South India and her Muhammadan Invaders c11.s1.37

c11.s1.37

*The Tughlak Revolution.*—Two months after the accession of the new Sultan, Malik Fakhru-d-din made his plans, mounted his horse one afternoon and fleeing with a few slaves from Delhi ‘confided himself to God.’ He was able to elude his pursuers, and reached Sarsuti in safety. He was met there by an escort of 200 horse sent by his father and reached his family safe. That was the signal for a rising of the Musalmans against Khusru. Khusru’s army was defeated by Ghazi Malik and Bahram Abiya of Uch. A week after this victory, Malik Ghazi marched upon Delhi itself. Khusru came out of Delhi to meet him, having emptied the treasury in rewarding his followers, and destroyed everything worth preserving. The battle fought in the environs of Delhi went against Khusru, who fled from the field. Ghazi Malik stood victor, and Khusru and his followers were hunted out of their hiding places and were beheaded. Spending the night at Indarpet, Ghazi Malik on the following morning took possession of Delhi. Seating himself in the Hazar Sutun, Ghazi Malik gave public thanks for his victory and wished the nobles to assemble in order to decide who was to succeed next. None of Alau-d-din’s descendants being left, everybody unanimously acclaimed Ghazi Malik, Sultan, who accepted the position with reluctance and ascended the throne as Sultan Ghiyasu-d-din Tughlakh Shah in the palace of Siri in A.D. 1320.