noble of the first rank, who had risen to power and honour under the late Sultan of Bijapur. As a general he was of the highest standing in the kingdom, being the peer of Bahlol Khan and Randaula Khan, and had fought with conspicuous bravery and skill in the recent war with the Mughals. But the resources of Bijapur had been crippled by that war
and the disorder and impoverishment natural in a regency under a veiled woman. Only 10,000 cavalry* [1]could be spared to accompany Afzal, while popular report had raised the strength of Shiva's Mavle infantry to 60,000 as the result of his conquest of Javli, and he had also enlisted a regiment of valuable
Pathan mercenaries from the disbanded soldiery of Bijapur. (Chit. 33; T. S. 15b.) Afzal Khan, therefore, did not prefer an open contest of force with Shiva. Indeed, he was instructed by the Dowager Queen to effect the capture or murder of Shiva by "pretending friendship" with him and offering to secure his pardon from Adil Shah.†[2]
- ↑ * This is the strength of Afzal's army as given by contemporaries, viz., Tarikh-i-Ali II. 76 and the English letter quoted in the next note. The Maratha accounts, all very much later, put it at 12,000 cavalry besides infantry. (Powadas, 7, Sabh. 13); 30,000 "including 3,000 Mavles familiar with the locality." (Chit. 54.) In A. N. 577, du hazar is evidently a misprint for dah hazar. The letter in Shed. 25 is a fabrication .
- ↑ † "Against Shivaji the Queen this year sent Abdullah Khan with an army of 10,000 horse and foot, and because she knew with that strength he was not able to resist Shivaji,
