THE SUCCESSION STATES OF THE DELHI SULTANATE /PART 2/ A. GUJARAT

THE SUCCESSION STATES OF THE DELHI SULTANATE

A. GUJARAT

1. MUZAFFAR SHAH I (A.D. 1392-1410)

During the reign of Firuz Shāh, as mentioned above, Malik Mufarrah, also known as Farhat-ul-Mulk and Rāstī Khan, was ap- pointed governor of Gujarat in A.D. 1377, and held that post for ten years. In 1387, Sikandar Khan was sent to replace Farhat-ul-Mulk which provoked the latter to take up arms. Rästi Khän defeated and killed Sikandar Khan, but the central administration had be- come so lax that no action was taken against him and he was allow- ed to continue as governor.

According to Firishta, Farhat-ul-Mulk aimed at establishing an independent dynasty at Gujarat and, "in order to gain popularity for the furtherance of that object, he encouraged the Hindu religion and thus promoted rather than suppressed, the worship of idols". In 1391, therefore, the orthodox Muslims of Gujarat sent a petition to the Sultan at Delhi for the removal of the tolerant governor. In response to this appeal Sultan Nasir-ud-din Muhammad appointed Zafar Khan, the son of Wajih-ul-Mulk, as governor of Gujarat and conferred on him the title of Muzaffar Khan and presented him with a red canopy which was then exclusively used by the kings.

Farhat adopted a hostile attitude and Muzaffar tried in vain to induce him to come to terms. A battle was fought at Kamboi, situated about 20 miles west of Anahilwara Patan, in which Muzaffar inflicted a crushing defeat on Farhat who was killed (A.D. 1392). Muzaffar then occupied Anahilwara, and Sultan Muhammad sent him a congratulatory letter addressing him as A'zam Humäyün.

In 1394, after the death of Sultan Muhammad, many Hindu chiefs in Gujarat broke out into rebellion, of which the most seri- ous was led by the Raja of Idar. Muzaffar, after a protracted siege of Idar, during which he ravaged the surrounding territory, forced the Rajā to submit. He then advanced towards Somanatha, but had to return on receipt of the news that, Nasir, the king of Khändesh, had been raiding Nandurbar. Nasir fled at the approach of Muzaffar.

Next year (1395) Muzaffar invaded Somanatha, burnt the temple and broke the idol. He killed many Hindus and left the place after arranging for the erection of a mosque. In 1401, however, news reached him that the Hindus were trying to restore the temple of Somanatha and revive their customary worship. Muzaffar imme- diately proceeded thither with an army, and the Hindus, defeated after a sharp encounter, retired to the fort of Dip. This fort also fell after a few days, and Muzaffar killed the garrison and had the chief men of the place trampled under the feet of elephants. He also demolished the temples and laid the foundation of a mosque.

While Muzaffar was appointed governor of Gujarat in 1391, his son Tätär Khan was retained by Sultan Muhammad in Delhi as his wazir. Tātār Khan, as noted above, took a prominent part in the intrigues and civil war that followed after the death of Sultan Muhammad (1394) for succession to the throne, but, being out- manoeuvred by Mallu Iqbal, retired to Gujarāt, with a view to collect troops and make another attempt on Delhi. But Timür's invasion intervened, and Tatār's ambitious project had to be given up for the time being.

During Timur's invasion, the fugitive Sultan Mahmud sought shelter in Gujarat where Muzaffar received him warmly but "did not accord the treatment and respect that was due to him", so that the Sultan "becoming hopeless and heart-broken" left for Mälwa, as mentioned above.

In A.D. 1403, Tatar urged his father to march on Delhi which, he promised, would be easy to capture. But Muzaffar declined to risk the reality of power which he was enjoying in Gujarat for the doubtful success his son hoped for at Delhi. According to most of the available accounts, Tātār thereupon imprisoned his father and proclaimed himself king under the title Muhammad Shāh in A.D. 1403. According to Nizam-ud-din, however, Muzaffar volun- tarily relinquished his power to his son, when he found the latter bent on the invasion of Delhi. Firishta, who records both the ver- sions, writes: "Other historians state, with more probability, that Tatar Khan, taking advantage of the age and infirmities of his father, seized and imprisoned him in the town of Yessavul, since called Ahmudabad." As Muzaffar had not till then declared him- self as king Tätär is regarded as the first king of the dynasty.

Soon after his accession, Tätär proceeded towards Delhi. According to most of the authorities, on the way his uncle Shams Khan, brother of Muzaffar, poisoned him at Sinor in 1404. But again Nizam-ud-din gives a different account, according to which Tatar died of excessive drinking; but at the end of the section he  adds cryptically: "It has, however, come to (my) notice in vari- ous histories that Shams Khan Dandānī gave poison to Muhammad Shah in his wine".2 The weight of evidence, therefore, supports the view that Tätär imprisoned his father to gain the throne and was later poisoned by the latter's brother, Shams Khān.

After the death of Tatar, Shams Khan released Muzaffar from the prison, and he took over the control of the administration with- out any difficulty. At last in A.D. 1407, at the request of the nobles, Muzaffar declared himself as Sultan Muzaffar Shah, took the insignia of royalty and issued coins in his own name.3

Soon after his accession, Muzaffar invaded Malwa, entered the capital city Dhär, and imprisoned Sultān Hüshang of Mälwa. In this Muzaffar was prompted by a desire to avenge the death of his old friend Dilavar Khan, who was said to have been murder- ed by his son Hushang. Later, Muzaffar restored Hüshang to the throne of Malwa, as will be related below.

According to the Muslim historians, Muzaffar subdued the Hindu state of Idar. According to the Kumbhalgarh inscription of A.D. 1400, Rāņā Kshetrasimha of Chitor defeated Ranamalla, the king of Gurjaramandala (i.e. Idar), victor of Dafara Khan, the lord of Pattana. This Dafara Khana has been identified with Zafar Khan, that is Muzaffar Khan who is called by his old name Zafar Khan in some histories.

Muzaffar died in 813 A.H. (A.D. 1410-1411) and was succeeded by his grandson Ahmad, the son of Tātär Khān. According to the Mirāt- i-Sikandari, “it was commonly reported and believed" that Ahmad had poisoned his grandfather. According to other historians such as Nizăm-ud-din and Firishta, Muzaffar, after a severe illness, abdicated in favour of his grandson and died peacefully a few months later.

2. AHMAD SHÃH (A„D. 1411-1443)

Sultan Ahmad enjoyed a prosperous reign of thirty-two-years, the greater part of which was spent in warfare against the Hindu Rājās of Gujarat and Räjputana and the Muslim rulers of Malwa and the Deccan. Soon after his accession Ahmad was faced with a rebel- lion of his uncles, the eldest of whom, Firüz Khan, had declared him- self king. Ahmad took energetic steps to crush the rebellion, and soon the rebel troops began to desert in large numbers and join the royal standard. Ultimately Firuz and his brothers had to surrender to Ahmad, who not only pardoned them but restored them to their former status.

During this rebellion Sultan Hüshang of Malwa invaded Gujarat in the hope of reaping advantage from the distracted condition of the country. According to some authorities Ahmad had summoned Hushang to his aid, while others relate that the rebels had invited Hushang. However, after the rebellion was put down Hushang promptly retired to Mälwa, but again invaded Gujarat while Ahmad was away from his capital in a campaign against the Raja of Jhalawar. Hushang, however, was again forced to retreat. These, as well as the next invasion of Hushang, will be described in the chapter on Mälwa.

During the confusion created by the second invasion of Hushang, a Gujarati noble named Sher Malik rebelled and, being defeated, took shelter with the Hindu king of Girnar. Saurashtra, it may be noted, was under the rule of petty Hindu chieftains who had not yet submitted to the Muslim rule. Ahmad, therefore, took this as an opportunity to invade Girnar. The king of Girnar was defeated in the field, but the hill-fort of Girnar held out against a siege, and ultimately Ahmad had to be satisfied by the promise of a tribute, for at this time trouble arose elsewhere. According to the Mandalika-nripa-charita, Ahmad had to retire with a serious loss of war equipments and materials. He seems to have renewed his attack later and succeeded to the extent of forcing the Räjä to pay him tribute (A.D. 1414-1415). 6

The ruler of Khandesh had died in 1399, dividing his territory between his two sons, Nasir and Iftikhär or Hasan. In 1417, Nasir, with the help of Hushang of Malwa, occupied his brother's territory and imprisoned him before the latter could obtain any help from Ahmad to whom he had appealed. Nasir and the Malwa army then attacked Sultanpur in Gujarāt but retired before a relieving force sent by Ahmad. The Gujarat army then besieged Nasir in his fort of Asir, and after some time peace was concluded on Nasir's swear- ing fealty to Ahmad, and promising to abstain in future from aggres- sion. Ahmad, in return recognized Nasir's claim over the whole of Khandesh, and Iftikhar retired to Gujarat.

Ahmad, like his grandfather, was a bigot and seized every opportunity to demolish Hindu temples. In 1414, he appointed one Tāj-ul-Mulk to destroy all temples and to establish Muslim authority throughout Gujarat. According to Firishta, the task was "executed with such diligence that the names of Mawass and Girass (i.c. Hindu zamindärs) were hereafter unheard of in the whole kingdom". Next year Ahmad attacked the celebrated city of Sidhpur in north Gujarāt where he broke the images in the famous Rudramahälaya temple and converted it into a mosque. These fanatic measures led the chiefs of Champaner, Maḍal or Mandalgarh, Nandod and Idar to form a league against Ahmad in 1416, and they obtained support from Sultān Hüshang of Malwa who was extremely jealous of Gujarāt Sultanate. Hüshang advanced with an army as far as Madasa, but ultimately retired without engaging Ahmad, who arrived there by forced marches.

Nasir of Khandesh, who had attacked Nandurbar, was also forced to retire. Ahmad pardoned him on discovering that Nasir was prompted to attack Gujarat by Hushang's son who had also supplied him with troops. The Hindu Rājās were also dispersed. Ahmad then invaded Malwa to punish Hüshang and led three ex- peditions in A.D. 1419, 1420 and 1422. But save that the Gujarāt army devastated parts of Malwa, nothing worthy of note was accomplished.

Ahmad led another expedition into Malwa at the end of his reign in A.D. 1438, when he attempted to place on the throne of Malwa prince Mas'ud, son of Sultan Ghaznĩ Khãn of Malwa, who had been murdered by Mahmud Khalji. But after many months of fruitless campaigning he was obliged to retire owing to an outbreak of pestilence in his army.

In 1429, Kānhā (Krishņa) Rājā of Jhalawar, on account of the policy of Ahmad towards the Hindus, sought help from Ahmad Shah Bahmani who dispatched a force against Gujarat. The Rājā of Jhalawar, with the help of the Bahmani army, ravaged Nandurbār, whereupon Ahmad sent a strong force against them. In the en- suing battle the Deccan army was completely defeated and fled to Daulatābād. Ahmad Shah Bahmani sent strong reinforcements and was joined by Nasir Khan of Khandesh, but again the Deccan army was defeated. Thus began the conflict between Gujarat and the Bahmani empire, lasting for about two years, the ultimate result of which was that Gujarat annexed Thānā and Māhim.

Of all the Hindu States which were subdued by Ahmad, Idar put up the geatest resistance. In 1426, Ahmad drove the Rājā, Rão Punjä, out of his capital into the hills. Pūnjā died two years later during a skirmish in the hills, but his sons carried on the struggle. Ultimately, however, they were forced to submit and promised to pay tribute.

In 1432, Ahmad undertook his last great campaign against the Hindu powers. He is said by the Muslim historians to have defeated the ruler of Pānāgarh, destroyed the town of Nandod, and exacted tributes from the rulers of Dungarpur, Kotäh and Bündi. The ruler of Dungarpur at this time was Mahāräwal Gopinatha or Gajapal. But in an inscription, dated V.S. 1525 (A.D. 1468), it is claimed that Gopinatha defeated the haughty (madamatta) Sultan ol Gujarat and seized his treasure. 7

The Kumbhalgarh inscription of A.D. 1460 states that Rāņā Mokalendra defeated Piroja and Mahammada who have been identi- fied with Firüz Khān of Nāgaur and Ahmad Shah of Gujarāt, respec- tively. The Shringi-Rishi inscription of Mokala of A.D. 1428 states: "It was he, Mokala) from whose presence Piroja Khāna (Firuz Khan) himself had resorted to fleeing, (and) Pātasäha Ahmada, although irresistible in battle abandoning (his)  has at present, with face dried up, with hair dishevelled, with speech obstructed... taken refuge in the habitation of a mountain cave in order to save ...." The Chitorgarh inscription of Mokala issued in the same year also refers to his victory over Piroja. 9

According to the Muslim historians, Firuz and Ahmad defeated Mokala in A.D. 1433, whereas Mokala's inscriptions recording his victories are dated A.D. 1428. Either, therefore, the Muslim histo- rians gave wrong dates, or Ahmad led two expeditions against Mewar, in the first of which he was defeated but won the second,

Sultan Ahmad died in A.D. 1443 and was succeeded by his eldest son Mu'izz-ud-din Muhammad Shāh, Sultan Ahmad is chiefly remembered today as the founder of the city of Ahmadābād where he transferred the capital from Anahilwara at the beginning of his reign.

3. MUHAMMAD SHAH II (A.D. 1443-51)

Muhammad II took up the unfinished lask of Ahmad of subdu- ing the Hindu chieftains of Gujarat. He first led a campaign against Idar and forced its ruler to submit to his authority. The Raja of Idar, Hari Rai or Bir Rai, is said to have purchased peace by marrying his daughter to Muhammad. Muhammad is then said to have gone and exacted tribute from the Rājā of Dungarpur. According to Sir E. Dennison Ross "Muhammad next attacked, at Bāgor, Rana Kumbha of Mewär, who fled and took refuge with the Rawal of Dungarpur, the chief of his house, but afterwards appear- ed before the invader and purchased peace with a heavy indem- nity". This statement has no evidence in its support, and on the available material it is apparent that Muhammad defeated not Kumbha but Ganesa of Dungārpur.10

In A.D. 1449, Muhammad marched against Champäner, but the Rājā, Kanak Dās, having obtained help from Malwa, forced him to retreat. On his return journey Muhammad fell seriously ill and died in February 1451. According to some historians he was poisoned by his wife.

4. QUTB-UD-DIN AHMAD SHAH OR AIIMAD SHAII II (A.D. 1451-58)

After the death of Muhammad II his son ascended the throne under the title of Qutb-ud-din Ahmad Shah. Sultan Mahmūd Khalji of Malwa, who had advanced up to the frontiers of Gujarāt at the invitation of Rājā Kanak Dās, now invaded the country and advanced up to Broach. 11 Unable to capture this fortress, Mahmud marched towards the capital, but on his way was severely defeated by Quib-ud-din and fled, leaving eighty-one elephants and all hi baggage.

In 1453, taking advantage of a dispute for succession among the kinsmen of Qutb-ud-din who held Nägaur, Mahārāņa Kumbha occupied the territory. Shams Khan, the ruler of Nagaur, sought the protection of Qutb-ud-din, who dispatched an army against the Mahārāṇā, but the latter defeated and almost destroyed the Gujarat army. In 1456, therefore, Qutb-ud-din marched against Kumbhalgarhı to avenge his defeat, and though he could not capture the famous fort, it is claimed by the Muslim historians that the Mahārāṇā was obliged to purchase peace by the payment of a huge tribute. The same authorities then state, that on his return from Kumbhalgarh, Qutb-ud-din learnt that during his absence Ghiyās-ud-din, the son of Mahmud Khalji of Malwa, had raided Gujarat as far as Surat, but had retired on learning of his return. Later in the samo year, however, Mahmud sent a mission to Gujarat proposing a treaty of alliance between the two kingdoms against Chitor. It was decided that the Gujarat army should plunder and ravage such parts of the territories of the Mahārāņā as were contiguous to Gujarat, while Mahmud should seize the country of Mewar and Ajmer. Accordingly next year (1457) Qutb-ud-din again advanced against Kumbhalgarh.

Mahārāṇā Kumbha, on learning the approach of the Gujarat army, left Kumbhalgarh and took up a strong position between that place and Chitor. Here a battle was fought for two days at the end of which the Mahārāṇā, according to the Muslim historians, fled to jungle and ultimately concluded peace by paying a huge ransom. Qutb-ud-din then returned to Gujarat. Within three months Mahārānā Kumbha attacked Nagaur, but retired on the approach of Qutb-ud-din with his main army.

Some time later Qutb-ud-din attacked Sirohi which was ruled by a relation of the Maharaṇā. After burning Sirohi and ravaging other towns on his way Qutb-ud-din besieged the famous fort of Kumbhalgarh, while his ally, Sultan Mahmud Khalji of Mälwa ad- vanced towards Chitor. Soon Qutb-ud-din found that it was beyond his power to reduce the Kumbhalgarh fort, and advanced towards Chitor but returned to his capital after plundering a few towns around it. Nizam-ud-din states that "Rānā Kumbha sent ambassadors after the Sultan and in great humility and distress prayed to be excused for his offences and the Sultan again drew the pen of for- giveness across his guilt; and sent back the ambassadors pleased and happy."

Thus, according to the Muslim historians, Qutb-ud-din always defeated the Mahārāņā. On the other hand the Räjputs claim that Mahārānā Kumbha defeated Qutb-ud-din. 12 The Chitor Kirtis- tambha inscription (part II, verses 16-23) states that the Mahäränā destroyed the town of Nagapura (Nāgaur) and the lofty masīti (mosque) built by Piroja (Firūz Khan), captured many Muslim women, and took possession of the treasures of Shams Khan while fighting in the country of Jangala, and harassed the king of Gujarat. Verse 172 of the same inscription states: "Kumbha, the lord of the earth, (who is like) the sage Agastya (one born in a pitcher) to the multitude of the forest of all the elephants (which were) arrayed or not arrayed (but were) submerged in the ocean in the form of the proud Sultāns of Gujarat and Malwa; (that Kumbha) is shining, this king who deserves to be praised as a preceptor initiat- ing the kings in the commencement of battle", 10

It is apparent that the verses 16-23 relate the first invasion of Qutb-ud-din, and verse 172 refers to the joint expedition sent by Gujarat and Malwa. The Rajput version seems nearer the truth, as otherwise it is difficult to explain as to why after his first victorious campaign against the Mahārāṇā, Qutb-ud-din should have concluded a treaty with the Sultan of Malwa, his hereditary enemy, parti- cularly when the latter had raided his kingdom during his absence.

5. DAUD KHAN AND MAHMUD BEGARHA (A.D. 1458-1511)

Qutb-ud-din died in 1458, and after his death the nobles raised his uncle Daud Khan to the throne. However, within the short period of seven or twenty-seven days, Dāūd proved himself to be such an imbecile that the nobles deposed him and set on the throne Fath Khan, son of Muhammad II (1458). Fath Khan, on his acces- sion, adopted the title of Abu-'1 Fath Mahmud and is famous in his- tory as Mahmud Begarha,

Soon after his accession Mahmud was faced with a conspiracy which aimed at removing him and placing his younger brother on the throne. With great presence of mind he cleverly frustrated the conspiracy.

In A.D. 1461, Mahmud Khalji of Malwa invaded the dominions of the infant Bahmani king, Nizām Shāh, and an appeal was sent to Mahmud Begarha for help. Mahmud Begarha marched into Khandesh and cut off the retreat of the Malwa army, which was compelled to retire through Berar and suffered terribly. Next year Mahmud Khalji of Malwa again invaded the Deccan, but retreated on hearing that Mahmud Begarha was marching against him. Mah- mūd Begarha then wrote to Mahmud Khalji that it was unfair to molest a child, that is Nizam Shah, and that if he ever attacked the latter's dominion, Malwa would be overrun by the Gujarat army. The threat was effective in preventing further hostilities between Malwa and the Bahmani kingdom.

In 1466 Mahmud invaded the territory of king Mandalika, usually known as the Chuḍāsama king of Girnar. But from the recently discovered Mandalika-nripa-charita it is learnt that Mandalika belonged to the Yadava race. The same work informs us that Mandalika tried his best to be on good terms with Mahmud, and once at Mahmud's behest attacked and killed one king Duda whose adopted daughter he (Mandalika) had married.14 Still in 1467, Mahmud invaded Mandalika's territory, defeated his army and sack- ed a city. Mandalika then sued for peace which he obtained by agreeing to pay tribute. In the following year Mahmud forbade Mandalika the use of royal insignias which the unfortunate prince immediately obeyed. Yet in 1469 Mahmud again attacked Jună- garh. Mandalika appealed to Mahmud, poniting out that he had remitted tribute regularly and had been an obedient vassal. Mahmud replied that he had not come for money but for the propagation of Islām in Saurāshṭra, and offered Mandalika the choice between death and Islām. Mandalika at first resisted, but after the fall of his last retreat, the fort of Girnar, he surrendered and accepted Islām. Mandalika's kingdom was incorporated in the dominions of Gujarat. Mahmud stayed at Junagarh for some time, improved the defences of the city and renamed it Mustafābād, which henceforth became one of his capitals, specially intended for the propagation of Islam in this region.

News now reached Mahmud that while he had been besieging Girnär, Jayasimha, the son of the Raja of Champaner, had been ravaging the territory between Champaner and  and Ahmadābād, Mahmud immediately sent an officer to protect the region and intend- ed to follow with a view to conquer Champäner. But complaints came from southern Sind that the Muslims were being persecuted by the Hindus. Mahmud therefore crossed the Rann of Cutch and, en- tering the region now known as the Thar and Parkar districts, was confronted with an army of 24,000 horse which was composed of Sumras, Sodas and Kalhoras. The leader of this army informed Mahmud that "they were Muslims but knew little of their faith or its rules, and were wont to intermarry with and live as Hindus. He invited those, who would, to enter his service and to return with him to Gujarāt, and many accepted his invitation and received grants of land in Sorath, where teachers were appointed to instruct them in the faith of Islām."

In A.D. 1472, Mahmud again marched into Sind to aid his maternal grandfather Jam Nanda against rebels. This campaign, in which he was entirely successful, will be described later in the chapter on Sind.

About this time a learned poet and merchant nained Mahinud Samarqandi had been driven ashore to Dvaraka, the holy city of the Hindus associated with Śrī Krishna. The Hindus of Dvarakā rob- bed Samarqandi of all his goods whereupon he appealed in person to Mahmud for redress. So Mahmud marched to Dvaraka which was evacuated by its king, Bhima, who took refuge in the island fortress of Bet Shankhodhar. Mahmud, after destroying the temple at Dvārakā and plundering the city, proceeded towards Bet Shankhodhar through a dense forest where his army was put to great difficulties by the lions and poisonous snakes. However, Mahmud won a sea-fight and the Hindus had to surrender the fort- ress for lack of provisions. The place was thoroughly pillaged, and Bhima was sent to Ahmadabad where he was impaled.

In 1480, the officers, tired of Mahmud's ceaseless energy, con- spired to dethrone him and put his son on the throne. Mahmud learnt of this conspiracy at Mustäfäbäd, where he spent a part of each year, and decided to go on a pilgrimage to Mecca. However, the courtiers, ashamed of their conduct, then begged Mahmud to change his decision and, after some parleys, it was decided that Mahmud should conquer Champaner which he had raided in 1474 and collect enough money to defray his expenses for the voyage to Mecca. But Champaner was not attacked till A.D. 1482, when Malik Südha, a Gujarāti officer, plundered and laid it waste nearly to the walls of the fortress, slaying the inhabitants. As he was returning, Jayasimha, 15 the king of Champaner, attacked and slew him, recovered all his plundered booty, took two elephants, and sacked and destroyed Rasulabād where Malik Südha had been the governor. Mahmud, on hearing of this defeat decided to attack Champaner and started towards it with his army on December 4, 1482.

After defeating the Champaner army Mahmud captured the town and besieged Pāvāgarh, the famous hill-fortress above Chām- pāner, where the king had taken refuge. Mahmud plundered the whole country and, refusing repeated offers of submission by Rājā Jayasimha, captured Pāvāgarh after a siege of twenty months November, 1484). The women committed jauhar and most of the men fell fighting, but the unfortunate king of Champaner and his minister were wounded and captured. According to Firishto, Mahmud asked the wounded Rājā as to "what could induce him to hold out so long, before so large a force. The Rājā replied with undaunted firmness: 'I hold this territory by hereditary right, and being descended from a line of noble ancestors, have been taught to respect that name which they handed down to me. I determined, therefore, not to act in a way so as to disgrace my family.' Mahmud, admiring this spirited and manly conduct, ordered every attention to be paid to the Raja's wants and comforts." After the Raja's wounds had healed, Mahmud tried to persuade him and his minister to embrace Islam. But the noble warriors were steadfast in their refusal, preferring death to abjuring their faith. At the end of five months Mahmud ordered them to be put to death. Jayasimha's son accepted Islām, and in the next reign became the Amir of Idar receiving the title of Nizam-ul-Mulk.

With the conquest of Champaner, which Mahmud renamed Muhammadābād, the kingdom of Gujarat reached its extreme limits till the conquest of Malwa. It seems that after the conquest of Champaner, Mahmud received the sobriquet of Begarha, that is the conqueror of two forts, Girnar and Champäner, on the opposite sides of his kingdom.

During the remaining twenty-five years of his reign (A.D. 1485- 1511), Mahmud was engaged in several military operations. Of these one of the most important was directed against Bahādur Gīlānī, a noble of the Bahmani empire, who seized the whole of Konkan and not only committed various acts of piracy off the Gujarat coast for several years (1491-1494), but actually carried on depre- dations as far as Cambay and seized the island of Mähim. Mah- mud first attempted to send an army against Gīlānī, which had to re- turn without fulfilling its task, as it was found that in order to attack Gilānī the Gujarat army would have to invade the Deccan. Mahmud, therefore, wrote to the Bahmanī king reminding him of the claims which Gujarat had on the gratitude of his house and requesting Mah- mud Shah Bahmanī to suppress the rebel. The Bahmani king in res- ponse to this sent an army against Gilani, but it was not till 1494   that Gilani was defeated and slain and full reparations were made to Gujarāt.

But very soon Gujarāt had to face a strong naval power namely, the Portuguese. By the discovery of the direct sea route they had been able to strike a blow against the lucrative trade which passed through Egypt and Red Sea to India. The port of Cambay was seriously affected, as the Portuguese were diverting the trade to Cochin where they had erected a fort in 1506. Thus the Portu- guese incurred the hostility of all the Muslim powers on the Arabian Sca who now determined to oust them. So, after a pro- tracted negotiation, an Egyptian fleet was equipped at Suez and sent to India under the command of Amir Husain to join the Gujarat navy under the Turkish admiral, Malik Ayāz.

The Portuguese admiral at this time in India was Francesco d'Almeida. He sent his gallant son, Don Lorenzo, in 1508 to explore the coast as far north as Gujarat. While Lorenzo was lying with a small squadron in the shelter of the harbour of Chaul near Bombay, news reached him that the Egyptian fleet had reached Diu and had been joined by Malik Ayaz. The combined fleet en- countered Lorenzo in the harbour off Chaul in January 1508. After a fierce engagement the Portuguese were defeated and Lorenzo lost his life,

To avenge this defeat and his son's death, d'Almeida appear- ed the following year with a stronger force, and a decisive action was fought near the island of Diu in which the combined Muslim navy suffered a disastrous defeat. Mahmud then attempted to restore peaceful relations with the Portuguese and sent an envoy for this purpose in September 1510. But presumably the Portuguese demanded some proof of Mahmud's peaceful intentions, so when on November 25, 1510, the Portuguese captured Goa from the 'Adil Shahi Sultans of Bijapur, Mahmud forthwith ended his alli- ance with Egypt and granted permission to the commander of the Egyptian fleet to return. He also released all the Portuguese prisoners captured at Chaul.

In 1510, an embassy arrived from Ibrahim Lodi to congratu- late him on his success at Khandesh, where Mahmud had firmly established his suzerainty by a series of wars from 1500, as will be related later. In 1511, a mission from Shah Isma'il I Safavi of Persia came, but it is said that Mahmud, who was a bigoted Sunni, refused to receive the Persian ambassador. He was, how- ever, ill when the Persian mission arrived, and died shortly after on November 23, 1511.

Mahmud is usually regarded as the greatest Sultan of Gujarat. Ascending the throne at a very early age, he distinguished him- self as much by his astute statesmanship as by his military skill. He was, however, a bigot like his predecessors and persecuted the Hindus. Though he gained great successes against unimportant and scattered Hindu chiefs, he signally failed against the Portu- guese and did not realize the menace the latter were to be to his descendants.

Mahmud presented a striking appearance with a flowing beard that reached his waist, and his moustache was so long that he tied it over his head, which, according to some authorities gave rise to the sobriquet Begarha. To satisfy his proverbially voracious appetite, he used to eat daily between ten to fifteen seers of food and, at night, placed another two pounds of rice on either side of his bed so that he might find something to eat on whichever side he awoke from sleep. For breakfast he took a cup of honey, a cup of butter, and from 100 to 150 plantains.

6. MUZAFFAR SHAH II (A.D. 1511-26)

Mahmud was succeeded by his son Khalil Khan who adopted the title of Muzaffar Shāh II. Soon after his accession, Muzaffar promised to interfere in the affairs of Malwa to install on the throne the fugitive prince Sahib Khan, the elder brother of the reigning Malwa king Mahmud II. But soon Sahib left Gujarāt as he was implicated in a scandal in which the Persian ambassador was involved, and his brother Mahmud II appealed to Muzaffar for help against his domineering Hindu officers.

While Muzaffar was marching towards Malwa, news reached him that Bhimasimha of Idar had raided the whole country east of the Sabarmati river and had defeated a Gujarat contingent. Muzaffar therefore marched against Idar, defeated and drove Bhimasimha to the hills and reached his capital. Later Bhima purchased peace by paying a heavy indemnity. In A.D. 1515 Bhimasimha died and was succeeded by his son Bharmal16 Bhimasimha had usurped the throne of his nephew Raimal who now went to Rānā Sanga of Mewar and appealed for help. Sanga thereupon sent his army to Idar and set up Raimal on the throne. Muzaffar then sent an army under Nizam-ul-Mulk which expelled Raimal and restored Bharmal but, while pursuing the defeated army in the hills, the Gujarat army suffered a disastrous defeat. Soon after Maḥārānā Sāngā attacked Idar and restored Raimal. 17

According to the Mirat-i-Sikandari, next year Muzaffar sent an expedition against Rawal Udayasinha of Vägaḍa to chastise him for having helped Mahārāṇā Sāngā. The Gujarat army, according to the same authority, won splendid victories in Dungarpur and Banswara.

During this time the Hindus under Medini Rai had firmly taken the administration of Malwa under their control, and Sul- tan Mahmud II, unable to free himself from their dominance, secretly leit Malwa and arrived at Gujarat. Muzaffar received him cordially and promised him help. Medini Rai went to Chitor to bring aid from Maharaāṇā Sāngā, but during his absence, the Gujarat army under Muzaffar captured Mandu and restored Mahmud on the throne.

According to the Muslim sources, Mahārāṇā Sāngā and Medini Rai, terror-struck at the news of the fall of Mandu, turned and fled. But according to the Rajput sources the Mahārāņā, who had promised to march to the frontier of Malwa and to see that no harm was done to Medini Rai, decided after the fall of Mandū that nothing further could be done and returned to Chitor with Medini Räi. He, however, bestowed on Medini Rai, who later fought against Babur. several parganās including Gagron and Chanderi, 's

In A.D. 1519, Mahārāṇā Sāngā inflicted a crushing defeat upon Mahmud II of Malwa and a Gujarat contingent of 10,000 horse and took the former captive. On hearing this, Muzaffar sent reinforcements to Malwa, but their service was not required, for the great Mahārāṇā had generously restored Mahmud to the throne of Malwa.

Mubariz-ul-Mulk, who was sent by Muzaffar to relieve the Guja- rāt army at Idar, had once spoken very disparagingly of the Mahi- rāņa which was reported to the latter. It is said that to avenge this insult the Mahārāṇā marched on Idar and occupied it, the Muslim army having fled to Ahmadnagar. The Rajput army then advanced upon Ahmadnagar, captured the city after a stiff fight, sacked it, and carried away its inhabitants as prisoners.19 The Maharana then proceeded further and captured Vadnagar, but the citizens being mostly Brahmins, that city was spared. From there the Mahārāṇā led his army on to Visalnagar, defeated the garri- son, and plundered the town, after which he returned to Mcwär.

To avenge this defeat, Muzaffar next year raised a huge army and sent it under Malik Ayaz to invade Mewär. Malik Ayaz, join- ed by the ungrateful Mahmud II of Malwa, besieged Mandasor. As this place was included within the domains of the Mahārāṇā, he also arrived with his army. Some time later the siege was raised and the Muslim armies retired to their respective capitals.

It has been held on the basis of Muslim sources that Mahārānā Sangā "would not venture within twenty miles of the Muslim camp, and sent agents to Malik Ayaz offering to pay tribute to Muzaffar II if he would raise the siege, but his prayers were un- heeded." Ultimately, according to the same authority, due to the apprehension on the part of Malik Ayaz, lest one of his heutenants should gain the credit for victory, "he made peace with the Maha- rāņā on his promising to pay tribute, to place a son at Muzaffar's couri as a hostage, to wait in person on the king, and to be obedi- ent to his orders." But "Muzaffar was so deeply disappointed by this termination of a promising campaign that he would not see Malik Ayaz, and sent him straight back to Sorath."20 The Rajput sources, on the other hand, claim that the joint Muslim army re- treated out of fear.21 As Mahārāṇā Sāngā was strong enough to face Babur within about five years of ths incident, the version of the Muslim historians seems to be fanciful. Moreover, the Rajput version explains adequately the disgrace of Malik Ayāz. It may also be noted, that Bahadur, the son of Muzaffar, took refuge in Chitor when he fled from Gujarat.

The rest of Muzaffar's reign was uneventful. In 1524 his second son Bahadur demanded equal allowance with his eldest brother Sikandar, the heir-designate. As this was not conceded Bahadur fled from Gujarat and sought refuge at Chitor where he was hospitably received. Later he went to Delhi and was most probably present at the battle of Panipat (A.D. 1526).

Muzaffar died on April 5, 1526, and was succeeded by his eldest son Sikandar.

Reference

1. Sec above, p. 97.

2. T.A., III. i, 184.

A. GUJARĀT

3. In the CHI (III, 710), the date of Muzaffar's accession is given as 798 A.H. (A.D. 1395-6). But Nizam-ud-dīn gives 810 A.H. (A.D. 1407-8) as his date of accession and an inscription dated A.D. 1405 shows that Muzaffar had not at that date assumed the royal title (Annual Report of the Archaeological Survey of Baroda, 1934-35, p. 23).

4. Yam Khanaḥ Pattaneso Dafara iti samāsädya kunthi babhüva; Kumbhalgarh Inscription, 4th, slab, v. 195. Sarda: Mahārāṇā Kumbha; EI, XXI, 278, 282, v. 196.

5. Mandalika-nṛipa-charita, I, v. 88. Ed. by H. D. Velankar, Bharatiya Vidyā,

XVI. 41.

6. Santinath Temple Inscription quoted by G. H. Ojha, Rūjputānā Ki Itihās, III,

part 1, 65.

7. EI, XXI, 278, 284, v. 221.

8. EI, XXIII. 239, v. 14.

9. EI, 11. 417, v. 51.

10. CHI, III, 300; Briggs, IV, 35. This question has been discussed by Dr. B. Prasad (T.A., III, i. 224, fn. 2) who has pointed out the mistake in CHI.

11. CHI, III. 301; T.A., III. i. 227, f.n. 1.

12. H. B. Sarda: Mahārānā Kumbha, 96, 99.

13. Chitor Kirtistambha Inscription, Sarda op. cit. Appendix, 221. The first line  of verse 172 as given in Sarda reads:

sphūrjad-Gurjara-Malaveśvara-Suratrān-āru-sany-änava.

There seems to be a printing mistake, so I have changed the last two words into ari-sainy-ārņava.

14. H. D. Velankar: Mandalika, the last great king of Saurashtra, Bhāratiya Vidyā,

XIV, 44-46.

15. Nizam-ud-din mentions one 'Jai Singh' son of Gangadas Raja of Champaner, (T.A., III, i, 257), but while later narrating this incident, Nizam-ud-din refers to the king of Champaner as 'Rai Bitai' or Rai Basai', while Firishta (litho ed.) calls him 'Rai Banahi'. The Mir'āt-i-Sikandari has Rāwal Patăi, but Forbes gives his real name as 'Jye Singh' (Rās Mālā, I, 371). For a discussion of this name see T.A., III, i. 272, f.n. 1.

16. G.H.Ojha, in Rajputānā Ki Itihās (III, part, i, 75), uses the form Bharmal which  has been used here in preference to Biharimal (CHI, III. 318).

17. G. H. Ojha, op. cit., II, i, 75, 76.

18. H. B. Sarda: Mahārānā Sāngā, '70.

19. Bayley: Gujarat, 267.

20. CHI, III. 320-21.

21. H .B. Sarda: Mahārānā Sāngā, 86-7.