Historical Notes by Munshi Mohammad Azim, arranged chronologically(2)
Nader Afshar in
Herat (1134 AH/1721-1722 CE)
Nader seized Herat in 1134 and moved
sixty thousand families from Herat, sending them to Asfzar and Farah.
Ascension of
Nader Shah (1148 AH/1735-1736 CE)
Nader
Shah ascended to the throne in 1148, when he was in the desert of Mughan,
on the way to Mazandaran, near to the castle of Awlad (mentioned in Shahnama).
Murder of Nader
Shah (1160AH/1747 CE)
In 1160 Nader Shah was murdered at
the Fathabad lodging place at
Khabooshan. He was shot in the
forest by a Taimani slave.
Death of Ahmad
Shah Durrani (1185
AH/1771-1772 CE)
After Nader Shah, Ahmad Shah Afghan
became the King of Afghanistan and parts of India. He died in 1185, having
reigned for 25 years.
(In another
place)Timor Shah
After Ahmad Shah, his son, Timor
Shah became king of Afghanistan and parts of India, and reigned for 47 years.
He died in Sh’ban of 1232, ( Timor died
in 1207/1793 CE, so his reign spanned 22
years)
Death of Karim
Khan Zand (1193 AH/ 1779 CE)
Karim Khan Zand, died in 1193. Zand is A Clan of Kurdish tribe (Zand is not
Kurdish but a branch of Lor tribes) and [Karim Khan’s family] were shepherds,
who inhabited Malayer and rose in the social ranks until they attained the sovereignty.
He and his children and cousins reigned in Iran for 43 years.
Ascension of
Agha Mohammad khan (1198
AH/1783-1784 CE)
Ascension of Agha Mohammad Khan
Akhta (the Castrated one) to the throne was in the year 1198. His reign spanned
13 years. (In another place): Murder of
Agha Mohammad khan Akhta took place during the siege of the city of Shish
(Shisha or Shoosha): 1211 AH/1797 CE. He was murdered by his own servants.
(In another place): The Ascension of Agha Mohammad Khan happened in 1189. He
was known as Akhta because Nader Shah had had him castrated.
Ascension of
Fath Ali Shah Qajar (1211 AH/1797
CE)
The ascension of Fath Ali Shah, Agha
Mohaad khan’s nephew (brother’s son), was in the year 1211. He died in Isfahan,
in 1250 AH/1834 CE; his reign spanned 39 years. (IN another place): Ascension
of Fath Ali Shah, Agha Mohammad Khan’s nephew to the throne of Iran took place in
the year 1211.
Martyrdom of
Sufi Islam (1222
AH/1807-1808 CE)
Sufi Islam was martyred in 1222
during the governorship of Prince Haji Firooz uddin, in Shakiban (west of
Herat), in the war against Nawwab Hassein Ali Mirza, governor of Khurasan.
Vazir Fateh Khan
in Herat (1232 AH/1816-1817 CE)
In 1232 Vazir Fateh Khan seized
Herat from Prince Haji [Firooz-uddin].
(in other place) Vazir Fateh Khan Barakzai Mohammadzay took Herat, from Prince Haji Firooz-uddin through
chicanery and politicking, and in the same year, there occurred a war between
Vizir Fath khan and Hussein Ali Mirza, governor of Khurasan, at Dogharo, near
Kafirqala, ending in mutual loss. Both sides being defeated, the Hazara
cavalries who were accompanying the Vazir’s army, looted both sides and took as
much booty as they could, and without entering the city of Herat, marched to
Badghis, their hometown, and became rich and prosperous.
(In other place) War between Vazir
Fateh Khan and prince Hussein Ali Mirza, governor of Khurasan, took place at
Kafirqala of Kuhsan in the year 1232 /1816-1817 CE.
Blinding and slaying of Vazir Fateh
khan (1232 AH/ 1816-1817 CE)
The blinding and, after a few
months, slaying of Vazir Fateh khan, by King Kamran, son of King Mahmood
Afghan, happened on the way to Kabul, in the year 1232 AH/ 1816-1817 CE.
(In another place) On 27 Dhulqa’da
1232/10 October 1817 Vazir Fateh khan took Herat from Haji Firoozuddin by chicanery
and politicking. Later, King Kamran, son of King Mahmood, blinded and
imprisoned the Vazir in the same room in which Prince Haji had been imprisoned.
Later, when King Kamran decided to travel to Kabul, he took the Vazir with him and
on the way ordered Durrani khans to kill him.
Defeat of
Hussein Ali Mirza (1232 AH/1816-1817
CE)
The defeat of Hossein Ali Mirza happened
at Maroochaq Balamorghab in 1232 AH/1816-1817 CE.
King Mahmood’s flight from Kabul (1234 AH/1818-1819
CE)
King Mahmood’s flight from Kabul to Herat happened
in 1234 – [It was the] autonomous governorship of King Mahmood and Haji
Firoozuddin in Herat.
(In another place): King Mahmood
entered Herat after being defeated in Kabul: Ramadhan 1234/June 1819.
Death of Ranjit
Singh (1234 AH/ 1818-1819 CE): Date of
Ranjit Singh’s death [according to Perso-arabic acrostic alphabet] is
Zaagh-e-koor (Blind Crow) due to his
dark skin and having only one eye. Zaagh-e-koor transcribes to 1234.
Revolt of
Mustafa Khan Zoori (1234 AH/1818-1819
CE)
Revolt of Mustafa Khan Zoori and his
murder by King Mahmood: 1234.
Siege of Herat (1237 AH/1822 CE)
Murder of Amir Qilich Khan Timuri
and Ibrahim Khan Jamshidi during the siege of Herat: 1st Ramadhan 1237/22 May 1822.
(slightly different in another
place): The murder of Amir Qilich Khan
Timuri and Ibrahim Khan Jamshidi happened in the vicinity of Herat, during the
siege they had laid in 1237.
Coming of King
Mahmood to Herat, helped by Fath Ali Shah Qajar
(1241 AH/1825-1826 CE)
Coming of King Mahmood to Herat, for
the second time, with the help of Fath Ali Shah the Shah of Iran, for which
assistance King Mahmood had gone to Iran: 1241.
Hasan Ali Mirza
in Citadel of Herat (1241 AH/1826
CE)
Arrival of Prince Hasan Ali Mirza at
the Citadel of Herat, unaccompanied, to visit King Kamran, on the day of Eid-e
Adha, in the year 1241/14 July 1826.
(In another place): Prince Hasan Ali Mirz arrived unaccompanied,
at the Citadel of Herat, in 1241, on Eid-e-Quraban (Eid-ul-Adhha) day/ July 16,
1826.
Russians in
Tabriz (1243 AH/1827-1828 CE)
Russian troops attacked Azerbaijan and
conquered the city of Tabriz in the year 1243 at the reign of Fath Ali Shah
Qajar.
(In another place) Russian troops
attacked Azerbaijan and conquered the city of Tabriz, and were stationed there in the year 1243, at the reign of Fath Ali Shah
Qajar. Then Fath Ali Shah paid millions in cash from his treasury as the
expense of the military expedition. Consequently
Russian troops left the city and retreated to their own country.
Cholera in
Herat (1244 AH/1828 CE)
There was a severe break out of
cholera in Herat in the summer and the fall of 1244 (the same sentence is being
repeated in another place).
Death of King
Mahmood(1245 AH/1829 CE)
King Mahmood passed away, on the
last day of Rabi’ l 1245/29 October 1829, in Herat (The sentence repeated in
two places, once without mentioning the month)
Death of Fath
Ali Shah Qajar(1250 AH/1835
CE)
Fath Ali Shah Qajar died in Isfahan, in the
year 1250
Ascension of Mohammad Shah Qajar(1250 AH/1835 CE)
Mohammad Shah, grandson of Fath Ali
Shah and son of Abbas Mirza-the Crown Prince, ascended the throne in the year
1250. He died in Shamiran of Tehran on Shawwal 6, 1264/February 1848. His reign
spanned 14 years.
Murder of Shah
Shoja (1252 AH/1836-1837 CE)
Shah Shoja’ son of Timur Shah was
murdered in the year 1252 and the date was versified in Persian (here the
ascribe quotes a couplet in Persian mentioning the date according to
Perso-arabic acrostic alphabet. The verse is copied in the Persian version)
Murder of the
British Lord (1252
AH/1836-1837 CE)
In the same year that Shah Shoja was
murdered, there was also murdered the British Lord, who was known among
citizens of Kabul as Lat of Farang, or as they colloquially called “Laat e
Farangi”. The incident occurred when
Kabul was captured by British army. All people of Kabul – the city of brave
men- rose and killed the Laat and other British officers, and released the land
of Islam from the hand of nonbelievers.
The same versifier of Shah Shoja’s murder date also arranged a verse for
the Laat’s murder [It was Alexander Barnes, the British envoy who was killed in
the uprising of people of Kabul, and the date in acrostic alphabet can be seen
in the Persian copy ].
Siege of Herat (1253-1354 AH/1837-1838 CE)
Mohammad Shah Qajar, with 120,000
troops besieged Herat. The siege lasted one year. He retreated in the month of
Jumadi II 1254/August 1838.
(In another place) Mohammad Shah,
king of Iran, with 120,000 troops arrived the outskirts of the Herat city in
the year 1253. The ministers of four states were accompanying him. The siege
lasted 11 months. He returned to Iran in the year 1254 without attaining his
aim. (In another place, there are quoted three verses that ironically mention
the retreat of Mohammad Shah from Herat aimlessly)
Pottinger in
Herat (1253-1258 AH/1837-1842 CE)
Pottinger, the British [agent]
entered Herat, secretly in the year 1253, when the city was besieged by Mohammad
Shah Qajar. After the siege was lifted, there also came Studdart Sahib and
Hakim Sahib, with their treasure to Herat. Vazir Yar Mohammad khan and King
Kamran settled them in Char-bagh inside the city. They stayed there for four
years and spent their treasure in repairing and building of Herat. Afterward,
when the British army in Kabul were killed, Vazir Yar Mohammad khan expelled
the Farangi (Briton) in the year 1258 AH/1842 CE. Studdart who went to Bukhara
was, killed there, by the order of the king of Bukhara.
End of the descendants
of Ahmad [Shah Durrani] (1258 AH/1842 CE)
The sovereignty of the descendants of Ahmad came to an end when Kamran
was imprisoned and then killed by Vazir Yar Mohammad khan, in the year one
thousand two hundred fifty eight. The Vazir himself became governor of Herat,
and governed there, independently, for nine years. He died, in his natural
death, on his way to Lash and Jowain, during an expedition. After Yar Mohammad
khan, his son Sardar Sayyed Mohammad khan governed for four years. Then Vazir
Isa khan and Shahzada (the prince) Mohammad Yusuf had, together, the
governorship of Herat for two years.
Death of Kamran (1259 AH/1843 CE)
Kamran died in detention, at the time of
governorship of Vazir Yar Mohammad khan, in Rabi’ II 1259/May 1843.
Flight of Salar
and revolt in Mashhad (1263 AH/1847
CE)
Salar, son of Asef-uddowla, maternal
uncle of Mohammad Shah, fled while on his way to Tehran. He entered Mashhad and
the subjects of Mashhad revolted because of the extortions of Turkish troops,
who accompanied Hamza Mirza in the citadel of Khurasan. The revolt took place
in 1263 under the leadership of Rajab Bahador Marvi, and continued for two
years.
Death of
Mohammad Shah (1264 AH/1848
CE)
Mohammad Shah Qajar passed away on
Shawal 4, 1264/September 5, 1848, in Shamiran, Tehran.
Ascension of
Nasiruddin Shah (1264 AH/1848
CE)
Nasiruddin Shah ascended the throne
in 1264 when he had 18 years. He died a martyrdom death on Friday 17 Dhulqada
1313/30 April 1896. His murderer named Reza, a Babi (a converted religious
sect) who shot the king when he was praying. He reigned 49 years and aged 67
years. His ascension as well as his martyrdom took place in the month of Dhulqa’da. He had been born in the month of
Safar 1247/July 1831.
Babi sect’s followers tried two
times to kill the king. First it was 28
of Shawwal 1268 in the fourth year of his reign, and second time when he was
martyred.
Murder of the
Custodian (1264 AH/1848 CE)
Mirza Abdullah custodian of Holy
Mashhad was murdered while the citizens
of Mashhad revolted on 25 Ramadan 1264/ 25 August 1848.
Death of Yar
Mohammad khan (1267 AH/1851
CE)
Vazir Yar Mohammad khan passed away at
Mirala lodging place on 11 Shaban 1267/11 June 1851when he returned from his
expedition from Lash and Jowain.
Birth date of
Mozaffaruddin Shah (1269 AH/1853
CE)
Mozaffaruddin Shah [Shah of Iran]
was born on Monday Jumadi II 14, 1853/March 25, 1853 in Sonbola [ but March
falls in Hoot and Hamal, Persian solar
months, not in Sonbola].
Arrival of the
Qajar defeated troops (1270
AH/1853-1854 CE)
Qajari troops, being defeated in Marv,
arrived to Herat on Shaban 10, 1270/May 8, 1854. The troops had been settled in
Marv’s citadel on behalf of the government of Iran. It was at the time of
governorship of Sardar Sayyed Mohammad khan son of Yar Mohammad khan Alkozai.
Siege of Herat (1271 AH/1855 CE)
Hassam- alsaltana besieged Herat at
the end of 1271, and seized it after nine months. After he seized the city he
stayed there for nine more months. Then, ordered by Nasiruddin Shah, he
submitted Herat to Sardar Sultan Ahmad khan.
(In another place) Hessam- al-saltana,
Qajar prince, who governed Khurasan, attacked Herat, as was ordered by the King
of Iran, Nasiruddin Shah. He besieged the city for nine months. There in Herat,
Prince Mohammad Yusuf Sadozai and Vazir Isa khan Bardurani, were governing
jointly. Isa khan, due to the indigence
and difficulties caused by the siege, was forced to seek refuge in the Iranian
camp. He went and saluted Hussam-alsaltana. Qajar army captured the city, in the
year 1273/1856. Iranians took the city of Herat and its suburbs under their
possession, until the British government captured Iranian port of Bushahr,
forcing the King of Iran to seek peace.
Iran submitted Herat to the Afghan Sardar, Sultan Ahmad khan Barakzai –
Mohammadzai and, paid him an annual salary of 12000 Tooman. Sultan Ahmad khan
began governorship of Herat in the year 1274/1857. When Iranians gave Herat
over to Afghans, British forces also left the port of Bushahr, making an
agreement.
Prince Reza in
Herat (1272 AH/1856 CE)
Prince Mohammad Reza Sadozai, Yusuf
khan’s brother, took Herat from Sayyed Mohammad khan, son of Vazir Yar Mohammad
khan Alkozai, with the help of Abbas khan Herati, Vazir Isa khan and
Brigadier-general Yusuf khan Hazara, on 24 Dhulhijja, 1272/26 August, 1856.
Mirza Najaf khan Herati, who lived
in Mashhad, brought Honor-robe to Herat, for Prince Mohammad Yusuf Sadozai,
from the Governor of Khurasan. Najaf khan and Sam khan Ilkhani [who accompanied
Najaf khan] first decided to oppose Prince Mohammad Yusuf, but afterwards,
Ilkhani disagreed and informed the Prince.
Murder of Isa
khan Bardurani (6 Rabi II,
1273/4 December, 1856)
Vazir Isa khan was murdered on
Friday, 6 Rabi II, 1273, after he submitted the city to Hussam-ul-saltana. He was shot in the artillery ground,
pretending to parade the troops.
Retreat of Hassam-al-saltana (1273 AH/1857)
Hessam-al-saltana returned from
Herat in first days of Dhulhijja, 1273/July 1857.
Murder of
Sayyed Mohammad khan (1273 AH/1856
CE)
Sardar Sayyed Mohammad khan was
murdered by the order of Prince Mohammad Yusuf in the month of Muharram 1273/
September 1856.
Governorship of
Sultan Ahmad khan (1274
AH/1857-1858 CE)
Sardar Sultan Ahmad khan Mohammadzai
became governor of Herat, by the order Nassir u’lddin Shah, in the year 1274.
Sultan Ahmad
khan’s expedition to Tehran (1276 AH/1860
CE)
Sardar Sultan Ahmad khan left Herat for
Tehran in the month of Rajab/January or February. He arrived in Tehran in
Ramadan1276/March or April 1860. The trip took six months: two months on the
way to Tehran, two months returning from Tehran, and two months staying in
Tehran. Thomson sahib was then the Minster plenipotentiary of Britain in
Tehran. (From another note, we know that The Monshi as well as his father the
Grand Monshi Mohammad Ismail had been accompanying the governor in this trip)
Siege of Herat
by Doost Mohammad khan (1279 AH/1863
CE)
Servants of Amir Doost Mohammad khan
king of Kabulistan, came around the city of Herat on Thursday 25 Muharram
1279/16 March 1863. They besieged the city for 11 months. Sardar Sultan Ahmad
khan was governor of Herat. The besiegers entered the city on the night of
Eid-ul Adha/March 6, in the year 1280 AH/1864 CE, and the city was plundered.
(In another place) Servants of Amir
Doost Mohammad khan king of Kabul, uncle and father-in-law of Sardar Sultan
Ahmad khan, brought armies from Kabul and Kandahar and besieged the city of
Herat in the month of Safar. After ten months siege, in the month of Dhulhijja,
on the night of Eid-ul Adha he captured
the city and plundered it. [Amir Doost Mohammad khan] died thirteen days later.
Sardar Sultan Ahmad khan also died of dropsy, when Herat was under the siege.
He severely suffered from extravagant expense and grief. Amir Doost Mohammad khan took Herat from
Shahnawaz khan, son of Sultan Ahmad khan.
[The cause of siege of Herat]
Farah was dependant of Herat at the
time of Vazir Yar Mohammad khan. At the time of governorship of his son, Sardar
Sayyed Mohammad khan, Farah was captured by Kandahar Sardars, on behalf of Amir
Doost Mohammad khan. Amir appointed his son, Wakil Saifuddawla as the governor
of Farah. Saifuddawla’s mother was Hazara. He and his family were there till
the time of governorship of Sultan Ahmad khan. When Sultan Ahmad khan, governor
of Herat, came back from the salutation he paid to the king Nassiruddin Shah,
he carried army to Farah and took the city. Amir Doost Mohammad khan, in
retaliation, besieged and captured Herat. Herat is still under the sovereignty
of the king of Kabul.
Signet rime of Amir Doost Mohammad
khan:
His finger ring signet ring: Yaa
Amir Koll amir (O Lord of the all lords)
His register Seal:
(Translation of a verse):
Amir Doost Mohammad who is the
eternal fortunate
The order of his State is from the
order of Sher Ali
Death of Sultan
Ahmad khan (1279 AH/1863 CE)
Sardar Sultan Ahmad khan died on
Monday night, Shawwal 17, 1279/April 7, 1863, when Herat was under the siege.
Governorship of
Yaqoob khan (1280 AH/1863
CE)
Sardar Mohammad Yaqoob khan, son of
Amir Shir Ali khan, son of Amir Doost Mohammad khan, became governor of Herat
in the year 1280 AH/1863 CE).
Yaqoob khan in
Mashhad (1284 AH/1867 CE)
Sardar Mohammad Yaqoob khan went to
Mashhad, in the month of Rabi I, 1284/July 1867, to visit Nassiruddin Shah, The
king of Iran, who had come to Mashhad for pilgrimage of the holy shrine.
(Monshi had accompanied Yaqoob khan and has counted it as his fifth expedition)
Shir Ali khan
in India (1285 AH/1869 CE)
Amir Shir Ali khan left Kabul on Dhulqada
2, 1285 AH/February 14, 1869 to visit the Viceroy of India at the place of
Ambala, in Punjab, Sarhind.
Amir Abdurrahman
khan in Iran and Russia (1285
AH/1868-1869 CE)
Amir Sahib Abdurrahman khan went to
Iran and Russian state, after being defeated by Amir Shir Ali khan in Ghazni,
in the year 1285 AH/1868-1869 CE)
Flight of
Yaqoob khan (1287 AH/1870 CE)
Sardar Mohammad Yaqoob khan escaped
from his father Amir Shir Ali khan from the city of Kabul in the month of
Ramadan, 1287/November or December 1870.
Dearth in Herat (1287 AH/1870-1871 CE)
In the year 1287 AH/1870-1871 CE,
one Man (about 4 Kg.) wheat sold for 4 Karan [that was extremely expensive]. It
was yeelan yeel, the snake year (according to Chinese calendar). The lack of rain in the winter caused
draught. People, all over Khurasan, except Herat, were forced to eat unclean
animals. In Herat food was expensive, but it could be found.
Murder of Fateh
khan (1288 AH/1871 CE)
Sardar Mohammad Yaqoob khan, son of
Amir Shir Ali khan, who had escaped from his father, besieged Herat in 13 Muharram,
1288 AH/4 April 1871 CE and captured the city on Safar 15/May 6. The city was
plundered and Sardar Fateh khan, his
cousin was killed while defending the city. Fateh khan was governing Herat by
the order of his uncle Amir Shir Ali khan. [Sardar Fateh khan should not be
mistaken for his uncle Vazir Fateh khan]
Return of
Yaqoob khan to Kabul (1288 AH/1871
CE)
Sardar Mohammad Yaqoob khan,
returned for third time to Kabul in Ramadan 1288/November 1871 and was
imprisoned by his father.
Birth of
Mohammad Ali Shah (1289 AH/1872
CE)
His majesty Mohammad Ali Shah the
king of Iran was born on Rabi’ II 13, 1289/June 20, 1879 (this subject is repeated
at another place). His ascension: 1324 AH/1906 CE.
Birth of Amir
Habibullah (1289 AH/1872 CE)
His majesty Amir Habullah khan, king
of Afghanistan was born on Rabi’ II 25, 1289/July 2, 1872 (repeated at another
place).
Nassiruddin
Shah’s in Europe (1290 AH/1873
CE)
Nassiruddin Shah traveled to
Frangistan (Europe) for the first time in the year 1290 AH/1873.
First flight of
Ayyoob khan (1291 AH/1874
CE)
Sardar Mohammad Ayyoob khan escaped to
Iran, three times: First fearing from his father’s army, second after being
defeated by Sarkar Amir Abdurrahman khan. (For the third flight read under the
year 1304 AH/1886 CE)
Conquest of
Maimana (1293 AH/1876 CE)
Maimana was conquered in the reign
of Amir Shir Ali khan on Safar 17, 1293/March 14, 1876. The commander of the
governmental army was Na’ib Mohammad Alam khan, governor of Turkistan, and
Sardar Abdullah khan Ghaljai Nassiri was
commanding Herati troops and cavalries which had gone to the war of Maimana.
The siege of Maimana lasted five months, from Ramadan [1292] to Safar [1293]/November
1875-March 1876.Then the city of Maimana was captured in four hours. There, 500
troops were killed or wounded and around 5000 citizens of Maimana were killed.
Death of Amir
Shir Ali khan (1296 AH/1879
CE)
Amir Shir Ali khan died of gangrene,
a painful illness in his leg (in Farsi text the name of the illness is
shakaklos ), in Mazar sharif, Turkistan, on Friday night, 29 of Safar 1296/22
February, 1879.
When Amir Shir Ali khan had gone to
Turkistan and the British army had entered Afghanistan to conquer it, the
Russian Emperor wrote to Amir Shir Ali khan: you should play chicanery and
trick with Britons till these cold days pass, then God will show you his order,
it means we will say Bismillah (in the name of God) coming to help you.
Ayyoob khan plundered of Herat (1296
AH/1879 CE)
Sardar Mohammad Ayoob khan left
Herat for Kandahar [in the year 1296/1879]. In the mean time, 3 Herati
regiments which were settled in the citadel of Maimana, left that city
acompanied by their colonel, Faizo khan, and came to Herat on Monday, Dhulhijja
13/November 28. Ayyoob khan was, then, at Malan Bridge (Pol-e-Malan), first march from Herat. Herati regiments,
revolted against Ayyoob khan, marched next day to Pol-e-Malan and fought with
five Kabuli regiments led by Ayyoob khan, who defeated them. Then Ayyoob khan
with Kabuli regiments, entered Herat and plundered the city in the year 1296
AH/1879 CE.
Reign of
Abdurrahman khan (1297-1319
AH/1879 -1901 CE)
Amir Abdurrahman khan became The
king of Afghanistan and Afghani Turkistan, the provinces on this side (south)
of Oxus, in the year 1297 AH/1879 CE and reigned until 1319/1901 for 22 years.
The war of
Maiwand (1297 AH/1880 CE)
The war of Maiwand between Sardar
Mohammad Ayyoob khan and British troops took place at Maiwand 14 Krooh far from
Kandhar (approximately 42 Km. on the west of Kandahar). Saint John was the
commander-in-chief of the British army. The battle on Shaban 20/July 28 led to the victory of
the army of Islam, in the year 1297/1880 Loy yeel (the year of wale).
7000 Afghan troops had come from
Herat,: 4000 cavalries, 3000 infantries,
and 8 guns ( the number is written in Siaq and it can also be read 3).
From Kandahar also 7000 troops, who
were at the front line of the British army, and had reached around Hirmand, with
Sardar Shir Ali khan Kandahari, came saluting Sardar Ayyoob khan and joined the
Herat army.
Ghazi and eeljari (different people
hired) people gathered from places around Herat were approximately 6000-7000
persons. Totally they were 20,000 – 30,000 persons.
British troops, present in the city
of Kandahar and in the barracks, were six thousand, and Saint John sahib was
their commander. Those who had come to fight and fought with the army of Islam at
Kushk-Nakhod were three thousand cavalries and infantries and 8 guns. The
British troops were defeated and all were killed in the battle-field, except
Saint John sahib who could escape along with 500 troops into the city. From the
army of Islam, about 3000 souls, ghazis or ordinary people got the high degree
of martyrdom.
In Kandahar, there were still 3000
troops with cannons and equipments. When Saint John sahib reached the city,
Islamic troops besieged it, and the city was besieged for forty days. Then the
British troops in Kabul compromised with Amir Abdurrahman khan Mohammadzai, left
Kabul for that Amir sahib, and came to Kandahar to help besieged Saint John.
Kandahar was under the siege during the month of Ramadan. On the night of Eid
the city gate opened and General Robert [famous in Afghanistan as Rapet , as
written in the copy] arrived from Kabul, with a compo (Company? a company has
less than 200 troops, but a division has 1000 or more), comprised of 12000 troops. They fought the Muslims’
army, near Baba Wali and by the side of Old City of Kandahar, and defeated it. It
was said that there were nineteen platoons and eight squads with Robert, who
defeated the Muslim army. Sardar Mohammad Ayyoob khan along with other
companion sardars and Herat’s army came back to Herat. The troops who had come
along with Mohammad Ayyoob khan, after being defeated returned directly to
Kabul and did not come to Herat.
A British artillery officer, called
Mclean, trying to reach his commander Saint John in the city of Kandahar, was
captured by the subjects of Kandahar and brought to Sardar Mohammad Ayyoob khan
and was held in detention. He was killed by his prisoners after the defeat of the
Muslims’ army.
Yaqoob khan’s
compromise with British (121988
AH/1880-1881 CE)
After the defeat of British army,
Sardar Yaqoob khan went to Sorkh-Pol of Kabul and compromised with the Britons
and brought British Cavagnari sahib in Kabul. The Kabul civilians revolted
against Cavagnari and killed him.
Battle between
Ayyoob khan and Abdurrahman khan
(1298 AH/1881 CE)
Sardar Mohammad Ayyoob khan left Herat
for Kandahar on Rajab 20, 1298/June 18, 1881 (here, one or two leaves are
fallen).
[He] fought His Highness Amir
Abdurrahman khan, in Kandahar on Shawwal 27, 1298/September 22, 1881 and was
defeated. Then he did not come to Herat and went to Iran through Farah and Asfazar.
Ayyoob khan’s
second flight to Iran (1298 AH/1881
CE)
Sardar Mohammad Ayyoob khan marched,
along with an army, from Herat to Kandahar that was under the sovereignty of
Amir Abdurrahman khan. Sardar Shamsuddin khan Mohammadzai, governor of Kandahar
came with troops and officers in Kushk-Nakhod. They fought there and the armies
of Kandahar and Kabul were defeated. Sardar Ayyoob khan took the city. Then,
Amir Abdurrahman khan left Kabul for Kandahar along with sufficient troops and
equipments. Amir also appointed Sardar Abdulquddoos khan, who was in Turkistan,
as governor of Herat. When Amir and the
army arrived near Kandahar, there was fighting for a few days between Amir and
Sardar, at the locations of Chelzeena and the Old City. Finally Sardar Ayyoob
khan was defeated and went toward Herat. But now, Sardar Abdulquddoos khan had
arrived and had seized the city. So
Sardar Ayyoob khan went through Farah and Asfzar to Iran. (his first flight was
mentioned under the year 1291 AH/1874 CE)
(To be continued)
