Twilight of the Sultanate c8.s2.8

c8.s2.8

Qannauj, an appendage of the Sharqī kingdom, had been occupied by Sultan Mahmūd in A. D. 1401-2 (804 H). On the eve of his departure for Delhi he placed it in the charge of Malik Mahmūd Tarmatī. Ibrāhīm Sharqī thought it an excellent opportunity to retake Qannauj, and advanced upon it. Sultan Mahmūd was not slow to accept the challenge and in October-November, 1406 (Jamadiul Avval, 809 H)⁶⁵ he marched out to meet the king of Jaunpur. While Mahmūd's advance made Ibrāhīm think caution to be the better part of valour, Mahmūd was rightly reluctant to start the war. Therefore, as had happened on a previous occasion, their armies lay facing each other on the two banks of the Ganga for some time and then they returned to their respective capitals.⁶⁶