The Early History of the Deccan (Parts I–XI) v2.c15.s2.t5.37

v2.c15.s2.t5.37

But whilst Pratāparudra was engaged in waging war on the Pāṇḍyas in the South, important political changes were taking place in Delhi. Malik Nā’ib Kāfūr, who was carrying on the administration of the empire in the name of Sulṭān Shihāb-ud-Dīn, was murdered, and Quṭb-ud-Dīn Mubārak Shāh, another son of 'Alā-ud-Dīn, ascended the throne. As soon as Mubārak Shāh had consolidated his position, he set out in the second year of his reign (A.D. 1318) on an expedition to the Deccan to restore the imperial authority in Marhaṭṭa, where a formidable rebellion had broken out under the leadership of Harapāladēva, who had proclaimed his independence and attempted to revive the old Sēuṇa kingdom of Dēvagiri. A second object of the campaign was to collect the tribute from Pratāparudra, who appears to have omitted to forward his payments, having taken advantage of the revolution in the imperial capital and the breakdown of the Muslim power in the Deccan. The Sulṭān soon arrived in Marhaṭṭa and there put down the Hindu rebellion with a stern hand. He then dispatched his favourite slave Khusrau Khān to Warangal at the head of a powerful army with instructions to overthrow Pratāparudra unless he should immediately submit and pay the arrears of tribute due to the Sulṭān. What happened during Khusrau Khān's expedition to Warangal is not easy to determine, since the available evidence on the subject is conflicting in character. Amir Khusrau and 'Iṣāmī, the earliest historians who describe the events connected with the expedition, are unfortunately at variance with each other. According to the former, Pratāparudra refused to pay the tribute and offered resistance. Khusrau Khān, like Malik Nā'ib Kāfūr before him, marched at the head of the Delhi army from Dēvagiri, and halted in the neighbourhood of Warangal. Pratāparudra is said to have attacked him with 10,000 horse and innumerable foot, but to have been defeated and driven back into the fort by a small band of about 300 horsemen. Khusrau next laid siege to Warangal and captured the outer fort. A large number of Hindus of distinction, including Pratāparudra's commander-in-chief Antil Mahta, were killed in the fight. The bold advance of the Muslim forces alarmed Pratāparudra, who realizing that it would be useless to resist further made peace with Khusrau Khān and agreed to cede five districts of his kingdom to the Sulṭān and to pay an annual tribute of more than 100 elephants and 12,000 horses, together with gold, jewels, and precious stones beyond compute. Khusrau Khān then raised the siege and returned to Delhi laden with booty.¹