History of the Khaljis, A.D. 1290–1320 c10.s1: Capture of Sevānā (1308)

History of the Khaljis, A.D. 1290–1320 c10.s1

Language: English

Capture of Sevānā (1308)

c10.s1.1

¹¹ Sevana is a town situated 50 miles to the S. W. of Jodhpur.

After the conquest of Malwa ‘Alāūddīn sent his brilliant generals Malik Naib Kāfūr and Nuṣrat Khan to the south and himself seized an opportunity to attack Sevana. Sevana was then in possession of a Parmār Rajput chief Sītal Deva. Sītal Deva had witnessed the mighty citadels of Ranthambhor and Chittor succumb to the onslaughts of the Khaljī warlord, but still he refused to submit to the Delhi sultan. Sītal Deva was a powerful and energetic ruler. He had defeated many Raīs in battle and a number of Rajput Rāvats acknowledged his suzerainty.

c10.s1.3

The sultan marched on the 13th of Muharram 708 (July 2, 1308)¹² to chastise the ruler of Sevana. On arrival there, he began the investment of the fort. The right wing of the royal army was stationed on two sides, east and west, of the battlements; the left wing on the north; and the centre was entrusted to the command of Malik Kamāluddīn "the wolf." A constant shower of arrows was kept up from the *minjniq* but success was not in sight for a long time. The royal forces resorted to many stratagems, but all in vain.¹³ The Hindus defended the fort stubbornly, threw fire and stone from the battlements and for months together "breath was choked by the sounds of the Turkī flutes and Hindī bells." After great difficulty the imperial forces succeeded in escalding the battlements of the citadel. Sital Deva tried to fly to Jalor,¹⁴ but ran into an ambush and was done to death (23rd Rabīul Avval 708; November 10, 1308). According to Khusrau, Sital Deva possessed an elephantine stature, and when his huge head was presented to the sultan all were astonished to see it. The administration of Sevana was entrusted to Kamal-uddīn Gurg and 'Alāuddīn himself returned to Delhi.

c10.s1.4

¹² Alld. Uni. Ms. fol. 34 gives this date. The Ms. of Elliot also had the same date, but Prof. Habib's Ms. has 11th of Muharram 710 H (1310 A.D.). *Khazāin* Trs. p. 53.

c10.s1.5

¹³ *Futuh.* p. 307.

c10.s1.6

¹⁴ Ferishtah incorrectly says that Sital Deva sent a golden effigy of himself to the sultan and begged for pardon which was granted. Probably, but mistakingly, Ferishtah attributes the story of Ballāl Deva of Deccan to Sital Deva, who according to Khusrau, 'Isāmī and Yahya was killed during the capture of Sevana.

Cites (1)

Khazāʾin al-futūḥ — Amīr Khusraw Dihlavī