Tughral became Viceroy of Lakhnauti. In that, in liberality and bravery, courage and sagacity he was unequalled, in a short time he brought the kingdom of Lakhnauti to subjection and order, and subjugated Kamrup (Western Assam). In the year 678 A.H. he marched with his forces from Lakhnauti to Jajnagar, and vanquishing the Rajah of that place, obtained many elephants and much riches and chattels and stuffs. In that Sultān Ghiasu-d-dīn Balban had become old, and both of his sons were at Multān with large forces engaged in fighting the Mughals, the kingdom of Lakhnauti was lost sight of. In consequence of this circum­stance, Tughral failed to despatch elephants and booty to the Emperor. And also as at the time the Emperor was sick at Delhi, and had not come out of the palace for one month, and rumours of his death had spread in the Empire, Tughral finding the field completely open, sallied out, and collecting a large force proclaimed himself Sultān Mughīsu-d-dīn, and unfurling on his head the red Royal umbrella, had the Khutbah in that country recited after his own name. Simultaneously with this event, the Emperor recovered health, and royal edicts announcing the recovery were received. Tughral, not becoming ashamed of what he had done, struck the hand of disloyalty on the hem of hostility. When Sultān Ghiasu-d-dīn Balban became aware of this, he despatched Malik Abtakīn who had long hairs, and who had the title of Amīn Khān and was Governor of Oudh, appointing him generalissimo of the expedition, and also Viceroy of Lakhnautī, together with other nobles, such as Tamar Khān Shamsī, Malik Taju-d-dīn, son of ‘Ali Khān,* and Jamālu-d-dīn Qandahārī, for destroying Tughral. And when Malik Abtakīn with a large force crossed the river Sro, and marched towards Lakhnautī, Tughral, too, with a large force came to encounter him. In that, in bravery and generosity, he was matchless, some nobles and soldiers deserting Amīn Khān joined Tughral, so that on the day of engage­ment the force of Amīn Khān was routed. And when Amīn Khān being vanquished retreated to Oudh, the Emperor hearing of this became anxious and perplexed, ordered that Amīn Khān should be hanged at the gate of Oudh, and afterwards appointed Malik Tarmīnī with a large force for destroying Tughral. And Tughral making a bold attack vanquished this force also, and obtained much booty.

Sultān Ghiasu-d-dīn, on hearing this bad news, became dejected and anxious, and made kingly efforts, and boldly resolved to march out himself, and ordered that numerous boats should be kept ready in the rivers Jon and Ganges, and he himself on the pretext of a hunting excursion went towards Sanām and Samānah. Appointing Malik Sūnaj to be governor of Samānah, he took his young son, Bughrā Khān, with a select force in his own company, and passed from Samānah to Doāb. Leaving Maliku-l-Umara-Fakhru-d-dīn Kotwāl to rule as Viceroy at Dehlī in his absence, he crossed the Ganges, and not heeding that it was the rainy season, by forced marches, proceeded towards Lakhnautī. Tughral who in this interval had collected his efficient troops, marched in state towards Jājnagar with his treasures and a large army, and planned to take it and to encamp there, and subse­quently to return to Lakhnautī, when the Emperor would return to Dehlī. But when the Emperor reached Lakhnauti, after stay­ing there a few days, he despatched General Hassāmu-d-dīn Vakīl-dar Bārbag (Secretary of State), who was the grandfather of the author of the Tārīkh-i-Fīruz Shāhī, to subjugate the kingdom of Lakhnautī, and the Emperor himself marched towards Jajnagar,* to chastise Tughral. At the time, when the Emperor reached the confines of Sunargaon, Bhūj Rāi,* who was the Zamin­dar of that place, enrolled himself in the ranks of the Imperial adherents, and promised that in case Tughral attempted to escape across the river,* he would prevent his doing so. But when the Emperor swiftly passing from that place marched several stages, the trace of Tughral was lost, and no one could give a clue to his whereabouts. The Emperor ordered Malik Bārbak Baras* that he should march ahead ten or twelve Karoh with seven thousand chosen cavalry. Although these tried every means of pursuit and search, they could obtain no trace of Tughral. One day, Malik Muhammad Tīrandāz,* the ruler of Koel,* and his brother, Malik Muqaddar, separating themselves from the vanguard force, with thirty or forty troopers marched ahead. Suddenly, on a field they came across some grocers. Arresting these, they made enquiries, and in order to frighten them, they commenced slaughter by breaking the neck of one; then the others cried out:— “If your object is to obtain goods and provisions, whatever we have, you may take; but spare our lives.” Malik Muhammad Tīrandāz said: “We have no concern with your goods and stores: our object is to ascertain the whereabouts of Tughral. If you show the way, your lives and things would be spared; otherwise whatever will befal you, will be the consequence of your misconduct.” The grocers said: “We carried food-grains to the camp of Tughral,* and now we are returning from there. Between you and Tughral, there is a distance of half a farsakh. To-day he is encamping there; to-morrow he will march to Jājnagar.” Malik Muhammad Tīrandāz sent the grocers with two troopers to Malik Bārbak Baras, and sent word that after ascertaining the truth from the grocers, he should march up swiftly, so that Tughral might not march to the Vilāyet of Jājnagar which is in the kingdom of Bengal, and leagu­ing with the people of that part, might not hide himself in a jungle. And he himself with troopers went forward, and saw the tent of Tughral, and his army resting in false security, and his elephants and horses grazing about. Availing himself of the opportunity, he rushed with his cavalry towards the camp of Tughral. No one opposed their progress, fancying that they were officers attached to the army of Tughral. When they arrived in front of Tughral’s tent, all of a sudden drawing their swords, they killed every one they found in the Audience-Hall, and shouted out that the kingdom of Bengal pertained to the Empire of Balban. Tughral fancied that the Emperor had him­self arrived. Becoming totally confounded, he slipped out in great perplexity by the bath-room door, and mounting an unsaddled horse, and not mustering his own adherents, owing to great confusion of mind, he intended to plunge into the river near the soldiers’ quarters, and then to swim across to Jājnagar. As misfortune would have it, owing to the disappearance of Tughral, all his officers, soldiers and followers turned towards different directions. And Malik Muqaddar, at whose hands the slaughter of Tughral had been destined, marched in pursuit of Tughral, and encountered him on the river-bank. Then Malik Muqaddar shot a shooting arrow at Tughral’s shoulder, dismounted the latter from his horse, and himself dismounting from his own horse, severed Tughral’s head from the body. Seeing that the followers of Tughral were searching for their master, Malik Muqaddar hid Tughral’s head in the mud by the river-side, and flung his body into the river, and pulling off his own garments, he set himself to washing them. At this moment, Tughral’s soldiers arrived, shouting out “Lord of the world! Lord of the world!” and searched for Tughral. Not finding him, they took to their heels.

At this time Malik Bārbak Baras* arrived, and Muqaddar run­ning forward announced the joyful tidings of the victory. Malik Bārbak applauding him sent a despatch to the Emperor, announcing the victory, together with the head of Tughral. On the following day, together with the booty and prisoners of Tughral’s army, he proceeded himself to the Emperor, and narrated the story of the victory. And Malik Muhammad Tīrandāz* was promoted to the first rank, and his brother Malik Muqaddar* received the title of Tughral-kush (“Tughral-slayer”), and was raised to the peerage. Sultān Ghiāsu-d-dīn Balban after this marched back to Lakhnautī, and set himself to the work of chastisement. Along both sides of the road passing through the market-place of the City, putting up scaffolds, the Emperor hanged such adherents of Tughral as had been taken prisoners, and capturing their women and children, wherever found, he had them slaughtered at Lakhnautī, after putting them to indescribable tortures. Till that time, none of the Emperors of Dehlī had slaughtered the children and women of miscreants.* After this, the Emperor bestowed the kingdom of Lakhnautī on his own son, Bughhrā Khān,* giving him at the same time the treasures, etc., and other valuables of Tughral that had been captured, except the elephants; and conferring on him the title of Sultān Nāṣiru-d-dīn, he placed on the son’s head the royal umbrella, and allowed also the Khutbah to be recited and the coin to be minted in his name. And at the time of departure, the Emperor giving his son some parting advice,* said: “It is not discreet for the king of Lakhnautī, be he a relation or a stranger, to quarrel with or rebel against the Emperor of Delhī. And if the Emperor of Delhī marches to Lakhnautī, the ruler of Lakhnautī should retreating take refuge in some distant corner, and when the Emperor of Delhī withdraws, he should return to Lakhnautī, and resume his work. And in the levy of revenue from sub­jects, he should observe the middle course, that is, he should not levy such a low amount, that they should become refractory and disloyal, nor such an excessive amount, that they should be ground down and oppressed. And he should pay such an amount of salary to his officers, that it may suffice for them from year to year, and that they may not be pinched in regard to their necessary expenses. In matters of administration, he should take counsel with wise people who are sincere and loyal; and in the enforcement of orders, he should abstain from self-indulgence, and should not act unjustly from selfishness. In the care for the condi­tion of the army, he should not be negligent, and he should consider it incumbent upon himself to show them considerateness and to win their hearts, and he should not allow negligence and indolence to intervene. And whoever tempts you away from this course, you should look upon him as your enemy, and you should not listen to his talk. You should seek protection with persons who relinquish­ing this world, have dedicated themselves to God’s service.

After this, bidding adieu to his son, the Emperor returned to Delhī, by forced marches, after three months.* The period of the rule of Tughral in Bengal was twenty-five years and some months.