In the year 812 H. (1409 A.D.), Bairam Khán Turk-bacha turned against Khizr Khán, and joined himself to Daulat Khán. On hearing of this defection, Khizr Khán proceeded to Sirhind. Bairam Khán sent his family into the mountains, and proceeded himself with his forces to join Daulat Khán at the ford of the Jumna. Khizr Khán pursued him, and halted on the bank of the river. Bairam Khán having no hope of escape, felt himself vanquished and helpless, so he went [and submitted] to Khizr Khán, who restored to him his parganas. Khizr Khán then returned to Fathpúr. During this year the Sultán remained in the capital, and made no excursion.
In the year 813 H. (1410 A.D.), Khizr Khán marched to Ruhtak, and besieged Idrís Khán in the fort. The war went on for six months, but at length being reduced to extremity, Idrís Khán sent out a large sum of money as tribute, and his son as a hostage, and so making peace, he bound himself by engagements to Khizr Khán. After this Khizr Khán returned through Sámána to Fathpúr. Sultán Mahmúd went to Katehr, and after hunting there, returned to the capital. The whole business of the State was fallen into the greatest disorder. The Sultán gave no heed to the duties of his station, and had no care for the permanency of the throne; his whole time was devoted to pleasure and debauchery.
In 814 H. (1411 A.D.), Khizr Khán proceeded to Ruhtak. Malik Idrís and Malik Mubáriz Khán his brother, received the khitta of Hánsí, and were honoured by being allowed to kiss the feet.* They received many other favours. After this Khizr Khán plundered the town of Nárnaul, which was in the possession of Iklim Khán and Bahádur Náhir. Then he went to Mewát, and plundered the towns of Tajárah, Sarath, and Kharol, and having pillaged other places in Mewát, he returned, and proceeding to Dehlí, he invested the fort of Sírí. Sultán Mahmúd was in the fort, and Ikhtiyár Khán held the palace of Fírozábád for him. The contest went on till Ikhtiyár Khán joined Khizr Khán, who then removed from before Sírí, and took possession of the fort of Fírozábád. Thus he became master of the fiefs of the Doáb, and of the neighbourhood of the capital.
As grain and forage were scarce, in Muharram, 815 H. (April, 1412 A.D.), he proceeded by Pánipat to Fírozpúr. In Jumáda-l awwal, Sultán Mahmúd went to Katehr, and after spending some days there hunting, he returned to Dehlí. On his way home he was seized with illness in the month of Rajab,* and died. He reigned, through all these many vicissitudes and misfortunes, twenty years and two months.
After the death of the Sultán, the amírs and maliks, and royal servants, pledged their faith to Daulat Khán. Mubáriz Khán and Malik Idrís abandoned Khizr Khán, and went over to Daulat Khán. During this year, Khizr Khán remained in Fathpúr, and did not go to Dehlí.
In Muharram, 816 H. (April, 1413), Daulat Khán went to Katehr, where Ráí Har Singh and other ráís came to wait upon him. When he reached Pattíálí, Muhábat Khán, amír of Badáún, joined him. Intelligence was now brought that Sultán Ibráhím was besieging Kádir Khán, son of Sultán Mahmúd Khán [in Kálpí],* but Daulat Khán had not sufficient forces to attempt to relieve him. In Jumáda-l awwal, Khizr Khán led his forces out of Dehlí, and when he went to Hisár Fírozah, all the amírs and maliks of that country gathered round him. Siege was laid to the fort of Ruhtak, in which Idrís Khán was living, and Khizr Khán passing near, went into Mewát. Jalál Khán, nephew of Iklím Khán Bahádur Náhir, came to wait upon him. Turning back from thence, he went into Sambhal, and laid the country waste. In the month Zí-l hijja he proceeded to Dehlí, and posted himself in front of the gate of Sírí. At length Malik Loná and some partisans of Khizr Khán in the city conspired together, and [gave him such assistance that] he obtained possession of the gate of the naubat-khánah. When Daulat Khán saw that his position was desperate, he begged for quarter. Khizr Khán gave him an interview, and then consigning him to the charge of Kiwám Khán, he sent him to the fort of Hisár Fírozah. Khizr Khán thus obtained possession of Dehlí on the 8th Rabí'u-l awwal, 817 H. (23rd May, 1414 A.D.)
Khizr Khán was the son of Maliku-sh Shark Malik Sulaimán, who was adopted in childhood, and brought up by Malik Nasíru-l Mulk Mardán Daulat.* Historians record that he was by descent a saiyid. The chief of the saiyids, Jalálu-d dín Bokhárí, once honoured the house of Malik Mardán with a visit, and when food was spread before his guest, Malik Mardán ordered Sulaimán to wash the great saiyid's hands. The saiyid said, “This is a saiyid, and is unfit for such work as this.” As the great chief of the saiyids thus testified to Sulaimán being a saiyid, there can be no doubt that he was one. Another proof of his being a saiyid is, that he was generous, brave, merciful, considerate, true to his word, and kind: these are all virtues which were conspicuous in the Prophet, and were manifest in him.
When Malik Mardán died, Malik Shaikh his son obtained the fief of Multán, but he died soon after, and Malik Sulaimán succeeded him. He likewise soon afterwards died, and Khizr Khán then obtained Multán, with all its dependencies, from Sultán Fíroz Sháh. God Almighty had chosen him for great work and a high station, and his dignity increased daily. The events of his campaigns and victories, before he accomplished the conquest of Dehlí, have already been related. On the 15th Rabí'u-l awwal, 817 (30th May, 1414 A.D.), he entered the fort of Sírí, and posted his army in the palace of Sultán Mahmúd. The people of the city, by force of late events, had become impoverished and needy, so he settled allowances and made provision for them. By this kindness, they were all made easy and happy. He gave to Maliku-sh Shark Malik Tuhfa the title of Táju-l Mulk, and made him wazír. To Saiyid Sálim, chief of the saiyids, he gave the iktá' and shikk of Saharanpúr, and all affairs were set in order. He gave to Malik 'Abdu-r Rahím, adopted son of the late Malik Sulaimán, the title of 'Aláu-l Mulk, and he confided to him the iktá' and shikk of Multán and Fathpúr. He made Malik Sarwar governor (shahna) of the capital, and his locum tenens when he was himself absent. Malik Khairu-d dín was made 'áriz-i mamálik (muster-master), Malik Kálú keeper of the elephants, Malik Dáúd became secretary (dabír). Ikhtiyár Khán was appointed to the shikk of the Doáb. The State officials were confirmed in the parganas, villages, and iktá's, which they had held in the reign of Sultán Mahmúd, and were sent to look after them. Thus the affairs of State were all properly arranged.
In the year 817 H. (1414 A.D.), Maliku-sh Shark Táju-l Mulk was sent out with the army of Hindustán, while Khizr Khán himself remained in the capital. Táju-l Mulk crossed the Jumna, and went to the town of Ahár. Then he crossed the Ganges into the country of Katehr, and chastised and plundered the infidels of that country. Ráí Har Singh fled into the mountains of Anwála.* When the army of Islám closed in upon him, he was helpless, and paid taxes, money, and tribute (mahsúl o mál o khidmatí). Muhábat Khán, amír of Badáún, came to wait upon Táju-l Mulk. After this interview, Táju-l Mulk pursuing the course of the Rahab, he arrived at the ford of Sarg-dwári, and there crossed the Ganges. He chastised the infidels of Khúr* and Kambil (Kampila), and passing through the town of Sakína, he proceeded to Bádham. Hasan Khán, amír of Ráprí, and Malik Hamza his brother, came to wait upon him. The infidels of Gwálior, Seorí, and Chandawár,* brought their money and taxes (mál o mahsúl), and bowed their necks to the yoke of obedience. He wrested Jalesar from the possession of the infidels of Chandawár, and gave it to the Musulmáns, who had formerly held it. He left his own officers there. Then passing along the Black river, he chastised the infidels of Etáwa, and returned to the capital.