Muharak Shah
The early days of the Mubarak’s reign were disturbed by the activity of Jasrat the Khokar, who, with the interests of the fugitive Tughan as a pretext and the throne of Delhi as a lure, crossed the Sutlej and attacked Rai Kamal-ud-din, a vassal of Delhi, at Talwandi. Rai Firuz, a neighbouring fief-holder, fled towards the Jumna, and Jasrat occupied Ludhiana, ravaged the country eastwards as far as Rupar, and, returning across the Sutlej, besieged Zirak Khan in Jullundur, when a composition not very creditable to either party was effected. Zirak Khan betrayed the interests of his master by the surrender of the fortress and Jasrat betrayed his guest by sending his son to Delhi as an hostage for his father's good behaviour, and his former adversary, Zirak, by seizing and imprisoning him. With Jullundur as a base Jasrat again crossed the Sutlej and on June 22 appeared before Sirhind, now held for Mubarak Shah by Islam Khan Lodi. In July, although the rainy season was at its height, Mubarak Shah marched to the relief of Sirhind, and as he approached Samana Jasrat, after releasing Zirak Khan, who rejoined his master, retreated to Ludhiana, whither Mubarak Shah followed him. Jasrat, having collected all available boats, crossed the flooded river and encamped in security on the opposite bank. As the rains abated Mubarak Shah retired, in real or feigned apprehension, along the bank of the river to Qabulpur, while Jasrat, who had failed to observe that a force had been dispatched up stream to search for a ford, followed him. The two armies were still facing one another when Jasrat learnt that this force had crossed the river and, fearing lest his retreat should be cut off, retreated precipitately towards Jullundur, but was unable to rest there owing to the vigour of Mubarak's pursuit, during which the fugitives suffered heavy losses, and retired to the lower slopes of the Kashmir highlands. Bhim, raja of Jammu, guided the royal army to the principal stronghold of the Khokars, which was captured, with heavy loss to the defenders, and destroyed, but Jasrat escaped. From the hills Mubarak Shah marched to Lahore, ruinous and deserted since its capture by Timur’s troops and spent a month in replacing its once formidable defences by a mud fort. On returning to Delhi he left Malik Mahmud Hasan, who had distinguished himself at the passage of the Sutlej and was henceforward the ablest and most active of his nobles, with a force of 2000 horse to hold the restored outpost of the kingdom. By May, 1422, Jasrat had reassembled his army, descended from the hills, and attempted to carry the new citadel by assault, but was repulsed and forced to retire. For more than a month he harassed Mahmud Hasan by desultory skirmishes, but, finding his labour vain, retired to Kalanaur, his principal place of residence in the plains. Here he met Raja Bhim of Jammu, who was marching to the assistance of Mahmud Hasan, and after one battle made peace with him and retired towards the Beas. In the meantime Mubarak Shah had dispatched to the aid of Mahmud Hasan the minister, Sikandar Tuhfa, who crossed the Ravi, once more drove Jasrat into the hills, and marched to Lahore, where he was welcomed by Mahmud Hasan on September 28. Malik Rajah Nadira of Dipalpur arrived at Lahore at the same time, and the three nobles marched to Kalanaur, where they were met by Raja Bhim, to punish Jasrat’s presumption. They invaded the Khokar country, but Jasrat had escaped into the higher ranges, and after plundering the homes of his tribesmen the three nobles returned to Lahore.
During the absence of the minister, Sikandar Tuhfa, from the capital the governor of Delhi, Sarvar-ul-Mulk, induced the feeble king to order, for the benefit of himself and his son, a redistribution of various important offices. Sikandar Tuhfa was dismissed from the office of minister, to make way for SarvarulMulk, who was succeeded as governor of Delhi by his son Yusuf. Sikandar Tuhfa received the fief of Lahore as compensation for the loss of the first post in the kingdom, but his transfer thither necessitated the removal of Mahmud Hasan, who was transferred to Jullundur, but was ordered for the time to wait on Mubarak Shah with the contingent maintained from his fief. These changes bred much discontent, to which may be traced the assassination of Mubarak Shah, which took place twelve years later.
In 1423 Mubarak Shah once more invaded Katehr, collected tribute from the people in the usual fashion, and, crossing the Ganges, entered the lower Doab, where he treated the Rajputs with great severity and behaved as though he were in an enemy's country. Zirak Khan was left as governor of Kampil, but his ill-treatment of the Hindus so alarmed the son of Sarvar Singh that he fled from the camp to Etawah and successfully defended the town against Malik Khair-ud-din Tuhfa, brother of Sikandar Tuhfa, who was fain to raise the siege on receiving the usual nugatory promise of tribute.
Recent successes encouraged Jasrat the Khokar again to invade the kingdom. He had defeated, and slain in battle his old enemy, Raja Bhim of Jammu and now overran and plundered the districts of Dipalpur and Lahore. Sikandar Tuhfa marched against him, but retired before him, leaving him free to prepare for more extensive aggressions. At about the same time it was reported that Ala-ul-Mulk, governor of Multan, had died and that Shaikh Ali, the deputy in Kabul of Suyurghatmish, the fourth son of Shahrukh, who had succeeded to the greater part of Timur’s empire, proposed to invade and ravage the western Punjab and Sind. Malik Mahmud Hasan was sent to Multan, and restored some degree of confidence to the people who had been plundered by Shaikh Ali’s troops.
Towards the end of the year Mubarak was obliged to march to the aid of Gwalior, which was besieged by Hushang Shah of Malwa. Hushang, on learning that Mubarak was marching towards Dholpur, raised the siege and marched to the southern bank of the Chambal, so that when Mubarak reached the northern bank he found most of the fords held by the troops of Malwa, but he discovered an unguarded ford, crossed the river, and permitted his advanced guard to attack some outlying parties of Hushang’s army. A trivial advantage was gained and some prisoners and plunder were taken, but neither party desired a general engagement or a protracted campaign, and negotiations ended in the retreat of Hushang to Mandu. Mubarak returned to Delhi in June, 1424, and in the following cold weather marched to Katehr, extorted three years' arrears of tribute from the raja, Har Chand, plundered the country as far as the foot of the Kumaon hills, and, marching down the banks of the Ramganga, crossed the Ganges and entered the Doab. It had been his intention to remain in the neighborhood of Kanauj, and to establish his authority to the south of that district, but the country had suffered from famine and would neither repay rapine nor support the troops, and he was compelled to return. He turned aside with the object of crushing a rebellion in Mewat, but the rebels laid waste their villages in the plains and retired into their mountain fastnesses, and the king was obliged to retire, but returned in 1425, when the rebels under Jan, or Jalal Khan, and Qaddu, or Abdul Qadir repeated their tactics of the preceding year. Mubarak on this occasion followed them into the hills, drove them from one stronghold, and pursued them to Alwar, where they surrendered. Jalal Khan escaped, but Qaddu was carried prisoner to Delhi.
Mubarak then marched to Gwalior on his usual errand, and, after collecting an instalment of tribute, returned towards Delhi by way of Bayana, still held by Muhammad Auhadi, who, on May 11, evacuated the fortress and retired into Mewat. Mahmad Hasan was invested with the fief of Bayana and Mubarak returned to Delhi, where he found that his prisoner Qaddu, the grandson of Bahadur Nair, had been in secret correspondence with Ibrahim during the late campaign. He was put to death and his execution led to a fresh rebellion in Mewat headed by his brother, Jalal Khan. Sarwarul Mulk, the minister, who was appointed to suppress it, followed the rebels into the hills in which they had, after their manner, taken refuge and returned to Delhi on their paying him the empty compliment of a formal submission to his master.
Jasrat the Khokar was again active, and in August news was received that he was besieging Kalanaur and had driven back to Lahore Sikandar Tuhfa, who had attempted to relieve the beleaguered town. Emboldened by his success he attacked Jullundur, and though he failed to capture the town he plundered the district and carried off into slavery large numbers of its inhabitants. Zirak Khan from Samana and Islam Khan Lodi from Sirhind marched to support Sikandar Tuhfa at Lahore, but before they could reach him he had succeeded in effecting a junction with Rai Gilalib, the defender of Kalanaur, and had defeated Jasrat, driven him into the hills, and recovered all his spoil.
In July, 1429, Rajab Nadira died at Multan and Mahmud Hasan received the title of Imad-ul-Mulk and was transferred to that province, the government of which he had formerly held. In the cold weather Mubarak marched to Gwalior and thence against the contumacious raja of Athgath, who was defeated and compelled to take refuge in the hills of Mewat. His country was plundered and many of his people carried off into slavery, and Mubarak marched to Rapri, expelled the son of Hasan Khan, and bestowed the fief upon Malik Hamzah. On his way back to Delhi he learnt of the death, at Bhatinda, of Sayyid Salim, who had served his house for thirty years. Mubarak, who seems to have been unacquainted with the true character of the Sayyid, and was certainly ignorant of that of his offspring, rewarded the father’s long service by bestowing on his elder son the title of Salim Khan and on the younger that of Shuja-ul-Mulk. The Sayyid had been both rapacious and parsimonious, and during his long tenure of the lucrative fief of Bhatinda had amassed enormous wealth. The central situation of this district in the province of which Khizr Khan had enjoyed the virtual sovereignty for some time before his establishment on the throne of Delhi had secured it from attack from without and from demands for contributions to the defence of the frontiers. The customary law of Muhammadan states in India, which made the ruler the heir of his officials, was especially formidable to those who had defrauded their sovereign and oppressed his subjects, and Salim Khan and Shuja-ul-Mulk, who were in the king's power, attempted to secure their wealth by instigating Fulad, a Turkish slave of their late father, to rebel in Bhatinda. Their complicity in the rebellion was discovered, they were thrown into prison, and Yusuf, son of Sarvar-ul-Mulk, and Rai Hansu Bhati were sent to treat with Fulad and to induce him to surrender the treasure, but Fulad, who had no intention of surrendering it either to the king or to his late master's heirs, amused the envoys for a time with fair words and promises and, having thrown them off their guard, made a sudden attack on their troops, defeated them and was further enriched by the plunder of their camp. Zirak Khan, Malik Kalu, and Islam Khan Lodi were then sent to besiege the rebel in Bhatinda. Fulad announced that he was prepared to consider terms of submission provided that negotiations were conducted through Imad-ul-Mulk of Multan, in whom he had confidence, and Imad-ul-Mulk was summoned and arrived at court in August, 1430. He was sent to Bhatinda, but it was discovered that the rebel's offer to treat with him had been merely a device to gain time, the negotiations broke down, and he returned to Multan after urging the officers before Bhatinda to continue the siege.
Mubarak, on receiving news of these calamities, acted with unusual vigor and decision, and, having dispatched Sarvar-ul-Mulk in advance, with a force sufficient to check, if not to crush, Fulad, left Delhi, in January, 1432, for Lahore. The sudden flight of his enemies occasioned a modification of his plans. Jasrat raised the siege of Lahore and fled into the mountains, carrying with him his captive, Sikandar Tuhfa, and Shaikh Ali evacuated Talamba and retreated to Shorkot. Mubarak advanced no further, but bestowed the fief of Lahore on Nusrat Khan Gurgandaz and sent Sarvar-ul-Mulk to Lahore to escort the family of Sikandar to Delhi.
In August Jasrat was again active. He issued from his stronghold, plundered some districts in the plains, and attacked Gurgandaz in Lahore, but, being worsted by him, retired again into the mountains. Mubarak, who had marched as far as Panipat on hearing of his renewed activity, returned to Delhi on learning of his retreat, and sent Imad-ul-Mulk into the districts of Bayana and Gwalior. In September he again left the capital to quell some disturbances in the Samana district, but returned to Delhi on hearing of his mother's illness and arrived in time to be present at her obsequies. Having rejoined his army he sent Sarvar-ul-Mulk with a large force against Fulad, and Sarva-rul-Mulk, after completing all dispositions for the siege of Samana, left Zirak Khan in charge of the operations and returned to the royal camp at Panipat. Mubarak now abandoned his intention of taking the field in person, and sent Malik Ilahdad Lodi to supersede Gurgandaz in the fiefs of Lahore and Jullundur, but as he was approaching the latter town Jasrat fell upon him at Bajwara, near Hoshiarpur, defeated him, and drove him into the lower slopes of the mountains.
In November Mubarak invaded Mewat, where Jalal Khan was again in revolt, and drove him from one stronghold to another, compelling him to purchase peace on the usual terms of a present payment and promise of amendment. He was joined by Imad-ul-Mulk on his return from his successful foray into the Bayana district and dispatched Kamal-ud-din and other officers on similar raids into the districts of Etawah and Gwalior, returning, in January, 1433, to Delhi, where he learnt that Shaikh Ali was again preparing to march to the relief of Bhatinda, and dispatched Imad-ul-Mulk with reinforcements for the besieging army. This measure curtailed the extent of Shaikh Ali’s activity, but he issued from Shorkot, plundered the villages on the banks of the Ravi, enslaved their inhabitants, and marched on Lahore, which was held for the king by Yusuf, son of Sarvar-ul-Mulk, and Malik Ismail.
These two officers, after enduring a short siege, discovered that the fidelity of the citizens, which had been sorely tried by constant attacks against which the royal garrison could ill protect them, was uncertain, and fled from the city with their troops. During their flight they suffered heavy losses at the hands of a force dispatched in pursuit of them by Shaikh Ali, who plundered Lahore, placed a garrison of 10,000 horse in the city, marched to Dipalpur, where Yusuf had taken refuge, and besieged that town. Imad-ul-Mulk, who was still besieging Bhatinda, sent his brother, Malik Ahmad, to the relief of Yusuf, and Shaikh Ali raised the siege of Dipalpur, but occupied all the towns lying between that place and Lahore.
On November 1 the king founded Mubarakabad, on the Jumna, and while superintending the building of this town learnt that the protracted siege of Bhatinda had at length been brought to a successful conclusion. The news was confirmed by the receipt of the head of the rebel, Fulad, which had been severed from his body after his capture by Miran Sadr. He marched to Bhatinda and, after extinguishing the smouldering embers of disaffection, learnt that a dispute had arisen between Ibrahim Shah of Jaunpur and Hushang Shah of Malwa regarding the town and district of Kalpi, which had ever been included, in name at least, in the dominions of Delhi, and that they were marching to decide the question by an appeal to arms. He could not but resent an insult so gross and returned to Delhi to assemble his forces. On his way to Kalpi he turned aside to visit Mubarakabad, and here, on February 19, 1434, Sarvar-ul-Mulk found the opportunity which he had been seeking. Miran Sadr relieved the royal bodyguard with a force of his own troops, and while the king was preparing for prayers entered his apartment on the pretext of taking leave of him, posting Sidharan, one of the Khatris, at the door to prevent the entrance of any person not privy to the plot. While he engaged the king in conversation Sidhu Pal, another Khatri, cut him down with his sword, and Ranu and other Hindus rushed in and completed the bloody work.
Sources:
http://www.cristoraul.com/ENGLISH/readinghall/UniversalHistory/INDIA/Cambridge/III/8/4-Rebellion-in-the-Punjab.html
http://www.cristoraul.com/ENGLISH/readinghall/UniversalHistory/INDIA/Cambridge/III/8/5-Multan.html
http://www.cristoraul.com/ENGLISH/readinghall/UniversalHistory/INDIA/Cambridge/III/8/2-Muharak.html
http://www.cristoraul.com/ENGLISH/readinghall/UniversalHistory/INDIA/Cambridge/III/8/3-Mewat.html
During the absence of the minister, Sikandar Tuhfa, from the capital the governor of Delhi, Sarvar-ul-Mulk, induced the feeble king to order, for the benefit of himself and his son, a redistribution of various important offices. Sikandar Tuhfa was dismissed from the office of minister, to make way for SarvarulMulk, who was succeeded as governor of Delhi by his son Yusuf. Sikandar Tuhfa received the fief of Lahore as compensation for the loss of the first post in the kingdom, but his transfer thither necessitated the removal of Mahmud Hasan, who was transferred to Jullundur, but was ordered for the time to wait on Mubarak Shah with the contingent maintained from his fief. These changes bred much discontent, to which may be traced the assassination of Mubarak Shah, which took place twelve years later.
In 1423 Mubarak Shah once more invaded Katehr, collected tribute from the people in the usual fashion, and, crossing the Ganges, entered the lower Doab, where he treated the Rajputs with great severity and behaved as though he were in an enemy's country. Zirak Khan was left as governor of Kampil, but his ill-treatment of the Hindus so alarmed the son of Sarvar Singh that he fled from the camp to Etawah and successfully defended the town against Malik Khair-ud-din Tuhfa, brother of Sikandar Tuhfa, who was fain to raise the siege on receiving the usual nugatory promise of tribute.
Recent successes encouraged Jasrat the Khokar again to invade the kingdom. He had defeated, and slain in battle his old enemy, Raja Bhim of Jammu and now overran and plundered the districts of Dipalpur and Lahore. Sikandar Tuhfa marched against him, but retired before him, leaving him free to prepare for more extensive aggressions. At about the same time it was reported that Ala-ul-Mulk, governor of Multan, had died and that Shaikh Ali, the deputy in Kabul of Suyurghatmish, the fourth son of Shahrukh, who had succeeded to the greater part of Timur’s empire, proposed to invade and ravage the western Punjab and Sind. Malik Mahmud Hasan was sent to Multan, and restored some degree of confidence to the people who had been plundered by Shaikh Ali’s troops.
Towards the end of the year Mubarak was obliged to march to the aid of Gwalior, which was besieged by Hushang Shah of Malwa. Hushang, on learning that Mubarak was marching towards Dholpur, raised the siege and marched to the southern bank of the Chambal, so that when Mubarak reached the northern bank he found most of the fords held by the troops of Malwa, but he discovered an unguarded ford, crossed the river, and permitted his advanced guard to attack some outlying parties of Hushang’s army. A trivial advantage was gained and some prisoners and plunder were taken, but neither party desired a general engagement or a protracted campaign, and negotiations ended in the retreat of Hushang to Mandu. Mubarak returned to Delhi in June, 1424, and in the following cold weather marched to Katehr, extorted three years' arrears of tribute from the raja, Har Chand, plundered the country as far as the foot of the Kumaon hills, and, marching down the banks of the Ramganga, crossed the Ganges and entered the Doab. It had been his intention to remain in the neighborhood of Kanauj, and to establish his authority to the south of that district, but the country had suffered from famine and would neither repay rapine nor support the troops, and he was compelled to return. He turned aside with the object of crushing a rebellion in Mewat, but the rebels laid waste their villages in the plains and retired into their mountain fastnesses, and the king was obliged to retire, but returned in 1425, when the rebels under Jan, or Jalal Khan, and Qaddu, or Abdul Qadir repeated their tactics of the preceding year. Mubarak on this occasion followed them into the hills, drove them from one stronghold, and pursued them to Alwar, where they surrendered. Jalal Khan escaped, but Qaddu was carried prisoner to Delhi.
Rebellion in Mewat
In 1426 Mubarak traversed Mewat, plundering the people, on his way to Bayana to attack Muhammad Khan, a rebellious member of the Auhadi family. Most of the rebel's men deserted to the royal standard and Muhammad Khan was sent, with all the members of his family, to Delhi, where he was interned in Jahannuma. The district of Bayana was divided into two fiefs, Bayana itself being granted to Muqbil Khan and Sikri, later to be known as Fathpur, to Khair-ud-din Tuhfa. Mubarak marched from Bayana to Gwalior and returned to Delhi, which he reached in March, 1427, by way of the eastern bank of the Jumna. Shortly after his arrival at Delhi Muhammad Khan Auhadi and his family escaped from the capital and took refuge in Mewat, where many of his former followers assembled around him. Muqbil was absent from Bayana on an expedition, and Khair-ud-din Tuhfa held the fortress with an inadequate garrison. Muhammad Khan was joined by all classes of the inhabitants and Khair-ud-din was obliged to evacuate the fortress and retire to Delhi. Malik Mubariz was sent from Delhi to recover Bayana and besieged the place, but the garrison defended it obstinately while Muhammad Auhadi withdrew to Jaunpur to seek help of Ibrahim Shah. Mubarak Shah recalled Mubariz and marched in person to Bayana, but before he could form the siege was disturbed by an appeal from Qadir Khan of Kalpi, who implored his aid against Ibrahim Shah, who was marching on Kalpi with the intention of annexing it. Mubarak abandoned for the time all intention of reducing Bayana and turned against Ibrahim, who, having plundered the district of Bhongaon, near Mainpuri, was preparing to march on Budaun. Mubarak crossed the Jumna, and, on reaching Atrauli, sixteen miles from Koil, learnt that Mukhtass Khan, Ibrahim's brother, was threatening Etawah. Mahmud Hasan was detached against him and forced him to join forces with his brother, and the army of Jaunpur traversed the Doab and crossed the Jumna near Etawah with a view to supporting the garrison of Bayana. Mubarak crossed the river near Chandwar (now Firuzabad) and Ibrahim, in February, 1428, marched towards Bayana and encamped on the banks of the Gambhir, while Mubarak encamped at a distance of ten miles from him. Neither was anxious to risk a battle and for some time the operations were confined to affairs of outposts, but on April 2 Ibrahim drew up his army for battle, and Mubarak, who lacked even the ordinary merit of physical courage, deputed his nobles to lead his army into the field. The two armies fought, with moderate zeal and without any decisive result, from midday until sunset, when each retired to its own camp, but on the following day Ibrahim retreated towards Jaunpur. He was followed for some distance, but Mubarak would not permit the pursuit to be pressed, and ordered that it should be abandoned. His encomiast praises his forbearance towards fellow Muslims, but we may believe that he did not choose to provoke too far an adversary whose strength he had not fully gauged.Mubarak then marched to Gwalior on his usual errand, and, after collecting an instalment of tribute, returned towards Delhi by way of Bayana, still held by Muhammad Auhadi, who, on May 11, evacuated the fortress and retired into Mewat. Mahmad Hasan was invested with the fief of Bayana and Mubarak returned to Delhi, where he found that his prisoner Qaddu, the grandson of Bahadur Nair, had been in secret correspondence with Ibrahim during the late campaign. He was put to death and his execution led to a fresh rebellion in Mewat headed by his brother, Jalal Khan. Sarwarul Mulk, the minister, who was appointed to suppress it, followed the rebels into the hills in which they had, after their manner, taken refuge and returned to Delhi on their paying him the empty compliment of a formal submission to his master.
Jasrat the Khokar was again active, and in August news was received that he was besieging Kalanaur and had driven back to Lahore Sikandar Tuhfa, who had attempted to relieve the beleaguered town. Emboldened by his success he attacked Jullundur, and though he failed to capture the town he plundered the district and carried off into slavery large numbers of its inhabitants. Zirak Khan from Samana and Islam Khan Lodi from Sirhind marched to support Sikandar Tuhfa at Lahore, but before they could reach him he had succeeded in effecting a junction with Rai Gilalib, the defender of Kalanaur, and had defeated Jasrat, driven him into the hills, and recovered all his spoil.
Rebellion in the Punjab
Mahmud Hasan, having restored the royal authority in Bayana, returned to Delhi, and thence to Hissar, his former fief, and Mubarak invaded the plains of Mewat, where Jalal Khan and other chieftains of the country presented their tribute and were received at court.In July, 1429, Rajab Nadira died at Multan and Mahmud Hasan received the title of Imad-ul-Mulk and was transferred to that province, the government of which he had formerly held. In the cold weather Mubarak marched to Gwalior and thence against the contumacious raja of Athgath, who was defeated and compelled to take refuge in the hills of Mewat. His country was plundered and many of his people carried off into slavery, and Mubarak marched to Rapri, expelled the son of Hasan Khan, and bestowed the fief upon Malik Hamzah. On his way back to Delhi he learnt of the death, at Bhatinda, of Sayyid Salim, who had served his house for thirty years. Mubarak, who seems to have been unacquainted with the true character of the Sayyid, and was certainly ignorant of that of his offspring, rewarded the father’s long service by bestowing on his elder son the title of Salim Khan and on the younger that of Shuja-ul-Mulk. The Sayyid had been both rapacious and parsimonious, and during his long tenure of the lucrative fief of Bhatinda had amassed enormous wealth. The central situation of this district in the province of which Khizr Khan had enjoyed the virtual sovereignty for some time before his establishment on the throne of Delhi had secured it from attack from without and from demands for contributions to the defence of the frontiers. The customary law of Muhammadan states in India, which made the ruler the heir of his officials, was especially formidable to those who had defrauded their sovereign and oppressed his subjects, and Salim Khan and Shuja-ul-Mulk, who were in the king's power, attempted to secure their wealth by instigating Fulad, a Turkish slave of their late father, to rebel in Bhatinda. Their complicity in the rebellion was discovered, they were thrown into prison, and Yusuf, son of Sarvar-ul-Mulk, and Rai Hansu Bhati were sent to treat with Fulad and to induce him to surrender the treasure, but Fulad, who had no intention of surrendering it either to the king or to his late master's heirs, amused the envoys for a time with fair words and promises and, having thrown them off their guard, made a sudden attack on their troops, defeated them and was further enriched by the plunder of their camp. Zirak Khan, Malik Kalu, and Islam Khan Lodi were then sent to besiege the rebel in Bhatinda. Fulad announced that he was prepared to consider terms of submission provided that negotiations were conducted through Imad-ul-Mulk of Multan, in whom he had confidence, and Imad-ul-Mulk was summoned and arrived at court in August, 1430. He was sent to Bhatinda, but it was discovered that the rebel's offer to treat with him had been merely a device to gain time, the negotiations broke down, and he returned to Multan after urging the officers before Bhatinda to continue the siege.
Rebellion in Multan
Fulad, after holding out for six months, sent a large sum of money to Shaikh Ali of Kabul and summoned him to his aid. In January, 1431, he left Kabul and marched to Bhatinda, and on his arriving within twenty miles of the town Mubarak's nobles hurriedly raised the siege and fled to their fiefs. Fulad issued from the fortress to meet him, paid him 200,000 tangas as the price of his assistance, and entrusted his family to his care, in order that they might be removed to a place of safety. A passing remark of the historian of this reign throws much light on the position of affairs in the Punjab during Mubarak's futile attempts to establish his authority in the Doab, the trans-Gangetic region, and the south-eastern districts of his kingdom. Sikandar Tuhfa paid to Shaikh Ali the sum which he had been wont to pay him annually, and thus induced him to refrain from molesting Lahore during his retreat. From the reference to the yearly payment of blackmail it is clear that the kingdom had been exposed, during its intestine troubles, to the danger of invasion from the direction of Lahore. In the direction of Multan the worthless Mubarak was better served, and when Shaikh Ali, during his retreat, attacked a fortress within the limits of that province, Imad-ul-Mulk marched to Talamba and forced him to relinquish his prey. Unfortunately Imad-ul-Mulk received orders to retire to Multan, and Shaikh Ali, attributing his retreat to cowardice or a consciousness of weakness, crossed the Ravi near Khatibpur, plundered the country along the banks of the Chenab, and marched to within twenty miles of Multan. Imad-ul-Mulk sent Islam Khan Lodi to stem his advance, but Islam Khan’s force, while still on the march, came unexpectedly on the invaders, and was defeated before it could form for attack or defence. Islam Khan was slain, and the remnant of his force fled back to Multan. Shaikh Ali advanced to Khairabad, near Multan, and encamped there on May 15, 1431. On the following day he advanced to attack one of the gates, but his troops were repulsed by a sortie of the garrison, and he did not resume the offensive until June 8, when he made a second attempt to carry the place by assault, but was again repulsed with heavy loss, and thereafter contented himself with harassing the garrison in a series of skirmishes until the arrival of a strong relieving force which attacked him and drove him within his entrenched camp, whence he fled across the Ravi. He was pursued, and numbers of his army perished in the river and by the swords of the pursuers, but he eventually threw himself into Shorkot, leaving all his horses, camels, and equipment in the hands of the victors. Imad-ul-Mulk and the army which had marched to his relief followed the fugitives to Shorkot and Shaikh Ali fled with a small force to Kabul, leaving his nephew, Amir Muzaffar, with the remainder of his army in Shorkot. Further operations were stayed by the receipt of orders from the king, recalling to Delhi the relieving force, and most imprudently removing from Multan the able and energetic Imad-ul-Mulk, who was relieved by Khair-ud-din Tuhfa. Misfortunes now fell thick and fast on Mubarak. Jasrat the Khokar again rebelled and marched on Jullundur. Sikandar Tuhfa, marching against him, met him on the Dhauli Wain, but was defeated and taken alive, and Jasrat marched to Lahore and besieged the city, which was defended by Sayyid Najm-ud-din, Sikandar’s lieutenant, and Malik Khushkhabar, his slave. Meanwhile Shaikh Ali of Kabul had again invaded the Multan province and on November 13 captured Talamba, occupied the citadel, threw the leading citizens into prison, and plundered all the surrounding country. At the same time Fulad, who still held Bhatinda, led an expedition against Rai Firuz, whose fief lay in the neighborhood, slew him and plundered the district which he had governed.Mubarak, on receiving news of these calamities, acted with unusual vigor and decision, and, having dispatched Sarvar-ul-Mulk in advance, with a force sufficient to check, if not to crush, Fulad, left Delhi, in January, 1432, for Lahore. The sudden flight of his enemies occasioned a modification of his plans. Jasrat raised the siege of Lahore and fled into the mountains, carrying with him his captive, Sikandar Tuhfa, and Shaikh Ali evacuated Talamba and retreated to Shorkot. Mubarak advanced no further, but bestowed the fief of Lahore on Nusrat Khan Gurgandaz and sent Sarvar-ul-Mulk to Lahore to escort the family of Sikandar to Delhi.
In August Jasrat was again active. He issued from his stronghold, plundered some districts in the plains, and attacked Gurgandaz in Lahore, but, being worsted by him, retired again into the mountains. Mubarak, who had marched as far as Panipat on hearing of his renewed activity, returned to Delhi on learning of his retreat, and sent Imad-ul-Mulk into the districts of Bayana and Gwalior. In September he again left the capital to quell some disturbances in the Samana district, but returned to Delhi on hearing of his mother's illness and arrived in time to be present at her obsequies. Having rejoined his army he sent Sarvar-ul-Mulk with a large force against Fulad, and Sarva-rul-Mulk, after completing all dispositions for the siege of Samana, left Zirak Khan in charge of the operations and returned to the royal camp at Panipat. Mubarak now abandoned his intention of taking the field in person, and sent Malik Ilahdad Lodi to supersede Gurgandaz in the fiefs of Lahore and Jullundur, but as he was approaching the latter town Jasrat fell upon him at Bajwara, near Hoshiarpur, defeated him, and drove him into the lower slopes of the mountains.
In November Mubarak invaded Mewat, where Jalal Khan was again in revolt, and drove him from one stronghold to another, compelling him to purchase peace on the usual terms of a present payment and promise of amendment. He was joined by Imad-ul-Mulk on his return from his successful foray into the Bayana district and dispatched Kamal-ud-din and other officers on similar raids into the districts of Etawah and Gwalior, returning, in January, 1433, to Delhi, where he learnt that Shaikh Ali was again preparing to march to the relief of Bhatinda, and dispatched Imad-ul-Mulk with reinforcements for the besieging army. This measure curtailed the extent of Shaikh Ali’s activity, but he issued from Shorkot, plundered the villages on the banks of the Ravi, enslaved their inhabitants, and marched on Lahore, which was held for the king by Yusuf, son of Sarvar-ul-Mulk, and Malik Ismail.
These two officers, after enduring a short siege, discovered that the fidelity of the citizens, which had been sorely tried by constant attacks against which the royal garrison could ill protect them, was uncertain, and fled from the city with their troops. During their flight they suffered heavy losses at the hands of a force dispatched in pursuit of them by Shaikh Ali, who plundered Lahore, placed a garrison of 10,000 horse in the city, marched to Dipalpur, where Yusuf had taken refuge, and besieged that town. Imad-ul-Mulk, who was still besieging Bhatinda, sent his brother, Malik Ahmad, to the relief of Yusuf, and Shaikh Ali raised the siege of Dipalpur, but occupied all the towns lying between that place and Lahore.
Recovery of the Punjab
Mubarak at length perceived that affairs in the north-western provinces of his kingdom demanded his personal attention, and marched to Samana, where he was joined by Kamal-ud-din and the other officers who had been sent to Etawah and Gwalior, and advanced to Taiwandi, where Imad-ul-Mulk joined him from Bhatinda. The officers who still remained before that town were summoned to the royal camp, and Mubarak advanced to the Ravi. Here Sikandar Tuhfa, who had escaped from Jasrat’s custody, appeared before him and received the ill-deserved title of Shams-ul-Mulk and a grant of the fiefs of Lahore, Dipalpur, and Jullundur. In the meantime Shaikh Ali had retreated across the Chenab, and, as Shams-ul-Mulk advanced to take possession of his new fiefs, fled precipitately, leaving most of his horses, and his baggage, camp equipage, and booty, which were already bestowed in boats for transport across the Chenab, in his enemy’s hands. Mubarak crossed the Ravi at Talamba and besieged Shorkot, which, after the lapse of a month, was surrendered to him by Amir Muzaffar, Shaikh Ali’s nephew, who secured his safety by large gifts, and by bestowing a daughter in marriage on Muhammad Khan, the nephew and adopted son of Mubarak. The king then retired towards Multan after dispatching Shams-ul-Mulk to Lahore, where the garrison left by Shaikh Ali purchased for itself a safe retreat by the surrender of the town and citadel. Mubarak, after retiring to Dipalpur, wisely removed Shams-ul-Mulk from the important fiefs which he had recently bestowed upon him to Bayana, and conferred Lahore, Dipalpur, and Jullundur on Imad-ul-Mulk. On his return to Delhi he discovered that Sarvarul Mulk had for some time past been remiss in the performance of his duties as minister of the kingdom, and appointed Kamal-ud-din as his coadjutor in the hope that the two would work in harmony. He was disappointed, for the influence of the abler and more energetic Kamal-ud-din soon eclipsed that of Sarvar-ul-Mulk, who, resenting his virtual supersession in office, formed a faction consisting of some discontented Khatris, Miran Sadr, the deputy muster-master-general, Qazi Abdus Samad Khan, a royal chamberlain, and others, and conspired against the king’s life.On November 1 the king founded Mubarakabad, on the Jumna, and while superintending the building of this town learnt that the protracted siege of Bhatinda had at length been brought to a successful conclusion. The news was confirmed by the receipt of the head of the rebel, Fulad, which had been severed from his body after his capture by Miran Sadr. He marched to Bhatinda and, after extinguishing the smouldering embers of disaffection, learnt that a dispute had arisen between Ibrahim Shah of Jaunpur and Hushang Shah of Malwa regarding the town and district of Kalpi, which had ever been included, in name at least, in the dominions of Delhi, and that they were marching to decide the question by an appeal to arms. He could not but resent an insult so gross and returned to Delhi to assemble his forces. On his way to Kalpi he turned aside to visit Mubarakabad, and here, on February 19, 1434, Sarvar-ul-Mulk found the opportunity which he had been seeking. Miran Sadr relieved the royal bodyguard with a force of his own troops, and while the king was preparing for prayers entered his apartment on the pretext of taking leave of him, posting Sidharan, one of the Khatris, at the door to prevent the entrance of any person not privy to the plot. While he engaged the king in conversation Sidhu Pal, another Khatri, cut him down with his sword, and Ranu and other Hindus rushed in and completed the bloody work.
Sources:
http://www.cristoraul.com/ENGLISH/readinghall/UniversalHistory/INDIA/Cambridge/III/8/4-Rebellion-in-the-Punjab.html
http://www.cristoraul.com/ENGLISH/readinghall/UniversalHistory/INDIA/Cambridge/III/8/5-Multan.html
http://www.cristoraul.com/ENGLISH/readinghall/UniversalHistory/INDIA/Cambridge/III/8/2-Muharak.html
http://www.cristoraul.com/ENGLISH/readinghall/UniversalHistory/INDIA/Cambridge/III/8/3-Mewat.html