Livro VI - _Account Of My Mounting The Throne Of The Sovereignty In The City Of, Capítulo V

[Sidenote: A. D. 1371.]

After having taken the necessary precautions for the defence of my own dominions, I appointed the Amyr Syf Addeen to be governor of Samerkund, and in the year 773, being the second of my reign, and the thirty-seventh of my age, I set out with the intention of subduing Khuarizm; when I reached the banks of the Jihūn, I halted, and was there joined by the ambassador of Melk Ghyās Addyn, son and successor of the late Aāzaddyn, ruler of Khurasān, of Ghur, and Ghirjistān, who brought a number of presents from his master to me; in return for which, I conferred a dress of honour, and many gifts on the ambassador, and sent a letter replete with condolence and congratulations to Melk Ghyās Addyn.

At this time it reached my ears that the troops of Hussyn Sūfy had entered the country of Maveralnaher, and had extended their hordes in plundering the inhabitants. I therefore issued orders that my (Keravul) advanced division should immediately march to oppose them, this they did in so vigorous a manner, that at the first charge they put the enemy to flight, and took a great number of them prisoners; those who escaped, took refuge in the fort of Kāt, the governor of which, whose name was Byrem Yusavul, and the Cazy Shykh Muvyd, both of whom shut themselves up in the fortress; my victorious army pursued the runaways, and laid siege to the place.

On receipt of this intelligence, I placed my foot in the stirrup, and proceeding with great celerity, arrived at the ditch of the fort, where I alighted. When my troops saw this action, all the cavalry dismounted and hastened to the attack. Shykh Behader threw a (Kumund) rope with a noose on the battlement, by help of which, he nearly mounted the wall; but at this time the garrison saluted us with a shower of arrows, and one of them cut the rope, so that Behader fell headlong to the bottom of the wall; he soon however recovered his footing, again threw the noose, and being supported by Jehān Pehlwān, they mounted the wall; I then ordered the drums to be beaten, and my troops having made a general assault, mounted the battlements: on seeing this, the governor called out for quarter, I gave him quarter, but all the wealth and property in the fort, became the plunder of the soldiers.

I spent three days in Kāt, I then sent off Ghyās Addyn and Aljaitū, with two divisions, to turn the flanks of Hussyn Sūfy’s army, whilst I sent against him my main body, commanded by Ky Khuserū Khutelāny; I then ordered the drums to strike up, and having mounted my steed, I advanced with rapidity, and entered the plains of Khuarizm. When Hussyn Sūfy saw my victorious army, he sent an ambassador to request my forgiveness, and to say that he would in future place his head on the line of obedience. Although I did not believe him, I nevertheless pardoned him, but in order to try him, I said to Ky Khuserū, “as long as Hussyn keeps possession of the fort of Khuarizm, it is impossible to clear the country of sedition.” In consequence of this hint, Ky Khuserū treacherously sent him a message, advising him not to trust to my promises, nor leave the fort, but if he would draw out his army, and come forth at the head of them, he, Ky Khuserū would join him with all his troops.

The Khuarizm Prince fell into the snare laid for him, marched out with a large body of troops, and advanced to the bank of the river Karān, which is at the distance of two _Fersukh_ from the fort, and drew up in battle array. At this period, Ky Khuserū waited on me and said, “I have outwitted the enemy, and have brought the prey into your toils;” I commanded him instantly to march with his troops, and cut off the communication with the fort: I then ordered my drums to be beaten, and having mounted my horse, proceeded towards the enemy, and while going along, determined on the plan of attack. I commanded Amyr Muvyd to go up the river with his division, and then cross over, and at the same time I sent Khetay Behader down the river, to effect his passage over it, and ordered Ak Timūr to cross with his division in front of the enemy; the three divisions swam their horses over the river, and reached the opposite bank with safety, except Aylchy Behader, who fell off his horse and was drowned. When I spurred my steed to enter the stream, Muhammed Seldūz caught hold of my stirrup, and entreated me not to proceed; he at the same time seized my standard, and rushed into the river. As soon as the divisions to the right and left, saw my standard, they made a desperate charge on the enemy, and a very severe conflict took place between the contending armies, in so much that the men engaged with knives and daggers, and pulled each other by their collars off their horses. Hussyn Sūfy seeing the desperate situation of his troops, fled alone into the fort. My victorious soldiers now laid siege to the fortress, and in a very short time they advanced their batteries so near, as greatly to harass the garrison: during the siege, Hussyn Sūfy was so terrified, that he departed this life.

On the death of Hussyn, he was succeeded by his brother Yusuf Sūfy, who immediately sent out his sword, and expressed his sorrow for the circumstances that had occurred, with protestations of his obedience and attachment to me. He further offered to give his niece, who was a descendant of the Khān of the Jetes, in marriage to one of my sons, so that a family connection might be cemented between us, which should serve as a bond of his fidelity. Having approved of this offer, I gave my consent, on condition that agents on the part of my son Jehangyr should remain in the districts of Khuarizm, to collect the tribute. Having written an edict on the above mentioned subject, I turned the reins of my steed towards Samerkund, and having arrived in that city, I caused the carpets of justice and happiness to be spread.

At this time, I discovered that Amyr Ky Khuserū Khutelāny, had during the siege of Khuarizm, carried on a secret correspondence with Hussyn Sūfy, and had encouraged him to oppose me, by promising to join him. It was in consequence of this negociation, and a renewal of the correspondence, that Yusuf Sūfy ventured to turn out the agents of Jehangyr, and to raise the standard of revolt. This was the sixth disturbance that took place during my reign, and was all owing to the want of loyalty of Ky Khuserū, whose ambitious spirit excited him to aim at the sovereignty; he therefore sent an agent named Shāh Mahmūd, to form a secret treaty with Yusuf Sūfy, by which they agreed to assist each other in my destruction; when I first received intelligence of this plot, I could not believe it, till one of their confidential agents shewed me a written copy of the treaty, I however kept the matter a secret.

[Sidenote: A. D. 1372.]

In the year 774, being then thirty-eight years of age, I quitted Samerkund, under pretence of a hunting expedition, but resolving to make a sudden incursion into the Khuarizm territory, and to take my revenge both on Yusuf Sūfy and the traitor Ky Khuserū; when I arrived in the plain of Kārshy, I gave orders for a general assembly of the nobles and prelates to be summoned, and brought Ky Khuserū before it; I then produced the secret treaty, gave it into his hand, and desired him to read it; when he saw the writing, and his own seal affixed to it, he was ashamed and held down his head; I was much affected on seeing him in this situation, but he himself saved me the pain of passing sentence by saying, “I am guilty, and am deserving of any punishment your Highness may command.” I therefore determined to give the (Toman) horde of Khutelān to Muhammed, the son of Shyr Behram, and as there existed a great enmity between them, I judged that there could not be a greater punishment than to deliver Ky Khuserū over to Muhammed, to do with him as he pleased, and ordered accordingly. I then arose from the assembly, and having mounted my horse, proceeded towards Khuarizm.

When I had crossed the sandy desert of Khuarizm, Yusuf Sūfy having heard of the fate of his confederate, and of my arrival, sent an ambassador to beseech the chiefs and my son Jehangyr, to intercede for his pardon; he also sent his niece Khān Zadē, who was betrothed to Jehangyr, with a great retinue, and many presents to wait on me. As the young Princess was very eloquent, and had a charming address, she said to me at our first meeting, “an Emperor is he who pardons equally Kings and beggars, and does not severely criticise their actions; and if they have been guilty of faults, freely forgives them, because when an enemy asks for forgiveness, he should no longer be considered an enemy: also a great monarch, having elevated any person, does not again cast him down, and whatever he gives, does not seek for any return; he does not place implicit reliance on the friendship of any individual, nor does he behold with implacability the enmity of any person, but considers both equally beneath his notice.” She then requested me to pardon her uncle, in return for this speech, I gave the kingdom of Khuarizm for her (Kabyn) marriage dower, to be managed by Yusuf Sūfy, as the agent of my son Jehangyr; I then returned to Samerkund, and shortly after deputed the Amyrs Yadgār Berlās and Aljaitū, to bring the bride Khān Zadē from Khuarizm. These noblemen were received by Yusuf Sūfy with the greatest respect, he professed his willing obedience to me, and gave to each of the ambassadors rich presents, and prepared a sumptuous banquet for them. After a few days he dismissed them with the bride and a suitable equipage.

When the Princess approached Samerkund, I ordered several of the chief ladies of my family, attended by a number of noblemen, to go and meet her, and bring her into the city with the greatest honour and pomp. I also commanded all the chiefs, Syeds, and prelates, to be assembled, and in their presence the marriage ceremony was performed according to the rites of the Muhammedan religion, may the Lord be praised for all his goodness.

-----

Footnote 111:

Six miles.

Footnote 112:

Here Timūr purposely omits the result, which was the death of the prisoner.