History of the Khaljis, A.D. 1290–1320 c2.s1.80

c2.s1.80

The disgraceful retreat from Ranthambhor was followed by another disaster. In 691 H.⁷² (1291-92 A.D.) 'Abdullah, a grandson⁷³ of Halāku Khan of Persia, advanced with a force of 150,000 Mughals.⁷⁴ On receiving the news sultan Jalāluddin marched out of the capital to encounter the Mughals.⁷⁵ By forced marches he arrived on the confines of Sannam,⁷⁶ where the Mongol vanguard had already arrived. The river Sindh separated the two armies and preparations to fight a decisive battle were made on both sides.⁷⁷ Meanwhile small skirmishes were desultorily fought between detached parties of the rival forces in which the enemy was worsted.⁷⁸ One day a portion of the Mongol army crossed the river and joined in a fearful battle with the royal vanguard. According to Baranī the enemy was completely defeated and a large number of them were slain. About a thousand Mongol officers, commanders of a hundred horse (Amirān-i-Sadah), fell into the hands of the Indian army. About this time negotiations for a truce were started and after some formalities a meeting was arranged between 'Abdullah and Jalāluddīn. They met on terms of cordiality and presents were exchanged on both sides. 'Abdullah returned to his native land but Alghu, or Ulugh Khan, who was also related to Changīz, together with some high officers remained in this country and accepted Islam. Jalāluddīn married one of his daughters to Alghu and he and his 4,000 adherents⁷⁹ came with their families to the capital city. They were granted facilities and allowances by the king. They fixed their colonies in Ghayāspur, Indarpat, Kilugharī and Taluka,⁸⁰ which were known as Mughalpura.⁸¹ They mixed up with the people of the country and came to be known as neo-Muslims.⁸²