Beg, attacked the prince. Defeated in Garmser by the Tur- comans, he once again headed for Khu- 60 DAWLATSHAH rasan. When the heralds announced to the Buy one day what you sell all year. Emperor of Islam that he was coming to Khurasan from Sistan, the emperor of the Immediately the sultan's order to exile age raced after Prince Abu-Bakr. From those vile ones and the other corruptors Farah in Sistan, Prince Abu-Bakr was from the city of life to the beggary of heading across the desert for Turshiz and death was carried out. Sabzawar. The Emperor of Islam pur- sued, stopping where Abu-Bakr had been Better for one who makes a chink in the kingdom to lose his head; better for an army the night before. From the province of that is faithless to be disbanded. Farah to within four parasangs of As- tarabad the Emperor of Islam chased Prince Abu- Bakr left the battlefield in de- Prince Abu-Bakr. The group who were in feat and wandered till late in the wilder- the royal retinue on that journey reported ness. That night he changed his horse and that nearly two thousand war horses of clothes and set out for Khurasan. With the emperor's retinue were lost or left be- fortune turning its back and luck bidding hind wounded. By God's decree, the en- him adieu, the prince, wailing of loneli- emy stopped one day by the Jurjan River ness and dejection, came upon a group of near Astarabad. They were sitting un- women and inquired the way to awares when suddenly the royal banners Khurasan. They showed him the way, loomed large and the invincible army ap- and he made it to Firozghand, where he peared. The enemy saw clearly that this asked some nomadic people for food. A was doomsday and raced pell-mell to get clever youth among them recognized on their horses and flee. They reeled to from his splendid external appearance that and fro and tossed like animals with their he was Prince Abu-Bakr, [The youth] throats cut, but in the end their feet stum- followed him and said, "Prince, I know bled on the rock of catastrophe and the who you are. I have come to be your hand of opposition was bound by the guide and lead you from the brink of de- cord of tribulation. struction to safety." The prince said, "My good man, if you are true to your word I If a despised opponent stands opposite you, will make you a commander." That per- it is like a sparrow and phren ix, gnat and son went some way with the prince, but hurricane. in the end he thought better of what he In the end when the churning sea of the had said and turned the prince over to the emperor's forces surrounded the area, nomads. They could not hide such a trea- there was no chance of escape, and so sure. [607] they threw themselves into the Jurjan River. Some perished in the water, but Truly because of its exalted station a falcon of kings cannot be hidden in a sparrow's most of them were caught by the imperial house. enemy-binding lasso, at their head [606] Pir-Ali the son of Ali-Shakar and Bayram When the victorious banners reached the his brother. Those two Turcomans were vicinity of Firozghand after conquering brought before his majesty, who ad- the territory and killing the evildoers, the dressed them, saying, "You hapless men told the sultan about Prince Abu- wretches, what did you want of this Bakr. Immediately His Highness the sul- ignorant, conceited child you have tan ordered him brought. The sultan ad- brought down to your own level? You dressed the prince, saying, "You ignorant know that fortune has turned its back on youth, how could you allow the blood of you and seeks retribution for so many innocent persons, especially one related to years' tyranny." the purest of families, to be shed? Don't TADHKIRA TAL-SHU' ARA 61 you realize that to enter into league with As a consequence of such exploits fear the foreign, base Turcomans causes for- and dread of the Emperor of Islam have tune to wither?" Then he recited this taken firm hold in the hearts of the verse: world's tyrants, and kings and sultans of all parts continually resort to this celestial In the end the course of him who severs his court to live in homage and obedience to connection with the good and joins the evil the Emperor of the Age, and the poor and leads to destruction. peasants of Khurasan live in welfare and Then he said, "Alas that there is no reli- ease under the shadow of his protection. ance on your word. For all the good I This renowned prince's angelic nature have done you I have seen nothing but constantly strives to raise higher the ban- evil." These words passed the Emperor of ners of religion and spread the law, and Islam's lips, and from his blessed eyes a during his reign the lot of the ulema of torrent of tears flowed. He faced the Islam is splendid, while the daily bread of amirs and pillars of state and said, "I do the poor and homeless is assured. The not want to harm this sapling of the gar- corrupt, the unjust and brigands are frus- den of fortune, for my heart is pounding trated, and heretics and evil thinkers are with affection for him and my soul is completely reduced to extremities. God firmly caught by the bonds of family has taken Khurasan and Khurasanis into ties." The amirs all shouted together, "0 his grace and favor, for through the pro- prince of the world, tective justice of this law-sheltering prince, in waystations and stopping Since God gave you victory over the enemy, places that were formerly nests of thieves sever his head to the delight of your friends. and brigands there are now servants and If you want to reward good men, leave him guards in the caravanserais and charitable no hope of life." foundations to serve wayfarers and trav- elers. The subterranean irrigation canals The king realized that to allow him to live that had been, since the days of Genghis would mean the end of his own good Khan, as closed as the gates of the stingy fortune. Unwillingly [608] he gave his [609] now flow as openly as the banquet consent to the execution of Prince Abu- tables of the generous. Waystations that Bakr. were destroyed in the time of Sultan Mahmud [of Ghazna] now flourish in Kingship cannot tolerate lese-majesty, be it from a stranger or from a relative. good repair. Agriculture and farming have reached such a state that Saturn sit- God's decree uprooted the sapling of that ting atop the seventh celestial sphere is prince's life from the garden of the living envious of the tillers of the soil and the and made the garden of his friends' hopes marketplace of Spica's harvest is at a as dark as the enemy's fortune. The king standstill compared to these farms. set out in victory and triumph from the vicinity of Firozghand for Herat via Every place that without your favor and Mashhad. That was in the month of Safar grace in the world was coffins and gallows is now thrones and pulpits. in the year 885 [April 1480]. Truly the With your presence the abode of security days of this mighty padishah have had Herat is the envy of paradise and the light of and will have a conquest every year and a nations. success every month. May God preserve for long years the When you look you will see that every shadow of this happy prince's fortune, victory heaven gives at the end of one labor which assures the well-being and security is only the beginning of another. 62 DAWLATSHAH of the people of faith. May he extend for many centuries his exalted offspring, each of whom is a cypress in the garden of magnificence, in the shadow of this prince's grandeur. Until the day of resur- rection may the sultanate and caliphate remain fixed in the family of this prince blessed by fortune. May there be every day allotted to this happy prince a new victory to be recorded in the register of nahnu qasamna.lv

Conquer more realms and seize more horizons than you can imagine.

May God have mercy on all who say amen. It is wise to conclude our book with a prayer for the Emperor of Islam. With God's assistance the book is now finished. Worthy of praise is our Lord, and His are gifts and bounties. Praise be to God Lord of the Universe, and prayers and salutations upon His apostle, the last of His prophets, Muhammad the Musta- fa, and upon his family, companions and followers all. This memorial volume was composed by the least of God's slaves, Dawlatshah son of Ala'uddawla Bakhtishah al-Ghazi al-Samarqandi on the twenty-eighth of Shawwal in the year eight hundred ninety two of the Hegira [October 17, 1487].

76"We have distributed" (Koran 43:32).