The origin of his coming to Malwa explained. — He receives Mahmood Toghluk of Dehly after his expulsion by Tamerlane. — Mahmood returns to his capital. — Dilawur assumes the title of Shah, and causes himself to be acknowledged King of Malwa. — Death of Dilawur Shah Ghoory.
THE country of Malwa is extensive, and according to the best authorities has always been governed by independent rajas. It is bounded on the south by the river Nurbudda, on the north it has the Chumbul; * to the west is Guzerat, and on the east are the districts of Bundelkund and Gurra Mundla. The Hindoo histories go back as far as the reign of Bikramajeet†, * after whom reigned Raja Bhoj and many others, who are all mentioned among the rajas of Hindoostan. During the reign of Gheias-ood-Deen Bulbun of Dehly, in the year
A. H. 710.
A. D. 1310.
710, the Mahomedans first invaded and conquered the province of Malwa; after which it acknowledged allegiance to
A. H. 789.
A. D. 1387.
that crown until the reign of Maho-
At this period Dilawur Khan Ghoory, whose real name was Hussun, a descendant on his mother's side from Sooltan Shahab-ood-Deen Ghoory of Damascus, was appointed governor of Malwa, previously to the accession of Mahomed the son of Feroze, and he subsequently established his independence. After him eleven princes reigned until the time of Hoomayoon Padshah, in the year 977 (A. D. 1569), at which period Bahadur Shah of Guzerat, and, some years after, Akbur Padshah, made incursions into Malwa; and the latter eventually subdued the kingdom, and attached it again to the Dehly government.
Dilawur Khan on assuming independence took up his residence at D'har, and very shortly afterwards brought under his subjection all the petty rajas of the province; but although he considered D'har as the seat of his government, he frequently visited the city of Mando, remaining there sometimes for months together.
A. H. 801.
A. D. 1398.
In the year 801, Mahmood Toghluk
being driven from his throne by Ameer
Teimoor Korkan, made his escape from
Dehly and fled to Guzerat; but not being received
by Moozuffur Shah in the manner he expected, he
became disgusted, and sought protection in Malwa.
On his arrival at the frontier, Dilawur Khan sent
some of his relations, and the most respectable
officers of his government, to meet the exiled
monarch, and to pay him such attentions as were
due to the elevated situation from which he had
so lately fallen. On his approach within three
marches of D'har, Dilawur Khan himself went
forward, and meeting him, accompanied him to his
capital, where he proffered for his acceptance all
his wealth, both in specie and in jewels; declaring
they were much at his service, and that both he
and all his family considered themselves his Majesty's
subjects. Alp Khan, the son of Dilawur
Khan, disapproving of these acts of courtesy,
quitted D'har on the first intimation of his father's
intentions, and retired to Mando, where he remained
during the residence of Mahmood Toghluk in
Malwa. It was at this time he laid the foundation
of that celebrated fortress which was afterwards
completed by him. The work is constructed of
solid masonry, and is deemed one of the strongest
fortifications in that part of the world.
A. H. 804.
A. D. 1401.
In the year 804 Mahmood Toghluk, at
the instance of the Dehly nobles, quitted
Malwa, in order to resume the reins of his
own government, taking from Dilawur Khan such a
quantity of money and jewels as he deemed requisite.
On his departure, Alp Khan returned and joined
his father at D'har, after an absence of nearly
three years. Dilawur Khan, at the instance of his
son, shortly afterwards assumed royal state and
titles; such as the white canopy and scarlet pavilion,
and coining money: he caused public prayers
to be read in his name.
It is said that the grandfather of Dilawur Khan came from Ghoor, and held a high office under the Dehly government; that his father was enrolled among the nobility, and received a title; and that Dilawur Khan himself attained the highest rank in the reign of Feroze Toghluk. During that of his successor, Mahomed, he was nominated to the government of Malwa; and in the reign
A. H. 804.
A. D. 1401.
of Mahmood, in the year 804, he assumed royalty, and divided his kingdom into estates among his officers, whom he ennobled. Dilawur Khan only survived his assumption of the royal titles four years; for
A. H. 808.
A. D. 1405.
in the year 808 he died suddenly; and some historians have even asserted that he was poisoned by his eldest son and successor; but the accusation seems unsupported by any well-authenticated proof, and has been, in consequence, generally doubted.