History of the Qaraunah Turks in India c11.69

c11.69

one of the most strongly fortified cities of the Sultan.²⁴ The nobles told the Sultan that if the Raja captured the city of Kubbān, he would advance upon Madura and capture it. Professor Krishna-swami Aiyenger identifies Kubbān with Kannanur, a place of vital strategic importance to which a reference is made in an inscription of Jātāvarman Sundara Pandya I.²⁵ Ballāla followed up his victory and laid siege to the town of Kubbān which Ibn Batūtah describes as a “large and well-fortified city.” The siege went on for ten months and the Sultan was filled with dismay, for the fall of Kubbān would have rendered his position untenable in Madura. The garrison in the fort had provisions which could only last for fourteen days, and the Raja sent word to them that he would spare their lives, if they evacuated the fortress. They replied that they would consult the Sultan and Ballāla granted them fourteen days for this purpose. He also sent a letter to Ghiyas-al-Din which was read by the latter to the assembled populace on Friday. With tears in their eyes, his nobles and officers told him that they would sacrifice their lives in the cause of God. They unanimously suggested a daring course in self-defence and resolved not to flee from the field of battle. They tied their headgears round the necks of their horses which was a sign with them of unflinching determination. The need of self-preservation sometimes calls forth the best qualities of men's character, and these 300 chosen warriors of Madura like the brave men in the charge at Balaclava proceeded to the field of battle to deliver a surprise attack. The army was divided into three sections after the traditional manner of the east. The right was placed under the command of Saif-al-Din, a brave, pious and learned man; the left under Malik Muhammad Silahdār (armour-bearer of the Sultan), while the centre was under the command of the Sultan himself.