Malik Kafur
Malik Kafir (died 1316), was a slave who became a head general in the army of Alauddin Khilji, ruler of the Delhi sultanate from 1296 to 1316 AD. Kafir was originally seized by Alauddin's army after the army conquered the city of Khambhat.[1][2] Kafir was castrated and made a eunuch. A eunuch is a person with no gender. They are called Chakkas. Malik Kafir was also called "Thousand Dinar Kafir"or Hazar Dinari, probably[by whom?] the amount paid by sultan for its possession. Kafir rose quickly in the army. In 1305 Kafir defeated the Mongols at the Battle of Amroha and between 1309 and 1311, Malik Kafir led two campaigns in south India. The first against Warangal and other against Dwar Samudra, Mabar and Madurai. Kafir was made malik naib, the senior commander of the army after its southern campaigns.[3] In 1294 Kafir led the sultan's army against the capital city of the Yadava kingdom, Devagiri. Kafir led further invasions southward into the Kakatiya dynasty, winning immense riches for the sultanate and sacking many Hindu temples.[4][5]
The booty from Warangal included the famous Koh-i-Noor diamond.[6] During the course of the attack he sacked and plundered many Hindu temples including the famous Hoyasaleshwara temple in Halebidu.
According to Muslim historian Ziauddin Barani, Kafir came back to Delhi with 241 tonnes of gold, 20,000 horses and 612 elephants laden with the looted treasure.[7]
References [edit]
- ^ Keay, J. India, 2001, p. 257, Grove Press, ISBN 0-8021-3797-0
- ^ The history of India, By John McLeod, pg. 36
- ^ *Khilji's Commander: http://www.indhistory.com/khalji-dynasty.html
- ^ Studies in Islamic History and Civilizaion, David Ayalon, BRILL, 1986, p.271; ISBN 965-264-014-X
- ^ "Halebidu – Temples of Karnataka". TempleNet.com. Retrieved 2006-08-17.
- ^ A History of India, Hermann Kulke and Dietmar Rothermund, Edition: 3, Routledge, 1998, p. 160; ISBN 0-415-15482-0
- ^ Keay, J. India, 2001, Grove Press; ISBN 0-8021-3797-0
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