February 10th, 2009 
Aman Ala-ud-Din ascended the throne in 1296A.D. He could not feel secure so long as he had not subdued his rivals. He sent a force of 40,000 soldiers under Ulgh Khan and Zafar Khan to attack Multan and capture Arkali Khan and Ibrahim, the two sons of Jalal-ud-Din. The princes were defeated and imprisoned at Hansi. -They were blinded and later murdered. Malika Jahan, the widow of Jalal-ud-Din also took certain measures against Jalali nobles about whose loyalty she was not certain. He appointed his famous general Zafar Khan as the governor of Samana and Multan. It was by the efforts of this intrepid- general that Ala- d-Din consolidated his position and strengthened hold on the Punjab. Zafar Khan also played a commendable role in protecting the Delhi Sultanate from the Mughal raids. Ala-ud-Din had hardly consolidated his position when the Mongols began their raids on India. Within less than a year of his accession, Ala-ud-Din was called upon to fight against the Mongols. A big army of about 100,000 Mongols led by Kadar invaded the plains of the Punjab and penetrated as far as Jalandhar. Ala-ud-Din sent Ulgh Khan, his son-in-law, and Zafar Khan to meet the invaders. They drove back the Mongols inflicting heavy losses on them. But the Mongols again attacked India in 1298 A.D. The Sultan sent a large force under Zafar Khan to reinforce Ulgh Khan. A fierce battle was fought near Jalandhar in which Saldi, the leader of the Mongols, and his followers were defeated. About 20,000 Mongols were killed and about 2000 were taken prisoners and sent to Delhi. The most serious invasion of the Mongols “the fiery sons of the devil” occurred in 1299. This was the first time that the Mongols had launched a serious campaign to establish their rule over Delhi. Qutlugh Khawaja, at about 200,000 Mongols invaded India and passing through the Punjab appeared at the very gates of Delhi. The Mongols tried to cut off supplies which added to the sufferings of the inhabitants of Delhi. Ala-ud-Din was so alarmed that he decided to take the field himself. He deputed Zafar Khan on the right and Ulgh Khan on the left while he himself assisted by Nasart Khan held the centre. A fierce and bloody battle. Though Zafar Khan was killed in the battle, his attack deeply the Mongols who made a hasty retreat in the night, and fled [...]
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