Muhammad Shah

On Mubarak Shah’s death, his brother’s son Muhammad Khan ascended the throne under the title Sultan Muhammad Shah. For about six months all powers of the state were usurped by Sarvar-ul-Mulk who had become Khan-i-Jaha by persuading the Sultan to appoint him to that post, he appropriated the treasures, stores and elephants of the state which he kept in his own possession. He then filled all the high offices of the state with his own nominees and assigned important fiefs like those of Bayana, Amroha, Narnaul, Siddhipala assassination of Mubarak Shah. One of the nobles Kamal-ul-Mulk who was loyal to the house of Khizir Khan feigned loyalty to Sarvar and was appointed commander of the royal forces and sent to suppress the revolt at Bayan; Kamal-ul-Mulk proceeded quietly and after reaching Ahar enlisted the support of rebel amirs (1434). The united force then marched towards Delhi to punish the regicides. Sarvar finding himself outwitted made an attempt on the life of the new Sultan Mahmud Shah but was immediately killed by the body guards of the sultan. All the companions of Sarvar met with the same fate. The liberating army which kept the city under a siege for three months was welcomed into Delhi and all the nobles renewed their allegiance to Muhammad Shah. Kamal-ul-Mulk was appointed the prime minister. Freed from the tutelage of Sarvar Muhammad Shah now became a Sultan both in name and fact. As the nobles were now united supporting him he had an excellent opportunity to reorganize the affairs of the state but unfortunately Muhammad Shah preferred enjoyment of pleasures to kingly duties. The result was that rebellions and disorders broke out everywhere, and when the situation went from bad to worse Jalal Khan a Mewati leader, his companions and the elites of Delhi sent invitation to Sultan Mahmud Khalji of Malwa to come to Delhi. As the Sultan Mahmud Khalji encamped near Delhi at a place called Tilpat, Muhammad Shah finding the situation beyond him called Buhlul Lodi, the chief of Sirhind to come to his assistance. Buhlul Lodi came with 20,000 mounted soldiers and fought at the vanguard of the Delhi forces as the virtual commander Muhammad Shah without consulting any one unilaterally decided after the indecisive battle of the first day to sue for peace. Sultan Muhammad Khalji who had some disturbance at his own camp accepted the offer readily and withdrew to Mandu. Buhlol Lodi felt the conduct of Muhammad shah nothing short of betrayal and in order to retrieve the prestige of his army attacked the forces of Sultan Muhammad Khalji from the rear killing many and capturing their baggage. Mahmud Shah was now full of praise for Buhlul and called him a son and conferred on him the title of Khan-i-Jahan. Buhlul later occupied the major part of Punjab and Muhammad shah asked him to subdue the rebellious Khokars and their leader Jasrath who was clever enough to come to terms with Buhlul Lodi. With his power and prestige increased manifold Buhlul Lodi attacked Delhi in 1443 without success.

The last years of Muhammad shah saw the rapid decline of his kingdom; Multan becoming independent, Sharquis annexes some parganas in the east, many fief-holders stopping payment of tributes and even amirs making bid for independence. Before his death in 1445, Muhammad shah nominated his son Ala-ud-din and called him from Badaun and breathed his last.