Malik Kafur
Malik Kafur, General (AD 1296–1316), or Chand Ram as he was originally known, was a slave who became a head general in the army of Alauddin Khilji, ruler of the Delhi sultanate from 1296 to 1316 AD. He was originally seized by Alauddin's army after the army conquered the city of Khambhat.[1] [2] Kafur was also called "Thousand Dinar Kafur"or Hazar Dinari, probably[by whom?] the amount paid by sultan for his possession. Kafur rose quickly in the army. Between 1309 and 1311, Malik Kafur led two campaigns in south India. The first against Warangal and other against Dwar Samudra, Mabar and Madurai. He was made malik naib, the senior commander of the army after his southern campaigns.[3] In 1294 he led the sultan's army against the capital city of the Yadava kingdom, Devagiri. He 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, Kafur came back to Delhi with 241 tonnes of gold, 20,000 horses and 612 elephants laden with the looted treasure.[7]
[edit] References
- ^ Keay, J. India, 2001, p. 257, Grove Press, ISBN 0802137970
- ^ 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 965264014X
- ^ "Halebidu – Temples of Karnataka". TempleNet.com. http://www.templenet.com/Karnataka/halebidu.html. Retrieved 2006-08-17.
- ^ A History of India, Hermann Kulke and Dietmar Rothermund, Edition: 3, Routledge, 1998, p. 160; ISBN 0415154820
- ^ Keay, J. India, 2001, Grove Press; ISBN 0802137970
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