Twilight of the Sultanate c8.s1.1

c8.s1.1

On Tīmūr's departure from Delhi, Nāsiruddīn Nusrat Shāh the Pretender, who during his invasion had escaped into the Doab, now finding the field clear, decided to make an attempt for the throne.⁴ Encouraged by 'Ādil Khan of Meerut,⁵ he occupied the palace of Fīrōzābād, which was still in ruins, and sent Shihāb Khan of Mewāt against Mallū Iqbāl Khan who was at Baran. But Shihāb was defeated and killed by Iqbāl Khan with the help of the Hindu zamindars of the Doab over whom he had influence, and the latter proceeded towards Delhi in the middle of January, 1399 (Jamadiul Avval 801 H)⁶. About now, Nāsiruddīn Nusrat suddenly died, and Delhi quietly passed into the hands of Iqbāl Khan. He made Sīrī his headquarters.⁷ People who had migrated to various places during Tīmūr's upheaval, now started returning to Sīrī which again began to show signs of life.⁸