Twilight of the Sultanate c7.s2: Sack of Delhi
Twilight of the Sultanate c7.s2
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Sack of Delhi
c7.s2.1
During the course of the day soldiers of the victorious army went in batches into the city. Some went there as an escort to Tīmūr's consort Chaplān Malik Āgha¹¹³ who wanted to have a view of the Palace of the Thousand Pillars (Qasr-i-Hazār Sitūn),¹¹⁴ others to collect the ransom imposed upon the city while many others to obtain provisions. Trouble started when some soldiers who were purchasing sugar-candy at a shop got rowdy and looted it. Some others tried their hands at other shops.¹¹⁵ Their petty quarrels soon developed into clashes and in no time "the flame of strife" spread to the whole city. On Thursday and the following night nearly 15,000 soldiers were engaged in slaying, plundering, destroying. The next morning the soldiers who had remained outside, too were tempted to share the spoils of their compatriots and rushed into the unfortunate city. It was ruthlessly sacked during the next two days, Friday and Saturday. Gold and silver in coins and bullion, ornaments of women-captives, precious stones and finest fabrics of all kinds were obtained in immense quantities. Even the booty in human flesh and blood was enormous for each soldier had secured a large number of prisoners.¹¹⁶
c7.s2.2
¹¹³ Chaplān or Jablān Malik Āgha was a person of rare beauty. 'Arab Shāh describes her "like a Moon when it is full and the Sun before its setting". She met her death by execution on the principle: "whether it be true or false, it is a fault that she is suspected". Z.N., II, 186; Houtsma, *E.I.*, IV, 779; Saunders, 310.
c7.s2.3
¹¹⁴ It was built by Sultan 'Alāuddīn Khaljī in 1303. "This name was given to it because of the large number of pillars utilized in its construction.... The Qasr must have been as magnificent and beautiful as the other buildings of 'Alāuddīn; but unfortunately its complete destruction renders it difficult even to locate its site with any amount of certainty". Lal, *History of the Khaljīs*, 376. Also Arch. Survey of India Report, 1938-39, 142-43.
c7.s2.4
¹¹⁵ Z.W., III, 907.
c7.s2.5
¹¹⁶ M.T., E and D, III, 446; Z.N., II, 122.
c7.s2.6
At last Amīr Tīmūr woke up to the situation. Unable to restrain his soldiery, he was enraged at the resistance of the people. On Sunday the 21st he ordered Amīr Shāh Malik and Sultan Husain Tawāchī to go into the city and kill the people who had taken shelter in the Jama' Masjid. They were massacred in cold blood and then the entire city was given over to rapine and plunder. Tīmūr, however, pleaded innocence of all that had happened. With the easy conscience of a conqueror he described the horrible occurrence thus: "By the will of God, and by no wish or direction of mine, all the three cities of Delhi by name Sīrī, Jahānpanāh, and old Delhi, had been plundered. The Khutba of my sovereignty, which is an assurance of safety and protection, had been read in the city. It was therefore my earnest wish that no evil might happen to the people of the place. But it was ordained by God that the city should be ruined. He, therefore, inspired the infidel inhabitants with a spirit of resistance, so that they brought on themselves their own ruin."¹¹⁷ The explanation is as unconvincing as the event was monstrous, and the sack of Delhi will ever remain a blot on Tīmūr's even otherwise also not too clean a career.
c7.s2.7
¹¹⁷ M.T.. E and D, III, 447.