The Cambridge History of India, Vol. III: Turks and Afghans v3.c20.137

v3.c20.137

In 1221 the effects of the raids of the heathen Mughuls which afterwards became a source of constant anxiety to the sultans of Delhi, first made themselves felt in India. These savages, under their leader, the terrible Chingiz Khān, drove 'Alā-ud-dīn Muhammad Khvārazm Shāh from his throne, and his son, Jalāl-ud-dīn Mangbarnī, took refuge in Lahore and sent an envoy to Iltutmish to beg for an asylum in his dominions. The fugitive and his 10,000 troops were most unwelcome guests on the frontier, and Iltutmish, having put the envoy to death on the pretext that he was attempting to stir up sedition, replied that the climate of Lahore was likely to be prejudicial to Mangbarnī's health and offered him a residence near Delhi. The offer was declined and Mangbarnī retired towards the Salt Range, where he first attacked and defeated the Khokars but afterwards found it to his advantage to enter into an alliance with them, and by a marriage with the daughter of their chief, who had long been at enmity with Qabācha, acquired an interest in an intestine feud. With his new allies he attacked Qabācha and compelled him to comply with an exorbitant demand for tribute. Rumours that Chingiz had discovered his retreat and purposed to follow him thither seriously perturbed him, and by extorting a further sum from Qabācha and plundering Sind and northern Gujarāt he amassed treasure sufficient to enable him to flee, in 1224, to Persia.