The Cambridge History of India, Vol. III: Turks and Afghans v3.c26.70

v3.c26.70

Early in 1514 the king returned to Māndū, where he fell entirely under the influence of the Rājput minister, and at his instigation put many of the old Muslim nobles of the kingdom to death. The rest left the court, and even menial servants were dismissed, until the king was entirely in their power. He made an effort to free himself by dismissing Mednī Rāi, but the minister refused to accept his dismissal, and the Rājputs were restrained from violence only by prudential considerations, and promised in future to abstain from what was their greatest offence in the eyes of Muslims—the keeping of Muslim women as concubines. One of their leaders, Sālibāhan, refused to make this promise, and the offence thus continued. Mahmūd then attempted to remove Mednī Rāi and Sālibāhan by assassination, and succeeded in the case of the latter, but the former was only wounded, and the Rājputs attacked the king’s small bodyguard of Muslims, but were defeated, chiefly owing to their fear of provoking the intervention of Muzaffar II of Gujarāt by proceeding to extremities.