History of Kanauj to the Moslem Conquest c17.s6.1.2

c17.s6.1.2

The latter, despairing of success, invited the prominent Hindu states to help him in resisting the alien invader, to which the “neighbouring kings, particularly those of Delhi, Ajmer, Kālañjara, and Kanauj” readily responded with men and money². Jayapāla advanced to meet his adversary on the confines of Lamghan,³ but the ponderous forces consisting of 100,000 cavalry, “many elephants” (Nizamuddin), and “an innumerable host of foot” (Firishta), at his command soon gave way before the masterly manœuvres of Sabuktigin’s army with the result that the conqueror obtained immense booty, besides 200 elephants of war, and “the best things in Jayapāla’s most distant provinces.” The king of Kanauj whose contingent shared in this defeat was probably Rājyapāla, although we have no evidence that he himself took any active part in the battle. The next attack was made by Sultan Mahmud, the son and successor of Sabuktigin, in the year 392 Hijri or 1001 A. D. Here again the issues were decidedly against Jayapāla, who, being unable to bear the ignominy of another defeat, handed over the cares of the kingdom to his son, Ānandapāla, and then immolated himself by fire.¹ But Mahmud’s insatiable thirst for harrying the “idolaters” would not allow Ānandapāla to have a peaceful reign, and in the spring of the year 399 or 1008 A. D. the Sultan again formed plans to punish him for having lent his aid to Da’ud of Multan in his treasonable designs.