Sikander Sani - Sultan Alauddin Khilji


Alauddin Khilji was the second and the most powerful Sultan of the Khilji dynasty. The Khiljis were a group of Afghan warriors who were in the service of the Mamluk (Slave) dynasty. Jalaluddin Khilji was a commander in the armies of the Mamluks. He planned a coup and toppled his masters, thereby assuming the title of Sultan of Delhi. Alauddin was the nephew and son in law of Sultan Jalaluddin, having married his daughter, Mallika-e-Jahan. Jalaluddin trusted his nephew and appointed him as the Amir-i-Tuzuk or Minister of Ceremonies. Under the rule of Jalal, he crushed a revolt by the governor of Kara. As a reward for his services, he was awarded with the Governorship of Kara. It was in Kara, that Alauddin's thoughts turned towards rebellion. He was supported by the ministers of the previous governor, who considered Jalaluddin to be a weak and inefficient ruler. In order to finance his rebellion, he started raiding neighbouring Hindu kingdoms. His first victory was against the Parmars when he raided the city of Bhilsa. Over there, he came to know about the rich and prosperous Yadav Kingdom of Devagiri. Pleased with his victories, Jalaluddin made him the Minister of War and gifted him the province of Awadh. In 1296, Alauddin defeated the Yadavs and returned with loads of gold, silver, horses and elephants but instead of going to Delhi, he marched back to his city of Kara. In the capital, Ulugh Khan convinced the sultan of Alauddin's loyalty and requested him to travel to Kara. In Kara, Alauddin had the old Sultan murdered and assumed the title of Sultan on 20 July, 1296.
Portrait of  Sultan Alauddin Khilji
Alauddin's greatest achievement was in defeating the Mongols who were repeatedly trying to invade India. In 1297, Ulugh Khan, the Sultan's brother, defeated the Mongols of Chagatai Khanate who invaded Punjab. The following year, Zafar Khan defeated another Mongol army. In 1299, Alauddin sent an army under Ulugh Khan to invade Gujarat. The Vaghela king of Gujarat offered little resistance and the Khiljis occupied the lands upto Somnath. In 1299, the Chagatai ruler, Duwa sent a Mongol force under Qutlugh Khwaja to invade India. Zafar Khan and his troops inflicted a crushing blow on the Mongols but the general lost his life in the battle. 
In 1301, Ulugh Khan and Nusrut Khan invaded Ranthambore to subdue the ruler, Hammiradev who had given shleter to the rebels of the Khiljis. After the death of Nusrut Khan, Alauddin personally participated in the siege and captured the fort in July, 1301. In 1302 - 1303, he dispatched an army to capture the Kakatiya kingdom of Warangal. At the same time, he personally led an army against Rana Ratan Singh of Chittor, eventually capturing the fort after an 8 month long siege. The Mongols invaded again in 1303 and this time they were almost successful in raiding a good deal of territories around Delhi. This was the most serious threat by the Mongols, prompting Alauddin to take strong steps to prevent further problems.  His conquests gave him the prestigious title of "Sikander Sani" which means the Second Alexander.
Map showing Alauddin Khilji's empire and conquest by Malik Kafur in the Deccan
In 1304, Alauddin launched a second invasion against Gujarat and annexed it. Malwa followed and was conquered in 1305. The Mongols invaded again in 1305 and 1306, but this time they were defeated and Mongol prisoners of war were brutally executed. In 1308, Malik Kafur attacked Devagiri to discipline the Yadav ruler, Ramchandra. The fort of Siwana fell to the Khiljis. The Kakatiya ruler, Prataprudra surrendered in 1310. The Hoysalas and the Pandyas were next to face Kafur's wrath. Devagiri was invaded once again in 1313 when Ramchandra's son rebelled. The royal family was finished and Malik Kafur assumed the governorship of Devagiri. 
In his last days, Alauddin was attracted to his slave, Malik Kafur and made him the viceroy of the kingdom. Kafur concentrated all power in his hands, becoming the de-facto ruler of the Kingdom. Alauddin died on 4 January, 1316, leaving all powers in the hands of Malik Kafur.

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