South India and her Muhammadan Invaders c12.25

c12.25

Change of capital from Delhi to Deogir.—When the idea entered his head he resolved at once to transfer his capital to Deogir. He appears, however, to have made a point of consulting his ministers who thought Ujjain would serve the purpose equally well. But Muhammad, as usual, had made up his mind before, and in the year A.D. 1328 ordered the change of capital from Delhi to Deogir.³ This order did not mean merely the transference of the Imperial Headquarters from Delhi to Deogir, but the transfer of the whole body of inhabitants in the city which entailed untold misery upon the people. The order was carried out, however to the degree of thoroughness that involved the firing off of a maimed man from a catapult, and the dragging of a blind man by the leg, as these were the only two inhabitants of Delhi who remained behind without obeying the order. The Sultan was about to remove himself to Deogir when he had to march northwards to meet the rebellion of Kishlu Khan and pass on from there to Delhi because of a serious distress and a possible disturbance. It was then that the [Figure: Daulatabad Fort. General View (by permission of H.E.H. the Nizam's Government Archaeological Department)]