Twilight of the Sultanate c8.s4.20

c8.s4.20

Ahmad Shāh's successor was his eldest son. He reigned till 1451, the year in which Bahlūl Lodī ascended the throne of Delhi. After two other weak rulers came to the throne in 1459, Sultan Mahmūd, commonly known as Mahmūd Beghārā, by far the greatest of the Gujarat kings. A contemporary of both Bahlūl and Sikandar Lodī, he is lavishly praised by the author of *Mīrāt-i-Sikandarī* for his generosity, gallantry and love of justice.¹⁰⁶ Ascending the throne at a young age, he ruled with success over the destinies of Gujarat for fifty-three years (1459-1511) full of military glory. In A.D. 1461-62 he helped Nizām Shāh Bahmanī against an attack from Mahmūd Khaljī of Malwa. He captured Pardi near Daman in 1464; in 1467 he attacked Jūnāgarh and annexed Surat to his dominions. The Raja of Girnar was compelled to surrender in 1470, and in 1472 Beghārā established his influence in Sindh by rendering help to Jām Nizāmuddīn. Next year he invaded Kutch and Dwārkā and severely punished the pirates of Jagat (Dwārkā). Champanir was attacked in 1482. As a result of Mahmūd Beghārā's conquests the kingdom of Gujarat extended from the frontiers of Malwa in the east to the frontiers of Sindh on the west. In the north it extended up to the frontiers of Nagor, Jalor and Kumbalgarh and in the south-east up to Khandēsh. On the side of the sea it extended as far as the bounds of Chaul, south of Bombay.