Twilight of the Sultanate c8.s1.64

c8.s1.64

So only three months after the Qannauj campaign Iqbāl Khan marched to Samana in June-July, 1405 (Muharram 808 H),⁵² On his arrival Bahrām Khan fled to the hills, but later on and at the intercession of Saiyyad Ilmuddīn, grandson of Saiyyad Jalāl-ul-Haqq, peace was concluded between the two on the condition that Bahrām would join hands with Iqbāl against Khizr Khan. Their joint forces proceeded towards Multan, but Iqbāl Khan, suspecting treachery on the part of Bahrām Khan Turkbachchā got him flayed alive at Talwandi⁵³ and imprisoned his other accomplices like Rai Dāūd, Rai Bhau son of Rai Bhattī, and Rai Kamāl Maīn. This considerably depleted Iqbāl’s strength and encouraged Khizr Khan to collect his forces of Multan, Deopalpur and the Punjab,⁵⁴ and march out of Multan to meet his enemy half way. Near Ajodhan a battle was fought between the two on the banks of the Dahinda⁵⁵ on 12 November, 1405 (19 Jamadiul Avval 808 H).⁵⁶ As the battle raged fiercely misfortune overtook Iqbāl Khan; his horse was wounded and it got stuck in the swampy river bank.⁵⁷ When Islām Khan Lodī’s men saw that Iqbāl could not extricate himself, they fell upon him from all sides and struck off his head. The severed head was presented to Khizr Khan, who sent it to Fatehpur,⁵⁸ his native town, where it was fixed up at the gate of the city.