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History of the Khaljis, A.D. 1290–1320 c10.s2: Capitulation of Jalor (1311)

History of the Khaljis, A.D. 1290–1320 c10.s2

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Capitulation of Jalor (1311)

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Rai Mahlak Deva's recalcitrance was imitated by the Chouhan Raja of Jalor,¹⁵ and a similar treatment was meted out to him. Kanhar Deva of Jalor, also known by names of Saligram, Gokalnath¹⁶ and Krishna III, was the son of Sōm Singh a dependent of the Solankī Bhīm Deva of Gujarat.¹⁷ After sultan 'Alāūddīn had consolidated his authority in Marwar Kanhar Deva's semi-independent status was construed as contumacy and his country was invaded.

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¹⁵ In ancient times Jalor was known as Jabalipura. In 1210 Iltutmish had captured it but after a short time it regained its independence. The fort which crowns a hillock is about one thousand feet high. It is situated about 50 miles south east of Sevana.

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¹⁶ Nainst: *Khayat* vol. I p. 153.

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¹⁷ Reu: *Marwar ka Itihās* (Hindi) p. 11.

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Nainsī descibes two sieges of Jalor by 'Alāūddīn. The first occured at the time of the royal army's return from Gujarat in 1299 and the second in 1311. As the sultan himself did not lead the forces to Gujarat, the details given by Nainsī about the siege of 1299 may not be quite accepted, as he always refers to the king's presence there; but Ferishtah also mentions two expeditions to Jalor. While describing the events of the year 704 H. (1304 A.D.) Ferishtah writes that as the imperial generals Alaf Khan (Alp Khan) and Nusrat Khan were returning from the conquest of Malwa they arrived at Jalor and Nahar Deo (Kanhar Deva) taking lesson from the fate of Kōkā offered his submission to the sultan without even a show of resistance. The other invasion according to Ferishtah came off in 1308 and was the outcome of a very curious incident. One day while Kanhar was present in the court he heard 'Alāūddīn say that there was no one among the Hindu Rajas who could dare challenge the might of his arms. The remark pricked Kanhar's sense of pride and he picked up the guantlet retorting "If I wage a war and do not come out successful, I may be killed."\∗18 This effrontry enraged the sultan and he ordered an invasion of Jalor, while Kanhar had already slipped to Jalor to make preparations for war. Haji uddabir almost repeats the same story.¹⁹ The behaviour of Kanhar Deva, however seems very striking. It is really strange that at one time he flies to Delhi to pay homage to the king of his own accord, professes unflinching obedience for four years and then suddenly adopts such an insolent attitude that he puts himself and his subjects in extreme jeopardy. Neither the reasons given by Nainsi²⁰ nor by Ferishtah and Hajiuddabir are convincing. The real cause of the invasion was in all certainty the determination to put an end to the independence of Jalor as was done with the other states of Rajputana.

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\∗18 *Ferishtah* p. 118.

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¹⁹ *Zafarul Vali* pp. 788-89.

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²⁰ An interesting, though uncorroborated, reason has been given by Nainsi. He says that a princess of 'Alauddin's *haram* fell in love with Vikram, son of Kanhar Deva, who was on attendance at the court in place of his father. The sultan and the ladies of the *haram* first threatend the girl to change her mind, but finding her adamant 'Alauddin insisted on Vikram to marry her. The young Rajput could never think of marrying a "Turk" girl and left for Jalor promising to return with a wedding party (*bārāt*) after some time. The sultan suspected a ruse on the part of Vikram and kept a Rajput prince of the house as hostage. As was expected Vikram never returned to marry the girl and the sultan was so much incensed at his treachery that he invaded Jalor.

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In short, the army marched towards Jalor in A.D. 1311. The name of the commander of the expendition is not known but he does not seem to have been a brave general.²¹ The Rajputs defeated the royalists in a number of engagements and the latter beat hasty retreats. It is certain that the battle of Jalor was terrific, and perhaps a prolonged one. According to the Gujarati epic romance *Kanhad de Prabandh*,²² the contest continued for some years, and the imperialists met with a number of reverses in their first attempts to take Jalor.

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²¹ According to Ferishtah (p. 118), Gul Bihisht, a concubine of 'Alauddin captained the force. She fought valiantly but all of a sudden died of a short illness. Her son Shahin continued the warfare but was killed in an engagement not long after. It seems ridiculous that a concubine was put in command of an army constituted of brave Turkish officers and men, and they willingly served under her. No contemporary historian gives this fact, and the story which appears to be nothing more than a concoction of Ferishtah's imagination, should be summarily rejected.

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²² Commissariate. *Gujarat*, Vol. I, p. 12. K. M. Munshi: *Gujarat and Its Literature* pp. 102-5.

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The news of the humiliating retreats put the sultan to his mettle and he sent a strong force under the veteran Malik Kamāluddin Gurg. On his arrival in Jalor, Kamāluddin pressed the siege with unabated vigour. At last Gokalnath, his son Vikram Deva and their followers were killed in a close combat and the fortress fell. Maldeva, a brother of Kanhar Deva, survived the massacre that followed the fall of Jalor. Later on, he was able to secure the good will of the sultan, who as shown before, appointed him to take charge of Chittor from Khizr Khan.

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Nainsi's date (Sam. 1368, 1311-12 A.D.) of the fall of Jalor is in conflict with that of Ferishtah (708 H., 1308 A.D.). In 1308 the conquest Sevana was undertaken and a large army was sent to the Deccan also. It is, therefore, very probable that Jalor was attacked at a later date. Again Nainsi's date finds corroboration in the *Tirtha Kalpa* of Jaina Prabha Sūri who says that in Sam. 1367, 1310 A.D. ‘Alāuddin destroyed the temple of Mahāvīra at Sanchor, a place near Jalor. The desecration of this temple must have been a part of the larger enterprise, namely the invasion of Jalor.²³ Mr. Reu also concludes that Jalor capitulated in 1311 A.D.²⁴ To commemorate this victory ‘Alāúddin had a mosque erected in the famous fort of Songir at Jalor which is still in existence.²⁵

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²³ Also see Ishwari Prasad: *A History of the Qarauna Turks*, vol. I, p. 26.

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²⁴ Reu: *Marwār ka Itihās* (Hindi), p. 15.

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²⁵ The building now known as Topkhānā was originally a mosque said to have been built by ‘Alāúddin. *Arch. Sur. India Rep.*, 1930-34, Part I, p. 50. Also Commissariat;: *Gujarat*, vol. I, p. 50.

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After some time the Rajputs recovered their sway over Jalor and it continued till nearly the end of the 14th century.

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With the capitulation of Jalor almost all the leading states of Rajputana had been subdued one after another. Jaisalmer, Ranthambhor, Chittor, Sevana and Jalor, and the kingdoms adjoining them—Būndi, Mandore and Tonk had all been invaded²⁶ Jodhpur (Marwār) also appears to be under the Sultanate. Although there is no specific mention of its capture by ‘Alāuddīn, yet in an inscription at Pandua (in Jodhpur), dated Sam. 1358 (A.D. 1301), Alavadi (‘Alāuddīn) of Joginipura (Delhi) is mentioned as the ruling king.²⁷

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²⁶ Tod: *Annals*, vol. I, p. 311.

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²⁷ *Arch. Sur. India Rep.* 1909-10, p. 131.

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Thus by the end of the first decade of the 13th century, the whole of Rajputana, the glorious land of Indian chivalry, lay bare at the feet of the emperor of Delhi. But complete subjugation of Rajputana was impossible, and ‘Alāuddīn's success there was of a dubious nature.

Cites (3)