Twilight of the Sultanate c8.s1.14

c8.s1.14

These minor successes encouraged Iqbāl to try his strength with the more powerful kingdom of Jaunpur. It may be recalled that Sultan Nāsiruddīn Mahmūd had appointed Malik Sarwar, a talented eunuch, as the governor of Jaunpur in A. D. 1394 and had conferred upon him the title of Malikul Sharq (Master of the East). The brave and sagacious Khwājā brought the recalcitrant zamindars of U. P. and Bihar under control; but taking advantage of the declining power of the Sultanate he extended his influence up to Kol (Aligarh) and Rapri in the west and Tirhut in the east. He grew so powerful as to realise the tribute which the rulers of Bengal used to send to Delhi. There was nothing to stop him from assuming the title of Sultan, but he thought it prudent not to issue any coins in his name, and a Bihar inscription records that he did not assume the insignia of royalty.¹⁴ Khwājā Jahan died in A. D. 1399. He was succeeded by his adopted son Malik Wāsil who, because of his extremely dark complexion, earned the nickname of Qaranfūl (clove). He adopted the title of Sultan Mubārak Shāh.¹⁵ Iqbāl Khan could not forget that Jaunpur had not come to the aid of Delhi when Tīmūr had attacked it; at least he could not brook Mubārak adopting the title of Sultan and striking coins in his own name.¹⁶ Consequently he left for Qannauj, a dependency of Jaunpur, in December-January, 1400-1401 (Jamadiul Avval 803 H).¹⁷ On the way he was joined by Shams Khan Auhadī (who was obliged to Iqbāl Khan for leaving him in possession of Bayana), Mubārak Khan and Bahadur Nāhar of Mewat. When the allies reached Patiali,¹⁸ on the Kalindī (also known as Kālī Nadī or Āb-i-Siyāh),¹⁹ they were opposed by Rai Sumēr Singh of Etawah and other Zamindars of the vicinity who were determined to make capital out of the wretched condition of the Sultanate. But Sumēr was defeated; he retreated to Etawah and Iqbāl Khan resumed his march. His plan was to take Qannauj and then march out to occupy Lucknow and Jaunpur;²⁰ but Mubārak Shāh Sharqī checked his advance at Qannauj where he had arrived with his army. The two forces lay facing each other for full two months on either side of the Ganga, but neither dared to ford the river to fight. Indeed, Shams Khan Auhadi and Mubārak Khan were playing a treacherous game, and this made Iqbāl Khan order a retreat.²¹ At this the Sharqī king also returned to Jaunpur.