Essay on Alauddin Khilji and His War Achievements

Ala-ud-din is considered as the greatest ruler of the period of Delhi Sultanae. He was the nephew and son-in-law of Jalal-ud-din Khilji who had ascended the throne of Delhi in 1290. Jalal-ud-din the foundation of the rule of Khilji-dynasty.

He had brought up Ala-ud-din with sufficient care and affection Ala-ud-din was also married to the daughter of Jalal-ud- din Khilji.

Sultan Jalal-ud-din appointed Ala-ud-din as the Governor of Kara. Ala-ud-din tried to keep his uncle and father-in-law Jalal-ud-din in good humour. He was quite ambitious. The intrigues of his mother-in-law. Malikajahan and of his wife encouraged him to establish his independent power and authority. Gradually he increased the number of his followers and amassed wealth.

In 1292 A.D he led an expedition against Bhilsa and occupied the same. He also brought a huge sum of money from this newly conquered territory. Sultan Jalal-ud-din being impressed by his achievement rewarded him with the Governorship of Oudh in addition to that of Kara.

At Bhilsa Ala-ud-din had heared about the wealth and prosperity of the kingdom of Devgiri. So in 1294 he led an expedition to Devgiri which was under Raja Ramachandra Dev of Yadava dynasty. Ramachandra was defeated and concluded a treaty with him.

He paid a huge war indemnity in terms of gold, pearl, and silver. After his success against the kingdom of Devgiri. Ala-ud-din cherished the desire to occupy the throne of Delhi.

When Ala-ud-din returned to Kara the old Sultan Jalal-ud-din came all the way from Delhi to congratulate him for his successful military campaign. But Ala-ud-din treacherously killed his uncle Sultan Jalal-ud-din in July 1296 and declared himself as the Sultan of Delhi.

Ala-ud-din had to face the opposition of the nobles who were the supporters of Jalal-ud-din. The widow Queen Malika Jahan placed her younger son Qudar Khan, on the throne of Delhi under the title of Rukn-ud-din Ibrahim. The MongoIs also frequently threatened the borders of India but Ala-ud-din faced these complicated problems boldly and patiently.

From Kara Ala-ud-din proceeded towards Delhi. He owns the good will of the people through large scale distribution of gold and silver. He defeated Rukhi-ud-din Ibrahim who fled away to Multan along with his widow mother. Ala-ud-din entered Delhi and formally crowned as the Sultan of Delhi in October 1296. His coronation ceremony took place in the Red Palace of Balban.

After his formal accession Ala-ud-din gave six month’s salary to the soldiers to secure their loyalty and support. The Ulemas were given liberal grants of lands.

After securing his position he sent Ulugh Khan to occupy Multan. Ulugh Khan occupied Multan and Arkhali Khan Rukn- ud-din Ibrahim and Widow Queen Malika Jahan were taken inseptives. The Princes Arkali khan and Rukn-ud-din Ibrahim were and were killed imprisoned at Hansi along with their widow mother Malika Jahan.

His Conquests:

Ala-ud-din strengthened his position defeating his rivals. After that he began his career of conquest. It was Sultan Ala-ud-din who inaugurated the imperial period of the Delhi-Sultanate.

In 1297 he sent an expedition under. Ulugh Khan and Nusrat Khan against Gujrat. The Baghela ruler of Gujurat Karan fled away to Devgiri along with his daughter Deval Devi without offering any resistance to the Muslim army.

The Delhi army occupied Anhilwara the capital of Gujarat, Kamala Devi the queen fell into, the hands of the invader and was taken to Delhi. The Delhi army plundered Surat Anhilwara and Cambay. Nusrat Khan brought the salve Malik Kafur from Cambay in 1000 dinars.

The stare Mask Kafer played an important role during the reign of Ala-ud-din in the expansion of his empire in the South Alap Khan was appointed as the Governor of the newly conquered province of Gujarat.

In 1299 Ala-ud-din sent a powerful army under Nusrat Khan and Ulugh Khan against Ranthambor which was under the Chau Khan king Rana Hamir Dev. The Rajputs fought bravely and defeated the Muslim invaders. Nusrat Khan lost his life in this war against the Rajputs. At last Sultan Ala-ud-din personally marched to Ranthamb or to direct the war operation. He resorted to treachery and with the help of Ranmal the minister of Hamir Dev. Ranathamblior was occupied in 1301.

Mewar:

Mewar the land of the Guhilot Rajputs was the premier state of Rajputana. In 1303 Ala-ud-din invaded Mewar and besieged its capital Chittor. The Rajput fought bravely but ultimately they were defeated. Rana Ratan Singh surrendered in August 1303. Ala-ud-din appointed Khizr Khan as the governor of Chittor and returned to Delhi.

In 1305 Malwa-Ujjain, Dhar and Chanden were annexed by Ala- ud-din Khiliji. In 1308 Siwana was made a part of the empire of Delhi Sultanate Raja Sital Dev of Jalor also came under the control of Delhi Sultanate.

Ala-ud-din brought the w hole of Northern India with the exception of Nepal. Kashmir and North-West Punjab under the Delhi Sultanate.

Deccan:

Ala-ud-din was the first Muslim ruler to extend his empire in the Deccan. His intention was to exploit the wealth and resources of Deccan and to extend his political supremacy. During that period there were four leading kingdoms in the Deccan.

The first was the Yadava kingdom of Devgiri, the second was the Kakatiya kingdom of Telengana with its capital at Warangal. The third was the Hoyasala kingdom with its capital at Dwarasamudra and the fourth was the kingdom of the Pandya with its capital at Madura.

These Deccan kingdoms were famous for their wealth and riches. Ala-ud-din defeated the rulers of these kingdoms and forced them to recognise his supremacy. These rulers were forced to pay tribute to the Sultan.

War against Devgiri:

Ala-ud-din sent his general Malik Kafur with a powerful army against Raja Ramachandra Dev of Devgiri. Ramachandra Dev had kept the payment of tribute in arrear and had given shelter to Raja Kama Dev the fugitive ruler of Gujarat.

Raja Kama Dev had arranged the marriage of his daughter Devala Devi with Shankra Dev the son of Ramachandra Dev. But Alap Khan captured Devala Devi and sent her to Delhi. Khizr Khan the son of Ala-ud-din married her.

Raja Karan was defeated by the Muslim army, Ramachandra Dev the Yadava ruler of Devagiri also made peace with the invaders and continued to rule over Devagiri as a vassal of Delhi Sultanate.

Telengana:

Sultan Ala-ud-din sent an expesdition in 1309 under Malik Kafur against. The Kakatiya Raja of Warrangal. Kafur reached Warrangal and besieged the fort of king, Pratap Rudra Dev.

The king offered a strong resistance but ultimately he was defeated and agreed to conclude a peace treaty. He offered to Kafur 100 elephants, 7000 horses, large quantity of gold and silver and various kinds of jewels.

The Kakatiya Raja recognised the political supremacy of Ala-ud-din and agreed to pay annual tribute.

Hoyasala Kingdom of Dawara Samudra:

The Hoyasala kingdom was very rich and prosperous. The kingdom was famous for its temples and wealth; In November 1310 Malik Kafur directed his campaign against Dwara Samudra.

The Hoyasala king Vira Balala-III was defeated and offered his submission to the Muslim invaders. He surrendered all his treasures to Malik Kafur. The temples were plundered and destroyed.

Thus Kafur got vast quantity of gol4, silver and jewels plundering the temples. King Vira Balala-III sued for peace and agreed to pay annual tribute to Sultan Ala-ud-din.

After the subjugation of the Hoyasala kingdom Kafur diverted his attention towards the Pandya kingdom of Madura. This kingdom was situated in the extreme South of die Deccan Peninsula.

There was conflict between the brothers Sundra Pandya and Vira Pandya to occupy die throne of the Panday kingdom. Sundra Pandya was defeated by Vira Pandya.

So he sought the help of Malik Kafur to capture the throne of the Pandya kingdom. Kafur reached Madura die capital of the Pandya kingdom in April. 1311 Vira Pandya was not prepared far war.

So he fled away from his capital Malik Kafur plundered the city of Madura and destroyed many beautiful temples. He acquired enormous booty in the form of gold and silver, Malik Kafur proceeded as far as Rameswaram in the extreme South.

He returned to Delhi in 1311 with a huge booty which included many elephants, 20,000 hourses, 2750 pounds of gold and chests of jewels.

Shankara Dev the son and successor of Ramachandra Dev the Yadava ruler of Devgiri did not pay annual tribute. So Ala-ud-din sent Kafur against Shankara Dev. Thus the political supremacy of Ala-ud-din was established over the whole of Deccan.

Ala-ud-din did not annex the kingdom of the Deccan with the Sultanate. He simply compelled the rulers of the states of Deccan to recognize his political supremacy.