Twilight of the Sultanate c7.s1.121

c7.s1.121

Next morning, Wednesday, 17 December, 1398 (8 Rabius Sānī 801 H)¹⁰⁵ Tīmūr held his court in the Īdgāh situated between the Jahānpanāh and the Hauz-i-Khās.¹⁰⁶ Fazlulla Balkhī,¹⁰⁷ the veteran financier, nobles, Shaikhs and the elite of Delhi came to pay homage. At the request of Fazlulla, amnesty was granted to the city.¹⁰⁸ Maulana Nasīruddīn 'Umar recited the Khutba in the conqueror's name in the Jama' Masjid of Delhi.¹⁰⁹ Such officers as had distinguished themselves in the campaign were given titles and rewards and the learned and the Saiyyads of Delhi were honoured with presents and robes of honour. Dispatches proclaiming victory in Hindustan were sent to the principal towns of Tīmūr's empire like Samarqand, Tabrīz, Shīrāz, Herat and Azerbaijān, together with one hundred and twenty war elephants, and several rhinoceroses as gifts for the princes.¹¹⁰ The conqueror's flag was hoisted on the city walls and drums were beaten to proclaim the new regime. The people of the city lavishly decorated and illuminated their houses and shops.¹¹¹ And then Tīmūr, who was sixty-three and was to live for only six years more, immersed himself in "pleasure and enjoyment".¹¹²