History of the Khaljis, A.D. 1290–1320 c4.16

c4.16

Singhana Deva¹¹ had marched southwords on an expedition with the choicest contingents of the Maratha forces. This was in accordance with the military traditions of the past.¹² Ferishtah's statement that Singhana was away on a pilgrimage is not plausible, as there was no reason for his taking the best troops of the kingdom with him. Mr. Aiyangar also thinks that when ‘Alāuddīn made his plans he had definite information that the main army of Ram Deva had marched towards the Hoysala frontier under his son.¹³ The old king saw no alternative now—when the enemy was already marching into the city—but to throw reinforcements into the citadel and stand a siege. The fortress of Devagiri is situated on an isolated cone-shapped hill 640 feet high. The steepness and height of the rock required a minimum of defences. But walls, bastions, and a moat cut 50 feet deep into solid rock, made up for the little deficiencies left by nature.¹⁴ But for some time past the Yadavas had felt too powerful to care for their own defence, so that at the time of ‘Alāuddīn's invasion the moat was lying dry and unprotected, and the garrison was short of provisions.¹⁵ Incidently, however, a few merchants from fear of the invading army had left some bags, and these had been seized and put into the fort.