Twilight of the Sultanate c14.s5.1

c14.s5.1

The capture of Narwar had brought Sikandar Lodī too close to Malwa, in whose politics he could not help getting interested and involved. In October, A. D. 1500 (906 H) there had ascended the throne of Malwa Sultan Nāsiruddīn, a cruel, half-imbecile monarch.¹⁰¹ How he could maintain himself on the throne for ten long years, in spite of the numerous conspiracies to remove him, is a matter of surprise. At last in A. D. 1510 (916 H) the disgusted nobles persuaded his eldest son Shihābuddīn to assume charge of the government. The prince left Mandu and collected a large force to seize the throne, but he was defeated by his father in the neighbourhood of Dhar. Thereupon Shihābuddīn appealed to Sikandar Lodī promising to surrender Chanderi as the price for his help.¹⁰² The Sultan naturally felt very happy at the offer and, as the fleeing Malwa prince arrived at Shivpur,¹⁰³ he sent him a horse and a robe of honour.¹⁰⁴