Twilight of the Sultanate c9.s1.4

c9.s1.4

Khizr Khan's career prior to his assuming the reins of government may be briefly recapitulated. Malik Mardān was governor of Multan in the time of Fīrōz Tughlaq. After Mardān's death the office devolved upon his son, Malik Shaikh, and on his death, on the latter's adopted brother Malik Sulaimān. When Sulaimān died, the government of Multan was conferred upon his son Malik Nasīrul Mulk by Sultan Fīrōz Shāh.³ In the civil war which followed in the wake of Fīrōz Shāh's death, Nasīrul Mulk threw in his lot with prince Muhammad against Abu Bakr and was awarded the title of Khizr Khan by him.⁴ Khizr Khan is next heard of when he was besieged and imprisoned by Sārang Khan in A.D. 1396 (798 H.) Having escaped from his bondage he took refuge with Shams Khan Auhadī of Bayana.⁵ From there he hastened to wait upon Tīmūr when the latter was marching on Delhi. The Amīr received him kindly and appointed him governor of Multan,⁶ Deopalpur and Lahore.⁷ After the departure of the great conqueror, he moved his pieces with calculated caution for full fifteen years till at length he secured the throne of Delhi.