Twilight of the Sultanate c11.s2.4

c11.s2.4

Ibrāhīm Sharqī could hardly miss the opportunity offered by the appeal of Muhammad Khan of Bayana, for trying his strength with that of the Delhi Sultan. He had already prepared an elaborate scheme of invading the Doab. In the south his target was Kalpi, in the north Badaon, and had his schemes materialised, Mubārak Shāh would have found himself relieved of the whole of the Doab. Thus, as Mubārak Shāh was marching towards Bayana, he received an urgent appeal for succour from Qādir Khan, governor of Kalpi,³⁶ to the effect that the king of Jaunpur was marching upon Kalpi. Mubārak Shāh at once turned towards the south-west to meet Ibrāhīm, checkmate his plans on Kalpi and prevent him from joining Muhammad Auhadī at Bayana. The Sharqī king had already sacked Bhongaon in the Doab and was now advancing upon Badaon lying fifty miles north of it. Mubārak Shāh forded the Jumna at Tappal, sacked Chartoli or Jartaulī³⁷ and arrived at Atraulī,³⁸ lying 16 miles east of Aligarh. Ibrāhīm continued his advance along the banks of the Āb-i-Siyāh or Kalindī and reached Burhanabad in Etawah district, while Mubārak Shāh left Atraulī in his pursuit. But the Sharqī king avoided giving battle and moved to Rapri.³⁹ Crossing the Jumna at the ford of Nārang,⁴⁰ he succeeded in reaching Bayana, the friendly country of Muhammad Auhadī, and encamped on the river Gambhīr.⁴¹ Mubārak Shāh marched close at his heels, crossed the Jumna at Chandwār and encamped at a distance of four *kos*⁴² from the enemy. The two forces dug trenches and consolidated their positions.⁴³ For twenty-two days minor skirmishes were fought, whereupon Ibrāhīm Sharqī decided to give a final battle. On Wednesday 24 March, 1428 (7 Jamadiul Ākhir) he left his trenches and arrayed his army, footmen and cavalry, on the plain. At this Mubārak Shāh’s courage failed him, and although he ordered Sikandar Tuhfā and other officers to march into battle, he himself along with many important officers like his Vazīr, Sarwarul Mulk, refrained from personally participating in it.⁴⁴ The battle began at noon and raged till dusk when the rival forces withdrew to their respective encampments. Having failed to win a decisive victory, Sultan Ibrāhīm decided to retire. He crossed the Jumna at the ford of Nārang, and passing through Rapri returned to his own country by successive marches.