The Cambridge History of India, Vol. III: Turks and Afghans v3.c20.550

v3.c20.550

Later in this year and again in the following year Mallū attempted to recover Gwalior, which had been captured during the confusion arising from Tīmūr’s invasion by the Tonwār Rājput Har Singh, and was now held by his son Bhairon, but although he was able to defeat Bhairon in the field and to plunder the country he could not capture the fortress, and was compelled to retire. Bhairon harassed him by lending aid to the Rājputs of Etāwah, and in 1404 Mallū besieged that city for four months, but was fain to retire on receiving a promise of an annual tribute of four elephants, and marched to Kanauj, where he besieged Mahmūd Shāh. Here also he was baffled by the strength of the fortifications, and returned to Delhi. In July, 1405, he marched against Bahrām Khān, a turbulent noble of Turkish descent who had established himself in Sāmāna. On his approach Bahrām fled towards the Himālaya, and was pursued as far as Rūpar, where a pious Shaikh composed the differences between the enemies and Bahrām joined Mallū in an expedition against Khizr Khān. Their agreement was of short duration, for on their march towards Pāk Pattan Mallū caused Bahrām to be flayed alive. As Mallū approached Khizr Khān advanced from Dīpālpur and on November 12 defeated and slew him in the neighbourhood of Pāk Pattan.