The Cambridge History of India, Vol. III: Turks and Afghans v3.c26.48

v3.c26.48

He was the greatest of the Muslim kings of Mālwa, which reached its greatest extent during his reign. His ambition may be measured by his attempts to conquer Delhi, Gujarāt, Chitor, and the Deccan, in all of which he failed, but against his failures must be set his signal successes against the Rānā Kumbha and many minor Rājput chieftains, his enlargement of the frontiers of his kingdom, and the high estimation in which he was held by his contemporaries. His recognition by the phantom Caliph, worthless though it was, proved, at least, that his fame had reached distant Egypt, and the mission from Sultan Abu-Sa‘īd conveyed to him the more valuable regard of a king in fact as well as in name. He earned a reputation as a builder, and one of his works was a column of victory at Māndū, erected to commemorate his successes against Rānā Kumbha of Chitor. The more famous column of victory at Chitor is said to commemorate victories over Mahmūd of Gujarāt and Mahmūd of Mālwa. If this is so it, ‘like some tall bully lifts its head and lies.’ Mahmūd I failed to capture Chitor, but the Rānā never gained any important victory over him. The successes of the Gahlots against Mālwa were gained by Sangrama Singh, not by Kumbha, against Mahmūd II, not Mahmūd I.