The Dynastic History of Northern India (Early Mediaeval Period) v2.c32.s5.52

v2.c32.s5.52

But though there is hardly any evidence for the alleged victories of Hammīra, Nayacandra's account of the conflicts between Hammīra and ‘Alā ud-Dīn and the tragic end of the Cāhamāna after a stubborn resistance, is, substantially attested by Muslim evidence. A contemporary Amīr Khusrau in his *Ta’rīkh-i ‘Alāī* describes in some detail the siege of Ranthambhor. The ‘Saturnian Hindus,’ says the writer, ‘bravely resisted all the attempts of the Muslims to capture the fort,’ till “no provisions remained in the fort, and famine prevailed to such an extent that a grain of rice was purchased for two grains of gold.” Seeing no hope of success, “one night the Rai lit a fire at the top of the hill, and threw his women and family into the flames, and rushing on the enemy with a few devoted adherents, they sacrificed their lives in despair. On the fortunate date of the 3rd of Zī-lka’da A. H. 700 (July, 1301 A.D.), this strong fort was taken by the slaughter of the stinking Rāī. Jhāīn was also captured, ‘an iron fort, an ancient abode of idolatry, and a new city of the people of the faith arose.’ The temple of Bāhir Deo, and the temples of other gods, were all rased to the ground.”[’]² The account of the desperate resistance of Hammīra is also found in Baranī's *Ta’rīkh-i-Fīrūz Shāhī*.³ Baranī relates that the attack on Ranthambhor began as early as the reign of Jalāl ud-Dīn Fīrūz (1290-96 A.D.). The Sulṭān in A. H. 689 (A. D. 1290) led an army to Ranthambhor. The Rāī of the place with his Rāwats and followers, together with their wives and children, all took refuge in the fort of Rantambhor. The Sulṭān wished to invest and take the fort. He ordered *manjanīks* to be erected, funnels to be sunk and redoubts to be constructed, and the siege to be pressed…… But after reconnoitring the fort, he found that it could not be taken without sacrificing the lives of many Musalmans………… .. So he raised the siege and next day departed for Delhi.'' ‘Alā ud-Dīn (1296-1316 A. D.) soon after his accession renewed the efforts of his uncle to take the fort. The immediate cause of his attack was the asylum which Hamīr Deo, its chief, gave to a body of ‘new Musalmāns’ who had rebelled against the Sulṭān after the conquest of Gujarat in 1297 A. D. During the first attempt in 1300 A.D., when Ulugh Khān and Nuṣrat Khān were besieging the fort, the latter was fatally wounded by a stone shot from a *maghribi* in it, and died two or three days after. It was only after repeated attempts that “the Sulṭān succeeded in reducing Rantambhor………… with much bloodshed and difficulty. He slew Hamīr Deo, the Rai, and all the new Musalmans, who had fled from the rebellion in Gujarat, and had taken refuge with him. The fort and all its territories and appurtenances were placed under the charge of Ulugh Khān, and the Sulṭān returned to Delhi.’’¹ This account is fully corroborated by Firishta,² who adds the information that after the death of Nuṣrat Khān, Hamīr Deo³ “marched out from the fort, and gave battle, having collected within a short time 200,000 men.