The Foundation of Muslim Rule in India: A History of the Establishment and Progress of the Turkish Sultanate of Delhi, 1206–1290 A.D. c13.63

c13.63

Bahram's reign saw the occurrence of events which were to result in a further constriction of this line. Following Raziah's deposition which the Mongols seem to have construed as terminating the non-aggression pact with Delhi, they decided at last on bringing India within their scheme of conquest. In 639/1241 Bahadur Tair, the commander of the Mongol forces in Herat, Ghor, Ghazni and Tukharistan, crossed the Indus and for the first time appeared before Lahore. The city was ill-prepared to stand a siege and the inhabitants showed a fatal indifference to the danger. In spite of an urgent appeal to Delhi, the machinations of the wazir diverted the reinforcements, and the governor, Malik Qaraqash, was obliged to flee the city. As the defences were breached the next morning, the citizens, now roused to action, put up a desperate street-fight but it was merely to delay the eventual occupation¹. The invaders, however, did not garrison Lahore, but, in order to open the route for an eventual advance on Delhi, practically depopulated the town and destroyed its defences. On their departure the Khokar tribes swarmed into whatever remained of the city and completely gutted it. Qaraqash, returning to collect his belongings, however, succeeded in driving them out, and, under Masud, the 'iqta' of Lahore is said to have been placed under Yuzbak-i-Tughril Khan². But the city remained deserted and had to be thoroughly rebuilt and repopulated after Balban's accession. From Masud's time the province became the 'frontier', the inner line corresponding roughly to the Ravi: the force that at last was sent out in response to Qaraqash's appeal was despatched towards Lahore "to guard the frontiers"³.