Twilight of the Sultanate c12.s2.22

c12.s2.22

Hamīd was now securely entrenched in Delhi. But he thought it discreet not to assume the regal title. Instead, he decided to place a monarch on the vacant throne. He thought of Sultan Mahmūd Sharqī of Jaunpur but, as he was the brother-in-law of Sultan 'Alāuddīn, he could not be relied upon. Sultan Mahmūd of Malwa, who was connected with the old Khaljī house of Delhi, was also dropped because he was placed too distant to be invited.⁷² Moreover, both of them were strong and ambitious monarchs and would not have acted as showboys for Hamīd.⁷³ While Hamīd was thus meditating on a good choice Bahlūl Lodī, who had all along been watching the developments at Delhi with keen interest, marched with his army and besieged it in A.D. 1450 (854 H.).⁷⁴ Unable to face him Hamīd entered into a compact with Bahlūl, made him the king and himself the Vazīr, but kept to himself all authority and power.⁷⁵