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History of the Khaljis, A.D. 1290–1320 c8.s1: Attempt on 'Alāuddīn's Life

History of the Khaljis, A.D. 1290–1320 c8.s1

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Attempt on 'Alāuddīn's Life

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Soon after the sultan left Delhi with a large army for Ranthambhor. He halted at Tilpat²⁰ for some time during which he used to go out hunting. One day when he had gone in a neighbouring village called Badah, he ordered arrangements to be made for big game shooting (nargah).²¹ While such preparations were going on the sultan seated himself on a basket chair (morha). All of a sudden he heard some men shouting "Lion, Lion", and a shower of arrows rained on him. Completely confused, he at once got down from the morha with which he shielded himself. Two arrows, however, struck his arm, and he fell down unconscious. This treacherous and cowardly attack had been planned by his nephew Sulaimān Shāh, surnamed Ikat Khān, a son of his younger brother Muhammad. Ikat Khān held the post of Vakīl-i-dar. It occured to him that just as 'Alāuddīn had obtained the throne by murdering his uncle, so also could he kill his uncle and occupy the throne. With this intention he had come to the hunting ground with some followers,—most of whom were neo-Muslims,—and had attacked the king. Fortunately, 'Alāuddīn was wearing a thick garment stuffed with cotton (قباء دگله) and the arrows had not struck any vital part of his body. He had only became unconscious. Ikat Khan arrived on the spot and tried to severe the head of the king. But some of the loyal retainers had guessed everything, and they hedged 'Alāūddīn round from all sides and began to cry loudly that the Sultan was dead. The foolish and inexperienced Ikat, partly because he was unable to dismount and lay hands on the sultan, and partly because he was in a hurry to seize the throne, readily believed the welcome shouts of the paiks. He dashed off towards Tilpat, entered the royal pavilion and seated himself on 'Alāūddīn's throne. He proclaimed to the people that he had slain the king, and they readily believed him for they thought that had he not done so, he would hardly have ventured to mount the throne. "A great tumult and uproar consquently arose thoughout the imperial camp, and everything began to turn topsy turvy. The elephants were caparisoned with haudās and brought before the royal pavilion; the household servants came out, and every one stood in waiting at his proper post."²² Ikat Khan, after giving an audience to the courtiers and men wished to enter the royal *haram*, but Malik Dīnār, the chief custodian, together with his men barred his way, and insisted on Ikat's bringing the sultan's head before he could be permitted to enter it.

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²⁰ It is a plain about 12 miles east of old Delhi and south of Kilughari.

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²¹ Baranī p. 273. *Nargah* was the name of the sport in which an animal was encircled from all sides and then shot at.

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²² *Barani* p. 274.

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As Sulaimān was pondering over the strange demand of the Malik, "the head of 'Alāūddīn all too soon appeared, set alertly as ever on its shoulders, as the living sultan showed himself to the army on a neighbouring knoll." It had so happened that when 'Alāūddīn had been wounded by the arrows most of his men had fled helter skelter. Only a few of his loyal bodyguards (paiks) had remained with him. When Sulaimān had gallopped off towards Tilpat, the sultan's attendants dressed his wounds and nursed him. Soon did 'Alāūddīn regain consciousness, but the loss of blood had made him extremely weak and nervous. He thought that some influential barons must have lent their support to the young man, otherwise he could not have dared to make such an audacious assault. Consequently, he decided to abandon his camp, and proceed straight to his brother Ulugh Khān at Jhāin and consult him on the future course of action. But Malik Hamīduddīn, who held the post of Amīr-i-Kōh (Director of Agriculture) advised the king to proceed to the royal camp immediately. "No sooner will the insignia of royalty become visible to the people and the courtiers", argued he, "and the safety of your august person become known to them, than will they repair to your threshold—and in the twinkling of a moment the head of the traitor Ikat Khān will be cut off and fixed on the point of a spear. Should the night, however, elapse without it being made known to the people that your majesty is safe, it is probable that some one may join the wretch, and the insurrection become much more formidable than at present."²² The suggestion appealed to the sultan and he set out for the camp immediately. On the way whosoever from amongst his men saw the sultan alive, at once joined him, so that, by the time he arrived near the encampment he had a following of five to six hundred horse. 'Alāuddīn ascended an eminence and showed himself to the people. All the courtiers forthwith repaired to the royal presence. Finding that all was over for him, Ikat Khān fled towards Afghānpūr. Malik A'izzuddīn and Malik Naṣīruddīn Nūr Khān, two prominent nobles were sent in pursuit and overtaking him in the vicinity of Afghānpūr they chopped off his head. The traitor's head was fastened to a spear-point and was paraded in the camp. It was later sent to Delhi where also it was paraded throughout the city and then finally it was sent to Ulugh Khān at Jhāin. Qutlugh Khān a younger brother of the rebel was also beheaded instantly. The sultan, whose rage knew no bounds, put to death all those who had the least knowledge or connection with the revolt, confiscated their property, and sent their wives and children as prisoners in various forts.

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²² *Baranī* p. 275.

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*The Fort of Ranthambhor besieged.*

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The trouble of Ikat Khan having ended, ‘Alāuddīn arrived at Ranthambhor by forced marches and pitched his camp on the Ran, a hillock facing the one on which stood the great citadel. With the arrival of the sultan the siege was pushed on with full vigour. Leather bags were distributed to the soldiers to bring sand and stone-ballast and fill up the ravine that separated the two hills. But the Rai kept himself fully informed of the strategy of the royalists and foiled all attempts of the enemy to fill the ditch.²⁴ Moreover fire was constantly kept up from the fort in reply to the fire of the projectiles hurled by the besiegers and vast numbers were killed on both sides.²⁵

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²⁴ *Futūh* p. 265.

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²⁵ Barani p. 277.

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*The Revolt of ‘Umar and Mangu.*

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While the siege was thus dragging on indecisively intelligence reached the sultan of another revolt. Taking advantage of his absence from the capital his two nephews (sister's sons) ‘Umar Khan and Mangu Khan, governors of Badaon and Avadh respectively, started an insurrection in Avadh. The exact motive of this rebellion is not known. Very likely, the cruel nature of the Sultan had spurred the disaffected element in the country to rise against him. Add to this the unsettled procedure of succession in those times. Further, the rebellion of Ikat might have given an incentive to the two princes to try their luck as well. The sultan at once deputed some experienced nobles and the trouble was soon got under. The two raw youths were captured and sent to Ranthambhor, where, in the very presence of the sultan, their eyes were sliced "as pieces of melon". Their families and followers were exterminated.

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