South India and her Muhammadan Invaders c12.10

c12.10

Sultan Muhammad.—Sultan Muhammad ascended the throne at the camp of Afghanpur and removed to Delhi on the fortieth day after. With his accession the spread of Muhammadan power in the Dakhan reached its greatest extent, though its unending character was even then apparent. Sultan Muhammad was an accomplished scholar, philosopher, and mathematician, and wrote Persian poetry. He excelled in letter-writing and his epistles became a pattern for subsequent ages. He was religious-minded and simple in his habits, and had all the virtues of a devout Musalman. His character was disfigured however, by a strain of cruelty and impetuosity of temper which caused inordinate blood-shed. He was a man of ideas, several of them in advance of his age. Once he made up his mind he wanted that his ideas should be carried out at all costs. Any failure of his schemes resulted in the most cruel punishments of those entrusted with their execution.