His origin — assumes the reins of government, but disclaims the title of king — forms a new ministry — causes the Khootba, or public prayers, to be read, and coins to be struck in the name of Teimoor — endeavours to re-establish the authority of the Dehly state — recovers great part of the Dooab. — The governor of Surhind assassinated, and one Mullik Toghan Toork becomes master of the place — is expelled by the minister, Zeeruk Khan. — Khizr Khan proceeds by the route of Byana to Gualiar. — Mullik Toghan returns to attack Surhind — is repulsed, and flies — is overtaken, and compelled to pay a fine. — Toghan is permitted to retain possession of Jalendur. — Khizr Khan sends an army against Kutehr. — An impostor, assuming the name of Sarung Khan, the late brother of Yekbal Khan, collects forces at Machiwara — is defeated — joins Mullik Toghan, who espouses his cause. — On discovering that he has wealth, Mullik Toghan puts him to death. — Mullik Toghan ravages Surhind, but is defeated, and expelled the kingdom. — Khizr Khan taken ill — dies — his character. — Tokens of the people's regard.
BOTH the authors of the Tubkat Mahmood Shahy
A. H. 817.
A. D. 1414.
and of the Towareekh Moobarik Shahy trace the family of Khizr Khan to that of the prophet, and they accordingly style him Syud. His father, Mullik Sooliman, a person of respectability, was the adopted son of Mullik Murdan Dowlut, a noble of distinction, and governor of the province of Mooltan, in the reign of Feroze Toghluk. Mullik Murdan Dowlut, at his death, was succeeded in his government by
his own son, Mullik Sheikh, and on his death, Mullik Sooliman, who professed to be a Syud, was appointed viceroy of Mooltan, an office which descended to his son, Khizr Khan. When Khizr Khan was defeated, as we have already observed, by Sarung Khan, and driven from his country, he waited on Teimoor, after the conquest of Dehly, gained his favour, and was reinstated in his former government, to which Teimoor added Punjab and Depalpoor. This accession of power enabled him, eventually, to pave his way to the throne.
As the author of the Towareekh Moobarik Shahy
has produced two distinct and (what he calls)
strong proofs of Khizr Khan being really a descendant
of the Prophet, it seems proper here to
notice them, in order that his pretensions to that
honour may be examined. The first reason given
is, “that on one occasion, when Khizr Khan's fa-
In the first year of his government, Khizr Khan
deputed Mullik Tohfa with an army towards
Kuttehr, which place he reduced. Nursing Ray was
driven to the mountains; but upon paying a ransom,
was again put in possession of his country. Mohabut
Khan, governor of Budaoon, at the same time
came to meet Mullik Tohfa, and professed allegiance.
The Vizier now marched towards Gun-
Jumad-ool-
Awul,
A. H. 817.
July,
A. D. 1414.
In the month of Jumad-ool-Awul, of
the year 817, a band of Toorks, the adherents
of Beiram Khan, assassinated
Mullik Ladho, governor of Surhind, and
took possession of his country, Khizr Khan sent
Zeeruk Khan and Mullik Dawood with an army
against them. On their approach, the Toorks
crossed the Sutlooj, and retreated to the hills.
Zeeruk Khan pursued them; but as the mountains,
which are a continuation of those of Nagrakote,
were then in possession of independent zemindars,
who assisted the Toorks, he effected nothing against
them, and in the end was obliged to withdraw his
troops.
A. H. 819.
A. D. 1416.
In the year 819, Ahmud Shah, King
of Guzerat, advanced to Bagore. Khizr
Khan led an army to oppose him; and
the King of Guzerat withdrew in the direction of
Malwa. When Khizr Khan reached Jalwur,
*
Elias Khan, governor of the new city, (to which
the name of “Bride of the Universe,” had been
given by Alla-ood-Deen Khiljy, who built it,) came
out to meet him. Khizr Khan proceeded from
thence to Gualiar, where he levied tribute from
the Raja, and then proceeded to Dehly by the route
of Byana, where he exacted, as a fee, a considerable
sum from Kurreem-ool-Moolk, brother of the late
Shums Khan Ahdy, to whose estates he had lately
succeeded.
A. H. 821.
A. D. 1418.
In the year 821, Khizr Khan having
sent his minister against Nursing Ray,
the Raja of Kutehr, he plundered and
laid waste that district, and proceeding to Buda-
Jumad-ool-
Awul 20.
A. H. 822.
July 18.
A. D. 1419.
Budaoon, and to retire to Dehly, where on the 20th of Jumad-ool-Awul, 822, having assembled the conspirators, he caused the household troops to fall upon them, and put them to death.
About this time, also, the King understood that an impostor had appeared near Machiwara, assuming the name of Sarung Khan, and had collected a body of insurgents, though it was well known that Sarung Khan died during the time of Teimoor's invasion. To suppress this insurrection, Khizr Khan ordered Mullik Sooltan Shah Lody, entitled Islam Khan, at that time governor of Surhind, against the impostor, who being defeated fled to the hills, pursued by the joint forces of Mullik Toghan, governor of Jalendur, Zeeruk Khan, governor of Samana, and Mullik Kheir-ood-Deen, governor of Dooab. The impostor's army shortly after deserted him, each man withdrawing privately to his own home, and the Dehly forces, also separating, returned to their respective stations. In the following year the impostor appeared again, and joined Mullik Toghan, who had again gone into rebellion. Mullik Toghan, however, on discovering that his colleague possessed a large quantity of jewels, caused him to be assassinated; and marching to Surhind, he ravaged the country of Munsoorpoor and Pail on his route. The Dehly army, having attacked the insurgents, under Toghan, gave them a total defeat, and drove them entirely out of the kingdom.
A. H. 824.
A. D. 1421.
In the year 824, Khizr Khan marched
towards Mewat, taking and destroying
the fort of Kotla. In this year, also,
the Vizier dying, that office was conferred on
his son, Mullik Sikundur Tohfa. From Kotla,
Khizr Khan marched towards Gualiar, where he
raised contributions and returned to Etawa, exacting
tribute from the son of Soomur Ray. Khizr
Jumad-ool-
Awul 17.
A. H. 824.
May 20.
A. D. 1421.
Khan, falling sick during this campaign, returned to Dehly, where he died on the 17th of Jumad-ool-Awul, 824, after a reign of seven years and a few months.
Khizr Khan was esteemed a just, a generous, and a benevolent prince, for the age in which he lived, on which account his death was much lamented by his subjects; and as a token of their respect for his memory the inhabitants of Dehly, by common consent, wore black for three days.*
After this the nobles†, * having assembled, consented to elevate Moobarik, the son of Khizr Khan, to the throne.