Pramāṇa · Search · About · API

The Sultanate of Delhi, 711–1526 A.D. c19.s5: Conquest of the Dakhin

The Sultanate of Delhi, 711–1526 A.D. c19.s5

Language
English

Contents

Conquest of the Dakhin

c19.s5.1

Ala-ud-din was determined to conquer the Dakhin also. He was the first Sultan of Delhi to cross the Vindhya mountains and to attempt to subjugate the southern peninsula. Mention has been made of his success against Rama Chandra of Devagiri in 1294. At that time there were four powerful kingdoms in southern India. They were : (1) the Yadava kingdom of Devagiri in the west, comprising Maharashtra, with its capital at Devagiri (modern Daultabad) ; (2) the Kakatiya kingdom of Telingana in the east, with its capital at Warangal; (3) the Hoysala kingdom, with its capital at Dwarasamudra, lying south of the river Krishna and comprising the whole of modern Mysore besides some other districts; and (4) the Pandya kingdom of the far south, with its capital at Madura. Unlike his policy in northern India, which he wanted to annex and rule directly, Ala-ud-din only desired to compel the rulers of southern India to acknowledge his supremacy and to send him annual tributes. He wanted to leave their dominions in their hands on condition of vassalage. His chief object was to get as much wealth from that region as possible.

Failure against Warangal

c19.s5.t1.1

Ala-ud-din had already reduced the kingdom of Devagiri to subjugation in 1294 and compelled its ruler to yield a huge treasure and to become his vassal. In 1303 he sent an army under Chhajju, nephew and successor of Nasrat Khan, to subjugate and plunder Telingana, the second kingdom in the Dakhin. This army marched through Bangal and Orissa and attacked Warangal, but was defeated by the Kakatiya ruler Prataprudra Deva, and compelled to flee back in disorder.

Devagiri re-conquered

c19.s5.t2.1

Raja Rama Chandra of Devagiri had failed for three years to remit the revenue of the province of Illichpur which he had ceded to Ala-ud-din in 1294. In order, therefore, to reduce him to submission, an army was sent under Malik Kafur, who now held the office of the naib of the kingdom, in 1306-7. The naib was also required to bring Deval Devi, daughter of Raja Karan of Gujarat, as she was required by her mother, Kamla Devi, now in Ala-ud-din's *harem* at Delhi. Karan, who had established himself as the ruler of a petty principality in the Baglan region, had made arrangements for marrying Deval Devi to prince Shankar, the eldest son of Rama Chandra of Devagiri. While she was being escorted towards Devagiri, she fell into the hands of Alp Khan, governor of Gujarat, who was proceeding to join Malik Kafur in order to co-operate with him in the Devagiri expedition. Deval Devi was sent to Delhi and married to Khizr Khan, Ala-ud-din's eldest son. Alp Khan then defeated Karan who was compelled to retreat to Devagiri to take shelter there. Meanwhile, Malik Kafur had occupied Illichpur and appointed a Turkish governor to take charge of it. Then he marched upon Devagiri itself. Rama Chandra Deva submitted. He went to Delhi and made presents of enormous value to the Sultan from whom he received the title of *Rai-i-Rayan*. He was allowed to remain in possession of the State and was, besides, given the district of Navasari as a personal jagir.

Telingana

c19.s5.t3.1

The failure in 1303 of an expedition against Warangal was rankling in the bosom of Ala-ud-din who was anxious to wipe off the disgrace as soon as he could. Accordingly, Malik Kafur was sent to accomplish the work in 1308. Warangal, the capital city of the Kakatiya kingdom, was surrounded by two strong walls, the outer one of which was of earth, while the inner one was made of stone. Its ruler, Prataprudra II, who had defeated Chhajju's expedition in 1303, was taken by surprise. Kafur besieged Warangal and inflicted a heavy loss on the garrison inside by numerous assaults. So the Raja submitted and offered an indemnity of 300 elephants, 7,000 horses, a large quantity of cash and jewels and agreed to pay annual tribute.

The Hoysala kingdom of Dwarasamudra

c19.s5.t4.1

Ala-ud-din now planned to subjugate the third powerful Dakhin kingdom. In 1310 Malik Kafur and Khwaja Haji were against sent across the Vindhyachala mountains at the head of a large army. On entering the kingdom of Devagiri, where Shankar Deva had succeeded his father, Rama Chandra, in 1309-10, Kafur established a garrison at Jalna on the Godavari to protect his line of communication with Delhi. This step was taken because Shankar Deva's loyalty was not above suspicion. From Devagiri Kafur took the road to Dwarasamudra (Dwaravatipura). His movement was so rapid that the Hoysala ruler Vira Ballala III was taken by surprise. He was defeated and his capital was occupied by the invaders. Kafur plundered the rich temples of the town. The Hoysala king was obliged to pay an enormous war indemnity and to agree to become a vassal of the Sultan of Delhi.

The Pandya kingdom

c19.s5.t5.1

From Dwarasamudra Kafur marched to the Pandya kingdom which lay in the extreme south of the Dakhin peninsula. The succession to the throne of this kingdom was disputed between two brothers, named, Sundara Pandya and Vira Pandya. Sundara Pandya, who was defeated by his brother, Vira Pandya, had gone to Delhi and sought Ala-ud-din's help for the recovery of his throne. That was why Kafur had ventured to advance rapidly into an unknown region. He reached Madura which was abandoned by the ruler, Vira Pandya. Kafur plundered the place and destroyed its chief temple and then proceeded eastwards to the sea-coast. He reached Rameshwaram on the island of Pamban, where he destroyed the great temple and built a mosque and named it after Ala-uddin. After these exploits he returned to Delhi in 1311 with enormous spoils "which included 312 elephants, 20,000 horses, 2,750 pounds of gold, equal in value to ten crores of *tankas* and chests of jewels. No such booty had ever before been brought to Delhi."

The last Dakhin expedition

c19.s5.t6.1

Shankar Deva of Devagiri was a patriotic and energetic ruler, and was anxious to throw off the Turkish yoke. After Kafur's return to Delhi he did not remit the usual yearly tribute. The Sultan, therefore, despatched Malik Kafur once again in 1313 to call Shankar Deva to account. There was another reason for the expedition. Prataprudra of Warangal had written to the Sultan to send some officer to receive his tribute there, as Delhi was so far off from his capital. Kafur appeared at Devagiri. Shankar Deva was defeated and killed. From Devagiri he proceeded to Gulbarga, which he captured. Next, he occupied the territory between the Krishna and the Tungabhadra rivers and established garrisons at Raichur and Mudgal. Now he proceeded westward and took the sea-ports of Dabhol and Chaul. After this he again invaded the Hoysala kingdom of Vira Ballala III. After all these conquests Kafur returned to Delhi with valuable spoils.

c19.s5.t6.2

The conquest of the Dakhin was now complete. Almost the whole of southern India was brought under the suzerainty of Delhi. But southern India was not annexed. Only a few garrisons of Turkish troops were established at important towns.

Cites (2)