Ala ad-Din: A Short Story

The Sultan of Delhi refused so he could avoid a conflict with Genghis Khan and marched towards Lahore at the head of a large army. Mingburnu retreated from Lahore and moved towards Uchch inflicting a heavy defeat on its ruler Nasir-ud-Din Qabacha , and plundered Sindh and northern Gujarat before returning to Persia in Having gathered an army and entered Persia he sought to re-establish the Khwarazm kingdom but he never fully consolidated his power. In the sultan dethroned the Ildegizid Uzbek Muzaffar al-Din and set himself up in their capital of Tabriz on the 25 of July in In he attacked Georgia defeating their forces in the battle of Garni and conquered Tbilisi , destroying all the churches and massacring the city's Christian population.

Jalal ad-Din spent the rest of his days struggling against the Mongols, pretenders to the throne and the Seljuk Turks of Rum. His dominance in the region required year-after-year campaigning. In , the governor of Kerman, Burak Hadjib, rebelled against him, but after the sultan marched against him he was again brought back into agreement. Jalal ad-Din then had a brief victory over the Seljuks and captured the town of Akhlat in Turkey from the Ayyubids. In he battled against the Mongols on the approach to Isfahan and while he didn't defeat the invaders following their great losses they weren't able to utilise their victory and withdrew afterwards across the Oxus river.

In , his brother Ghiyath al-Din rebelled and was defeated by the Sultan. Ghiyath al-Din fled to Burak Hadjib in Kerman where he and his mother were murdered. Jalal ad-Din moved against Akhlat again in The winter of in the ensuing confusion the Mongols arrived into Azerbaijan from the direction of Khorasan and Rayy. Jalal ad-Din was afraid of the enemy because he hadn't time to prepare an army and fled again. He was murdered the 15 of August in Diyarbakir by a Kurdish man. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Sultan Jalal-ud-din was losing his prestige and that encouraged the ambitions of those nobles who were dissatisfied with him.

Ala-ud-din became the pivot of their hopes. Ala-ud-din successfully attacked Bhilsa and was awarded governorship of Avadh.

1. BESOS oder Jaime: 101 Gedichte (German Edition).
2. Alauddin Khalji - Wikipedia!
3. Ala al-Din Abu al-Hassan Ali ibn Abi-Hazm al-Qarshi al-Dimashqi (Ibn al-Nafis) (1210-88).
4. Ala-ud-din II di Delhi.
5. Jamal al-Din al-Afghani | Biography & Facts | theranchhands.com!
6. Biography of Ala-Ud-Din Khalji | Khalji Dynasty | Indian History.

It helped him in capturing the throne of Delhi. The same year, he trapped Jalal-ud-din and murdered him. He was helped in this by his brother Almas Beg who duped the Sultan by his sweet words and assured him of the loyalty of Ala-ud-din. Ala- ud-din declared himself Sultan at Kara-Manikpur. Then he proceeded to Delhi and deposed Ibrahim from the throne. Thus, Ala-ud-din captured the throne of Delhi both by his treachery and determined efforts. Ala-ud-din had to face many challenges when he became the Sultan. He was unpopular among his subjects as he had treacherously killed his uncle who was his father-in-law and benefector as well.

Many Jalali supporters of Sultan Jalal- ud-din nobles were also dissatisfied with him. Arkali Khan, the eldest and capable son of Jalal-ud-din was the independent ruler of Punjab, Multan and Sindh and his brother, the deposed Sultan Ibrahim, his mother Malika-i-Jahan and many Jalali nobles including Ahmad Chap had found shelter with him. They could threaten the power of Ala-ud-din any time. In Doab and Avadh, the subjects and feudatory chiefs were prepared to revolt at any opportune time.

On the north-west frontier, the Khokhars were enemies of the Khaljis while the Mongols were constantly trying to penetrate deeper into India. In distant provinces like Bengal, Bihar and Orissa, nearly independent or semi- independent Hindu or Muslim chiefs were ruling. There were powerful Rajput rulers in Malwa and Bundelkhand while Rajasthan had become completely independent. Gujarat and the entire South had been free from Muslim influence so far. Besides, there was the necessity to restore the prestige of the Sultan and bring order and peace within the empire by improvement in administration.

Ala-ud-din proved equal to the task. He overcame all difficulties. He destroyed all claimants to the throne, suppressed all conspiring or revolting nobles, brought distant provinces under his hold, established a strong administration, restored order and peace within the boundaries of the empire, saved his empire from foreign invasions, extended its territories, looted and brought under his influence the entire South India and, thus, brought Khalji imperialism and its despotism to its zenith.

He lavishly distributed wealth among his subjects so that they soon forgot his cruel deed of murdering his uncle and benefactor, Jalal-ud-din. He assigned important posts to his loyal officers and allowed the Jalali nobles to enjoy their previous posts. However, Arkali Khan, his family and loyal Jalali nobles were at Multan. Ala-ud-din was not secure on the throne till they were alive.

Therefore, Ala- ud-din sent a strong army to attack Multan just after a month of his accession to the throne. Arkali Khan surrendered after a month and he along with his followers were taken prisoner. They all were killed afterwards. The Mongols invaded in A. But both the invasions were repulsed. Next, Ala-ud-din punished all those Jalali nobles who had joined him because of temptation of wealth.

Many of them were blinded or imprisoned and their wealth was confiscated. Thus, Ala-ud-din finished all claimants to the throne and those nobles who could prove disloyal to him any time. He, then, appointed his own loyal and capable officers to all important posts.

These officers proved their worth and Ala-ud-din owed much of his success to the loyalty and merit of these officers. Ala-ud-din proved an ambitious and capable ruler. He formed ambitious schemes for administration and extension of the empire. He was so encouraged by his successes and conquests that he assumed the title of Sikandar-i-Sani, had it recited in the Khutba and superscribed it on his coins.

Quick Links - Poets.org

He dreamed to conquer the world and even thought of starting a new religion. However, on the advice of his friend and city-kotwal, Ala-ul-mulk, he gave up these wild schemes and decided to establish an extensive and firm empire in India alone. Ala-ud-din succeeded in conquering larger part of north India and in bringing about almost all rulers of the South under his suzerainty.

He, thus, carried Muslim imperialism in India to the extreme. Further, he carried despotism also to the extreme and established absolute monarchical rule in India. Ala-ud-din succeeded in every field. The only limitation was that his success was limited only up to his lifetime. He failed in establishing an enduring empire of his dynasty.

Ala-ud-din was an imperialist. He had assumed the title of Sikandar-i-Sani and dreamed to conquer the world.

However, being advised by his friend, Kotwal Ala-ul-mulk, he decided to conquer only India. He succeeded in his attempt. While larger part of north India was annexed to his empire, the rulers of south India were defeated and, except the Pandyas, others were forced to accept his suzerainty and pay him yearly tribute.

Gujarat was a prosperous state with its capital Anhilwara. It was attacked several times by Turkish invaders, sometimes successfully also. But, it was never conquered so far.

At that time, Kama Rai Karan was the ruler of Gujarat. In the later half of A. On the way, Ulugh Khan conquered Jaisalmer. The Vaghela king Karna faced them near Ahmedabad but was defeated. His queen Kamala Devi and his treasures fell into the hands of the invaders. However, he along with his daughter, Deval Devi, could escape away and found shelter with Ram Chandra Deva of Devagiri.

The invaders then plundered Gujarat as far as Cambay, destroyed the temple of Somnath and returned to Delhi with immense booty. Kamla Devi, wife of Raja Kama, married Ala-ud-din. At Cambay, Nusrat Khan also purchased a handsome young Hindu slave later on, converted to Islam and named Kafur Hazardinari who afterwards conquered the South for Ala-ud-din.

Ranthambhor was a stronghold of Chauhana-Rajputs. Rana Hamir Deva had extended his influence and provided shelter to Mongol rebels. Ala-ud-din desired to conquer it because of its strategical importance also.

The fort was besieged but Nusrat Khan was killed in the battle and the invaders were forced to retreat. Then Ala-ud-din himself besieged the fort. The siege continued for a year. Ultimately in July A. All Rajputs were killed while the women performed Jauhar. Lal has expressed the opinion that the attack on Warangal in A. But the expedition failed and Bengal remained independent till A. Another centre of the power of the Rajputs was Chittor. Its fort was constructed on a high hill and was regarded impregnable. Ala-ud-din attacked Chittor in January A. Rana Ratan Singh defended the fort for seven months but, ultimately, in August A.

Whatever might be correct but the name of Ratan Singh was heard no more. His wife Padmini performed Jauhar along with other Rajput women. Ala-ud-din remained at Chittor for some days, massacred nearly 30, Rajputs, renamed Chittor as Khizrabad, appointed his eldest son, Khizr Khan as the governor of Chittor and then returned to Delhi. Khizr Khan was recalled from Chittor and it was handed over to Maladeva, a friendly Rajput chief. But, the Rajputs did not forget their defeat and troubled Maladeva. Maladeva married one of his daughters with him in order to satisfy him.

Yet, Hamir Deva did not remain silent. Ultimately, after the death of Maladeva, Hamir Deva captured Chittor from the hands of his son and successor in A. Amir Khusrav, a contemporary mentioned the romance of king Sulaiman and queen Sheba in his work, Khazain-ul-Futuh. That indirectly referred and compared Ala-ud-din with king Sulaiman and Padmini with queen Sheba. Jaisi, probably, based his romantic tale Padmavat on it. Afterwards, it became the theme of many ballads of Rajasthan and many historians also accepted this story.

Padmavat described that the main purpose of Ala-ud-din in attacking Chittor was to get possession of Padmini, the beautiful queen of Rana Ratan Singh. Ratan Singh agreed to it. The Rajputs, then, resolved to deceive Ala-ud-din. They sent a message to him that they were prepared to surrender Padmini. Then 16, armed Rajputs reached Delhi in disguise of women with queen Padmini and asked that the queen be permitted to meet the Rana only once.

Ala-ud-din agreed to it. The Rajputs, then in a surprise attack got free the Rana and the queen and fled away to Chittor. Gaura, a Rajput chief checked the pursuing Delhi army in the way while Badal, another brave Rajput chief, succeeded in reaching Chittor along with the Rana and the queen. Ratan Singh, then attacked Devapal, ruler of Kumbhalgarh who had tried to take possession of Padmini while he was captive of Ala-ud-din.

He succeeded in killing Devapal but was injured during the battle and therefore, died afterwards. Padmini, then became sati at the pyre of her husband. Ala-ud-din reached Chittor only afterwards and succeeded in capturing the fort only when the Rana and her queen had thus died. This story of Padmavat assumed different shapes afterwards. Some writers have said that Ratan Singh was not taken to Delhi but was imprisoned in the camp of Ala-ud-din from where the Rajputs rescued him.

Other writers too, thus, have given different versions of the story. Besides, the question had remained unresolved as to whether the story is a historical fact? Saxena and Dr K. Lal do not accept the story as a historical fact. They contend that contemporary historians like Isami, Amir Khusrav and Ibn Batuta have not described this story anywhere. Its only source is Padmavat which was written much later. Dr Ishwari Prasad, Dr A.

Srivastava and Dr S. Roy are more inclined towards accepting the story as truth. Malwa was plundered by the rulers of Delhi several times and a part of it was already in the hands of the Sultan. But, it was never completely conquered so far by any Sultan of Delhi. The contemporary ruler Mahlak Deva and his commander-in-chief Harnanda Koka Pradhan were brave fighters. Ala-ud-din sent Ain-ul-Mulk, governor of Multan, to attack Malwa. Ain-ul- Mulk defeated and killed Koka Pradhan in a battle and then besieged the fort of Mandu.

A traitor among the Rajputs revealed a secret passage to the fort and Ain-ul-Mulk made a surprise attack at night, killed Mahlak Deva and occupied the fort.

• Ala ud din Masud - Wikipedia?
• Story XI. The Lion who Hunted with the Wolf and the Fox?
• NO PEACE FOR THE WICKED (Gavin & Palmer Book 1)!

Afterwards, Ujjain, Dhar and Chanderi were also conquered. Ain-ul-Mulk was, then, appointed governor of Malwa. Siwana was ruled by the Parmara Rajput ruler Shital Deva who was regarded as a powerful ruler of Rajasthan. Ala-ud-din attacked Siwana in A. The Rajputs offered a brave resistance for some months. Afterwards, with the help of a traitor among the Rajputs, Ala-ud-din blocked the water-way which provided drinking water to the besieged from a nearby lake. Then, Ala-ud-din could force his way in the fort. Shital Deva was killed and the fort was captured.

Ala-ud-din handed it over to Kamaluddin Gurg and returned to Delhi. Jalor was only fifty miles away from Siwana. It was ruled by Raja Kanera Deva. Lal has described that Kanera Deva had accepted the suzerainty of Ala-ud-din in A. But Dr Dashrath Sharma has not agreed with it. He contends that Kanera Deva had not accepted the suzerainty of Ala- ud-din but, on the contrary, had attacked Nusrat Khan while he was returning after his campaign of Gujarat and had successfully repulsed a Muslim invasion in A.

Therefore, Jalor was attacked again in A. According to Rajput sources, the war continued for several years but, ultimately, Jalor was captured by Kamaluddin Gurg. Kaner Deva was killed along with his all relatives except his one brother, Maldeva who pleased Ala-ud-din and got the governorship of Chittor. The conquest of Jalor completed the conquest of Rajasthan by Ala-ud-din. Bundi, Mandor, Tonk and, probably, Jodhpur also surrendered to Ala-ud-din.

Of course, the Rajputs continued to offer resistance to Muslim conquerors at different places, yet the aim of Ala-ud-din was achieved. All strong forts of Rajasthan were captured by him and that provided safety to the passages towards Gujarat and South India. Therefore, he abandoned the policy of conquest there. However, the opinion of Dr Saxena has not been accepted by the majority of historians. Ala- ud-din was not prepared to accept the existence of any independent state in his neighbourhood. The conquest of Rajasthan was also a part of his policy of aggression. Besides, he desired to capture safe routes to Gujarat and the Deccan which could be possible only after the conquest of Rajasthan.

That is why he himself attacked strong forts like Chittor and Ranthambhor. Thus, the conquest of Rajasthan was the result of a well-planned policy of Ala-ud-din. He got the desired results by his conquests. After some years in the beginning of the fourteenth century A. He, then, decided to conquer South India. At that time, there were four prosperous and strong states in the South. In the south-west of Vindhyas, including Maharashtra, was the kingdom of Devagiri.

It was ruled by the Yadava king Ramchandra Deva and its capital was Devagiri. Towards the south-east was the Kakatiya kingdom of Telingana. Towards the south-west of Telingana was the Hoyasala kingdom. In the far south was the Pandya kingdom. Its capital was Madura. At the time of Muslim invasion the two brothers Sundara Pandya and Vira Pandya were contesting against each other to capture the throne. His primary aim was to capture the wealth of the Deccan by every means. However, the majority of historians have expressed that the purpose of Ala-ud-din in attacking the kingdoms of the South was two-fold.

The South was not plundered so far by Muslim invaders and therefore, possessed enormous wealth. Therefore, the wealth of the state-treasury has increased and enormous wealth has accumulated there. Ala-ud-din had looted Devagiri once before he became the Sultan and therefore, had some idea of the stored-up wealth of the South.

His one aim, therefore, was to loot the wealth of the South. His other aim was to force its rulers to accept his suzerainty and get annual tribute from them which would be a regular source of wealth for him and would also increase his prestige in India. Dey has emphasized on his second aim. He knew that it was difficult or rather impossible to keep the South under his direct rule for long.

Therefore, he never desired to annex the South within his empire. On the contrary, he tried to keep good relations with those rulers of the South who accepted his suzerainty and agreed to pay annual tribute. Ramachandra Deva and Vir Ballala visited Delhi several times and the Sultan treated them with due respect.

Sections in this entry

He sent his army to the South several times to achieve this purpose. Malik Kafur who was purchased as a slave served him well in this purpose. The credit of subduing the South actually went to him. The first attack on Telingana in A. Prataprudra Deva compelled the Muslim army which was sent to attack Telingana under Fakhruddin Juna and Malik Chhajju to retreat in disorder. After that Ala-ud- din failed to pay any attention towards the South for some years.

Ramchandra Deva, the ruler of Devagiri had agreed to pay the revenue of the province of Illichpur to Ala-ud-din in A. It was believed that his son, Shankar Deva, was responsible for this non-payment. It is also possible that Ramachandra Deva himself was encouraged to disown this responsibility because of the failure of the Muslim attack on Telingana or desired to draw advantage of difficulties of the Sultan arisen because of the Mongol invasions.