History of the Khaljis, A.D. 1290–1320 c9.s1.58

c9.s1.58

Khiẓr Khān ruled over Chittor for some years, but not in peace. The valiant Rajputs could hardly bear a foreigner ruling in their land and constantly harassed the royal troops garrisoned at Chittor. At times they grew so daring as to throw the Musalmans down the battlements of the fortress, and it became impossible for the prince and his deputies to stay there. According to Ferishtah the sultan thought it useless to retain Chittor and ordered Khiẓr Khān to evacuate it.²⁸ But it can well be imagined that the sultan would not have given up the fortress in such an easy way. In fact, the gallant Rajputs who put an edge on the tooth of a mighty emperor like Akbar two and a half centuries later, rendered impossible the stay of Khiẓr Khān in Chittor and 'Alāuddīn ordered Khiẓr Khān to vacate it. Chittor was handed over to Maldeva, brother of Kānhar Deva Chouhān, the Songara chief of Jalor. Maldeva had saved 'Alāuddīn from a fatal accident during the siege of Jalor and as a token of gratitude the sultan bestowed upon him the governorship of Chittor²⁹ some time between the years 1313 and 1315³⁰. Maldeva remained all his life a tributary to the sultan and sent him presents, and always joined the imperial standard in the field with 5,000 horse and 10,000 foot.³¹