CHAPTER IX.

SULTAN ALLAH-UD-DIN II.

1434

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It will be remembered that Sultan Ahmed Shah appointed Muhammed Khan, his youngest son, to be the colleague of Alla-ud-Din, his eldest son and successor. Alla-ud-Din appears to have regarded his father's wishes, so far as 1457. to treat his younger brother with great and almost royal respect. He bestowed upon him costly presents, and despatched him to conduct the war against the King of Vijayanagar, who had again neglected to send his promised tribute. There is, however, an old saying, that there is no more room for two Kings in one country than there is for two swords in one scabbard. Muhammed's position was an anomalous one, and it is not, therefore, surprising that there should have been persons ready to inflame his imagination, and to suggest to him that, as partner to a King, he ought to have an equal share in the royal honours and privileges. Muhammed lent a willing ear to these representations, and being flushed with his success over the Hindoos, whose country he laid waste, and who were compelled to sue for peace by payment of a large sum, he resolved to raise the standard of rebellion. Alla-ud-Din had sent with Muhammed two of his

principal noblemen, Khajeh Jehan, the Vizier, and Imad-ul Mulk Ghorce the son of the old Seyd-ud-Din, who had for more than fifty years been the Minister of the first Bahmanee Sultans. The latter was an old man who had retired from office, and was only induced to accompany the young Prince by the strong persuasions of the Sultan. The idea of rebellion having entered into Muhammed's mind, he endeavoured to induce these two noblemen to join him, but they, loyal to their rightful Sultan, not only refused, but pointed out to the young Prince the criminality of his intentions. This so incensed Muhammed that he caused both of them to be put to death, and then, not content with rebellion, committed the additional treason of calling upon the King of Vijayanagar to assist him with an army. Aided in this manner by the hereditary foes of his country, he succeeded in capturing the forts of Mudkul, Raichore, Sholapore, Beejapore, and Nuldroog.

Alla-ud-Din was greatly incensed at this rebellion, and especially at the murder of Imad-ul-Mulk, and he at once. advanced with a large army to bring matters with his brother to an issue. A furious battle ensued, but after an obstinate struggle the rebel army was totally defeated, the principal leaders were killed, and Muhammed, followed by a few attendants only, had to take to the hills for shelter. The Sultan then returned to his capital, and not long afterwards, Muhammed submitted himself to his elder brother, was pardoned, and was sent as Governor to Telingana, which post had become vacant by the death of Daoud Shah. Here he lived undisturbed, and is said to have spent his life in a round of pleasures. This incident is interesting as accounting in some way for the unnatural custom which we find so prevalent throughout Mahomedan history, of kings blinding and confining their brothers and near relatives, who might be supposed to have pretensions to the throne. The splendour of an Oriental throne possessed fatal attractions to those whom the accident

of birth had placed near to it, but whom circumstances had removed to a distance. The nearer the Prince was placed, the greater the danger to be expected, and experience seemed to show that the only way of preserving a kingdom from civil war was to remove all possible pretenders. The incident, however, forms a notable exception to the tragedies which were usually the result of such rebellions, and of which we shall find a terrible example in the next reign. Alla-ud-Din, in this instance, treated his brother with extraordinary and unusual generosity, and he does not, as is so often the case, appear to have received ingratitude in return.

In 1436 Alla-ud-Din despatched an expedition to the Konkan under Dilawar Khan. This General was successful, and returned after subduing the Rajahs of Amede and Sungeer with a considerable amount of booty. He also brought with him the daughter of the Rajah of Sungeer, a maiden of great accomplishments, whom the Sultan took into his zenana under the name of Peri-chera, or the Angel-faced." This lady soon became the Sultan's favourite wife, and for her sake he neglected his first wife, who, it will be remembered, was a Princess of Kandeish-a neglect which was to bear serious consequences. Dilawar Khan was on his return made Vizier, but he soon afterwards lost his master's favour and retired, his place being taken by a eunuch named Dustoor-ul-Mulk. This person soon excited universal disgust by his insolence, and amongst other enemies, he was foolish enough to cause the anger of the Sultan's son, Humayun, who already showed signs of that violent temper which was afterwards to earn for him the title of the "Cruel." This Prince, disgusted at the refusal of Dustoor to comply with some request, caused the Minister to be assassinated by one of his own retainers. Upon this a Deccanee nobleman, named Meamun Oollah, was appointed Minister, and matters resumed their former train. In the following year (1437) war broke out with the

Sultan of Kandeish, to whom Malleeka Jehan, the neglected wife of Alla-ud-Din, had appealed for vengeance. This Prince claimed to be a lineal descendant of the Caliph Omar, and accordingly felt it as a personal insult that his daughter should have been set aside for an infidel Princess. He at once invaded Berar with a large army, assisted by a force sent by the Rajah of Ghondwarah. The Governor, Khan Jehan, was compelled to shut himself up in the fortress of Pernalleh, and the Khutba was read in the name of Nusseer Khan, the Sultan of Kandeish.

Alla-ud-Din, on receipt of this intelligence, at once ordered Malick-ul-Tijar to conduct an expedition to recover Berar. This General, it will be remembered, suffered a disaster in the late reign after taking the island of Mahim. He now represented to the Sultan that this defeat was mainly caused by the jealousy of the Deccanee and Abyssinian nobles, and he, therefore asked that on this occasion his army should be officered mainly by foreigners. Under this term were included the Turks, Persians, and Arabs settled in the Deccan. The Abyssinians and the Deccanees seem always to have been classed together and to have made common cause, and between them and the so-called foreigners there was always the greatest hatred. This request was granted, but in the sequel only added flames to the existing jealousy which has continued between the Deccanees and the foreigners down to the present day.

Malick-ul-Tijar's expedition met with eminent success. Not only was the Sultan of Kandeish defeated, but his kingdom was invaded, his capital, Burhanpoor, was taken, and his palace razed to the ground. Berar was recovered, and the General returned to Bieder laden with considerable plunder. He was received by Alla-ud-Din with every mark of distinction, was rewarded with presents; the Sultan's daughter was bestowed upon one of his principal officers, Shah Koolli Sultan, and finally it was ordered that in future the Moghuls should take

the place in the army of the Deccanees and Abyssinians. It now becomes necessary to glance at affairs at Vijayanagar. Deva Raya was still King of this great country, and he appears to have come to the conclusion that if he was to make a successful stand against the Mahomedan Sultans he must reform his army. Although, during the last hundred years. the Hindoos had been sometimes successful, the final issue of every conflict had been in favour of the Mahomedans. It is. indeed, surprising that after so many successful wars, the boundaries of the two States should have remained unaltered. In spite of their victories, the Mahomedans were never able to gain a footing in Hindoo territory, and after a lapse of nearly one hundred years the country between the rivers. Kistna and Tungabadhra still remained a debatable land, in which the forts were continually passing from the possession of one King to that of the others. It was probably owing to their numbers that the Hindoos were thus able to make so successful a stand, but this in Deva Raya's opinion was not sufficient, and he wished to be able to carry the war into the enemy's country. Accordingly, he summoned a council. of his principal officers and Brahmins, and asked why it was that with such infinitely greater resources in men and treasure than the Mahomedans, his armies should so constantly be defeated. "Some said that the Almighty has decreed a superiority of the Mussulmans over the Hindoos for thirty thousand years, or more yet to come, which was plainly foretold by their Scriptures; that, therefore, the Hindoos were generally subdued by them. Others said that the superiority of the Mussulmans arose from two causes; one, all their horses being strong, and able to bear more fatigue than the weak, lean animals of the Carnatic; the other, owing to a great body of excellent archers; being always kept up by the Bahmance. Sultans, of whom the Rajah had but few in his army." (Ferishta.) Deva Raya was sensible enough to see the justice.