Twilight of the Sultanate c14.s1.8

c14.s1.8

From Patiali, the Sultan led his forces against his more formidable rival, Bārbak Shāh. He had sincerely wished to avoid a war with his brother, but in vain. Bārbak was ruling independently at Jaunpur ever since A. D. 1486 (892 H) with his own Khutba and coinage, but the legend on it shows that he was all obedience to his father.¹³ Sikandar had been lenient to his brother 'Ālam Khan and had reconciled with 'Īsa Khan before the latter died of his injuries.¹⁴ He, therefore, felt that Bārbak would learn a lesson from his liberal attitude and insert Sikandar's name in the Khutba and coinage of Jaunpur. On furnishing this proof of loyalty he was to be left undisturbed. But when Ism'aīl Khan Nūhānī carried the suggestion to Bārbak Shāh, the latter refused to comply.¹⁵ Not only that; instigated by some Afghan chiefs and secret intrigues of the exiled Husain Sharqī, he began to make preparations for war. This Sikandar could hardly tolerate and marched towards Jaunpur.