Ajay Kumar at 18:48, 23 July 2023

2023-07-23T18:48:31Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2017}}
{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict = Alauddin Khalji's raid on Bhilsa
| width =
| partof = Sieges involving Delhi Sultanate
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| date = 1293
| place =[[Bhilsa]]
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| territory =
| result = {{Flagicon image|Delhi Sultanate Flag.svg}} [[Delhi Sultanate]] victory
| status =
| combatants_header =
| combatant1 = {{Flagicon image|Delhi Sultanate Flag.svg}}[[Delhi Sultanate]]
| combatant2 = [[Paramara]]
| combatant3 =
| commander1 = {{Flagicon image|Delhi Sultanate Flag.svg}}[[Alauddin Khalji]]
| commander2 = [[Mahalakadeva]]
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"properties": { "marker-symbol": "monument", "title": "[[Kara, Uttar Pradesh|Kara]]" },
"geometry": { "type": "Point", "coordinates": [81.3640022, 25.6958063] }
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As a general of [[Jalal-ud-din Khalji]], his nephew [[Alauddin Khalji]] (then known as Ali Gurshasp) [[raid (military)|raided]] the [[Paramara]] city of [[Bhilsa]] in 1293 CE. He damaged the city's [[Hindu temples]], and looted a large amount of wealth.

== Background ==

Alauddin Khalji was the governor of [[Kara-Manikpur|Kara]] in [[Jalal ud din Firuz Khalji|Sultan Jalaluddin]]'s [[Delhi Sultanate]]. Although he feigned allegiance to the Sultan, he was determined to dethrone Jalaluddin, and sought to raise money for a successful coup. Towards this objective, he decided to target [[Bhilsa]], a wealthy city in the [[Paramara]] kingdom of [[Malwa]]. By the 1290s, the Paramaras had been weakened by [[Chahamanas of Ranastambhapura|Chahamana]], [[Vaghela dynasty|Vaghela]], and [[Seuna (Yadava) dynasty|Yadava]] invasions.{{sfn|Banarsi Prasad Saksena|1992|p=321}} In late 1292 CE, Alauddin Khalji obtained the Sultan's permission to raid Bhilsa.{{sfn|Kishori Saran Lal|1950|p=44}}

== The raid ==

In 1293 CE, Alauddin marched towards Bhilsa via the [[Chanderi]]-[[Ujjain]] road.{{sfn|Banarsi Prasad Saksena|1992|p=322}}{{sfn|Kishori Saran Lal|1950|p=44}} His sudden attack took the city's residents by surprise.{{sfn|Kishori Saran Lal|1950|p=44}}

The town had several richly-endowed [[Hindu temples]], from which Alauddin obtained a large amount of wealth, including precious metals and cattle.{{sfn|Banarsi Prasad Saksena|1992|p=322}} The residents of Bhilsa concealed their idols in the riverbed of [[Betwa River|Betwa]] to prevent Alauddin's army from desecrating them. But Alauddin had these idols hauled out of Betwa. He damaged a number of temples, and plundered a large amount of wealth.{{sfn|Kishori Saran Lal|1950|p=44}} According to [[`Abd al-Qadir Bada'uni|Badauni]]'s ''[[Muntakhab-ut-Tawarikh]]'', Alauddin also brought to Delhi a large Hindu [[idolatry|idol]], which was placed at the [[Gates of Delhi|Badaun Gate]] to be trampled by the people.{{sfn|Dineshchandra Sircar|1971|p=117}}{{sfn|Kishori Saran Lal|1950|pp=44-45}}

== Aftermath ==

At Bhilsa, Alauddin learned of the immense wealth of the southern [[Seuna (Yadava) dynasty|Seuna (Yadava)]] kingdom, and about the routes leading to their capital [[Devagiri]]. Therefore, he shrewdly surrendered the loot from Bhilsa to Jalaluddin to gain the Sultan's confidence, while withholding the information on the Yadava kingdom.{{sfn|A. B. M. Habibullah|1992|p=322}}

A pleased Jalaluddin rewarded Alauddin with the office of ''Ariz-i Mamalik'' ([[Ministry of defence|Ministry of War]]), which his father once held. Jalaluddin also made him the governor of [[Awadh]], and granted his request to use the revenue surplus for hiring additional troops.{{sfn|Banarsi Prasad Saksena|1992|p=322}}{{sfn|Kishori Saran Lal|1950|p=45}} Subsequently, in 1296, Alauddin [[Alauddin Khalji's raid on Devagiri|raided Devagiri]], and used that loot to raise an army and usurp the power from Jalaluddin.{{sfn|Kishori Saran Lal|1950|p=45}}

== References ==
{{reflist|30em}}

=== Bibliography ===

{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book |author=A. B. M. Habibullah |chapter=The Khaljis: Jalaluddin Khalji |editor1=Mohammad Habib |editor2=Khaliq Ahmad Nizami |title=A Comprehensive History of India |volume=5: The Delhi Sultanat (A.D. 1206-1526) |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=Banarsi Prasad Saksena |author-link=Banarsi Prasad Saksena |chapter=The Khaljis: Alauddin Khalji |editor1=Mohammad Habib |editor2=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=Dineshchandra Sircar |author-link=Dineshchandra Sircar |title=Studies in the Religious Life of Ancient and Medieval India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mh1y1eMgGBMC&pg=PA117 |year=1971 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |isbn=978-81-208-2790-5 }}
* {{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 }}
{{refend}}

{{Alauddin Khalji}}

[[Category:Alauddin Khalji|Bhilsa]]
[[Category:Paramara dynasty]]
[[Category:Military raids]]
[[Category:Battles involving the Rajputs]]
[[Category:Battles involving the Delhi Sultanate]]
[[Category:History of Madhya Pradesh]]

Alauddin Khalji's raid on Bhilsa - Revision history

Ajay Kumar at 18:48, 23 July 2023