History of the Qaraunah Turks in India c11.181.2

c11.181.2

Malik Mal Afghan still remained loyal to the Sultan notwithstanding the fact that the rebels had elected his brother as their leader at Daulatabad.⁸⁶ Reinforcements came from other districts and Imad-al-Mulk Sartez joined the Sultan. But in spite of these additions the royal army does not seem to have been large enough to frighten the rebels into immediate submission. Outside Devagiri in the historic plain where the ‘Alāī generals had defeated Ram Deva, the hostile forces encountered each other. The Deccan amirs, whose numbers had been considerably swelled by the disaffected Hindus and Musalmans of the neighbouring country, organised themselves for an open engagement. Nāsir-al-Din, the chosen king and leader of the “Centurions” advanced to give battle with a force numbering 30,000 men among whom were Afghans, Mughals, Rajputs, and all sorts of adventurers, who were actuated by no higher motives than love of plunder and personal gain. The imperialists led the attack, and though the rebels charged vigorously and at first routed both wings of the Sultan’s army, they were at last defeated and driven back.⁸⁷ Nur-al-Din Khan-i-Jahan one of their principal commanders, was wounded and with a contingent of 6,000 men fled from the field of battle.⁸⁸ His flight caused a panic in the Deccan army, and when the soldiers saw the standard of Isma‘il sinking down, they lost all heart and thinking that Isma‘il had fled from the field were seized with despair and began to disperse.