Table of Contents
Section Four: Siege of Fort Shaykh Tabarsí Begins
Lies-filled appeal by the Sa‘ídu’l-‘Ulamá’ to the Sháh
The hatred and blindness of heart of the ‘ulamá of region led by the Sa‘ídu’l-‘Ulamá’ of Bárfurúsh was like a bottomless abyss. The Sa‘ídu’l-‘Ulamá’ now addressed a lies-filled manipulative appeal to the new king, the seventeen-year old Násiri’d-Dín Sháh. The message said:
The standard of revolt has been raised by the contemptible sect of the Bábís. This wretched band of irresponsible agitators has dared to strike at the very foundations of the authority with which your Imperial Majesty has been invested. The inhabitants of a number of villages in the immediate vicinity of their headquarters have already flown to their standard and sworn allegiance to their cause. They have built themselves a fort, and in that massive stronghold they have entrenched themselves, ready to direct a campaign against you. With unswerving obstinacy they have resolved to proclaim their independent sovereignty, a sovereignty that shall abase to the dust the imperial diadem of your illustrious ancestors. You stand at the threshold of your reign. What greater triumph could signalise the inauguration of your rule than to extirpate this hateful creed that has dared to conspire against you? It will serve to establish your Majesty in the confidence of your people. It will enhance your prestige, and invest your crown with imperishable glory. Should you vacillate in your policy, should you betray the least indulgence towards them, I feel it my duty to warn you that the day is fast approaching when not only the province of Mázindarán but the whole of Persia, from end to end, will have repudiated your authority and will have surrendered to their cause. 87ACT8
An army of twelve thousand is mobilized against Fort Shaykh Tabarsí
The young Sháh gave the matter over to his Grand Vazír, the Amír-Kabír 88ACT8 who called in the main military officials of the province of Mázindarán and demanded that they take whatever measures were needed to put an end to this so-perceived sedition of the Bábís as soon as possible. The two main military officers of Mázindarán who had met Mullá Husayn at the time of the first confrontation in Bárfurúsh [DB 17-18, Section 4], led the charge again. One of them, Hájí Mustafá Khán [wrote to the sovereign giving the following plan:
I myself come from Mázindarán. I have been able to estimate the forces at their disposal. The handful of untrained and frail-bodied students whom I have seen are utterly powerless to withstand the forces which your Majesty can command. The army which you contemplate despatching is in my view unnecessary. A small detachment of that army will be sufficient to wipe them out. They are utterly unworthy of the care and consideration of my sovereign. Should your Majesty be willing to signify your desire, in an imperial message addressed to my brother ‘Abdu’lláh Khán-i-Turkamán, that he should be given the necessary authority to subjugate that band, I am convinced that he will, within the space of two days, quell their rebellion and shatter their hopes. 91ACT8
The Sháh gave his consent and issued an edict ordering ‘Abdu’lláh Khán-i-Turkamán to recruit an army and with them subdue the Bábís at Fort Shaykh Tabarsí. The Sháh also sent a royal badge with the edict, as a mark of confidence and authority given to ‘Abdu’lláh Khán. Within a short space of time, ‘Abdu’lláh Khán raised an army of about twelve thousand men, composed largely of the Turkish tribes and the Afghán communities living in that region.92ACT8 The army was equipped with whatever ammunition was required and it marched to the makeshift Fort Shaykh Tabarsí.
The army arrived and set up its camp at the village of Afrá, which was on a hill overseeing Fort Shaykh Tabarsí. Barricades were set up in front of the fort, with orders to open fire on anyone who chanced to leave its gate.
The siege of Fort Shaykh Tabarsí had begun. It was November 1848. The stage was set for the epic encounter between the dark forces of ignorance and the battalion of light.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
363 / 803