The Cambridge History of India, Vol. III: Turks and Afghans v3.c20.111

v3.c20.111

In 1195 Aibak formed the ambitious design of avenging his master's defeat in Gujarāt and punishing Rāja Bhīm for having molested Nusrat-ud-dīn at Hānsī, and marched to Anhilvāra. Kunwar Pāl, the commander of Bhīm's army, retired before him but was compelled by a close pursuit to turn and stand. He was defeated and slain, and while Bhīm took refuge in a remote corner of his kingdom Aibak plundered his capital and the neighbouring country and returned with much booty to Delhi by way of Hānsī. Muhammad, on receiving Aibak's dispatch announcing his success, summoned him to Ghaznī, where he received him with every demonstration of approval and formally appointed him viceroy of the Muslim dominions in India. Aibak was detained for some time at Ghaznī by a serious illness and shortly after his arrival at Delhi, towards the end of 1196, was called upon to meet his master, who had led an expedition into India, at Hānsī. During this campaign Bayāna was captured and was placed under the command of a Turkish slave named Bahā-ud-dīn Tughril, and Muhammad advanced to Gwalior. He found the fortress too strong to be taken by a *coup de main* and he could not spare the time for a regular siege, but the raja was prepared to purchase immunity for himself and his dominions, and in consideration of a promise to pay tribute and the immediate payment of a first instalment he was permitted to retain possession of his state and his fortress.