The History of Fīrūz Shāh (Baranī) 7.7

7.7

Although the Sultan did not maintain the Rules and Regulations of the late reign, the old servants of the State continued in their various posts, and retained their great fiefs. Hence all the territories of the State were made secure in the first year of the reign, no sedition or rebellion occurred in any quarter, nor did any distress or anarchy make its appearance. The accession of the new king was universally accepted. In the year 718 H. (1318 A.D.) the Sultan marched with his maliks and amirs at the head of an army against Deogir, which upon the death of Malik Naib Kafur, had thrown off its subjection, and had been taken possession of by Harpal Deo and Ram Deo. In the heedlessness of youth he did not nominate a wise and experienced man to act as his vicegerent during his absence; but he selected a youthful slave, named Shahin, who had been called Barilda during the reign of 'Alau-d din, and whom he now entitled Wafa-e Mulk. In his extreme rashness and utter disregard of appearances, he placed Dehli and the treasures of Dehli under this lad, without giving a moment's thought to disturbances or other things that might happen in his absence. On arriving at Deogir, Harpal Deo and the other Hindus who had joined him were unable to withstand the army of Islam, and they and all the mukaddims dispersed, so that the Sultan recovered the fort without fighting and spilling of blood.