The Cambridge History of India, Vol. III: Turks and Afghans v3.c20.415

v3.c20.415

The king had enjoyed but a brief period of repose at Delhi when he was summoned southward by the news of a serious rebellion. He had appointed Sayyid Jalāl-ud-dīn Ahsan of Kaithal to the government of Ma'bar, the most southerly province of his kingdom. Ahsan now raised the standard of rebellion at Madura, proclaimed his independence under the style of Jalāl-ud-dīn Ahsan Shāh, and struck coin in his own name. On January 5, 1335, Muhammad left Delhi for southern India, travelling by way of Daulatābād, where he levied heavy contributions to the expense of equipping his army. He marched thence for Madura by way of Bīdar and Warangal, but at the latter place his further progress was stayed by a pestilence, probably cholera, which broke out in his army. The disease raged in the camp, smiting alike the great noble and the humble camp follower, and the mortality was appalling. The king himself fell sick and his health was not restored for several months. All thought of a further advance was abandoned, and Muhammad, leaving Malik Qabūl at Warangal as governor of Telingāna, began to retrace his steps. He never had another opportunity of recovering the lost province of Ma'bar, which remained a petty kingdom for the next forty years. All that is known of its history is to be ascertained from its coins¹, from the narrative of Ibn Batūtah, who was son-in-law to its founder, and from a few inscriptions, and may be related in the course of a brief digression.