History of the Qaraunah Turks in India c11.252.1

c11.252.1

The Sultan had been busily occupied with the revolt of Taghī and the restoration of order in Gujarat so that Daulatabad had almost been neglected. At the time of his departure for Gujarat he had left his generals to deal with the rebels who had entrenched themselves in the fort of Devagiri under the leadership of Isma‘il to defend themselves against attack. The fort was besieged, but the rebels stubbornly fought against the besiegers and baffled all their attempts to reduce it. ‘Imād-al-Mulk Sartez had been despatched by the Sultan to deal with Hasan Kāngū who had fled towards Kulburga with a considerable force to harass the imperial army. During the Sultan’s absence in Gujarat, the rebels increased their forces, as is shown by the fact that Isma‘il was able to despatch five thousand horse to the aid of Hasan who had received the title of Zafar Khan. Taghī’s continued defiance and the Sultan’s inability to crush him encouraged the malcontents in their designs, and they decided to make a united effort to establish their power. While the imperialists were concentrating themselves in Gujarat, ‘Imād-al-Mulk, who was encamped at Bidar had in Zafar Khan a foe worthy of his steel who aimed at royalty and whom no threat or demonstration of military force could intimidate into submission.