History of the Qaraunah Turks in India c11.190

c11.190

'Imad-al-Mulk Sartez, the amir of Kulburga, started in pursuit of Hasan, but the latter eluded his grasp.'⁸⁹ The author of the *Sirat-i-Firuz Shahi* who is an earlier authority than Hājji-ad-Dabīr and Firishta writes that the rebels were divided into two sections; some fled to Kulburga, while the others entrenched themselves in the fort of Deogir and Dharagarh.⁹⁰ The author of the *Burhān-i-Mā'sir* does not specifically state the number of Hasan's men, but says that 'Ala-al-Din Hasan Shah with his own particular followers proceeded towards Kulburga. Sultan Muhammad laid siege to the fortress of Daulatabad, and sent Malik 'Imad-al-Din with a select force in pursuit of Sultan 'Ala-al-Din.⁹¹ It is perfectly clear that the 'Centurions' did not dare fight an open battle with the Sultan and their council advised what may apparently seem to be a pusillanimous course. The Sultan became aware of these tactics next morning, when he found the field of battle practically deserted. Hasan, who afterwards won distinction as the founder of the Bahmani dynasty, played a part in this campaign, but hitherto he preferred to remain in the background. Probably he was waiting for a more favourable opportunity, when he could establish his power on a durable basis, and the author of the *Burhān-i-Mā'sir* expresses this view clearly when he says that though outwardly, for prudential reasons, on friendly terms with these people, he was only watching for an opportunity of obtaining power.⁹² The royalists now turned to the fort of Devagiri and laid siege to it, while 'Imād-al-Mulk Sartez had gone in the pursuit of Hasan and other rebels. Many residents of Devagiri were sent to Dihli with Nowroz Kārkun by the command of the Sultan. A proclamation announcing the victory was sent to Malik Kabir and Ahmad Ayaz to Dihli where it was read from the pulpits, and drums were beaten to give expression to the feeling of universal joy. Meanwhile the siege went on. The beleaguered garrison offered a gallant resistance, and fighting continued ceaselessly.⁹³ The rebellion was suppressed; and for a while, as Barani writes, the Sultan occupied the royal palace where on the New Year's day the Musalmans of Devagiri came to pay their respects.⁹⁴ The Sultan employed himself in settling the affairs of the Maratha country, but before he had finished "the business of the amirs and the army, the alarming news came that Malik Taghi had rebelled in Gujarat." The siege had not yet terminated, and the author of the *Sirat* writes that "the fort of Dhāragarh was about to fall when fortune cast another die, and the news came that Taghi had rebelled and fled to Tatar Malik, and mastering Nehrwālā and Pattan had killed Shaikh Mu'iz-al-Din."⁹⁵ The statement about Mu'iz-al-Din's death is not correct in point of time for Barani who joined the Sultan's suite shortly afterwards, writes that the deputy Mu'iz-al-Din was slain, while he, with some of his officers, was seized and put in chains.⁹⁶ Doubtless the governor and his officers were executed by Taghi when the Sultan was at Broach on a subsequent occasion.⁹⁷ Firishta and the author of the *Burhān-i-Mā'sir* also agree that the Sultan was suddenly called away from Daulatabad by Taghi's revolt before the conclusion of the siege.