South India and her Muhammadan Invaders c10.5

Language: English

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Deogir the objective.—While in Bhilsa conducting an expedition for the Sultan, Alau-d-din made enquiries, and found that across the mountains lay the powerful kingdom of Mahārāṣṭra with its capital at Deogir. He also had definite information that the last ruler Rāmachandra had been on the throne for some considerable time already, and had accumulated vast wealth; and, what was more important for his purpose, that at the time that he had made his plans, the main army of Rāmachandra, Ram Deo as the Muhammadan historians call him, had been led southwards towards the Hoysala frontier by his eldest son Shankar Deo. Alau-d-din therefore obtained permission of the court to undertake a punitive expedition against Chanderi, the Hindu chieftain of which, according to him, had grown proud of his wealth and declined submission to his government. The permission of course was easily granted and Alau-d-din went as far as Chanderi publicly, and therefrom made arrangements that no information of his movements should reach head-quarters. He marched at the head of 8,000 chosen horse and made a dash from Chanderi to Elichpur across the mountains and not far from the frontiers of the kingdom of Ram Deo.¹ After a much-needed halt for rest at Elichpur he proceeded to Ghati Lajura,² about twelve miles from Deogir, without meeting any opposition.

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He was cleverly giving it out on his march that he was going towards Rajamundri to take service with the Raja there as he was far from being satisfied with his uncle's treatment of him. Deogir happened to be denuded of its troops at the time as Shankar Deo had ‘gone southwards at the head of his army on pilgrimage.’ When information reached Deogir that Alau-d-din was at Ghati-Lajura, Ram Deo collected together such forces as he could and sent about two or three thousand men to oppose the further advance of the Muhammadan army. Alau-d-din overpowered this small force easily and sent it in hasty retreat into the capital, himself following in hot pursuit. The Raja threw himself into the citadel, which was then undefended even by a ditch. The garrison had not adequate provision to stand a siege. At this time a caravan of bags which merchants were bringing from the Konkan happened to be abandoned at the approach of the enemy, and these were laid hold of and put into the fort in the belief that they contained grain. Having received this welcome supply Ram Deo determined to stand a siege. In the meanwhile, Alau-d-din’s troops entered the town, captured the Brahmans and the principal merchants of Deogir, and plundered the city. In the course of these operations Alau-d-din adopted the clever ruse of circulating a rumour that his was but the advance-guard of the main army of 20,000 horse following him.

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On hearing this Ram Deo considered it prudent to come to terms, and on his side commissioned agents to make Alau-d-din understand that it was time that his son should return at the head of the whole army of Deogir, and that it would be prudent for Alau-d-din to accept such terms as he offered. He also pointed out to him the dangers of a retreat in the face of a hostile force, as his retreat would lie through Khandesh, Malva and Gondwana, the Rajas of which would certainly cut off his retreat. Alau-d-din understood the dangers of his position better than Ram Deo, and agreed to depart from Deogir in a fortnight if Ram Deo guaranteed to him a ‘ransom of fifty maunds of gold, seven maunds of pearls and some valuable stuffs in addition to forty elephants, some thousands of horses and the plunder which he had already collected from the city.’ In the meantime Shankar Deo hearing of the approach of the Muhammadans returned to the city by forced marches. Ram Deo sent word to him of the conclusion of the treaty, ordering him at the same time not to attack ‘the Turks.’ The prince, however, finding that his army was twice as strong as that of the Muhammadans, disregarded the father’s orders, threatened to annihilate the Muhammadan army unless Alau-d-din restored all the plunder that he had taken, and left the kingdom immediately. Alau-d-din disgraced the messengers by parading them through the camp with their faces blackened, and prepared to fight Shankar Deo.

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He detached one thousand of his men under Malik Nasrat, and left him to watch the fort. With the remainder he fell upon the forces of Shankar Deo. After a fierce contest the Muhammadans were hurled back, and were about to retire when Nasarat Khan left the fort without orders and joined the army. The arrival of this new force was mistaken by Shankar Deo’s army for the main Muhammadan army of 20,000 which Alau-d-din gave out was approaching. In an alarm the army broke and fled. Alau-d-din now returned quietly and pressed on the siege of the citadel, putting a number of captives to death and parading the more respectable among them in chains before the fortress. Ram Deo resolved to stand the siege, but discovered, on opening the sacks of the new supply put in, that they contained salt not grain. Finding it impossible to stand the siege much longer he again opened negotiations. Alau-d-din took advantage of the situation as he inferred that the position of Ram Deo must be bad indeed to ask for terms again. Charging the Hindus with breach of faith he insisted upon far heavier terms, and, if Ferishta is to be believed, exacted from them a ‘ransom of 600 maunds of gold, seven maunds of pearls, two maunds of other jewels, thousand maunds of silver, and an yearly tribute of the revenues of the Elichpur province.’ With the wealth thus collected he returned to his own province of Karra.

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The invasion not only provided Alau-d-din with the much-needed sinews of war for the time, but it also opened the way to the Dekhan and South India for the Muhammadans.