Page:Historic Landmarks of the Deccan.djvu/96

 on foot schemes for the overthrow of their author. Zarif-ul-Mulk the Deccani and Miftah the African, two proteges of MahmudGawan, taking advantage of the absence of Yusuf Adil Khan in Narsingha's country, plotted with Nizam-ul-Mulk to bring about their master's downfall, and bribed an African who was the keeper of his seal to lend them the seal for a short time. Having obtained it they affixed an impression of it to a sheet of blank paper on which a treasonable letter to the raja of Urisa was afterwards written. Possessed of this forgery Zarif-ul-Mulk and Miftah awaited their opportunity until Nizam-ul-Mulk had an audience of the king, when they presented the paper. Muhammad Shah was astounded at what he deemed to be his minister's treachery and Nizam-ul-Mulk heaped fuel on the fire of his wrath. Mahmud Gawan was summoned. Though urged by his followers to fly he refused to admit that he had any reason for fear and presented himself before his sovereign. Muhammad Shah asked him what was the fitting punishment for one proved to be guilty of treason against his king, and the minister unflinchingly answered "Death." He was then shown the letter, which he at once declared to be a forgery. He protested his innocence and demanded an inquiry, but the king, whose wrath was inflamed with wine as well as with the false witness borne against his victim, gave orders for his immediate execution : and rose and left the hall. Jauhar, an African executioner, then drew his sword and raised it to strike. The great minister recited the short creed of Islam, and as the sword fell, cried, "Praise be to God for the blessing of martyrdom." This great crime, perpetrated on April 6, 1481, was the primary cause of the dissolution of the Bahmani kingdom. The foreign nobles refused to trust a king who could thus reward his most faithful servant, and returned to their provinces without leave. Muhammad Shah soon learnt that he had shed innocent blood, and, after vainly trying to drown remorse with wine, died within a year of his minister, crying with his last breath that Mahmud Gawan was tearing at his entrails.

In the following reign all save one of the greater tarafdars proclaimed themselves independent and in 1490 the governors of Berar, Daulatabad, and Bijapur assumed the royal title. In the meantime Sultan Quli Qutb-ul-Mulk had been appointed governor of western Telingana and had chosen as his head quarters Golconda, where he