The Foundation of Muslim Rule in India: A History of the Establishment and Progress of the Turkish Sultanate of Delhi, 1206–1290 A.D. c9.124

c9.124

Immediately after Masud's accession Kabir Khan, the governor of Multan rebelled and not only assumed full sovereignty but also forcibly occupied the neighbouring province of Uch³. Delhi was powerless to dispossess him and even suffered his son Abu Bakr to succeed him in 639/1241⁴. Even Abu Bakr's death shortly afterwards did not improve matters for Delhi, for Hasan Qarlugh, after repeated attempts, now succeeded in installing himself in Multan⁵. A second Mongol invasion in 1245, however, gave Delhi an opportunity to reassert its authority. On the approach of the Mongols Hasan Qarlugh evacuated Multan and fled to lower Sind; Kabir Khan's descendants¹, who held Uch, found themselves powerless to oppose the invaders and urgently appealed to Delhi for help, thus giving a tacit recognition to Mahmud’s sovereignty. Balban immediately responded and marched with a strong force, whereupon the Mongols withdrew². The event thus enabled Delhi to recover control over Sind. Multan was placed under Kashlu Khan while Uch was temporarily left with Kabir Khan’s family³. Kashlu Khan was later allowed to annex Uch on the understanding that he should relinquish Nagor which he formerly held; the condition however, had to be enforced at the point of sword⁴. In 1249 Hasan Qarlugh returned from lower Sind and renewing his attacks on Multan forced Kashlu Khan to surrender the city. But Qarlugh was not destined to retain possession, for Multan was soon after recovered by Sher Khan, the governor of Bhatinda⁵. Probably under instructions from Balban, he not only refused to restore it to Kashlu Khan, but, in 649/1251, even dispossessed him of Uch as well⁶.