[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [General history and culture](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general) › [History of the Qaraunah Turks in India](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.prasad-1936) › c10.129 # History of the Qaraunah Turks in India c10.129 History of the Qaraunah Turks in India c10.129 - **Language:** English ### [c10.129](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.prasad-1936.c10.129) The Sultan summoned troops from Samana,⁸⁹ Amroha, Baran, Kol,⁹⁰ and the governor of Ahmadabad⁹¹ also sent a contingent of men. Letters were sent to amirs and nobles in the provinces to send re-inforcements to Saragdwāri. Ibn Batūtah who was an eyewitness relates that the Sultan had recourse to a curious stratagem in order to make his forces look numerically larger. It was arranged that if a hundred men came to the royal camp from outside, one thousand men should be sent for their reception and the entire combined force of eleven hundred should enter the camp, making an impression upon the enemy that large re-inforcements were pouring in to swell the numbers of the royal army. The Sultan proceeded along the river bank, and decided to take the city of Kanauj in the rear to entrench himself in the fortress which commanded a good strategic position. He spent three days in vigorously organising his forces. The army was divided into sections after the manner of the east and every regiment was provided with well-caparisoned elephants, on which were seated chosen warriors eager for a trial of strength with the enemy. The march towards Kanauj began with great rapidity for the Sultan feared lest ‘Ain-al-Mulk should forestall him in seizing the fortress of Kanauj and thus place himself in a position of unique advantage. The vanguard of the royal army consisted of the Sultan himself, Ibn Batūtah and his men, his cousin Malik Firuz with his comrades, Amir Ghadā-bin-Muhannā and Sayyid Nasir-al-Din and its strength was further increased by the Khorasani nobles and the contingent of Khwaja Jahan. ‘Ain-al-Mulk and his brothers whom Barani describes as ‘inexperienced in the art of warfare’ crossed the Ganges below Bāngarmau towards the villages of Talah, Sanahi and Mazrabah.⁹² ‘Ain-al-Mulk wanted to raid the camp of the Sultan, but he was misled by his guide who either wilfully or by mistake pointed to the camp of the Wazir. The Wazir’s force consisted of Persians, Turks, and Khorasans who were all hostile to the Hindis, and though ‘Ain-al-Mulk had fifty thousand men under his command they fought with a courage which astonished even their enemies. By day-break a large part of ‘Ain-al-Mulk’s forces had fled from the field, and he was himself betrayed by Ibrahim Tatari, surnamed Bhangi, one of his principal associates. His brothers Shaikhullah and Shahrullah were wounded in action and drowned in attempting to swim across the river. Rahimdad, another brother, was slain in battle and Nasrullah was beheaded by Sahil. - [Previous: c10.128](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.prasad-1936.c10.128) - [Next: c10.130](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.prasad-1936.c10.130) - [Up: c10](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.prasad-1936.c10) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.prasad-1936.c10.129](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.prasad-1936.c10.129) · Pramāṇa