The Battle of Fatehpur was a key episode in the dissolution of the Samma Dynasty of Sindh

Sindh

Sindh historically referred to as Ba'ab-ul-Islam , is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhi people. It is also locally known as the "Mehran". Though Muslims form the largest religious group in Sindh, a good number of Christians, Zoroastrians and Hindus can...

 and its replacement by the Arghun Dynasty

Arghun Dynasty

The Arghun Dynasty was a dynasty of either Mongol, Turkish or Turko-Mongol ethnicity that ruled parts of Afghanistan and Pakistan in the late 15th and early 16th centuries, and would later be focused around the region of Sindh in south east Pakistan for most of the 16th century...

. The account that follows is largely derived from the History of the Sind by Muḥammad Maʿṣūm, translated by Mirza Kalichbeg Fredunbeg. in 1799. The conflict between the Samma Dynasty of Sindh and the Arghun Dynasty lead to the Battle of Fatehpur. Some Mughals had come to Sind in the reign of Jam Feróz and settled there with the authorization of the Jam. Among them were Ka­bak Arghun who had left Shahhbeg's party due to a murder. Most of these Mughuls, mainly of tribes like Daolatshah and Nargahi tribes had been enlisted in his service by Jam Feróz, who entertained some doubts against Darya Khan and wanted to secure some fearless men to work against him, when required. It was at the information and invitation of Mír Kasim Kabaka, that Shahbeg marched against Tatta with a large army about the close of 914 AH (1508 AD).

Some Mughals

Mughal (tribe)

The term Mughal is simply a Turkic word and many groups in India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh use the term Mughal to describe themselves...

 had come to Sind in the reign of Jám Feróz

Jám Feróz

Jam Ferozudin bin Jam Nizamudin , more usually known as Jam Feroz , was the last ruler of the Samma Dynasty of Sindh.- History :...

 and settled there with the permission of the Jám. Among them were Kíbak Arghún who had left Sháhbeg’s party owing to a murder he had committed that side, and Mír Kásim Kíbakí, who was a sort of spy left by Sháhbeg. Most of these Mughuls, chiefly of Daolatsháh and Núrgáhí tribes had been enlisted in his service by Jám Feróz, who entertained some suspicions against Daryá Khán and wanted to secure some intrepid men to work against him, in case of necessity. It was at the information and invitation of Mír Kásim Kíbakí, that Sháhbeg marched against Tattá with a large army about the close of 914 AH (1508 AD).

Shahbeg’s flght with Darya Khan

Sháhbeg came to Fatehpur and Ganjábah to make warlike preparations by collecting and arrauging troops. He left some chiefs in charge of those places, posted his own brother at Siwí and sent Mír Fázil Kókaltásh * with 240 horses, as an advance party. The Sammah army of sind on passing through the district of Bághbán was joined at Taltí, about 6 or 7 miles from Sehwán, by Daryá Khán’s sons Mahmúd and Mótan Khán. On the arrival of Sháhbeg at the village of Bághbán, the chief men of the place hastened to pay their respects to him, which encouraged him to advance towards Tattá. Passing through the Lakí hills, be came within about 6 miles of Tattá southwards, where he halted and encamped on the bank of the Khánwáh. In those days the river flowed to the south of Tattá and so he had to make arrangements to cross it. The spies soon found a native way-farer, who, on pressure put upon him, pointed out the place where the river was fordable. It was on the 15th of Muharram 926 AH (1519 AD) that Sháhbeg rode into the river and led his whole force across, having left a party of soldiers to protect the camp at the river. Daryá Khán, the adopted son of Jám Nindó, left his master Jám Feróz at the capital city and himself advanced with a large army and gave battle to the Mughuls. A severe battle was fought, which ended in the victory of Sháhbeg.* Jám Feróz hearing of the defeat of his army, fled across the river. Daryá Khán was killed in the battle. Up to the 20th of the same month the Mughuls plundered the city. Several women and children of respectable families were captured. Even those of Jám Feróz remained in the city. It was at the intercession of Kází Kázan, the most learned man of the time at Tattá, whose family members also had been taken prisoners, that Sháhbeg stopped the plunder by giving an arrow to the Kází to show it round to the plundering Mughuls. A proclamation was also issued to that effect, and once more there was order and quiet in the city.

Fight of Jam Feroz

Jám Feróz, with a few persons was tarrying in the village of Perár, anxious to get some information about his own and his father’s family, to protect whom, however, Sháhbeg had the good sense to post a party of his men round their residence. Seeing no help for it, he was obliged to send messengers to Sháhbeg recognising him as his superior and asking for mercy. Sháhbeg sent back the messengers with presents and with promise of pardon on the Jám’s surrender. Accordingly Jám Feróz, taking his brothers and kinsmen with him issued from Perár to the bank of the river with a sword hanging round his neck as a mark of surrender. Sháhbeg ordered the Jám’s families to be taken across with due honour, and in the next month, Saffar, Sháhbeg encamped outside the city, where Jám Feróz came to pay homage to him in person. Sháhbeg received him well and gave him the rich robe of honour that his own father Amír Zunnún had received from king Muzaffar Husain. Sháhbeg was kind enough to give the governorship of Tattá to the Jám. But after some consultation with the chief men of the place it was resolved that as Sind was a spacious country, half of it might be given to Jám Feróz and the other half retained and left in charge of agents appointed by the Mughul prince. Accordingly the Lakí hills near Sehwán were fixed as the boundary. The country from Lakí down to Tattá was to remain under Jám Feróz, and that upwards to the north, to be retained by the agents of Sháhbeg. After this settlement was made and ratified, Sháhbeg left Tattá and marched out on his return journey.

Shahbeg at Thatta

Thatta

Thatta is a historic town of 220,000 inhabitants in the Sindh province of Pakistan, near Lake Keenjhar, the largest freshwater lake in the country. Thatta's major monuments especially its necropolis at Makli are listed among the World Heritage Sites. The Shah Jahan Mosque is also listed...

At Taltí Sháhbeg received the homage of certain Sahtah and Sódhá chiefs. He then came to Sehwán. He left Mír Alíkah Arghún, Sultán Mukímbeg Lár, Kíbak Arghún and Ahmad Tarkhán in charge of the place, and sent Sultán Mahmúd Khán Kókaltásh* to take charge of Bakhar and himself proceeded to Shál to bring his family. At the same time he deputed Kází Kázan to bring Mahmúd son of Daryá Khán to his senses and advise him to surrender, but the Kází did not succeed in his mission. Sháhbeg, was therefore obliged to come to Taltí, where Daryá Khán’s sons Mahmúd and Mótan Khán, and Jám Sárang and Rinmal Sódhó had mustered their forces and prepared to defend the place at the instigation of Makhdúm Bilál,* a learned man of the place, as the latter had been ill-treated by the Mughuls after Sháhbeg’s victory in Sind and compelled to give certain taxes. Within 3 days, Sháhbeg secured some boats and crossed the river, with Mír Fázil Kókaltásh and the Arghún and Tarkhán forces. As Rinmal with his brother Jódhó* advanced to meet them Mír Fázil attacked them and defeated them. The fort of Taltí was taken. Most of the Sammah troops were cut down, some drowned themselves in the river and a few fled to Sehwán. Rinmal Sódhó’s brother Jódhó was also among the slain.

Tatta given back to Jam Feroz. Jám Salahuddin invades Thatta

After spending 3 days at Taltí Sháhbeg returned to Shál and Siwí, and Jám Feróz began to rule quietly at Tattá as before. But it was not long before Jám Saláhuddín, who had some time ago revolted against Jám Feróz and driven him away from his capital, and had subsequently been himself driven away by Daryá Khán to Gujrát, once more invaded Tattá with an army of 10,000 men, consisting chiefly of Járejás and Sódhá Khangárs.* Jám Feróz, without losing time, hastened to Sháhbeg’s agents at Sehwán and through them sent some fleet messengers to Sháhbeg for help. The latter despatched his son Mírzá Sháh Hasan with a column of Mughuls for the purpose, and sent some more forces after him, by successive instalments.

Shahbeg’s son Shah Hasan comes to Jam Feroz’s help

On the 14th of Muharram 927 AH (1520 AD) Mirza Sháh Hasan left Shál for Sind, and after 20 days’ journey arrived in the vicinity of Tattá. Saláhuddín hearing of the Mughul’s approach left Tattá, recrossed the river and betook himself to the village of Jún. Jám Feróz received Mírzá Sháh Hasan gratefully and in return received marks of distinction and friendship from him. Saláhuddín was soon pursued and overtaken. A fight ensued between the advance columns of the two parties, one led by Haibat Alí Khán, Saláhuddín’s son, who was son-in-law to Sultán Muzaffar of Gujrát, and another by Mírzá Ísá Tarkhán,* Sultán-kulíbeg and Mír Alíkah. Saláhuddín’s son was killed and his army routed. Mad with rage at his son’s death, Saláhuddín precipitated himself upon the Mughuls. But soon he too was slain and his army fled to Gujrát. After spending 3 days at the scene of the battle Jám Feróz went back to Tattá to settle affairs there and Mírzá Sháh Hasan returned to Bághbán to pay his respects to his father, who had come to that place. Here during their stay, the Máchhí tribes, who had become rather turbulent and refractory, were punished, their cattle and property plundered and their villages razed to the grounds.