Mongol invasion of Sindh
| Battle of Sivistan | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Mongol invasions of India | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||||
| Mongols, possibly Neguderi fugitives | Delhi Sultanate | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
| Saldi | Zafar Khan | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| Heavy | |||||||||
  Location of Sivistan (Sehwan) in present-day Pakistan | |||||||||
In 1298-99, a Mongol army (possibly Neguderi fugitives) invaded the Sindh region of the Delhi Sultanate, and occupied the fort of Sivistan. The Delhi Sultan Alauddin Khilji dispatched his general Zafar Khan to evict the Mongols. Zafar Khan recaptured the fort, and imprisoned the Mongol leader Saldi and his companions.
Mongol invasion
The Mongol Chagatai Khanate had invaded the Delhi Sultanate a number of times. In February 1298, a Delhi army led by Alauddin Khilji's general Ulugh Khan inflicted a crushing defeat on the Mongols.[1]
Sometime later, a Mongol force invaded the Sindh region on located on the western frontier of the Delhi Sultanate. The invaders occupied the fort of Sivistan (also called Siwistan or Sibi).[2] This place can be identified with the north-western part of Sindh (around modern Sehwan).[3]
The invasion seems to have happened in 1298-99. According to the 17th century chronicle Zafar-al-Walih, the Mongols occupied the Sivistan fort in 697 AH, and the Delhi forces recaptured it in 698 AH.[4]
The 14th century chronicler Ziauddin Barani states that the invasion was led by Saldi (or Soldi) and his brother.[1] Historian Peter Jackson believes that "Saldi" is the Indian transcription of the Mongol name "Sogedei" (or "Sogetei"). The 14th century chronicler Isami describes Saldi as a Turk and his associate as a "Baluch". Based on this, Jackson theorizes that Sogedei's forces were fugitives from the Neguderi territory in present-day Afghanistan.[4]
The 16th century historian Firishta claims that the invasion was led by Duwa (the ruler of the Chagatai Khanate) and his brother Chaldi (Saldi).[1] However, this is obviously incorrect: Firishta states that after their defeat, Saldi and his brother were imprisoned and brought to Delhi. On the other hand, Duwa was a powerful ruler who remained in power until 1306-07.[5]
Alauddin's response
In 1299, a large part of Alauddin's army had marched to Gujarat, led by Ulugh Khan and Nusrat Khan.[6] In absence of these reputed generals, Alauddin dispatched Zafar Khan, the governor of Samana, to evict the Mongols from Sivistan.[2] Despite a barrage of arrows from the Mongols and despite not making use of any siege engines, Zafar Khan's army entered the fort.[3]
Zafar Khan reclaimed the fort in heavy battles involving melee combats using short ranged weapons like axes, swords, javelins, and spears. He was said to carried out this siege without using standard military equipments of siege warfare such as manjaniq or Ballistas (aradah'). He did not even resort to mines, wooden siege towers (gargaj) or earthwork battlement mounds (pashib).[7]
Aftermath
Saldi, his brother and other Mongols (both male and female) were arrested and brought to Delhi in chains.[2] No chroniclers state what happened to them, but it is likely that Alauddin ordered them to be killed.[3]
The victory established Zafar Khan's reputation as a brilliant general. According to the near-contemporary chronicler Ziauddin Barani, Zafar Khan's success made both Alauddin and his brother Ulugh Khan jealous. Barani further states that they made plans to blind or poison Zafar Khan.[8] Historian Banarsi Prasad Saksena doubts the truthfulness of Barani's allegations.[2]
Interestingly, Alauddin's courtier Amir Khusrau does not mention this conflict in his writings. However, later chroniclers such as Ziauddin Barani, Isami and Firishta have described it.[1]
References
- 1 2 3 4 Kishori Saran Lal 1950, p. 153.
- 1 2 3 4 Banarsi Prasad Saksena 1992, p. 336.
- 1 2 3 Kishori Saran Lal 1950, p. 154.
- 1 2 Peter Jackson 2003, pp. 219-220.
- ↑ Kishori Saran Lal 1950, p. 153-154.
- ↑ Kishori Saran Lal 1950, p. 89.
- ↑ Jos Gommans 2003, p. 156.
- ↑ Kishori Saran Lal 1950, p. 155.
Bibliography
- Banarsi Prasad Saksena (1992). "The Khaljis: Alauddin Khalji". In Mohammad Habib and Khaliq Ahmad Nizami. A Comprehensive History of India: The Delhi Sultanat (A.D. 1206-1526). 5 (Second ed.). The Indian History Congress / People's Publishing House. OCLC 31870180.
- Jos Gommans (2003). Mughal Warfare: Indian Frontiers and Highroads to Empire 1500–1700. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-134-55276-4.
- Kishori Saran Lal (1950). History of the Khaljis (1290-1320). Allahabad: The Indian Press. OCLC 685167335.
- Peter Jackson (2003). The Delhi Sultanate: A Political and Military History. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-54329-3.
External links
- Description of the campaign by the 14th century chronicler Ziauddin Barani (English translation by Mohammad Habib)