Background
India’s North-West border was
attacked by the Mongols many times from the past years. They had already
suffered two defeats against armies serving the Sultan 'Ala ud-Din, at
Jalandhar in 1298 and Kili in 1299. Sultan Alauddin Khalji, had
been working on fortification of his northern borders in an effort to
strengthen his defenses. He had fortified his forts that lied along the borders
and equipped with larger garrisons. Khalji had heavily armed the forts and
trained the army specializing to handle the attacks, under the command of an special
governor, whose mission was managing and
guarding the border areas. Despite such massive preparations, the Mongols lead
by Ali Beg and Tartaq arrived from Punjab and marched towards Amroha in 1305. The
Mongols had traveled advancing south-east, following the Himalayas and
plundering all in their way until they reached Amroha.
'Ala ud-din responded immediately
by sending an army commanded by Malik Kafur Hazardinarai (one of his personal
slaves) and Malik Ghiyas-ud-Din Tughlug (a future sultan) to engage the
invaders (Mangols).
Battle
The Delhi force surprised the
Mongols, who were on their way back to Central Asia with their plunder and
inflicted a heavy defeat on them. The Mongol generals, Ali Beg and Tartaq, were
captured along with 8,000 of their men, brought back to Siri Fort in Delhi.
After the Battle:
According to Agha Hussain
Hamadani both Ali Beg and Tartaq were trampled to death by elephants along with
8,000 Mongol prisoners.
The Mongols responded by
sending another army into the Sultanate, to gain revenge for the death of Ali
Beg and Tartaq, but at the battle of Ravi Mangol again army suffered defeat.
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