One day Hamíd Khán gave a grand entertainment, and in­vited many nobles as his guests. Sultán Bahlol, who was one of the party, had instructed his Afgháns to behave in a foolish and indecorous mannner, during Hamíd Khán's feast, so that he might look on them as a set of idiots, and ceasing to regard them with any apprehension, might pay no further attention to them. When the Afgháns went into Hamíd Khán's presence, they acted in an unusual and strange manner. Some fastened their shoes to their girdles, some placed their shoes in the recess above Hamíd Khán's head. Hamíd Khán inquired what this meant. They answered, “We are taking precautions against thieves.” After a short time the Afgháns said to Hamíd Khán, “Your carpet is wonderfully coloured; if you give us each a blanket from it, we will send it as a rarity to our native land of Roh, to make caps for our children, that the inhabitants of the world may know that we are in the service of Hamíd Khán, and are treated with much dignity, honour, and respect.” Hamíd Khán smiled, and said in reply, “I will make you presents of the most costly articles for rarities.” And as they were bringing round trays containing perfumes, the Afgháns licked the scent bottles, and ate the flowers. They opened the leaves which covered the pán. First they ate the lime, and when this had heated their mouths, they chewed the pán afterwards, and in other respects conducted themselves in an extraordinary manner. Hamíd Khán asked Malik Bahlol, “Why do they act thus?” He replied, “They are a set of clowns, and have associated but little with men; they only know how to eat and die.” It became Bahlol's custom to bring some of these men whenever he went to see Hamíd Khán; but the greater portion of his attendants remained standing without. On one occasion, when Hamíd Khán was feasting Malik Bahlol, the Afgháns, in obedience to secret instructions received from Malik Bahlol, beat the door-keepers, and forced their way in, saying, “We are likewise servants of Hamíd Khán; why should we be prevented from coming to salute him?” When a tumult and disturbance had arisen, Hamíd Khán asked the reason of it. They, as they were entering, abused Malik Bahlol, and said to the minister, “We are just as much your servants as he is; he comes in, and why should not we?” When Hamíd Khán directed that they should be admitted, the Afgháns crowded in, and two of them placed themselves near every servant of Hamíd Khán. When the eating part of the entertainment was over, and many of Hamíd Khán's men had gone out, Kutb Khán Lodí drew forth a chain from his bosom, and laid it before Hamíd Khán, saying, “The best thing for you will be to retire from public life for a short time. As I have eaten your salt, I do not intend to put you to death.” After this he caused Hamíd Khán to be seized, and gave him in charge to his officers.*

Thus Malik Bahlol took possession of Dehlí, without hindrance or opposition; and on the 17th of the month Rabí'u-l awwal, A.H. 855* (19th April, 1451), at the prosperous moment and auspicious time which the astrologers learned in the stars, and experienced Bráhmans had indicated, he seated himself on the Imperial throne, and ordered the khutba to be read and coin to be struck in his own name. He assumed the title of Sultán Bahlol; and did his best to conciliate the nobles and soldiery, and gain the goodwill of great and small, by his extreme liberality and generosity. He won the people over to his side, and when he had secured a firm hold on Dehlí, after some days, he wrote to Sultán 'Aláu-d dín, saying, “Since I was educated by your father, and consider myself as in fact your regent for this country, I will allow the royal power, which had left your hands, to remain as it was; and I will not prevent the khutba from being read in your name.” Sultán 'Aláu-d dín wrote in reply, “As my father looked on you as his offspring, I likewise have looked on you as my elder brother, and have therefore made over the government to you, and contented myself with Badáún.”* Sultán Bahlol, being successful and prosperous, ruled the empire with vigour. He wrested the parganas bordering on Dehlí from the people who had usurped them, and took them into his own possession. He also, in the first year of his reign, went to settle the province of Multán.

Some of Sultán 'Aláu-d dín's nobles, who were dissatisfied with the government of the Lodís, wrote to Sultán Mahmúd of Jaunpúr, and summoned him to their assistance. Accord­ingly, in the year 855,* he advanced from Jaunpúr to Dehlí, which place he besieged. Khwája Báyazíd, the son of Sultán Bahlol, with other nobles, remained there to garrison the fort.* Sultán Bahlol,* on hearing this, left Dípálpúr and came and encamped in the village of Narela, fifteen kos distant from Dehlí. In spite of all his endeavours to make peace, Sultán Mahmúd's pride and arrogance prevented an accommodation. Sultán Mahmúd sent Fath Khán Hirwí, with 30,000 horse­men and 39 elephants, against Sultán Bahlol. These came into action in three divisions. The leading elephant of Fath Khán's army was disabled by Kutb Khán Lodí, who was an unrivalled archer, with a single shot. Daryá Khán Lodí, who had joined Sultán Mahmúd, was fighting in the same field. Kutb Khán called out to him with a loud voice, “Your mother and sisters are in the fort; it is not fit that you should do battle for the stranger, and lose sight of the reputation of your family.” Daryá Khán said, “I will leave the field, provided you do not follow me.” Kutb took an oath that he would not pursue him; and thus, on account of Daryá Khán's retreat, Fath Khán's troops were defeated, and he himself was taken prisoner. Sultán Mahmúd, being thus foiled, and being unable to effect anything, retired to Jaunpúr.

Sultán Bahlol then settled himself firmly, and increased his dominions and authority. He took measures to gain entire possession of the country; and with this object in view, first proceeded into Mewát. Ahmad Khán Mewáttí submitted; upon which the Sultán deprived him of seven parganas, but allowed him to retain the remainder. Ahmad appointed his uncle, Mubárak Khán, to be perpetually in attendance at Court. The Sultán proceeded from Mewát to Baran. Daryá Khán Lodí, governor of Sambhal, also came before His Majesty, to tender his allegiance and submission, and presented him with seven parganas. The Sultán went thence to Kol, and confirmed 'Ísá Khán in the possession of that place on the former terms. When he reached Burhánábád, Mubárak Khán, governor of Sakít, came to pay his respects; he was likewise confirmed in the possession of the districts which he held in jágír. Ráí Partáb, chief of the zamíndárs in those parts, was also confirmed in possession of Bhúíngánw. From thence he went to the fort of Ráprí.* Kutb Khán, the son of Husain, who commanded in Ráprí, resisted, but his fort was speedily captured. Khán Jahán, after making a solemn promise of safe conduct to Kutb Khán, brought him into the King's presence, when he also was confirmed in his jágírs. From thence, Sultán Bahlol went to Etáwah, the governor of which likewise offered his homage.

At this period Mahmúd Sharkí, by the advice of Malika Jahán, who was the chief lady of his harem, and was related to Sultán 'Aláu-d dín, again assembled a force, and came against Sultán Bahlol, and encamped in the country about Etáwah. On the first day, both armies engaged in hostilities; on the second, Kutb Khán and Ráí Partáb made amicable arrangements, and agreed that the whole of the territory which had belonged to Mubárak Sháh, King of Dehlí, should be left in the hands of Sultán Bahlol, and that which Sultán Ibráhím, King of Jaunpúr, had held, should be left in the possession of Sultán Mahmúd; also that seven elephants which had fallen into the hands of Sultán Bahlol in the fight with Fath Khán should be given back to Sultán Mahmúd. Shamsábád was to be con­sidered the property of Sultán Bahlol, and was to be made over to him by Júná Khán, the agent of Sultán Mahmúd. After this truce, Sultán Mahmúd returned to Jaunpúr, and Sultán Bahlol wrote a farmán at the appointed time to Júná Khán, directing him to leave Shamsábád, and give it into the hands of Ráí Karan. As Júná Khán resisted the execution of the order, Sultán Bahlol went in person to Shamsábád, took the fort and town from Júná Khán and gave them to Ráí Karan.