Sunday, February 22, 2009

Delhi Sultanate, Khiljis: Billon 6 Gani of Nasir Al-Din Khusru (April 15, 1320 to September 5, 1320; AH 720) (Ref. R1055, D295, Rare)

Khusru had realised that it would not be possible for him to capture the throne without an army of his own. He asked Sultan Mubarak for permission to raise an army of 40,000 horsemen, consisting mostly of the Bharvars (Shepherd caste) of Gujarat, a tribe to which Khusru himself belonged. Unaware of his motives, the Sultan agreed. Next, Khusru requested that his relations and friends should be allowed to enter the palace if they had any urgent work with him. This request, too, was granted. Khusru now had his assasination plan ready. Sultan Mubarak was warned of Khusrus's intentions by his former tutor, but paid no heed to the warning.

On the night of April 14, 1320 AD, Khusru's troops entered the palace and murdered the royal guards. The noise reached the upper quarters and the Sultan enquired Khusru about it. Khusru replied that the men were trying to catch some horses that had broken loose. As he spoke these words, his men reached Mubarak's room. The sultan tried to run away but Khusru siezed him by the hair and Jaharia, one of Khusru's followers, stabbed him to death. His head was severed and thrown down into the courtyard.

Immediately after the murder, Khusru summoned the chief nobles of the court and, with their consent, ascended the throne under the title of Nasir Al-Din Khusru Shah on April 15, 1320. He proceeded to win over most nobles and officers by a lavish distribution of honors and awards. However, his rule did not last long. Ghazi Malik, the warden of the Marches, instigated the lower officers against the new king and formented a rebellion. As Ghazi Malik approached Delhi, Khusru came out to meet the rebels near Indraprastha. Despite his supporter Ain Al-Mulk withdrawing with his troops to Malwa, Khusru fought boldly on September 5, 1320, but was defeated and killed on the same day.

Obverse Al Sultan Al Azim Nasir Al-Dunya Wa Al-Deen (The Sultan, the greatest one, Defender of the World and of Faith)
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Reverse Abu Al Muzaffar Khusrow Shah 720 (Father of the Conqueror [i.e., the supreme conqueror] Khusrow Shah, 720 AH [1320 AD])
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