The Foundation of Muslim Rule in India: A History of the Establishment and Progress of the Turkish Sultanate of Delhi, 1206–1290 A.D. c7.50

c7.50

The conqueror returned to his Central Asian projects leaving Aibak with wide powers to consolidate and extend the conquests. A serious rising by the supporters of Prithviraja, however, engaged the latter's immediate attention. In Ramzan, 588/1192, a Hindu chief, whom Hasan Nizami calls Jatwan, (possibly meant for Chauhana), besieged the Muslim garrison at Hansi. Aibak at once rushed to its relief, raised the siege and pursued Jatwan upto Bagar. There the chieftain faced, gave battle, was defeated and slain¹. Having refortified Hansi towards the end of the same year, Aibak crossed the Jumna to establish a military foothold in the upper Doab². The greater part of the region was held, under the Gahdvalas, by the Dor Rajputs with their stronghold at Baran, who were by no means pacifically disposed to the Muslim power established just across the river³. Their traditional accounts, emphasising the hard fight they put up against the Turkish forces under the leadership of Chandrasena, find partial confirmation in Muizzuddin's Firman wherein Ajaipal, a relation of Chandrasena, is rewarded for his help in the capture of Baran, a clear proof that treachery expedited the event⁴. Meerut was also occupied on this occasion, and the two places, fortified and garrisoned, became spearheads of attack from the north on the Gahdvala dominions⁵.