Battle of Saraswati

The Battle of Saraswati was fought between two factions of the Delhi Sultanate in 1320, on the Delhi-Dipalpur route, at a place called Saraswati (or Sasuti), whose modern location is uncertain.

Khusrau Khan, who had usurped the throne of Delhi, sent an army against a rebel faction led by Ghazi Malik Tughluq, the governor of Dipalpur. Tughluq's forces decisively defeated the imperial army, and Tughluq subsequently ascended the throne of Delhi under the regnal name Ghiyath al-Din.

Background

Khusrau Khan and Malik Tughluq served Sultan Qutbuddin Mubarak Shah, the ruler of the Delhi Sultanate. Khusrau Khan was a slave-general and lover of the Sultan, while Tughluq was a noble who served as the governor of Dipalpur province. In 1320, Khusrau Khan killed Mubarak Shah, and usurped the throne. Ghiyath al-Din's son Fakhruddin Jauna initially joined Khusrau Khan's government, but later conspired against the new Sultan, and fled to Dipalpur, where his father organized a resistance against the new Sultan. Khusrau Khan sent a cavalry against Tughluq, leading to a battle.[1]

Isami, a 14th-century historian, calls the conflict the battle of Saraswati (or Sarsuti): the modern location of the battle is uncertain.[1] According to chroniclers, the Dipalpur army passed by the Alapaur village and the Bhat tank. The Delhi army marched towards Dipalpur, without stopping at Sirsa, which was held by Tughluq's subordinate Muhammad Sartiah.[1]

According to the Tughluq Nama, the Delhi army ended up marching ten karohs through wilderness during night, because of a miscalculation. Because of this, when the two armies met in the morning, the Delhi soldiers were tired, thirsty, and "covered with dust".[1]

Organization

The Delhi army, which included 40,000 cavalry, was under the charge of Khan-i Khanan, who was stationed at its centre under a canopy. The vanguard of the army was led by Amir-i Shikar Malik Qutlugh led its vanguard. The left wing of the army was led by Talbagha Yaghda. The right wing comprised the members of the Baradu Hindu group (from which Khusrau Khan came): it was led by Kajb Brahma and Nag. There were separate columns for Hindu and Muslim horsemen, with the Hindus being led by Hindu chiefs (rawats).[1]

Tughluq's army also comprised both Hindus and Muslims. Tughluq was stationed in at the centre of his army, with his son Fakhruddin Jauna in front of him. The vanguard of his army consisted of Khokhars led by the chiefs Gul Chandra (or Gul Chand) and Niju. Bahram Aiba led the army's left wing; Tughluq's nephews Asaduddin and Bahauddin led its right wing.[1][2]

The Battle

According to Isami, the Khokhar vanguard of Tughluq's army launched a severe attack on the Delhi army, forcing its vanguard to flee to the centre. An arrow shot the horse of Qutlugh, the leader of the Delhi army's vanguard, and he fell down. When the Khokhar soldiers surrounded him, he shouted that he was a major officer and should be taken to Tughluq. However, the Khokhars ignored him and beheaded him.[1]

Khan-i Khanan, who held the formal charge of the Delhi army, had little experience in leading an army, and decided to flee when he saw his vanguard retreating towards him.[1] The Khokhar chief Gul Chandra aggressively charged at the Delhi army's centre, and killed the person who bore the Khan-i Khanans royal parasol (chatr).[3] He later brought the parasol to Tughluq, and placed it over Tughluq's head.[4][2]

Khan-i Khanan fled the battlefield along with Yusuf Khan, Shaista Khan, and Qadr Khan. The Baradus do not appear to have engaged in fighting either.[4]

Aftermath

Tughluq forgave the Muslim captives from the Delhi army, and provided good treatment for the wounded high-ranked captive Malik Tamar. He oversaw the collection of the spoils from the Delhi army, re-arranged his army, and then marched towards Delhi.[4] He defeated Khusrau Khan's army at the Battle of Lahrawat: Khusrau Khan was later captured and executed, and Tughluq became the new Sultan of Delhi.[5]

References
  1. Mohammad Habib 1992, p. 453.
  2. Surinder Singh 2019, p. 185.
  3. Mohammad Habib 1992, pp. 453–454.
  4. Mohammad Habib 1992, p. 454.
  5. Mohammad Habib 1992, pp. 454–459.

Bibliography
  • Mohammad Habib (1992) [1970]. "The Khaljis: Nasiruddin Khusrau Khan". In Mohammad Habib; Khaliq Ahmad Nizami (eds.). A Comprehensive History of India. Vol. 5: The Delhi Sultanat (A.D. 1206-1526). The Indian History Congress / People's Publishing House. OCLC 31870180.
  • Surinder Singh (2019). The Making of Medieval Panjab: Politics, Society and Culture c. 1000–c. 1500. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-1-00-076068-2.
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