The Citadel of Kabul Falls: Humayun's Return and the Divine Shield

After years of exile and seeking refuge in Persia, Emperor Humayun turned his gaze back towards the lands he had lost. His return journey was fraught with challenges, but none perhaps as emotionally charged as the campaign to reclaim Kabul, the city where his young son, Akbar, resided under the precarious control of his half-brother, Mirza Kamran.

A City Under a Cruel Hand

While Humayun was in Persia, Mirza Kamran had solidified his grip on Kabul, ruling with a heavy hand. The text from the Akbarnama paints a grim picture of his regime. Loyal servants of Humayun were imprisoned, tortured, and even executed. Mihtar Wasil and Mihtar Wakil, trusted royal slaves, were blinded. Hisamu-d-din 'Ali, who had bravely defended a fort against Kamran, was castrated and killed in a horrific manner. Kamran's cruelty extended even to the innocent, blinding two young sons of Babus, one of Humayun's loyalists, and later, during the siege, committing an act of unspeakable barbarity by flinging them from the fort walls.

This period in Kabul was marked by discord and a stark lack of vigilance among some of Humayun's remaining men, allowing Kamran to seize the city in a surprise attack while Humayun was campaigning in Badakhshan. Muhammad 'Ali Tughai, the city's governor, and Fazil Beg, another officer, were caught off guard, their internal disagreements contributing to the city's fall.

The Emperor's Determined March

Despite the harsh winter conditions, the news of Kamran's takeover spurred Humayun into action. His primary motivation, beyond reclaiming his territory, was the safety and reunion with his son, Akbar. He pardoned past disloyalties, rallied his remaining forces, and began the arduous march towards Kabul. Desertions plagued the army, with some officers swayed by Kamran's deceitful promises or simply weary of the campaign. Yet, the core of loyalists remained, their resolve strengthened by the cause.

As Humayun's forces approached, skirmishes broke out. Mirza Hindal, Humayun's half-brother who had rejoined him, led the vanguard. Sherafkan, a former loyalist who had defected to Kamran, was captured and, despite Humayun's initial inclination towards clemency, was executed at the insistence of enraged loyalists like Qaraca Khan, who saw his defection as unforgivable ingratitude.

The Siege and an Unthinkable Act

The imperial army laid siege to Kabul. Batteries were set up, and daily clashes occurred between the besiegers and the garrison. As the siege wore on and his position became desperate, Kamran resorted to increasingly cruel tactics. He not only continued to torture and kill prisoners but also committed an act that shocked even the hardened soldiers of the era.

In a move of ultimate depravity, Kamran placed the young Prince Akbar, then just over three years old, on the battlements of the fort, directly in the line of fire. The Akbarnama describes this moment with awe, noting the divine protection that shielded the child. Marksmen's hands trembled, arrows flew crooked, and the fuses of the artillery pieces miraculously refused to light. Sumbul Khan, the master fireworker, was astonished, realizing that a higher power was protecting the prince. This act, intended by Kamran to deter the attack, instead revealed the divine favor surrounding Akbar and further solidified the resolve of Humayun's men, while demoralizing the defenders.

The Tide Turns and Reunion

With the siege tightening and desertions from his ranks increasing, Kamran's position became untenable. Officers like Ulugh Beg, Qasim Husain Shaibani, and Khwaja Ghazi, who had been with the Shah's camp or in other territories, arrived and joined Humayun, bolstering the besieging force. Kamran, seeing no other option, attempted a final deception, sending messages of repentance and seeking terms. Humayun, ever clement, agreed to slacken the siege, but the loyalist officers, distrusting Kamran, secretly urged him to flee, even pointing out a potential escape route.

On the night of 7th Rabi al-awwal 954 AH (April 27, 1547 CE), Kamran absconded from the fort, fleeing towards Badakhshan. Humayun's forces entered Kabul, transforming the "wilderness of rebellion" into a "pleasant home of friendliness."

The most anticipated moment was the reunion. Humayun's heart, which had been "rent in twain" by the separation, was filled with "fresh light and glory" upon seeing Akbar. The young prince, described as a "world-intelligence," was brought forth, and the emotional reunion was a moment of profound joy and thanksgiving for Humayun and his loyal followers.

A Legacy of Clemency and Cruelty

The capture of Kabul marked a crucial turning point in Humayun's struggle to regain his empire. It was a victory won not just by military force but also by the unwavering loyalty of his core supporters and, as the text suggests, by divine intervention protecting the future emperor. The stark contrast between Humayun's forgiving nature (often extended even to his treacherous brothers) and Kamran's brutal cruelty serves as a powerful lesson embedded within the historical narrative. The events of the siege, particularly the miraculous protection of Akbar, became part of the lore surrounding the young prince, hinting at the greatness that lay ahead.

This history reminds us that even in times of intense conflict and personal betrayal, the human capacity for both profound cruelty and remarkable clemency is ever-present. It also highlights the deep cultural and spiritual significance attributed to events, where the hand of the divine is seen shaping the course of human affairs.

The story of the siege of Kabul is not just a tale of military conquest; it is a human drama of separation and reunion, loyalty and betrayal, and the enduring belief in a destiny guided by forces beyond mortal comprehension.

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