Twilight of the Sultanate c13.s2.37

c13.s2.37

As Bahlūl was close on Delhi, Shams Khātūn, his principal wife and the sister of Qutb Khan, sent him word that rest and repose were unlawful for him until he had rescued his cousin, Qutb Khan. It is not surprising that Bahlūl had not asked for his release when the new Sharqī king had entered into a covenant with him. He was on the defensive and in spite of the round about way in which the chroniclers write, he had lost much territory in the last truce, having been pushed back to ‘Alāuddīn’s frontiers in the east. Any-way, Shams Khātūn’s exhortation spurred him to action and without entering Delhi he turned from Dhankur, about 28 miles S. E. of Delhi, to march to Jaunpur with no other design than that of effecting the release of Qutb Khan. Thereupon, Muhammad Sharqī also returned to meet him. First Muhammad went to Shamsābād, wrested it from Rai Karan and made it over to Jūnā Khan. His strength even made Rai Pratap side with him this time. Shifting of loyalties was a common feature of these wars, and the instance of Dariyā Khan Lodī is a glaring example of it. Muhammad arrived at Sarsuti or Sirsa⁵⁰ and halted there; Bahlūl had already arrived in Rapri lying close to Sirsa. The rival forces occasionally clashed in minor engagements.