The Cambridge History of India, Vol. III: Turks and Afghans v3.c20.461

v3.c20.461

The king marched from Sultānpur to Anhilvāra (Pātan) in Gujarāt, and, leaving Shaikh Mu‘izz-ud-dīn and other officers in that town to reorganise the administration of the province, passed on to Mount Ābū, whence he sent an army to Dābhoī and Baroda against the ‘centurions,’ who were defeated with heavy loss and, after collecting their wives and families, retired towards Daulatābād. The king then marched to Broach and thence sent a force to intercept them. His troops came up with them on the bank of the Narbada, again defeated them, captured their wives and families, camp equipage, and baggage and slew most of the men. A few of their leaders contrived to escape on barebacked horses, and took refuge with Mān Singh, raja of Baglāna, who imprisoned them and took from them such money and jewels as they had succeeded in carrying off. The royal troops halted on the Narbada, and there their leader, Malik Maqbūl, received and promptly executed an order to arrest and execute the ‘centurions’ of Broach, who had accompanied him. There is no suggestion that these officers had failed in their duty, but they were ‘centurions’ and that was enough for Muhammad. The few who escaped the executioner’s sword fled to Daulatābād, where their account of the king’s ferocity added fuel to the fire of sedition in the Deccan.