This is a dynamic and vibrant page from an important manuscript. The ‘First’ Baburnama was made to illustrate the Persian translation of Babur’s memoirs undertaken by Abdur Rahim Khan-i Khannan at Akbar’s request. At least six other copies of the Baburnama are known, dating from the 1590s, including a very refined near-complete version in the British Library, c. 1591, Moscow/Baltimore, c. 1593, the National Museum Delhi, c. 1598. In the first copy of the Baburnama there are four scenes dedicated to the battle of Kandahar, showing its importance. Beach (Imperial Image, p. 77) states that there were 191 illsutrations in this First Baburnama, of which 108 were located by Ellen Smart (Smart, Ellen, “Paintings from the Baburnama: A Study of Sixteenth-Century Mughal Historical Manuscript Illustrations” (Ph.D. diss. School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, 1977).

In 1507 Babur goes to Kandahar following the request of the Argun ruler Shah Beg and his brother Muqim for assistance against the threat from Uzbek Wormwood Khan who had taken Herat (Baburnama trans Thackston f. 207). But when Babur arrives, Shah Beg denies he requested help and offends Babur by sending him a letter sealed with the seal in a position that implies Babur is a beg of similar or inferior standing. So Babur lays siege – his army numbers 2000 against the Arghun army of 6000-7000 men– plus half of Babur’s army had dispersed into the countryside to find supplies, so only 1000 men fight. Babur had brilliant battle tactics worked out and this means they advance battle successfully. Babur details the strategy and personnel in detail. 

Babur then writes in his memoirs the key portion that this page illustrates,

“Having forced our opponents to take flight, we went from the irrigation canals toward an outcropping of the Murghan Mountain. While we were crossing the canals a man on a grey horse at the base of the mountain seemed to be hesitating whether to come our way or go the other way. Finally he went off in one direction. I though it looked like Shah Beg, and it probably was. 

Having routed their foes, all the solders went off in pursuit. Eleven men, of whom Abdullah Kitabdar was one, remained with me. Muqim was still holding his ground and fighting. Disregarding how few our men were, and relying upon God, we had the drums sounded and headed toward the foe. ‘God grants victory both to the many and to the few: no one has might in the divine court. Many a small band has defeated a large one with God’s permission.’ Hearing the sound of our drums and realising that we were charging in his direction, the enemy abandoned his ground and took flight, thank God. After defeating our foe, we went to Kandahar and camped in Farrukhzad’s garden, no trace of which now remains.” 

The setting with the mountainous landscape must depict Murghan Mountain. There are eleven figures in this image, which at first I thought related to Babur and the band of eleven who remained with him, but have since reconsidered:

INSCRIPTIONS

پیش گرفت خدای تعالی راست آورد غنیم را گریزانیده

(approx. translation – he chose God’s way and took the booty)

Reverse of the folio has the text of the Baburnama