History of the Khaljis, A.D. 1290–1320 c20.s2.50

c20.s2.50

Although the punishments inflicted were severe and indiscriminate, yet the discovery of a couple of billon coins struck in 718 H in the name of one Shamsuddīn Mahmūd Shāh⁵⁰ clearly shows that the conspiracy was of a really very serious character. Not only Asaduddin at Devagiri but people at Delhi were also implicated in it. The coins clearly indicate the presence of a pretender at Delhi in whose name they were struck. And who was this pretender? Asaduddīn, Shāhīn, or a son of Khizr Khan, "whose elevation to the throne was, according to Ibn Battūtah, the object of the conspiracy?"⁵¹ Describing this revolt Ibn Battūtah writes that some nobles (he does not make mention of Asaduddin's name) tried to rise in revolt against sultan Qutbuddin, and place on the throne a ten year old son of Khizr Khan.⁵² The fact that Khizr Khan had a son by Deval Rani is attested by Hajiuddabir⁵³, but not by any contemporary historian. According to Barani, Khizr Khan was about the same age as Mubarak Khalji.⁵⁴ Again, he had married Deval Rani in 1313 or 1314. By no strech of imagination, therefore, could Khizr Khan have had a son of ten years in 1318. Moreover, Khizr Khan had been deprived of his sight and was living a secluded life in a dungeon of Gwalior Fort "getting only food and clothing."⁵⁵ Under these circumstances it is certain that Khizr Khan or his son, if there was any, had no share in the plot. The statements of Amir Khusrau in his immortal *masnavi* also lead to the same inference. Therefore, the title on the coin referred to above must either have been of Asaduddin or of Vāfā Beg. Asad was all along with Qutbuddin in the Deccan and was executed there. Since the coin was struck at Delhi it must have been in the name of Malik Shāhīn, who was at Delhi and was executed by the king soon after his arrival there.