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{{Short description|1310 siege in India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2018}}
{{Other uses|Siege of Warangal (disambiguation){{!}}Siege of Warangal}}
{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict = Siege of Warangal (1310)
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| date = {{start and end dates|1310|1|19|1310|2|16|df=yes}} {{nwr|({{Age in years, months, weeks and days|month1=01|day1=19|year1=1310|month2=2|day2=16|year2=1310}})}}
| place = [[Warangal]]
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| result = Stalemate<br>•Both parties agreed to a truce.
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| combatant1 = [[Kakatiya dynasty]]
| combatant2 = [[File:Sultan of Delhi Flag according to the Catalan Atlas (1375).png|23px]] [[Delhi Sultanate]]
| combatant3 =
| commander1 = [[Prataparudra]]{{surrendered}}
| commander2 = [[File:Sultan of Delhi Flag according to the Catalan Atlas (1375).png|23px]] [[Malik Kafur]]
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In late 1309, the [[Delhi Sultanate]] ruler [[Alauddin Khalji]] sent his general [[Malik Kafur]] on an expedition to the [[Kakatiya]] capital [[Warangal]]. Malik Kafur reached Warangal in January 1310, after conquering a fort on the Kakatiya frontier and ransacking their territory. After a month-long siege, the [[Kakatiya]] ruler [[Prataparudra]] decided to negotiate a truce, and surrendered a huge amount of wealth to the Delhi Sultanate, besides promising to send annual [[tribute]]s to [[Delhi]].

== Background ==

In the early 13th century, the [[Deccan]] region of southern India was an immensely wealthy area, having been shielded from the foreign armies that had ransacked northern India.{{sfn|Kishori Saran Lal|1950|p=186}} The [[Kakatiya dynasty]] ruled the eastern part of the Deccan, with their capital at [[Warangal]]. In 1296, before Alauddin ascended the throne of Delhi, he had [[Alauddin Khalji's raid on Devagiri|raided Devagiri]], the capital of the Kakatiyas' neighbours the [[Yadavas of Devagiri|Yadavas]]. The immense plunder obtained from Devagiri prompted him to plan an invasion of Warangal. After his [[Alauddin Khalji's conquest of Ranthambore|conquest of Ranthambore]] in 1301, Alauddin had ordered his general [[Ulugh Khan]] to prepare for a march to Warangal, but Ulugh Khan's untimely death put an end to this plan.{{sfn|Banarsi Prasad Saksena|1992|p=366}}

=== 1302-1303 expedition ===

In late 1302 or early 1303, Alauddin himself [[Siege of Chittorgarh (1303)|marched to Chittor]], and dispatched another army to Warangal. The army headed to Warangal was led by Malik Juna (or Jauna) and Malik Chajju (or Jhujhu). Malik Juna (Senior) was the son of [[Ghiyath al-Din Tughluq|Ghazi Malik]], and held the office of ''dadbek-i-hazrat''. Malik Chajju was a nephew of Alauddin's late general [[Nusrat Khan Jalesari|Nusrat Khan]], and the governor of [[Kara, Uttar Pradesh|Kara]].{{sfn|Banarsi Prasad Saksena|1992|p=366}}{{sfn|Kishori Saran Lal|1950|p=93}}

This Warangal campaign of 1302-1303 ended in disaster, as attested by multiple medieval chroniclers. By the time this army returned close to Delhi in the winter of 1303, it had suffered severe losses in terms of men and baggage,{{sfn|Banarsi Prasad Saksena|1992|p=366}} and was unable to enter Delhi to help Alauddin fight against the Mongols, who had [[Mongol invasion of India, 1303|besieged Delhi]].{{sfn|Banarsi Prasad Saksena|1992|p=369}}

According to the 14th century chronicler [[Ziauddin Barani]], this Delhi army had managed to reach Warangal, but decided to return because the rainy season had started.{{sfn|Kishori Saran Lal|1950|p=97}} The 16th century chronicler [[Firishta]] states that this army was ordered to reach Warangal via [[Bengal]], even though a shorter route passed through central India. Historian [[Banarsi Prasad Saksena]] suggests that this decision might have been taken because Alauddin had not yet conquered the [[Malwa]] region in central India.{{sfn|Banarsi Prasad Saksena|1992|p=366}} However, historian [[Kishori Saran Lal]] theorizes that Alauddin wanted to conquer Bengal, which had been a part of the [[Delhi Sultanate]] under the [[Mamluk dynasty (Delhi)|Mamluk dynasty]], but had since become independent.{{sfn|Kishori Saran Lal|1950|p=95}} Firishta simply states the Delhi army returned "confused and shattered without accomplishing anything": his writings do not clarify whether the army reached Warangal or not.{{sfn|Kishori Saran Lal|1950|p=96}} Lal speculates that the Delhi army met with a humiliating defeat in Bengal,{{sfn|Kishori Saran Lal|1950|p=93}} which was ruled by [[Shamsuddin Firoz Shah|Shamsuddin Firoz]].{{sfn|Kishori Saran Lal|1950|p=97}} He theorizes that an embarrassed Alauddin decided to keep this failure a secret, which explains Barani's narrative.{{sfn|Kishori Saran Lal|1950|p=97}} On the other hand, [[P. V. Parabrahma Sastry|P. V. P. Sastry]] believes that a Kakatiya army repulsed the invaders at [[Upparapalle|Upparapalli]], based on ''Velugoṭivāri-Vamṣavāli'', which states that two Kakatiya commanders destroyed the pride of the [[Turkic peoples|Turushka]]s (Turkic people).{{sfn|P. V. P. Sastry|1978|p=132}}

== Malik Kafur's march to Warangal ==

In 1308, Malik Kafur had defeated the [[Yadavas of Devagiri|Yadavas]], the neighbours of the Kakatiyas, and the Yadava king [[Ramachandra of Devagiri|Ramachandra]] had become a [[vassal]] of Alauddin.{{sfn|Kishori Saran Lal|1950|pp=192-193}} According to the Delhi courtier [[Amir Khusrau]], Alauddin ordered Malik Kafur to invade the Kakatiya kingdom on 31 October 1309.{{sfn|Kishori Saran Lal|1950|p=194}}

As the Kakatiya territory was unfamiliar to the Delhi forces, Alauddin recommended lenient treatment of the troops, so as to avoid any resentment or revolt. He instructed Malik Kafur to cooperate closely with the officers such as Malik Sirajuddin and Ariz-i-Mumalik.{{sfn|Kishori Saran Lal|1950|p=194}} He asked Kafur to respect the other commanders in the Delhi forces, but also cautioned him not to become too gentle which would make them disobedient. He advised Kafur not to remain in Kakatiya territory for long, and to accept a tribute from Prataparudra instead of bringing him to Delhi as a prisoner.{{sfn|Banarsi Prasad Saksena|1992|p=366}}

Alauddin made arrangements for rapid communication of news about the expedition by establishing ''thana''s (posts) all along the route from [[Tilpat]] near Delhi to the army's current position. At every post and town along the route, fast-running horses and news-writers were stationed. Along the roads, foot-runners were stationed at regular distances to carry messages.{{sfn|Banarsi Prasad Saksena|1992|p=404}} This arrangement ensured that Alauddin was updated about the army's situation every alternate 2–3 days. It also ensured that the army was immune from any false rumors about the happenings in Delhi.{{sfn|Banarsi Prasad Saksena|1992|p=405}}

Malik Kafur started his march from Delhi to Warangal with a huge army. He first visited his own fief of [[Rewari]], and then continued his journey southwards.{{sfn|Kishori Saran Lal|1950|p=195}} Nine days after starting its march, the army encamped at a place, whose modern identity is unknown. This place was either called [[Masudpur]], or known after Masud, a son of [[Iltutmish]]. The army resumed its march on 13 November 1309, passing through a difficult terrain.{{sfn|Banarsi Prasad Saksena|1992|p=405}} Over the next 6 days, the army crossed five rivers at [[ford (crossing)|fords]]: Jun (identified as a small tributary of [[Yamuna River|Yamuna]]); [[Chambal River|Chambal]]; Binas (identified with [[Banas River|Banas]], [[Kali Sindh River|Kali Sindh]] or its tributary Niwaj); [[Kwari River|Kwari]]; and Bhoji (identified with [[Betwa River|Betwa]] or [[Pahuj River|Pahuj]]).{{sfn|Banarsi Prasad Saksena|1992|p=405}}{{sfn|Kishori Saran Lal|1950|p=195}}

According to Amir Khusrau, Malik Kafur halted at a place called Sultanpur (also known as Irajpur) for four days. The modern identity of this place is not certain. Barani mentions that several [[emir|amirs]] met Kafur at [[Chanderi]], but Amir Khusrau does not mention Chanderi at all. Therefore, historian [[Banarsi Prasad Saksena]] suggests that Irajpur might be Irich near [[Chanderi]].{{sfn|Banarsi Prasad Saksena|1992|p=406}}

Kafur resumed his march on 25 November 1309, marching on a stony road. On 5 December 1309, he reached Khandar, whose modern identity is also uncertain. Here, he halted for 14 days to conduct a thorough review of the army. After resuming its march, the army crossed the [[Narmada River]]. Eight days later, the army reached Nilkanth, a place located within the frontier region of the Yadava kingdom. As the Yadava king was now a vassal of Alauddin, the army was instructed not to ransack the area. During the two-day halt at Nilkanth, Kafur made inquiries about the road ahead. He resumed his march on 30 December 1309.{{sfn|Banarsi Prasad Saksena|1992|p=406}}

In Devagiri, Ramachandra provided the necessary support to the Delhi army. On the route connecting Devagiri to Warangal, he established markets, where Malik Kafur's soldiers could buy things at the rates fixed by Alauddin. He also reinforced the Delhi army with his own troops, and even escorted Malik Kafur for some distance.{{sfn|Kishori Saran Lal|1950|p=195}}

According to Khusrau, before entering the Kakatiya territory, the Delhi army halted at Bavagarh (misread as "Basiragarh" or "Bijainagar" by some translators). This place was located in a [[doab]] between the rivers Basihar (also Yashr or Bihar) and Baragi (or Buji), close to a [[diamond mine]]. It has been identified with modern Wairagarh in [[Gadchiroli district]]; the names of the rivers in Khusrau's writings appear to be corrupt: at least one of them must be [[Wainganga River|Wainganga]] or one of its tributaries.{{sfn|Banarsi Prasad Saksena|1992|p=406}}{{sfn|Kishori Saran Lal|1950|p=196}}

== Fall of Sabar ==

After entering the Kakatiya territory, Malik Kafur started ransacking the towns and villages on his way to Warangal.{{sfn|Kishori Saran Lal|1950|p=197}}

The same day Malik Kafur reached Bavagarh, he led a cavalry unit to besiege Sabar, a fort located within the Kakatiya frontier region.{{sfn|Banarsi Prasad Saksena|1992|p=407}} Historian Kishori Saran Lal identifies Sabar with modern [[Sirpur (T)|Sirpur]].{{sfn|Kishori Saran Lal|1950|p=196}} Khusrau's account suggests that this was a surprise attack for the defenders: faced with a certain defeat, some of them committed suicide with their wives and children in a ''[[jauhar]]'' fire. Some others, probably including the fort's commander, were killed after Kafur's soldiers entered the fort. The surviving defenders were ready to fight to death, but then a truce was negotiated because of intervention by Khwaja Haji. Ananir (or Ananur), a brother of the fort's commander, was found hiding in a field.{{sfn|Banarsi Prasad Saksena|1992|p=407}} He surrendered to the invaders, and was appointed as the fort's new governor by Malik Kafur.{{sfn|Kishori Saran Lal|1950|p=197}} Some of the refugees from Sabar fled to Warangal.{{sfn|Banarsi Prasad Saksena|1992|p=407}}

The various Kakatiya feudatories marched to Warangal, instead of intercepting the Delhi army on the route leading to Warangal. This made Malik Kafur's job easier, as he had to now besiege just one fort: that of Warangal.{{sfn|Banarsi Prasad Saksena|1992|p=407}}

== Warangal besieged ==
[[File:Warangal IMG 4250.JPG|thumb|Ruins of the Warangal fort]]

The Delhi army left Sabar on 14 January 1310, and on 18 January, it reached a place which Amir Khusrau calls "Kunarbal". While the invaders pitched their camp, Kafur dispatched a 1000-strong cavalry unit for [[reconnaissance]]. This unit captured [[Hanamkonda]] ("Anam Konda" in Khusrau's writings), where Warangal town was clearly visible from.{{sfn|Kishori Saran Lal|1950|p=198}}{{sfn|Banarsi Prasad Saksena|1992|p=407}} The unit encountered three Hindu horsemen, killed one of them, and sent his body to Malik Kafur.{{sfn|Banarsi Prasad Saksena|1992|p=407}}

Malik Kafur examined the Warangal fort twice, before besieging it.{{sfn|Kishori Saran Lal|1950|p=197}} The fortification at Warangal comprised an inner stone fort surrounded by a ditch, and an outer mud fort surrounded by a [[moat]].{{sfn|Kishori Saran Lal|1950|p=198}} The Kakatiya king Prataparudra lived in the inner stone fort.{{sfn|Banarsi Prasad Saksena|1992|p=408}}

On 19 January 1310, Malik Kafur pitched his tent on the Hanamkonda hill. The Delhi commander Nasir-ul-mulk Siraj-ud-daula Khwaja Haji assigned his soldiers in such a way that the Warangal fort was completely surrounded. Every [[tumen (unit)|tuman]] (unit of 10,000 soldiers) was assigned a piece of land around the fort, and a strong wooden wall was constructed around the tents to secure them against attacks from the countryside.{{sfn|Banarsi Prasad Saksena|1992|p=408}}

The Kakatiyas also assigned commanders to guard each tower (''kangura'') of the fort.{{sfn|Kishori Saran Lal|1950|p=197}} According to the 16th century Telugu chronicle ''Pratapa-Charita'', the outer fort had 70 [[bastion]]s, each of which was defended by a ''nayaka'' (commander).{{sfn|P. V. P. Sastry|1978|p=132}} The defenders threw stones and bricks at the attackers.{{sfn|Kishori Saran Lal|1950|p=197}} One night, the Kakatiya governor Vinayaka Deva (also called Banik Deo or Manik-deva) led a [[sortie]] with a 1000-strong cavalry. Both the sides lost several soldiers in this conflict, but ultimately, the Kakatiyas were forced to abort their attack.{{sfn|Kishori Saran Lal|1950|p=198}}{{sfn|Banarsi Prasad Saksena|1992|p=408}}

During Vinayaka Deva's sortie, the invaders captured some of the defenders, who revealed that three elephants had been stationed at Dhamdum, a town near Warangal. The Delhi commander Malik Qara Beg Maisara was dispatched to seize these elephants. Although they were moved to another place, Qara Beg succeeded in capturing them.{{sfn|Banarsi Prasad Saksena|1992|p=408}}

Malik Kafur ordered that stone balls be gathered for the stone-throwing machines (''manjaniq maghribi'') that were positioned all around the encircled fort, so presumably the defenders also had stone catapults and threw stone balls at Kafur's army.<ref>{{cite book|author1=Konstantin S Nossov|title=Indian Castles 1206–1526: The Rise and Fall of the Delhi Sultanate|date=2012|publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing|isbn=978-1780969855|page=44}}</ref> The invaders filled the outer moat at one place with mud, stones and other objects.{{sfn|Kishori Saran Lal|1950|p=198}} They then advanced to the outer mud wall: on one side of the fort, the invaders broke the wall with blows of hard stones; on the other side, they breached several doors with the help of ''munjaniq'' [[siege engine]]s. During the night of 13 February, Malik Kafur had his soldiers build tall ladders to scale the ramparts for a decisive assault.{{sfn|Banarsi Prasad Saksena|1992|p=408}} The next morning, the invaders launched a determined assault on the outer fort, and captured it by 16 February.{{sfn|Banarsi Prasad Saksena|1992|p=409}}

The invaders now needed to cross the inner ditch, and breach the inner stone fort. However, this was a very challenging task: According to Khusrau, the walls of the inner fort were "so smooth that an ant could not climb them". The fort was so well-constructed that it was impossible to breach it using ''munjaniq'' siege engines or [[pick-axe]]s.{{sfn|Banarsi Prasad Saksena|1992|p=409}}

== Prataparudra's surrender ==

By this time, the people inside the Warangal fort were facing a dire situation because of the prolonged siege.{{sfn|Kishori Saran Lal|1950|p=199}} As the invaders were thinking how to breach the inner fort, the Kakatiya ruler Prataparudra decided to surrender.{{sfn|Banarsi Prasad Saksena|1992|p=409}} According to Barani's account, once Alauddin did not receive any updates on the siege for over a month (presumably because the communication arrangements made by him had been disrupted by the enemy activities). He sent his emissary Qazi Mughisuddin of [[Bayana]] to the reputed Muslim saint Shaikh [[Nizamuddin Auliya|Nizamuddin Aulia]], requesting the saint to prophesize the outcome of the siege. The saint prophesied Alauddin's victory in Warangal and in other future campaigns. On the same day, Alauddin received news about his army's victory in Warangal.{{sfn|Kishori Saran Lal|1950|p=199}}

The Muslim chroniclers state that Prataparudra sent Malik Kafur a golden statue of himself with a chain round its neck to symbolize his unconditional surrender.{{sfn|Banarsi Prasad Saksena|1992|p=409}} He offered the invaders a substantial amount of wealth including precious stones, elephants and horses. Malik Kafur, following Alauddin's instructions, asked him to surrender ''all'' his wealth, and threatened to massacre the city's population if he was found withholding any wealth. Prataparudra agreed to these terms. According to Barani, the wealth surrendered by him to Malik Kafur included 100 elephants, 7000 horses, and many precious articles.{{sfn|Kishori Saran Lal|1950|p=199}} Amir Khan states that the total wealth surrendered by Prataparudra was "more than the minds of the wise could apprehend". He also jokingly prayed to God to keep Prataparudra alive till the day of the [[Last Judgment]], because the Kakatiya ruler promised to pay a huge annual tribute to the Delhi Sultanate. Khusrau quotes a messenger of Prataparudra as saying that one of the surrendered precious stones was "unrivaled in the world": the wise philosophers refused to believe that such a substance could even exist. The 18th century chronicler [[Khafi Khan]] identified this precious stone as the famous [[Koh-i-Noor]] diamond.{{sfn|Banarsi Prasad Saksena|1992|p=410}}

The invading army was not able to breach the inner fort of Warangal, and Prataparudra did not personally submit to Malik Kafur: only his envoys met the invaders to negotiate the truce. The 14th century chronicler [[Isami (historian)|Isami]] states that Malik Kafur also gifted Prataparudra a "robe of honour embroidered with jewels" after the peace treaty.{{sfn|Kishori Saran Lal|1950|p=200}}

== Aftermath ==

Malik Kafur started his return journey to Delhi on 20 March 1310, after conducting a review of his army. He reached Delhi on 9 June,{{sfn|Banarsi Prasad Saksena|1992|p=410}} via [[Devagiri]], [[Dhar]] and [[Jhain]].{{sfn|Kishori Saran Lal|1950|p=200}}

On 23 June 1310, Malik Kafur formally presented the loot from Warangal to Sultan Alauddin in a ''[[durbar (court)|darbar]]'' organized at Chabutra-i Nasiri near the [[Gates of Delhi|Badaun Gate]].{{sfn|Kishori Saran Lal|1950|p=200}} The loot was carried on a thousand camels, and arrangements were made for the public to see the treasure.{{sfn|Banarsi Prasad Saksena|1992|p=410}} Alauddin was very pleased with Kafur, and rewarded him generously.{{sfn|Kishori Saran Lal|1950|p=200}}

In 1310, Prataparudra contributed the majority of the troops for Alauddin's [[Malik Kafur's invasion of the Pandya kingdom|campaigns]] against the [[Pandyas]], his southern neighbours. Subsequently, he appears to have stopped paying tribute to the Delhi Sultanate.{{sfn|Cynthia Talbot|2001|p=135}} This resulted in another Delhi Sultanate expedition against him after Alauddin's death. In this [[Siege of Warangal (1318)|1318 expedition]], [[Khusrau Khan]] extracted tribute from him. After the fall of the Khalji dynasty, Prataparudra was decisively defeated by an [[Siege of Warangal (1323)|expedition]] sent in 1323 by the Delhi Sultanate's new ruler [[Ghiyath al-Din Tughluq]]. He was captured, and according to most accounts, died while being taken to Delhi.{{sfn|Cynthia Talbot|2001|p=176}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

=== Bibliography ===

{{ref begin}}
* {{cite book |author=Banarsi Prasad Saksena |author-link=Banarsi Prasad Saksena |editor-last2=Nizami |editor-first2=Khaliq Ahmad |editor-link2=K. A. Nizami |chapter=The Khaljis: Alauddin Khalji |editor=Mohammad Habib |editor-link=Mohammad Habib |title=A Comprehensive History of India: The Delhi Sultanat (A.D. 1206-1526) |volume=5 |edition=Second |year=1992 |publisher=The [[Indian History Congress]] / People's Publishing House |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_9cmAQAAMAAJ |oclc=31870180}}
* {{cite book |author=Cynthia Talbot |title=Precolonial India in Practice: Society, Region, and Identity in Medieval Andhra |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HSfoCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA135 |year=2001 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-513661-6}}
* {{cite book |author=Kishori Saran Lal |author-link=K. S. Lal |title=History of the Khaljis (1290-1320) |year=1950 |publisher=The Indian Press |location=Allahabad |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2XXqAQAACAAJ |oclc=685167335}}
* {{cite book |author=P. V. P. Sastry |author-link=P. V. Parabrahma Sastry |editor=N. Ramesan |title=The Kākatiyas of Warangal |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FiRuAAAAMAAJ |year=1978 |publisher=Government of Andhra Pradesh |location=Hyderabad |oclc=252341228}}
{{ref end}}

{{Alauddin Khalji}}

[[Category:Alauddin Khalji]]
[[Category:Battles involving the Delhi Sultanate|Warangal]]
[[Category:Kakatiya kingdom]]
[[Category:Conflicts in 1310|Warangal]]
[[Category:Battles involving the Kakatiya dynasty]]

Siege of Warangal (1310) - Revision history

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