>Citation bot at 19:23, 11 April 2021

2021-04-11T19:23:17Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2018}}
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In November 1296, the [[Delhi Sultanate]] ruler [[Alauddin Khalji]] sent an expedition to conquer [[Multan]]. His objective was to eliminate the surviving family members of his predecessor [[Jalal ud din Firuz Khalji|Jalaluddin Khalji]], whom he had assassinated to usurp the throne of Delhi. Multan was governed by Jalaluddin's eldest son Arkali Khan. Alauddin's generals [[Ulugh Khan]] and [[Zafar Khan (Indian general)|Zafar Khan]] besieged Multan for around two months. They managed to gain control of the city after Arkali Khan's officers defected to their side. The surviving family members of Jalaluddin were imprisoned, and later, several of them were either blinded or killed.

== Background ==

Alauddin had become the ruler of the [[Delhi Sultanate]] after assassinating his father-in-law [[Jalal ud din Firuz Khalji|Jalaluddin]]. [[Multan]], which was located in the [[Punjab region]] to the north-west of Delhi, was under the control of Jalaluddin's eldest son Arkali Khan.{{sfn|Banarsi Prasad Saksena|1992|p=331}} Jalaluddin's widow (the former queen or ''Malka-i-Jahan'') and his younger son Ruknuddin Ibrahim had taken shelter in Multan after fleeing Delhi. After strengthening his control over Delhi, Alauddin decided to conquer Multan and eliminate the surviving family of Jalaluddin.{{sfn|Kishori Saran Lal|1950|p=79}}

== Siege of Multan ==

Alauddin himself did not lead an expedition to Multan, as it was important for him to remain in Delhi to keep control of the recently-gained throne. Instead, he sent an army led by [[Ulugh Khan]] and [[Zafar Khan (Indian general)|Zafar Khan]] to Multan in November 1296. This army, which had 30,000-40,000 soldiers, besieged Multan immediately after reaching the town.{{sfn|Kishori Saran Lal|1950|p=79}}

Arkali Khan had anticipated Alauddin's invasion, and was adequately prepared for the siege. However, after two months of being besieged, his [[kotwal]] (fort commander) and some leading citizens were convinced that Alauddin's forces would ultimately emerge victorious. Therefore, they deserted Arkali Khan, and joined Alauddin's forces.{{sfn|Banarsi Prasad Saksena|1992|p=331}}{{sfn|Kishori Saran Lal|1950|p=79}}

A dejected Arkali Khan then sought help of Shaikh Ruknuddin, who engineered a truce between the warring parties. Shaikh Ruknuddin took Arkali Khan and his younger brother Ruknuddin Ibrahim to Ulugh Khan's camp. Ulugh Khan received them with dignity.{{sfn|Kishori Saran Lal|1950|p=79}} At Shaikh Ruknuddin's request, Alauddin's generals promised not to harm the prisoners. However, they did not keep their promise after occupying Multan.{{sfn|Banarsi Prasad Saksena|1992|p=331}} Jalaluddin's family and the nobles supportive of them were taken into custody.{{sfn|Kishori Saran Lal|1950|p=79}}

== Aftermath ==

After taking control of Multan, Ulugh Khan and Zafar Khan marched to Delhi with the prisoners. Meanwhile, Alauddin dispatched [[Nusrat Khan Jalesari|Nusrat Khan]] from Delhi, with instructions to punish the prisoners. Nusrat Khan met the contingent returning from Multan at [[Abohar]].{{sfn|Kishori Saran Lal|1950|p=80}} He blinded Jalaluddin's sons Arkali Khan and Ruknuddin Ibrahim, and later imprisoned them at [[Hansi]]. Their loyal officers Ulghu (or Malik Alghu) and Malik Ahmad Chap were also blinded, and Arkali Khan's sons were killed. Jalaluddin's widow (the former ''Malka-i-Jahan'') and other ladies of the [[harem]] were brought to Delhi along with Ahmad Chap. These surviving prisoners were kept under surveillance at Nusrat Khan's house in Delhi.{{sfn|Banarsi Prasad Saksena|1992|p=331}} Alauddin appointed Nusrat Khan as his ''[[vizier|wazir]]'' (prime minister) shortly after the conquest of Multan.{{sfn|Kishori Saran Lal|1950|p=80}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

=== Bibliography ===

{{ref begin}}
* {{cite book |author=Banarsi Prasad Saksena |author-link=Banarsi Prasad Saksena |chapter=The Khaljis: Alauddin Khalji |editor=Mohammad Habib and Khaliq Ahmad Nizami |title=A Comprehensive History of India: The Delhi Sultanat (A.D. 1206-1526) |volume=5 |edition=Second |year=1992 |orig-year=1970 |publisher=The Indian History Congress / People's Publishing House |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_9cmAQAAMAAJ |oclc=31870180 }}
* {{cite book |author=Kishori Saran Lal |author-link=K. S. Lal |title=History of the Khaljis (1290-1320) |year=1950 |publisher=The Indian Press |location=Allahabad |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2XXqAQAACAAJ |oclc=685167335 }}
{{ref end}}

{{Alauddin Khalji}}

[[Category:Alauddin Khalji|Multan]]
[[Category:History of Multan]]
[[Category:Battles involving the Delhi Sultanate]]

Alauddin Khalji's conquest of Multan - Revision history

>Citation bot at 19:23, 11 April 2021