Get complete information on the Expeditions of Khizr Khan

Get complete information on the Expeditions of Khizr Khan

The Hindus of the Doab and Katehar did not pay their tributes and consequently in 1414, an army was sent under Taj-ul-Mulk to reduce to obedience Har Singh, the rebellious Raja of Katehar. The Raja ran away to the forests but ultimately he was compelled to surrender and also give an undertaking to pay tribute in future. The fief-holders and Hindus chiefs of the lower Doab were forced to acknowledge Khizr Khan as their master.

It is rightly pointed out that the chronicles of the Sayyid dynasty are chiefly a history of expeditions of this nature. Khizr Khan was the most powerful ruler of a house the influence and dignity of which decayed with great rapidity. Even in his reign, military force was the normal means of collecting the revenue. Recalcitrant were not treated as rebels and the only punishment given to them was the realisation of the money due from them and also a promise to make regular payments in future.

In July, 1416, Taj-ul-Mulk was sent to Bayana and Gwalior, not to conquer, but merely to realize the equivalent of the tribute which should have been paid otherwise and this was done by plundering at random the unfortunate cultivators. In 1418, Har Singh of Katehar revolted once again. He was completely defeated by Taj-ul-Mulk. He was pursued into the hills of Kumaon. While Taj-ul-Mulk failed to capture him, he plundered the people amongst whom Har Singh had taken shelter.

From Katehar, Taj-ul-Mulk marched to Etawah and besieged Raja Sarwar who had revolted once again. Taj-ul-Mulk was unable to capture the fortress but he plundered the inhabitants of the district and went to Delhi. It is pointed out that the action of Taj-ul-Mulk resembled the raid of a brigand chief and not an expedition for the permanent establishment of law and order. The result was that people were so much exasperated that they revolted once again.

Khizr Khan besieged Baden for six month but failed to capture it. In June, 1416, he discovered a conspiracy to which Mahabat Khan was a party. The leading conspirators, Qavam-ul-Mulk and lkhtiyar Khan, were put to death. In 1420, Taj-ul-Mulk was sent to Koil and Etawah.

Raja Sarwar was besieged in his fortress but without success. The inhabitants of the country were plundered as usual. Sarwar bought peace by making a promise to pay the tribute regularly in future. Taj-ul-Mulk also plundered Chandwar and invaded Katehar and got the tribute from there.

Malik Tughan revolted and marched from Jullundur to Sarhind where, after plundering the country, he besieged the fortress. When forces were sent against him, Malik Tughan raised the siege of Sarhind and retreated. He was pursued and forced to seek rafiige with Jasrat, the Khokhar.

In 1421, Khizr Khan marched into Mewat to assert his authority there. He captured and destroyed the former stronghold of Bahadur Nahir and received the submission of most of the inhabitants. The Raja of Gwalior bought peace by making the usual empty promise to pay his tribute regularly. Khizr Khan also took action against the ruler of Etawah. However, he died on 20th May, 1421 after designating his son Mubarak Khan as his successor.