History of the Khaljis, A.D. 1290–1320 c6.2

c6.2

“ Blood was still dripping from the severed head of the martyred Sultan,” writes Baranī, “when the Imperial canopy was raised upon the head of ‘Alāúddīn, and he was proclaimed Sultan.” While the proclamation of his accession was made by officers riding on elephants, the head of Jalāluddīn, like that of an ordinary criminal, was paraded on a spear in the streets of Kaṛa and Manikpur. It was later on sent to Avadh to be exposed there to the public view.¹ At Kaṛa ‘Alāúddīn began to distribute titles and honours among his partisans. He conferred upon his brother Almās Bēg the title of Ulugh Khān, on Malik Hizabruddīn that of Zafar Khān, on Malik Sanjar that of Alp Khān and on Malik Nuṣrat Jalesrī that of Nuṣrat Khān. Nor did he ignore the less important men, and he raised to higher ranks most of the loyal and faithful Maliks and Amīrs. But the young king could not afford to waste much time on these formal proceedings, as the Capital of the empire was still in the hands of the sons of the late Sultan. Consequently, he started feverish preparations to seize Delhi and influential officers were advanced large amounts to enlist fresh troops. For some time rains as also the fear of Arkalī Khān's possible advance from Multan, to avenge the murder of his father, deterred ‘Alāúddīn from marching on to Delhi immediately. He was considerably afraid of Arkalī Khān who was known as the “Rustam of the Age” and whose military talents he had seen during the revolt of Malik Chhajjū. But when he heard that Arkalī Khān was not coming to Delhi his joy knew no bounds. Fully convinced of the worthlessness of the successor of Jalāluddīn and his inability to raise a fresh army because of the impoverishment of the Delhi treasury, ‘Alāuddīn made up his mind to march towards the Capital in the midst of the rainy season.