History of the Khaljis, A.D. 1290–1320 c11.93

c11.93

Targhi had determined to see that the disaster sustained by Qutlugh Khvājā’s forces was not repeated. He, therefore, had gathered definite information that the Sultan had marched to a distant fortress while another force, under veteran generals, had gone on a distant expedition. By forced marches and without disturbing the territory on his way Targhi arrived on the confines of Delhi. Sultan ‘Alāuddīn gathered together whatever troops he had in the capital, and arrayed his forces in the plain of Siri. As it was impossible to fight the Mughals in an open engagement with so small an army, ‘Alāuddīn decided to exhaust the patience of the besiegers by strengthening his defence lines. On the east of Sīrī lay the river Jumna and on the south-west was the old citadel of Delhi, although by the time of Targhi’s invasion it had not been repaired. In the south lay the dense jungle of Old Delhi. The only vulnerable side, therefore, was the north, where the Mughals had pitched their camp. Sultan ‘Alāuddīn ordered large trenches to be dug up round the encampment and strengthened them by constructing walls of wooden planks around them. In those times when artillery and other modern siege implements had not come in vogue, palisades, trenches and ramparts served best for purposes of defence. In each trench were stationed five huge elephants “incased in armour”, one division of cavalrymen and a guard party to keep a constant watch. These prompt measures of the Sultan prevented the Mughals from forcing an entrance into the royal camp.⁵⁷ While the Mughals used to move about the trenches in search for passage or recess through which they could suddenly fall on the royalists, the Sultan kept his troops ever alert and vigilant and constantly under arms for a combat, although he was determined to avoid an engagement till succour arrived from other quarters. In vain, however, did he hope to receive reinforcements from Multan, Samanah and Deopalpur for the Mughals had completely blockaded all passages of the capital from the east and the west. The army under Maliks Jūna and Jhūjhu had returned from Bengal completely shattered and ruined. The passage of even this dilapidated force had been stopped by the Mughals, while the organized armies of some feoffees of the east had failed to join the king at Sīrī and had been compelled to stop at Kol and Baran.