History of the Khaljis, A.D. 1290–1320 c12.s1.5

c12.s1.5

Ram Chandra had calculated wrongly. Sultan ‘Alāūddīn could not bear to let go the handsome revenue from Devagiri which multiplied his accumulated treasures every year. Consequently in 1308²⁵ he deputed Malik Naib Kāfūr, the *hazārdīnārī* slave captured in Gujarat in 1299, with a large force to invade Devagiri and realise the arrears of tribute from Ram Deva. Malik Kāfūr’s 30,000 horses were reinforced by the armies of Khvājā Hājī, ‘Ainul Mulk Multānī and Alp Khān, the governor of Gujarat. These joint forces were to chastise the delinquent Maratha chief, to realise three years' tribute from him and to obtain possession of Deval Rānī the younger daughter of Rai Karan Baghela, ex-king of Gujarat then a fugitive in Nandurbar.