Twilight of the Sultanate c14.s3.20

c14.s3.20

Sikandar Lodī's friendship with Sālīvāhan, born out of necessity of dealing with Husain Sharqī, was snapped as soon as the Sultan had gained his end. His original plan was to annex the kingdom. Therefore, three years later, in A.D. 1499 (409 H),⁵⁷ he once again marched against Baghelkhand. The excuse was Sālīvāhan's refusal to enter into a matrimonial alliance with him. He forced his way across the defiles to Bandūgarh, sacking and pillaging, and so devastated its environs that he "blotted out all traces of cultivation".⁵⁸ He again suffered for his reckless action, for scarcity of provisions forced him to vacate the country. The rulers of Bandūgarh continued to rule independently, but repeated Afghan invasions affected its prosperity and crippled its strength.⁵⁹