South India and her Muhammadan Invaders c12.6

c12.6

Invasion of Warangal under Ulugh Khan.—The first disturbance seems to have arisen in Warangal where Rudra Deo seemed inclined to shake himself free from the subordination to the Muhammadans. An invasion therefore had to be fitted out under his son Ulugh Khan. The great expedition started forward under the chief command of the heir-apparent, but assisted by a staff of able officers. If the description of the operations round Warangal and the resulting failure could be accepted as fact, the so-called previous conquests of the place could not have been as thorough as our Muhammadan authorities claim them to have been. The fortifications were of the same strength and were composed of the same double line of walls, mud and stone. The siege operations had to be conducted as elaborately now as ever before. After the usual operations the besieged were reduced to extremities and sued for peace, when the intrigues and dissensions which broke out in the camp made the continuance of the siege impossible. Some among the officers that constituted his staff took advantage of the absence of letters from head-quarters, and circulated a rumour that a revolution had taken place at head-quarters, as a result of which, they said Ghiyasu-d-din was killed or set aside, and another ruler was occupying the throne. The army broke up, and Ulugh Khan had no alternative but to retreat upon Deogir. But among the conspirators themselves there were dissensions, and they dispersed with the consequence that most of them were defeated in detail, and either killed by the Hindus or taken prisoner and sent over to Ulugh Khan. This latter remained for four months at Deogir, during which time he received communications and reinforcements from his father. The culprits taken alive were sent to Delhi and received exemplary punishments. This is the account of Barni who undoubtedly is apologist for Muhammad Tughlak. According to Ibn Batuta however, the disturbance was due to an actual effort on the part of Ulugh Khan to set up independently of his father, who himself is said to have been aware of it. But all the same the father sent the reinforcements to enable the invasion to be successful. Ulugh Khan returned to the siege, and, taking the fort of Bidr (Bider, the Badrakot of Ibn Batuta), proceeded thence to the siege of Warangal. The outer fort was taken, and the whole of the royal family and treasure fell into the hands of the besiegers. Ulugh Khan sent a despatch of victory, together with the Raja of Warangal, his family and treasure. He changed the name of Warangal to Sultanpur, and conquering the country of Tilang (Telingana) marched forward towards Jajnagar, the capital of Orissa. He captured forty elephants there and returned to head-quarters by way of Telingana.