History of Gujarát, Volume I, Part I.

Part 2 — CHAPTER I. EARLY MUSALMÁN GOVERNORS. a.d. 1297–1403.

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Fírúz Tughlak Emperor, 1351–1388.In a.d. 1351, Fírúz Tughlak succeeded Muhammad Tughlak on the throne of Dehli. Shortly after his accession the emperor marched to Sindh and sent a force against Malik Túghán. About a.d. 1360 he again advanced to Sindh against Jám Bábunia. From Sindh he proceeded to Gujarát, where he stayed for some months. Zafar Khan Governor, 1371.Next year, on leaving for Sindh for the third time, he bestowed the government of Gujarát on Zafar Khán in place of Nizám-ul-Mulk. On Zafar Khán’s death, in a.d. 1373 according to Farishtah and a.d. 1371 according to the Mirăt-i-Áhmedi, he was succeeded by his son Daryá Khán who appears to have governed by a deputy named Shams-ud-dín Anwar Khán. In a.d. 1376, besides presents of elephants horses and other valuables, one Shams-ud-dín Dámghání offered a considerable advance on the usual collections from Gujarát. As Daryá Khán would not agree to pay this sum he was displaced and Shams-ud-dín Dámghání was appointed governor. Finding himself unable to pay the stipulated amount this officer rebelled and withheld the revenue. Fírúz Tughlak sent an army against him, and by the aid of the chieftains and people, whom he had greatly oppressed, Shams-ud-dín was slain. The government of the province was then entrusted to Farhat-ul-Mulk Rásti Khán. Farhat-ul-Mulk Governor, 1376–1391.In about a.d. 1388, a noble named Sikandar Khán was sent to supersede Farhat-ul-Mulk, but was defeated and slain by him. As the emperor Fírúz Tughlak died shortly after no notice was taken of Farhat-ul-Mulk’s conduct and in the short reign of Fírúz’s successor Ghiás-ud-dín Tughlak, no change was made in the government of Gujarát. During the brief rule of Abu Bakr, Farhat-ul-Mulk continued Chapter I. Early Musalmán Governors. Muhammad Tughlak II. Emperor, 1391–1393. undisturbed. Muhammad Tughlak II. Emperor, 1391–1393.But in a.d. 1391, on the accession of Násir-ud-dín Muhammad Tughlak II., a noble of the name of Zafar Khán was appointed governor of Gujarát, and despatched with an army to recall or, if necessary, expel Farhat-ul-Mulk.

This Zafar Khán was the son of Wajíh-ul-Mulk, of the Tánk tribe of Rájputs who claim to be of Suryavansi descent and together with the Gurjjaras appear from very early times to have inhabited the plains of the Punjáb. Of Wajíh-ul-Mulk’s rise to power at the Dehli court the following story is told. Before he sat on the throne of Dehli, Fírúz Tughlak, when hunting in the Punjáb, lost his way and came to a village near Thánesar, held by chieftains of the Tánk tribe. He was hospitably entertained by two brothers of the chief’s family named Sáháran and Sádhu, and became enamoured of their beautiful sister. When his hosts learned who the stranger was, they gave him their sister in marriage and followed his fortunes. Afterwards Fírúz persuading them to embrace Islám, conferred on Saháran the title of Wajíh-ul-Mulk, and on Sádhu the title of Shamshír Khán. Finally, in a.d. 1351, when Fírúz Tughlak ascended the throne, he made Shamshír Khán and Zafar Khán, the son of Wajíh-ul-Mulk, his cup-bearers, and raised them to the rank of nobles.

Notes in this chapter

Note 1 · Aṇahilaváḍa (north latitude 23° 48′; east longitude 72° 2′), Nehrwála or Pátan, on the south bank of the Sarasvatí river, sixty-five miles n Note 2 · The Mirăt-i-Áhmedi gives an account of an expedition by one Alifkhán a noble of Sultán Sanjar’s against Aṇahilaváḍa in a.d. 1257. He is said Note 3 · Asáwal (north latitude 23° 0′; east longitude 72° 36′), a town of some size, afterwards, a.d. 1413, made the capital of the Musalmán kings o Note 4 · Both the Mirăt-i-Áhmedi and the Táríkh-i-Fírúz Sháhi say that the fortress was taken. The Úparkot or citadel of Junágaḍh, in the plain about Note 5 · Nágor (north latitude 27° 10′; east longitude 73° 50′), in the Ráthoḍ state of Jodhpur, eighty miles north-east of Jodhpur city. ↑Note 6 · Ídar is the principal state of the Mahi Kántha. The town of Ídar is in north latitude 23° 50′ and east longitude 73° 3′. ↑Note 7 · Junágaḍh in the Sorath sub-division of Káthiáváḍa. This is Briggs’ Rái of Jehrend. Junágaḍh was formerly called Jirangaḍ, both names meaning Note 8 · Rájpípla is in the Rewa Kántha division of Gujarát. ↑Note 9 · Sultánpur and Nandurbár now form part of the British district of Khándesh. ↑Note 10 · Ásir, now Ásírgaḍ (north latitude 21° 26′; east longitude 76° 26′), beyond the north-eastern frontier of Khándesh. ↑Note 11 · Mándu (north latitude 22° 20′; east longitude 75° 27′), one of the most famous forts in India, the capital of the Pathán dynasty of Málwa, a Note 12 · Ajmír (north latitude 26° 29′; east longitude 74° 43′), the chief town of the district of the same name to which Sámbhar and Dandwána belong Note 13 · Pánipat (north latitude 29° 23′; east longitude 77° 2′), seventy-eight miles north of Dehli. ↑Note 14 · Farishtah (II. 355) calls the Ídar chief Ranbal. ↑Note 15 · Zafar Khán Governor, 1391–1403.In a.d. 1391, on being appointed viceroy, Zafar Khán marched without delay for Gujarát. In passing Nágor12 he Note 16 · Zafar Khán Attacks Ídar, 1393.Zafar Khán’s first warlike expedition was against the Ráv of Ídar,14 who, in a.d. 1393, had refused to pay the