The Nāṣirī Generations 43: Second Year of the Reign — Hijra 645 (1247 A.D.)

43

His Majesty reached Dehli on Thursday, 2nd Muharram, 645 (9th May, 1247) and was detained there for six months by heavy rains. In Jumada-l akhir the royal army marched to Panipat, but in Sha'ban it returned and proceeded towards Hindustan through the Doab. In the neighbourhood of Kanauj there is a fortified village called Nandana, where there is a very strong fort vying with the wall of Alexander. A body of infidel Hindus shut themselves up in this place, resolved to fight to the last extremity. For two days the royal army carried on a murderous conflict at this village, but at length the rebels were sent to hell, and the place was subdued.
The author of this work celebrated the victory and all the events of the campaign in verse. The slaughter of the rebellious infidels, the capture of their fortifications, and the success of Ulugh Khan-i Mu'azzam in killing and taking prisoner Dalaki wa Malaki, these and all the other incidents are celebrated fully in the poem to which the author gave the name of his gracious master, and called it "Nasiri-nama." For this poem the author received from the Sultan the grant of a fine annual allowance, and from Ulugh Khan he received the grant in in'am of a village near Hansi. (May God long maintain the seats of their empire and rule!) But I return to the thread of my history.
On Thursday, 24th Shawwal, 645 (February, 1248), the fort was captured after much fighting and bloodshed. Subsequently, on Monday, 12th Zi-l ka'da, 645, the army marched to Karra. Three days before Ulugh Khan had been sent on before with all the generals and princes of the army. The exploits and successes of this brave and skilful warrior, his victories in the field, his conquests of forts, fortified places, and jungles, his slaughter of rebellious infidels, his taking of booty and captives, and his capture of the dependants of great Ranas cannot here be recounted, but they are celebrated in the Nasiri-nama.
There was in this neighbourhood a Rana who was called Dalaki wa Malaki. He had many dependants, countless fighting men, great dominions and wealth, fortified places, and hills and defiles extremely difficult of access. All these he (Ulugh Khan) ravaged. He took prisoners the wives, sons, and dependants of that accursed one, and secured great booty. He secured 1500 horses of a peculiar breed, which he brought in for the use of the army. His other booty may be inferred from this. When he returned and waited on his sovereign all his brother nobles congratulated him on his victories. On Thursday, 11th Zi-l ka'da, 645, the Sultan started on his return from that country, and during his progress he was waited upon by Malik Jalalu-d din Mas'ud, governor of Kanauj, who had the honour of an interview and went home. The Sultan then continued his journey to the capital.