Mahmud Ghawan now turned his attention to the northern frontier. It was a difficult terrain studded all over with jungles and hills which were in possession of several chiefs, the most important of whom were those Khelna and Sangameshwar.
These chiefs owned a lage number of vessels and plundered the traders in the Arabian Sea and pilgrims to Mecca. Mahmud Ghawan’s first campaign in 1469 did not meet with success as the chiefs resorted to guerilla warfare. He was, however, able to capture Raingarh and Khelna in the second campaign during 1470-71.
Ghawan now proceeded to Sangameshwar which was ruled over by Jakhurai. It was as hilly country well defended by a large number of forts. Ghawan subdued many of these fortresses and ultimately reached Sangameshwar which surrendered on 13 December, 1471. He did not stop here and sailed towards Goa with 120 boats.
He captured this fort on 1 February 1472. After these triumphs, he returned to the capital where a grand welcome awaited him from the Sultan and the dowager queen. Soon afterwards, however, Parketa, the chief of Belgaum revolted and laid siege to Goa. Sultan himself marched against Parketa and subdued him. He now assumed the title of Lashkari or warrior.
ADVERTISEMENTS:
Meanwhile the Bahmani armies had humbled the chiefs of Virakhera and Antur and the boundaries of Bahmani kingdom had extended to the Bay of Bengal in the east and Arabian Sea in the west.