Alauddin's forces had been besieging the fort for several past years, but had been unsuccessful in capturing it. In August–September 1308, Alauddin personally arrived from Delhi, and took charge of the operations at Siwana. The Delhi army breached the fort after a few months. Faced with a defeat, Sitala Deva, the ruler of the Siwana, tried to flee, but was captured and killed.
At the beginning of the 14th century, the present-day Rajasthan had several small principalities centered around hill forts. Most of these principalities had acknowledged Alauddin's suzerainty after his conquest of the powerful Ranthambore (1301) and Chittor (1303) kingdoms. However, the forts of Siwana and Jalore, located in the south-west end of Rajasthan, remained independent. Siwana, located near the Thar Desert, was controlled by a Paramara chief named Sitala Deva (also called "Satal Deo" or "Sital Dev" in medieval chronicles). A number of local chiefs acknowledged his suzerainty.[1]
According to the Delhi courtier Amir Khusrau's Dawal Rani, the Delhi army had been besieging the Siwana fort for 5–6 years without any success.[2] The legendary poem Kanhadade Prabandha claims that on one occasion, the Jalore Chahamana ruler Kanhadadeva sent an army in Sitala Deva's aid. The joint force defeated the Delhi army, killing the invading commanders Nahar Malik and Khandadhara Bhoja.[3]
Siege
In 1308, Alauddin decided to personally lead an expedition to Siwana.[2] He started his march from Delhi on 2 July 1308,[4] and took charge of the siege operations in Siwana in August–September 1308.[5] The Delhi army surrounded the fort from all sides, with Alauddin leading the contingent stationed on the eastern side of the fort. Malik Kamal al-Din 'Gurg' (or Kamaluddin) was in-charge of the siege engines (munjaniqs).[2]
The Delhi army tried to capture the fort using many methods, including a shower of arrows from the siege engines. For over three months, the defenders foiled their attempts, by throwing fire and stones at them.[4] Meanwhile, the invaders had been constructing a pasheb, an inclined mound reaching up to the fort battlements. Once the mound was completed, Alauddin's army scaled the fort walls, and defeated the defenders after a full day of battle.[2]
The Kanhadade Prabandha claims that Sitala Deva was betrayed by a man named Bhayala, with whose help Alauddin defiled the main water tank of Siwana with cows' blood. As the cows are sacred to Hindus, Siwana lost its main source of water. Facing a desperate situation, the women of the fort committed jauhar (mass self-immolation), while the men decided to fight to their deaths.[6]
Sital Deva tried to flee to Jalor, but the Delhi soldiers ambushed and killed him on 10 November 1308. His head was later presented to Alauddin. The contemporary writer Amir Khusrau states that he was a man of huge stature, and Alauddin was astonished on seeing his giant head.[4] The 16th-century historian Firishta incorrectly states that Sitala Deva ultimately surrendered by sending a golden statue of himself to Alauddin and asking for a pardon (which was granted). Firishta appears to have confused Sital Deva with the Kakatiya king Prataparudra.[4]
After the conquest, Siwana was renamed Khayrabad. It was assigned to Malik Kamal al-Din 'Gurg', who later led the army that captured Jalore.[5]
Banarsi Prasad Saksena (1992). "The Khaljis: Alauddin Khalji". In Mohammad Habib and Khaliq Ahmad Nizami (ed.). A Comprehensive History of India: The Delhi Sultanat (A.D. 1206-1526). Vol. 5 (Second ed.). The Indian History Congress / People's Publishing House. OCLC 31870180.
Dasharatha Sharma (1959). Early Chauhān Dynasties. S. Chand / Motilal Banarsidass. ISBN9780842606189. OCLC 3624414.
Kishori Saran Lal (1950). History of the Khaljis (1290-1320). Allahabad: The Indian Press. OCLC 685167335.
siege, siwana, 1308, delhi, sultanate, ruler, alauddin, khalji, captured, siwana, fort, located, present, rajasthan, india, siwana, fortdate1308locationsiwanaresultkhalji, victorybelligerentsparamaras, siwana, delhi, sultanatecommanders, leaderssitala, devaala. In 1308 the Delhi Sultanate ruler Alauddin Khalji captured the Siwana fort located in present day Rajasthan India Siege of SiwanaThe Siwana fortDate1308LocationSiwanaResultKhalji victoryBelligerentsParamaras of Siwana Delhi SultanateCommanders and leadersSitala DevaAlauddin KhaljiKamal al Din GurgDelhi and Siwana in present day India Alauddin s forces had been besieging the fort for several past years but had been unsuccessful in capturing it In August September 1308 Alauddin personally arrived from Delhi and took charge of the operations at Siwana The Delhi army breached the fort after a few months Faced with a defeat Sitala Deva the ruler of the Siwana tried to flee but was captured and killed Contents 1 Background 2 Siege 3 References 3 1 BibliographyBackground EditAt the beginning of the 14th century the present day Rajasthan had several small principalities centered around hill forts Most of these principalities had acknowledged Alauddin s suzerainty after his conquest of the powerful Ranthambore 1301 and Chittor 1303 kingdoms However the forts of Siwana and Jalore located in the south west end of Rajasthan remained independent Siwana located near the Thar Desert was controlled by a Paramara chief named Sitala Deva also called Satal Deo or Sital Dev in medieval chronicles A number of local chiefs acknowledged his suzerainty 1 According to the Delhi courtier Amir Khusrau s Dawal Rani the Delhi army had been besieging the Siwana fort for 5 6 years without any success 2 The legendary poem Kanhadade Prabandha claims that on one occasion the Jalore Chahamana ruler Kanhadadeva sent an army in Sitala Deva s aid The joint force defeated the Delhi army killing the invading commanders Nahar Malik and Khandadhara Bhoja 3 Siege EditIn 1308 Alauddin decided to personally lead an expedition to Siwana 2 He started his march from Delhi on 2 July 1308 4 and took charge of the siege operations in Siwana in August September 1308 5 The Delhi army surrounded the fort from all sides with Alauddin leading the contingent stationed on the eastern side of the fort Malik Kamal al Din Gurg or Kamaluddin was in charge of the siege engines munjaniqs 2 The Delhi army tried to capture the fort using many methods including a shower of arrows from the siege engines For over three months the defenders foiled their attempts by throwing fire and stones at them 4 Meanwhile the invaders had been constructing a pasheb an inclined mound reaching up to the fort battlements Once the mound was completed Alauddin s army scaled the fort walls and defeated the defenders after a full day of battle 2 The Kanhadade Prabandha claims that Sitala Deva was betrayed by a man named Bhayala with whose help Alauddin defiled the main water tank of Siwana with cows blood As the cows are sacred to Hindus Siwana lost its main source of water Facing a desperate situation the women of the fort committed jauhar mass self immolation while the men decided to fight to their deaths 6 Sital Deva tried to flee to Jalor but the Delhi soldiers ambushed and killed him on 10 November 1308 His head was later presented to Alauddin The contemporary writer Amir Khusrau states that he was a man of huge stature and Alauddin was astonished on seeing his giant head 4 The 16th century historian Firishta incorrectly states that Sitala Deva ultimately surrendered by sending a golden statue of himself to Alauddin and asking for a pardon which was granted Firishta appears to have confused Sital Deva with the Kakatiya king Prataparudra 4 After the conquest Siwana was renamed Khayrabad It was assigned to Malik Kamal al Din Gurg who later led the army that captured Jalore 5 References Edit Kishori Saran Lal 1950 p 134 a b c d Banarsi Prasad Saksena 1992 p 396 Dasharatha Sharma 1959 p 163 a b c d Kishori Saran Lal 1950 p 135 a b Peter Jackson 2003 p 198 Dasharatha Sharma 1959 p 164 Bibliography Edit Banarsi Prasad Saksena 1992 The Khaljis Alauddin Khalji In Mohammad Habib and Khaliq Ahmad Nizami ed A Comprehensive History of India The Delhi Sultanat A D 1206 1526 Vol 5 Second ed The Indian History Congress People s Publishing House OCLC 31870180 Dasharatha Sharma 1959 Early Chauhan Dynasties S Chand Motilal Banarsidass ISBN 9780842606189 OCLC 3624414 Kishori Saran Lal 1950 History of the Khaljis 1290 1320 Allahabad The Indian Press OCLC 685167335 Peter Jackson 2003 The Delhi Sultanate A Political and Military History Cambridge University Press ISBN 978 0 521 54329 3 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Siege of Siwana amp oldid 1102241253, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
