Twilight of the Sultanate c11.s1.2

c11.s1.2

For a year and a half since Mubārak’s accession, his attention had been kept concentrated on the Punjab by Jasrat Khokhar, giving a welcome opportunity to the Rajas and Zamindars of U. P. to avoid payment of tribute. Having finished with Jasrat for the time being, the Sultan marched into Katehar at the beginning of A. D. 1423 (Muharram, 826 H),¹ and began to exact revenue and tribute at the point of the sword. Mahābat Khan of Badaon,² who had defied Khizr Khan in his last days, fearing the Sultan’s wrath, submitted to him and joined him in his expedition. They crossed the Ganga and ravaged the territory of the Rathors, putting a large number of them to the sword. Such behaviour so alarmed Rai Sumer’s son Deva Rai, who had submitted to Khizr Khan in 1421 and was all along in the suite of the Sultan, that he fled to Etawah. He successfully defended the town against Malik Khairuddīn Tuhfā, brother of Sikandar Tuhfā, who was tricked into raising the siege on a promise, and not actual payment, of tribute.³ The Sultan who was back in Delhi in May, 1423 (Jamadiul Ākhir, 826 H)⁴ was not naturally happy at Khairuddīn's performance and transferred his charge of 'Āriz-i-Mumālik to Malik Mahmūd Hasan, a nobleman "worthy, righteous and trustworthy".⁵