History of the Qaraunah Turks in India c6.108

c6.108

'Kānhardeva was king of Jalor. He died fighting with his son Vikrama against Sultan 'Ala-al-Din. After his death Jalor passed into the hands of the Sultan. This event happened in Samvat 1368 (1311 A.D.).' The same chronicle says that when 'Ala-al-Din invaded Jalor Kanhardeva had already sent away his brother Maldeva from the fort. For sometime Maldeva engaged himself in fighting but later he went to 'Ala-al-Din who appointed him governor of Chittor. The date of the conquest of Jalor given by Nainsi and corroboration in the Tirtha Kalpa of Jinprabhasuri who says at 1310 Samvat 1367 (1310 A.D.) 'Ala-al-Din destroyed the temple of Mahavira at Sanchor, a place near Jalor. The desecration of this temple must have been a part of the larger enterprise, namely the invasion of Jalor. From this it appears that Maldeva was appointed at Chittor in or about 1311 A.D. The statement in the Rajputana Gazetteer that the fort remained in the possession of the Muhammadans up to the time of Muhammad Tughluq (1325-51 A.D.) who appointed Maldeva, the Sonigra chief of Jalor, as its governor is entirely incorrect.⁴⁶ Firishta's statement seems to be doubtful for Nainsi writes: ‘for seven years the fort and the adjoining territories remained in the possession of Maldeva. Afterwards Rana Hammir Singh who had married Maldeva's daughter seized it by treachery. On this Maldeva prepared with his three sons Jaisa, Kirtipal and Banvīr to fight with Hammir, but he was defeated and killed. Banvir at last joined the service of Hammir and the latter gave him the district of Neemuch, Jirum, Ratanpur and Khairad in Jagir. After sometime Banvir seized Bhainsrod and annexed to Mewar the country towards the Chambal river. According to Nainsi Maldeva remained in power at Chittor till 1318 or 1319 A.D. Hammir had not yet captured it, and whatever the character of the allegiance . . . and we have reason to believe that it was very shadowy under Mubarak . . . there is no doubt that in 1320 A.D. Chittor owned the suzerainty of Dihli. The authority of Dihli was reasserted by Ghiyas-al-Din Tughluq as is shown by an inscription of Asad-al-Din Arslān of which mention will be made in another place.