The Cambridge History of India, Vol. III: Turks and Afghans v3.c20.199

v3.c20.199

In December an army of Mughuls under the Nūyīn Sālīn invaded the Punjab and was joined by Kishlū Khān. They dismantled the defences of Multān and it was feared that they were about to cross the Sutlej. On January 9, 1258, the king summoned all the great fief-holders, with their contingents, to aid him in repelling the invaders, but the Mughuls, whether alarmed by this demonstration or sated with plunder, retired to Khurāsān. Their retreat was fortunate, for the condition of the kingdom was so disordered that the army could not safely have advanced against a foreign foe. Two fief-holders, Sanjar of Oudh and Mas‘ūd Jānī of Kara, had disobeyed the royal summons, the Hindus of the Doāb and the Meos of Mewāt, to the south of the capital, were in revolt and the latter had carried off a large number of Balban's camels, without which the army could hardly have taken the field. For four months the troops were occupied in restoring order in the Doāb and in June marched to Kara against the two recalcitrant fief-holders. The latter fled, but received a promise of pardon on tendering their submission, and after the return of the army to Delhi appeared at court and were pardoned. Shortly afterwards Sanjar received the fief of Kara and Mas‘ūd Jānī was promised the government of Bengal, from which province Balban Yūzbakī, the governor, had for some time remitted no tribute, but the latter, on hearing that he was to be superseded, secured his position by remitting all arrears. He died in 1259, but the promise to Mas‘ūd Jānī was never fulfilled.