The Cambridge History of India, Vol. III: Turks and Afghans v3.c20.187

v3.c20.187

In this year the north-western provinces of the kingdom were thrown into confusion by a complicated dispute between the great fief-holders. Kishlū Khān of Nāgaur demanded that the fiefs of Multān and Uch should be bestowed upon him and though there was some difficulty in ousting Ikhtiyār-ud-dīn Kuraiz, who had expelled the Qarlughs from the province, his request was granted on condition of his relinquishing Nāgaur and his other fiefs to Kuraiz. Ignoring this condition he marched from Nāgaur, expelled Kuraiz from Multān and Uch and occupied those places. Hasan the Qarlugh immediately attacked him at Multān and although he was slain his followers concealed his death and persuaded Kishlū Khān to surrender the city. Sher Khān Sunqar then marched from his headquarters at Bhātinda, expelled the Qarlughs, and replaced his lieutenant Kuraiz in Multān. The situation was anomalous and complicated. The governor appointed by royal authority had surrendered the city to a foreign enemy, and Sunqar held it by right of conquest from that enemy, and Kuraiz, his deputy, strengthened his claim by capturing, in December, from a force of Mughul marauders a large number of prisoners, whom he sent as a peace-offering to Delhi. Kishlū Khān, on the other hand, had defied the royal authority by failing to surrender Nāgaur, whither he had again retired after his discomfiture at Multān, and early in 1251 Mahmūd marched to Nāgaur to enforce the fulfilment of this condition. After much prevarication Kishlū Khān submitted, and retired to Uch, still held by one of his retainers, and Kashlī Khān, Balban's brother, was installed in Nāgaur, but meanwhile Sunqar had marched to Uch and was besieging the fortress. Kishlū Khān, who was related to Sunqar, incautiously placed himself in his power while attempting to effect a composition and was imprisoned, compelled to issue orders for the surrender of Uch, and sent to Delhi. Balban, who was related to both Sunqar and Kishlū Khān, adjusted the quarrel by appointing the latter to Budaun.