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© 2012 - 2024, Swetha Sundaram The content on this blog is based on the author's own inferences.

Sunday, 3 December 2023

Foreign Invasion of Medieval India - Part 9

 

Continued From: The Forgotten Empires Of India: Foreign Invasion of Medieval India - Part 8

 

It was in the year 1296, that Ali plundered Devagiri without informing his father-in-law/uncle. The Sultan however, learnt of Ali's success and proceeded towards Gwalior from Delhi to confiscate the loot in person. Learning of the Sultan’s move, Ali proceeded directly to Kara in Uttar Pradesh without stopping at Gwalior and the Sultan was forced to return empty-handed to Delhi. Ali and his brother Almas carefully planned their next move. They knew that it would be a folly to openly attack the Sultan. Almas Beg used his persuasive powers to convince the Sultan that Ali only meant well and was a loyal servant of the Sultan. Almas informed the Sultan that Ali was afraid of meeting the Sultan in person as he had raided Devagiri without obtaining permission from the Sultan. He persuaded the Sultan to propose his peaceful intentions by going to Ali instead. The Sultan pleased with the success of Ali and lured by the loot, assured Almas that he could never be upset with Ali. Almas who was also Ali's co-conspirator thus convinced the Sultan to meet Ali at Khara. (See map )



 

Jalal-ud-din  fell into the trap laid by Almas Beg and Ali.  He foolishly agreed to meet Ali with just a few of his followers and that too unarmoured. Jalal-ud-din  traveled down the Ganges to meet Ali, but to his shock, as soon as he disembarked from his boat, Ali's soldiers fell upon him and severed his head in cold blood! Confusion ensued amongst the Sultan’s followers as they were slaughtered to death by their host. The Sultan’s severed head was on display as proof of Ali’s victory over the Sultan. The historian Zia-Ud -Din Barani says in his book Tarik-I-Firuz-Shahi that for the purpose of glossing over the murder of Jalal-Ud-Din, an act condemned by men and God, Ali threw open the door of liberality and munificence. (A translation of Tarrik-I-Firuz-Shahi by A.R.Fuller). Zia-Ud -Din Barani was a contemporary of Ali and his uncle was later appointed as the Kotwal of Delhi by the Usurper. Those whose silence could be bought was purchased with the loot from Devagiri and those who opposed were put to death. In this manner, the gruesome murder of Sultan Jalal-ud-din  was covered up.

 

Ali purchased the allegiance of Jalal-ud-din's nobles and boldly marched to Delhi where he easily took over the throne by bribing the nobles and proclaimed himself as Allaudin Khilji, the second sultan of the Khilji Dynasty. He donated large amounts of gold to the common people and ascended the throne of Delhi amidst great pomp and celebration. The people were only too happy to get gifts from the new Sultan and no one grieved for Jalal-ud-din.Thus was born Allaudin Khilji, a cruel despot!

 

Continued On: The Forgotten Empires Of India: Foreign Invasion of Medieval India - Part 10

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