Indian Antiquary Vol 13

SR No.: 032505
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: John Faithfull Fleet, Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 492
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 22 MB

Page 257

August, 1884.]
CHINGHIZ KHÅN AND HIS ANCESTORS.
223
then at Talikan. Nasir-u'd-dîn and the boys had been given him by his father as evidence were put to death. Two of the girls were of some grant the transaction was duly given to Chagatai, who put one in his harem, respected. and gave the other to his chief officer, Habesh Feeling that hisend was approaching, MuhamAmid. A third was married to Danishmend, mad summoned his sons, Jelal-u'd-din, Uzlak Chinghiz Khân's chamberlain. Another of the Shah, called Arzalak Sultan by Raverty, and Ak princesses, named Khân Sultân, who had 1 Sultan. Having revoked the disposition by married Osman, prince of Samarkand, was, which, ander his mother's influence, he had according to an improbable account, made over nominated Uzlak Shah as his successor, hegirded to a dyer at Imil. Muhammad of Nissa says the sword upon Jelal-u'd-din, saying that he inore probably that she was married to Juchi, alone was capable of saving the empire, and the eldest son of Chinghiz Khân, and that bidding his younger sons do him homage and she bore him several children. Turkhan obey him. A few days later he died. One of his Khatun herself was taken to Mongolia. Nissavi attendants named Shamš-u'd-din Mahmud, says she was treated with great indignity, and washed his body and wrapped it in bisshirt, there that Chinghiz when at table used to throw her being no other linen to bury it in. His body was bits of meat as if she had been a dog." She removed some years later by Jelal-a'd-dîn, and died at Karakoram in 1233." We have seen buried in the fortress of Ardehan. Erdmann how Muhammad had confided ten cases of jewels dates his death on the 10th of February 1221.55 to one of his officers, with orders to take them to D'Ohason says that the opinions of eastern Ardehan, a lofty fortress, situated north of historians are much divided in regard to MuRai, in the mountains separating Mazanderan hammad. Rashid and the author of the Jihan and Iråk, but the Mongols having appeared kushai represent him as irresolate, overcome before the place, promised his life to the com- with fear, putting too much trust in astrologers, mander if he would surrender the jewels, which and at the same time as given up to pleasure he accordingly did, and these treasures were and debauchery. Even while the Mongols were carried off to Chinghiz Khân." We have seen pursuing him he was surrounded by dancing how the Khuârezm Shâh sought shelter at Ab- and singing women. Ibn-al-Athir, a contemsukan. We are told that he had barely embarked porary, gives a more favourable account of to go thither when a party of pursuers appeared him, and says he was well-informed, especially on the bank and fired a volley of arrows after in law, that he loved the society of learned men, him, and some of them in their eagerness doctors of the law, and religious men, and tha rushed into the sea, and were drowned. He disciplined by hard work, he devoted himself was much distressed with the news that his to affairs of state and the good of the people. harem had been captured, and his distress Zehebi describes him as active, vigilant and was increased by an attack of pleurisy. He intrepid, but as having a criminal ambition. contrasted his recent position as the master Whichever view is taken as to his general of an immense empire with his present one, qualities, there can be no doubt that he showed when he had only a few yards of earth for great weakness in the presence of the Mongols." a grave. He rested in a tent, and people came On Muhammad's death Jelal-u'd-din made his from Mazanderan and brought him refresh- way to Mangushlak on the eastern shore of the ments, and in return he gave them fiefs, &c., Caspian, and having sent on his two younger the diplomas being often written out by the brothers, Uzlak and Ak-Sulţân, to report his recipients of these favours themselves, since approach, set off on his way to the kernel of most of his suite had been sent on missions to the empire, namely, Khuárezm, which was as his sons. Some years later, when Jelal-u'd-dîn yet free from the Mongol arms. Tarkhan recovered a portion of his father's dominions, Khatun had retired some time before from he carried out these dispositions, and any one there, as I have described with the Sultan's who could show him a knife or a towel which harem, but there still remained a garrison of
D'Ohason, vol. I, p. 260; De la Croix, p. 276. # De la Croix, p. 276. * D'Obsson, vol. I, p. 260.
54 Nissavi, quoted by D'Ohsson, vol. I, p. 281. * D'Ohsson, vol. I, pp. 254-256; Erdmann, p.898. 54 D'Ohason, vol. I, pp. 256 and 257.