History of the Khaljis, A.D. 1290–1320 c7.2

c7.2

After fully establishing himself at Delhi, ‘Alāuddīn addressed himself to the task of overthrowing the surviving sons of Jalāluddīn. Ruknuddīn Ibrāhīm had, after leaving Delhi, joined his elder brother Arkalī Khān at Multan. There they lived in a sate of independence in a far-off province, and could any day become a source of immeasureable danger by claiming the throne. ‘Alāuddīn, therefore, determined to put an end to this peril once for all. As he had been crowned only recently he did not consider it wise to march to Multan in person and deputed his two trusted generals Ulugh Khān and Zafar Khān to conduct the campaign. With a strong force of thirty to forty thousand they proceeded to Multan in Muharram 696 (November 1296).¹ Arriving there, they invested the town at once. Arkalī Khān had had the forebodings of the calamity and had made adequate preparations to encounter it, but the Kotvāl of the town in conjunction with other local patricians, unable to bear the hardships of a protracted siege, deserted to the other side only after about a couple of months' investment. Arkalī lost all hope of success and importuned Shaikh Ruknuddīn of Multan to intervene on his behalf. The Shaikh arranged terms of a truce between the contending parties. He took the princes to the camp of Ulugh Khān, where they were received with dignity. The news of the victory was despatched to Delhi where great rejoicings were held.