Twilight of the Sultanate c8.s3.18

c8.s3.18

On Mahmūd’s death the nobles paid homage to Daulat Khan. Although he had no claims to the throne, yet the nobility of Delhi could not just think of offering the crown to Khizr Khan, the hated “nominee” of the “accursed” Tīmūr. Daulat was aware of his precarious position and the strength of Khizr Khan. So, to begin with, he only concentrated on securing as many allies as possible. He succeeded in obtaining the fealty of Rai Vīra Singh of Katehār and the support of Mahābat Khan of Badaon.⁹¹ Even Malik Idrīs and Mubāriz Khan, who had submitted to Khizr Khan, were induced to come over to his side. But his enemies were stronger than his few friends, and when Ibrāhīm Sharqī besieged Qādir Khan, son of Mahmūd Khan, at Kalpi,⁹² Daulat Khan avoided fighting him. Meanwhile Khizr Khan started on a full-scale invasion of Delhi. He sent a strong force to besiege Rohtak and himself marched to Mewat where he received the submission of Iqlim Khān's nephew Jalāl Khan. Thence he marched across the Doab and sacked Sambhal. He arrived in Delhi in March, 1414, with 60,000 horse,⁹³ and invested Sīrī.⁹⁴ Daulat Khan withstood the siege for full four months and surrendered only when some officers led by Malik Lona⁹⁵ treacherously admitted the besiegers. Daulat Khan was taken prisoner, confined in the Hisār Fīrōzā and later killed.⁹⁶