Re-conquest of Devagiri by Alauddin Khalji in 1308
Devagiri, the land ruled by the Yadavas, was one of the most prosperous kingdoms of India. Devagiri was previously attacked by Alauddin Khalji, when he was not the sultan, and was forced to pay tribute. The Yadava King Ramchandra had agreed to pay the annual tribute to Alauddin after Alauddin's 1296 raid on Devagiri.
However, during early 14th century, the tribute was stopped. During this time Alauddin had captured about the entirety of North India making the Delhi Sultanate indestructible and now was focused on the Deccan conquest. This aspiration of Alauddin Khalji was accomplished by one of his most able slave generals, Malik Kafur, who, proving his loyalty, brought the entire Deccan region to the knees of Alauddin. This was done through various wars and conquests whose footsteps were then taken by the conquest of Devagiri, making it the vassal of the Delhi Sultanate again.
Causes of the invasion
The tribute that was promised by King Ramchandra was stopped in the initial years of the 14th century as Alauddin was noticed to be engaged in other conquests. Due to this Alauddin sent the forces led by Malik Kafur to invade Devagiri. As Per the historical sources, the decision to not send tributes was not of the king but of his son and associates. Ramchandra is said to be loyal to the Sultan and even to have requested the Sultan to punish his son, leading to Malik Kafur’s invasion. It is believed that Alauddin had even ordered the army not to harm the king and his family during the invasion.
Another important reason for the invasion was the grant of asylum that was provided to the Vaghela king Karna, who was a rival of Alauddin and was displaced by him in the Gujarat Conquest of 1304. Karna was granted the territory of Baglana by king Ramchandra. Further, the daughter of Vaghela King Karna, Devaladevi is also sometimes considered the reason for the attack on Devagiri.
The Vaghela queen Kamaladevi was captured and married to Alauddin in Delhi. According to some sources, it was she who demanded Alauddin to bring her daughter Devaladevi to Delhi. Develadevi later married Alauddin Khalji’s son Khizr Khan.
So, the army was divided into two sections with one section specifically dedicated to the territory of Balgana, for capturing Karna and his daughter Devaladevi. This section was led by Alp Khan, the brother-in-law of Alauddin. The other section, that was led by Malik Kafur, principally focused on the invasion of Devagiri.
Attack on Devagiri
At first, Alauddin thought of Malik Shahin, the former governor of Chittor for the attack on Devagiri. However, due to the earlier actions of Malik Shahin of fleeing away from Chittor due to fear of Vaghela attacks, Alauddin was forced to choose another general – Malik Kafur who could efficiently lead the invasion.
All important and special provisions were made by Alauddin so that all the orders of Malik Kafur were obeyed on the battlefield by the officers. He was even granted the royal canopy and officers were instructed to pay respect to Malik Kafur daily. Some of the important officers to accompany Malik Kafur on the conquest were Sirajuddin Khwaja Haji (the minister of war), the Malwa governor Ainul Mulk Multani, and the Gujarat governor Alp Khan.
The army of about 30,000 men strong cavalry gathered around Delhi and started their march towards Devagiri. After crossing Malwa, Alp Khan was sent to Balgana while Malik Kafur proceeded to Devagiri.
Alp Khan in Balgana
Previously, Simhana, the son of king Ramchandra of Devagiri had offered to marry Devaladevi, Karna’s daughter, but the proposal was rejected. When Alp Khan invaded Balgana, Karna agreed to marry his daughter to Simhana. Devaladevi was sent to Devagiri with a few soldiers under the supervision of Simhana's brother Bhillama.
Soon after this departure, Karna was attacked by Alp Khan and defeated. Karna once again fled to Devagiri, but this time was not granted refuge and had to flee from Devagiri too. In the end, he got refuge in the kingdom of Kakatiyas in Warangal (which was also invaded by Malik Kafur a year later). On the other side, Bhillama's small force was seized by a part of Alp Khan's army. Devaladevi was captured by Dilawar Panchami, an officer of Alp Khan, and taken to Alp Khan who sent her to Delhi.
Malik Kafur’s invasion
Malik Kafur faced a weak resistance in Devagiri and achieved an easy victory. Devagiri was plundered once again. The army led by King Ramchandra had surrendered and the king, leaving Simhana in Devagiri, came to meet Malik Kafur.
Malik Kafur took king Ramchandra and his family to Delhi where the Sultan welcomed the king warm-heartedly and with honour. He also gave the king the title of Rai Rayan along with the principality of Navsari in Gujarat. Alauddin Khalji also scolded Malik Kafur for misbehaving with the King, putting the point that the king voluntarily surrendered to the Sultan.
Further, the daughter of King Ramchandra – Jhatyapali was married to Alauddin. King Ramchandra stayed in Delhi for six months and then moved back to Devagiri. He ruled as a vassal of the Delhi Sultanate till the time he was alive. He also helped the Delhi army during the campaigns of Warangal and Dwarasamudra.
1313 invasion
In 1313, another attack was led by Malik Kafur to Devagiri, against the successor of King Ramchandra Simhana III. He was defeated and killed for rebelling against Sultan Alauddin Khalji and Devagiri was annexed. Malik Kafur remained the Governor of Devagiri for two years after which he was urgently called to Delhi due to the deteriorating health of Alauddin Khalji. After his recall Ayn al-Mulk Multani acted as the governor of Devagiri.
1317 invasion
This was the invasion led by the son of Alauddin khalji, Qutbuddin Mubarak Shah. After Malik Kafur left Devagiri, Ayn al-Mulk Multani acted as the governor of Devagiri but later he too was called to crush the rebellion in Gujarat.
Seeing this as an opportunity, the Yadavas captured Devagiri and declared independence. This expedition was led by Harapaladeva (or Hirpal), son-in-law of the former Yadava king Ramachandra. In April 1317, Qutbuddin Mubarak Shah marched to Devagiri with a large army and when the army reached Devagiri, all the local chiefs accepted the suzerainty of the Delhi Sultanate.
Harapaladeva fled to the hilly region near Devagiri. Khusrau Khan and Malik Qutlugh were sent to find him. Upon being found Harapaladeva was presented before Mubarak Shah, who ordered his execution. The body of Harapaladeva was hung at the gates of Devagiri. Malik Yaklakhi, who had served as Alauddin's Naib-i-Barid-i-Mumalik, was appointed as the governor of Devagiri.
Devagiri, due to its wealth, was always seen as a point of attraction by the rulers of the Delhi Sultanate and its importance can be seen in its several conquests.
