Alauddin Khalji's Conquest of North India
| Alauddin Khalji's Conquest of North India | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Delhi Sultanate Expansion | |||||||||
 Conquest of North India by Alauddin Khalji highlighted in Dark green shade. | |||||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||||
 Delhi Sultanate |
Kingdom of Jaisalmer Vaghela dynasty Chahamanas of Ranastambhapura Guhila dynasty Paramara dynasty Paramaras of Siwana Chahamanas of Jalor | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
|
Alauddin KhaljiUlugh KhanMalik KafurNusrat Khan †MultaniKamal |
Dauda † Tilak Singh † Karna II Hammiradeva † Virama † Bhimasamha † Jaja † Kshetra Singh Parmar † Tak Gangadhar † Muhammad Shah (POW) Kehbru (POW) Ratnasimha Rana Lakhan † Ari Singh † Mahalakadeva † Gogadeva † Sitala Deva † Kanhadadeva † Viramadeva † | ||||||||
Alauddin Khalji's Conquest of North India also Known as Rajputana Campaign (Only referring to campaigns in Rajputana) refers to series of Millitary Conquest by Alauddin Khalji of Delhi Sultanate in North India leaving a profound impact on the region's history.[1]
By the end of the 13th century and start of 14th century SultanAlauddin Khilji expanded his Sultanate by annexing parts of North India like Jaisalmer,Gujarat,Ranthambore,Chittor,Malwa,Siwana and Jalore with help of his prominent generals like Ulugh Khan ,Nusrat Khan ,Ayn al-Mulk Multani ,Kamal al-Din Gurg and Malik Kafur.[1]
Background
[edit]There is no detailed account of the expedition to Warangal provided by Ziyauddin or Ferishtah. Their narratives do not clarify whether the army ever reached Warangal. Ferishtah mentions that the second expedition to Warangal was led by Malik Naib Kafür, following a previous failed attempt through Bengal that returned in disarray without any achievements. He does not specify where the earlier expedition encountered difficulties.[1]
Barani, on the other hand, states that the army reached Arangal (Warangal), but was unable to achieve anything due to the onset of the monsoon. Barani's limited information may be attributed to Alauddin's tendency to keep such setbacks confidential, especially given the unrest in Bengal around that time. The Sultan faced multiple revolts during 700-701 A.H. (1300-02 A.D.), and his frustration may have led him to obscure details of the Bengal troubles.[1]
Barani's misunderstanding of Bengal's local history further contributed to the lack of clarity. He mistakenly believed that Bengal was under the peaceful rule of Nasiruddin Mahmüd, son of Balban, throughout Alauddin's reign, failing to recognize the true situation. This misconception led to inaccuracies regarding the length of Nasiruddin's rule, conflicting with historical evidence.[1]
Overall, the expedition was a failure. Malik Jüna and Malik Jhüjhů returned to the capital with their forces in disarray, but were halted near Badaon due to Qutlug Khwāja's siege of Delhi. Shamsuddin Firoz remained firmly in control of Bengal until 722 A.H. (1321 A.D.), and Warangal appeared unaffected by the expedition.[1]
Conquest
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Invasion of Jaisalmer
[edit]Naiņsi's account, marked by fantasy and exaggeration, inaccurately dates the Jaisalmer attack and lacks support from contemporary Persian chronicles. However, evidence does confirm a Khilji invasion of Jaisalmer during Sultan Alauddin Khilji's reign.[1]
Recent inscriptions corroborate the Turkish invasion of Jaisalmer. They indirectly mention the fortress's surrender under Sultan Alauddin's rule. The Persian chronicle, Tarikh-i-Māsūmi, recounts how Khilji commander Ulugh Khan, following the sultan's orders, led part of his forces through Jaisalmer on his way to Gujarat. According to the chronicle, Ulugh Khan captured Jaisalmer, killing many defenders, before continuing to join the main force heading to Gujarat. This suggests Jaisalmer was taken by Ulugh Khan just before the Gujarat campaign of 1299.[1]
Epigraphic evidence supports the Khilji conquest of Jaisalmer. An inscription from v.s. 1370 (circa A.D. 1313), found near Bhesoragarh, lists Jaisalmer as a territory conquered by Sultan Alauddin. Another inscription from v.s. 1497 (A.D. 1440) in the Sambhavanātha Jaina temple in Jaisalmer references a Bhati-Khilji conflict. Additionally, a praśasti dated v.s. 1473 (A.D. 1416) found in Jaisalmer credits Rawal Ghata Simha with recapturing the fort from the Mlechhas (Turks), indicating that Jaisalmer was previously under Delhi Sultan control.[1]
Genealogical records of the Bhati chiefs suggest Jaisalmer fell to the Turks before Rawal Ghata Simha's death in A.D. 1361, likely during Sultan Alauddin's reign.[1]
Four Sanskrit inscriptions from the Bhati era, dated to v.s. 685 (A.D. 1308) and discovered in Jaisalmer, document the siege of the fortress. One inscription notes the deaths of many chieftains defending against the Kharaparas (Muslims) and the loss of horses and weapons, supporting the idea that the siege occurred around 1299, during Sultan Alauddin Khilji's rule.[1]
In conclusion, both epigraphic evidence and historical accounts, including references to figures like Kamaluddin Gurg and Malik Kafur, validate the Khilji invasion and the eventual recapture of Jaisalmer by the Bhati chiefs.[1]
Conquest of Gujarat
[edit]The invasion of Gujarat by Alauddin Khilji's forces was swift and largely successful, capturing the region in a short time. The Vaghela king Karna II was caught off guard, leading to his flight and the eventual capture of his wealth and family. Jinaprabha Suri and other chroniclers describe how Ulugh Khan's forces defeated Karna's army and looted several towns, including Ahmedabad, Surat, and Khambhat, seizing considerable wealth and many slaves, including Malik Kafur.[1][2][3][4]
The invaders also targeted the Somnath temple, which had been rebuilt after an earlier destruction by Mahmud of Ghazni. The temple faced resistance but was eventually demolished. The main idol was destroyed, and its fragments were brought to Delhi, where they were trampled underfoot. Chroniclers like Wassaf and Amir Khusrau detailed the extensive plunder and destruction during this campaign, highlighting the brutal impact on the region.[1][2][3][4]
Conquest of Ranthambore
[edit]
Ranthambore was considered an impregnable fort, and despite an initial failed attempt by Jalaluddin Khalji in 1291, Alauddin Khalji sent an army in 1299 to capture it. When Alauddin's generals faced a mutiny by Mongol soldiers, they sought refuge with Hammira of Ranthambore. Hammira refused to surrender them and was subsequently invaded by Alauddin's forces.[1][5][6]
The siege began with Ulugh Khan's army facing resistance from Hammira's general, Bhimasimha, who was eventually defeated. Dharmasimha, a minister who had advised Bhimasimha, was punished severely by Hammira. Dharmasimha later schemed to undermine Hammira, resulting in the defection of Hammira's brother Bhoja to Alauddin, who then attacked Ranthambore with a large army.[1][5][6]
Alauddin's forces faced challenges, including a significant defeat at the Hinduvata pass and the loss of key personnel like Nusrat Khan. Despite these setbacks, Alauddin personally led a stronger force and constructed a pasheb mound to besiege the fort. During the siege, Hammira's generals were betrayed by Ratipala and Ranamalla, who joined Alauddin.[1][5][6]
Faced with starvation and betrayal, Hammira and his loyalists prepared for a final stand. They performed jauhar, a mass self-immolation by the fort's women, while Hammira and his remaining men fought to their deaths. The fall of Ranthambor marked an important victory for Alauddin Khalji.[1][5][6]
Conquest of Chittor
[edit]In 1299, Alauddin Khilji's general Ulugh Khan lightly raided the Mewar region, but it was in 1303 that Alauddin himself besieged Chittor. The Guhila king Ratnasimha defended the fort for nearly eight months before succumbing to the siege. After capturing Chittor, Alauddin reportedly massacred many of its inhabitants, though historical accounts vary on the exact number and the fate of Ratnasimha. The fort was renamed Khizrabad and assigned to Alauddin's young son, Khizr Khan. The city, which had suffered previous invasions, faced further desecration of its temples in later centuries.[1][7][8][9]
Conquest of Malwa
[edit]The Paramara dynasty once ruled the Malwa region in central India. By 1305, nearly all the rulers north of Malwa had recognized Alauddin's authority. The Paramara king Mahalakadeva was a weak leader, and his prime minister, Goga (known as Koka in Muslim sources), wielded greater power.[1][10]
In 1305, Alauddin dispatched a cavalry to conquer Malwa, led possibly by Ayn al-Mulk Multani, who was later appointed governor of Malwa. According to the Delhi chronicler Amir Khusrau, this force included 10,000 soldiers selected for the task.[1][10]
Khusrau reported that Goga commanded a Malwa army of 30,000-40,000 cavalry and "innumerable" infantry, while later historians Yahya, Firishta, and Hajiuddabir suggested figures of 40,000 cavalry and 100,000 infantry. The Delhi forces emerged victorious in the battle, with the battlefield described as "bloody with mud." Goga was killed when his horse became trapped in a mire, and his head was sent to Delhi, where it was desecrated at the palace gates.[1][10]
Following the victory, Alauddin appointed Ayn al-Mulk as governor of Malwa. Ayn al-Mulk raided the former Paramara capital Dhara, breaking the Dhar iron pillar, and forced the local chiefs of Ujjain, Dhar, and Chanderi to acknowledge Delhi's suzerainty. His success was celebrated in Delhi with a week-long festival and distribution of sweets.[1][10]
After establishing control in much of Malwa, Ayn al-Mulk advanced to Mandu, where Mahalakadeva resided. Mahalakadeva's son led an army against the invaders but was defeated and killed. The Delhi forces besieged Mandu and, aided by a traitorous fort guard who revealed a secret entrance, captured the fort at night, catching Mahalakadeva off guard.[1][10]
Mahalakadeva fled to a spring called Sar, where he was killed. The Delhi army took Mandu on November 23, 1305, and Alauddin appointed Ayn al-Mulk as its governor. Although an inscription from Udaipur suggests the Paramara dynasty persisted in north-eastern Malwa until 1310, by 1338, during the Tughluq period, this region had also come under Delhi Sultanate control.[1][10]
Siege of Siwana
[edit]At the start of the 14th century, present-day Rajasthan was divided into several small principalities. After Alauddin Khilji's conquest of Ranthambore (1301) and Chittor (1303), many local rulers submitted to him, but the forts of Siwana and Jalore remained independent. Siwana, controlled by the Paramara chief Sitala Deva, was besieged by the Delhi army for 5–6 years without success. In 1308, Alauddin personally led a campaign against Siwana. Despite initial setbacks, the Delhi army eventually captured the fort using siege engines and a constructed mound.[1][11][12][13]
According to legend, Sitala Deva was betrayed by Bhayala, and the Delhi forces poisoned the fort's water supply with cows' blood. Facing severe shortages, the defenders committed jauhar, while Sitala Deva attempted to flee but was killed on 10 November 1308. His head was presented to Alauddin. After the conquest, Siwana was renamed Khayrabad and assigned to Malik Kamal al-Din Gurg, who later also captured Jalore.[1][11][12][13]
Conquest of Jalore
[edit]Alauddin Khilji's conquest of the Marwar region, including Siwana, Barmer, and Bhinmal, prompted Kanhadadeva to counter-attack. He dispatched an army led by Jaita and Mahipa, who initially defeated a Delhi contingent and recovered plunder. However, a subsequent battle saw a crushing defeat for Kanhadadeva's forces due to the intervention of Malik Kafur.[1][14][15][16]
Alauddin then sent a stronger force led by Malik Kamal al-Din Gurg to besiege Jalore. Despite some resistance, including a temporary relief by local money lenders and intermittent attacks, Kamal al-Din's siege continued. The fall of Jalore was facilitated by treachery from a local Rajput, Bika, who led the invaders through a vulnerable entrance. Following Bika's betrayal and the subsequent defeat of Kanhadadeva's forces, the defenders, including Kanhadadeva and his family, committed jauhar (mass self-immolation).[1][14][15][16]
After capturing Jalore, Alauddin commissioned a mosque on the fort premises to commemorate the victory. Jalore remained under Muslim rule into the Tughluq era before being recaptured by the Rathores of Marwar.[1][14][15][16]
Campaign timeline
[edit]This list details the military campaigns conducted by Alauddin Khalji in North India.
|
Name Of Conflict (Time) |
Delhi commander | Opponent | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Khilji invasion of Jaisalmer (1299) |
Ulugh Khan Malik Kafur |
Kingdom of Jaisalmer | Delhi Sultanate Victory
|
| Conquest of Gujarat (1299) |
Alauddin Khalji Ulugh Khan |
Vaghela dynasty | Delhi Sultanate Victory
|
| Conquest of Ranthambore (1301) |
Alauddin Khalji Ulugh Khan Nusrat Khan |
Chahamanas of Ranastambhapura | Delhi Sultanate Victory
|
| Siege of Chittorgarh (1303) | Alauddin Khalji | Guhila dynasty | Delhi Sultanate Victory
|
| Conquest of Malwa | Ayn al-Mulk Multani | Paramara dynasty | Delhi Sultanate Victory
|
| Siege of Siwana (1308) |
Kamal al-Din Gurg | Paramaras of Siwana
|
Delhi Sultanate Victory
|
| Conquest of Jalore (1311) |
Alauddin Khalji Kamal al-Din Gurg Malik Kafur |
Chahamanas of Jalor | Delhi Sultanate Victory
|
Causes of Rajput Defeat
[edit]From 1300 to 1311, the sultan's armies waged constant battles in Rajasthan, marked by fierce and bloody conflicts around each fortress. Rajput valor, however, was undermined by their lack of unity. Individual Rajput forts, while resistant, were not strong enough against the unified sultanate of Delhi. The Rajput princes, each focused on their own territories and often indifferent to their neighbors' plights, failed to unite against their common enemy.[1]
Rajput fortresses, typically situated on hilltops, were designed to withstand sudden attacks but proved vulnerable to prolonged sieges. The isolation during sieges led to food shortages and suffering among the inhabitants, weakening their defense. The Rajputs, bound by traditional warfare methods and lacking modern military strategies or resources, struggled against the sultanate's superior tactics and resources.[1]
Rajput princes, steeped in cavalry, valued death in battle as the highest honor, while the sultanate's leaders used strategy and diplomacy to their advantage. Despite the initial successes of the sultanate, Rajput resistance remained persistent. Even after temporary conquests, Rajput territories often reasserted themselves once the immediate threat had receded. The sultan's control over Rajputana remained unstable, with ongoing resistance and sporadic recoveries of territories by the Rajputs.[1]
Achivement of Khalji in North
[edit]The adventurer who had attacked Devagiri for its gold and silver and murdered his uncle to claim the imperial crown was more than just a ruthless robber or killer. He had proven his capabilities in Rajputana, fighting not only in the sandy deserts of Jaisalmer but also in the rugged terrains of Chittor and Ranthambhor. His aim was not merely to conquer or display military prowess, but to unify the country under his rule. His ambitions were not driven by greed; rather, the fall of Jalor marked the consolidation of Rajputana and northern India under the Sultan of Delhi. Alauddin Khalji, once a minor sultan, had risen to become the emperor of Hindustan through his talent and intense dedication. His expansive empire was managed by loyal provincial governors, or muqta's.[1]
Alongside his northern conquests, Alauddin initiated campaigns into the southern peninsula from 1308 to 1312. While the emperor himself did not lead these southern campaigns, his trusted general Malik Kafur spearheaded them, systematically dismantling the kingdoms of the south. Before delving into these southern expeditions, it is essential to first understand the earlier Mughal invasions of India, which have been mentioned briefly in the previous chapters.[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai Lal, K. s (1950). History Of The Khaljis (1290–1320). pp. 102–143.
- ^ a b Eraly, Abraham (2015-04-01). The Age of Wrath: A History of the Delhi Sultanate. Penguin UK. p. 178. ISBN 978-93-5118-658-8.
- ^ a b Majumdar, Asoke Kumar (1956). Chaulukyas of Gujarat: A Survey of the History and Culture of Gujarat from the Middle of the Tenth to the End of the Thirteenth Century. Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan.
- ^ a b Jackson, Peter (2003-10-16). The Delhi Sultanate: A Political and Military History. Cambridge University Press. p. 195. ISBN 978-0-521-54329-3.
- ^ a b c d Sharma, Dasharatha (1975). Early Chauhān Dynasties: A Study of Chauhān Political History, Chauhān Political Institutions, and Life in the Chauhān Dominions, from 800 to 1316 A.D. Motilal Banarsidass. p. 342. ISBN 978-0-8426-0618-9.
- ^ a b c d Sharma, Dasharatha (1975). Early Chauhān Dynasties: A Study of Chauhān Political History, Chauhān Political Institutions, and Life in the Chauhān Dominions, from 800 to 1316 A.D. Motilal Banarsidass. pp. 114–115. ISBN 978-0-8426-0618-9.
- ^ Hooja, Rima (2006). A HISTORY OF RAJASTHAN (PB). Rupa & Company. p. 308. ISBN 978-81-291-1501-0.
- ^ A Comprehensive History of India: The Delhi Sultanat (A.D. 1206–1526), ed. by Mohammad Habib and Khaliq Ahmad Nizami. People's Publishing House. 1970. p. 367.
- ^ Mehta, Jaswant Lal (1979). Advanced Study in the History of Medieval India. Sterling Publishers Pvt. Ltd. p. 143. ISBN 978-81-207-0617-0.
- ^ a b c d e f A Comprehensive History of India: The Delhi Sultanat (A.D. 1206–1526), ed. by Mohammad Habib and Khaliq Ahmad Nizami. People's Publishing House. 1970. pp. 132–134.
- ^ a b A Comprehensive History of India: The Delhi Sultanat (A.D. 1206–1526), ed. by Mohammad Habib and Khaliq Ahmad Nizami. People's Publishing House. 1970. p. 396.
- ^ a b Sharma, Dasharatha (1975). Early Chauhān Dynasties: A Study of Chauhān Political History, Chauhān Political Institutions, and Life in the Chauhān Dominions, from 800 to 1316 A.D. Motilal Banarsidass. pp. 163–164. ISBN 978-0-8426-0618-9.
- ^ a b Jackson, Peter (2003-10-16). The Delhi Sultanate: A Political and Military History. Cambridge University Press. p. 198. ISBN 978-0-521-54329-3.
- ^ a b c Srivastava, dr ashok k (1979). The Chahamanas Of Jalor. pp. 36–53.
- ^ a b c Sharma, Dasharatha (1975). Early Chauhān Dynasties: A Study of Chauhān Political History, Chauhān Political Institutions, and Life in the Chauhān Dominions, from 800 to 1316 A.D. Motilal Banarsidass. pp. 159–168. ISBN 978-0-8426-0618-9.
- ^ a b c Jackson, Peter (2003-10-16). The Delhi Sultanate: A Political and Military History. Cambridge University Press. p. 198. ISBN 978-0-521-54329-3.