3/5 Kaushal S. 5 years ago on Google
Born
as Ali
Gurshasp,
Alauddin
was
a
nephew
and
a
son-in-law
of
his
predecessor Jalaluddin.
When
Jalaluddin
became
the
Sultan
of
Delhi
after
deposing
the
Mamluks,
Alauddin
was
given
the
position
of Amir-i-Tuzuk (equivalent
to master
of
ceremonies).
Alauddin
obtained
the
governorship
of Kara in
1291
after
suppressing
a
revolt
against
Jalaluddin,
and
the
governorship
of Awadh in
1296
after
a
profitable raid
on
Bhilsa.
In
1296,
Alauddin raided
Devagiri,
and
acquired
loot
to
stage
a
successful
revolt
against
Jalaluddin.
After
killing
Jalaluddin,
he
consolidated
his
power
in
Delhi,
and
subjugated
Jalaluddin's
sons
in Multan.
Over
the
next
few
years,
Alauddin
successfully
fended
off
the Mongol
invasions
of
India,
at Jaran-Manjur (1297–1298), Sivistan (1298), Kili (1299), Delhi (1303),
and Amroha (1305).
In
1306,
his
forces
achieved
a
decisive
victory
against
the
Mongols
near
the Ravi
riverbank,
and
in
the
subsequent
years,
his
forces
ransacked
the Mongol
territories in
present-day Afghanistan.
The
military
commanders
that
successfully
led
his
army
against
the
Mongols
include Zafar
Khan, Ulugh
Khan,
and
his
slave-general Malik
Kafur.
Alauddin
invaded,
conquered
and
plundered
the
Hindu
kingdoms
of Gujarat (raided
in
1299
and
annexed
in
1304), Ranthambore (1301), Chittor (1303), Malwa (1305), Siwana (1308),
and Jalore (1311).
These
victories
ended
several
Hindu
dynasties,
including
the Paramaras,
the Vaghelas,
the
Chahamanas
of Ranastambhapura and Jalore,
the
Rawal
branch
of
the Guhilas,
and
possibly
the Yajvapalas.
His
slave-general
Malik
Kafur
led
multiple
campaigns
to
the
south
of
the Vindhyas,
obtaining
a
considerable
amount
of
wealth
from Devagiri (1308), Warangal (1310)
and Dwarasamudra (1311).
These
victories
forced
the Yadava king Ramachandra,
the Kakatiya king Prataparudra,
and
the Hoysalaking Ballala
III to
become
Alauddin's tributaries.
Kafur
also raided
the
Pandya
kingdom (1311),
obtaining
a
large
number
of
treasures,
elephants
and
horses.
At
times,
he
exploited
Muslim
fanaticism
against
Hindu
chieftains
and
the
treatment
of
the zimmis.
He
rarely
heeded
to
the
orthodox ulema but
believed
"that
the
Hindu
will
never
be
submissive
and
obedient
to
the
Musalman."
He
undertook
measures
to
impoverish
them
and
felt
it
was
justified
because
he
knew
the
Hindu
chiefs
and muqaddams led
a
luxurious
life
but
didn't
pay
a jital in
taxes.
Under
the Mamluks,
Indian
Muslims
and
Hindus
were
deprived
of
positions
in
higher
bureaucracy.
However, Amir
Khusrau mentions
a
Hindu
officer
of
his
army
despatched
to
repel
the
Mongols.
In
addition,
many
non-Muslims
served
in
his
army.
During
the
last
years
of
his
life,
Alauddin
suffered
from
an
illness,
and
relied
on
Malik
Kafur
to
handle
the
administration.
After
his
death
in
1316,
Malik
Kafur
appointed Shihabuddin,
son
of
Alauddin
and
his
Hindu
wife
Jhatyapali,
as
a puppet
monarch.
However,
his
elder
son Qutbuddin
Mubarak
Shah seized
the
power
shortly
after
his
death
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