Ghiás-ud-dín can hardly have shut himself off so completely from state affairs as the story-tellers make out. He seems to have been the first of the Málwa kings who minted gold. He also introduced new titles and ornaments, which implies an interest in his coinage.[51] Farishtah says that
Appendix II.
The Hill Fort of Mándu.
History
The Málwa Sultáns, a.d. 1400–1570. Ghiás-ud-dín used to come out every day for an hour from his harím, sit on the throne and receive the salutations of his nobles and subjects, and give orders in all weighty matters of state. He used to entrust all minor affairs to his ministers; but in all grave matters he was so anxious not to shirk his responsibility as a ruler, that he had given strict orders that all such communications should be made to him at whatever time they came through a particular female officer appointed to receive his orders.[52]

According to most accounts Násir-ud-dín was led to poison his father by an attempt of his younger brother Shujáât Khán, supported if not organised by some of Ghiás-ud-dín’s favourite wives to oust Násir-ud-dín from the succession.[53] In the struggle Násir-ud-dín triumphed and was crowned at Mándu in a.d. 1500.[54] The new king left Mándu to put down a revolt. On his return to Mándu he devoted himself to debauchery and to hunting down and murdering his brother’s adherents. He subjected his mother Khurshíd Ráni to great indignities and torture to force from her information regarding his father’s concealed treasures.[55] In a fit of drunkenness he fell into a reservoir. He was pulled out by four of his female slaves. He awoke with a headache, and discovering what his slaves had done put them to death with his own hand.[56] Some time after in a.d. 1512, he again fell into the reservoir, and there he was left till he was dead.[57] Násir-ud-dín was fond of building. His palace at Akbarpur in the Nímar plain about twenty miles south of Mándu was splendid and greatly admired.[58] And at Mándu besides his sepulchre[59] which the emperor Jehángír (a.d. 1617) mentions,[60] an
Appendix II.
The Hill Fort of Mándu.
History
The Málwa Sultáns, a.d. 1400–1570. inscription shows that the palace now known by the name of Báz Bahádur was built by Násir-ud-dín.

Násir-ud-dín was succeeded by his younger son (Mehmúd a.d. 1512–1530), who, with the title of Mehmúd the Second, was crowned with great pomp at Mándu. Seven hundred elephants in gold-embroidered velvet housings adorned the procession.[61] Shortly after his accession Mehmúd II. was driven out of Mándu by the revolt of the commandant Muhâfiz Khán, but was restored by the skill and courage of Medáni Rái his Rájput commander-in-chief.[62] A still more dangerous combination by Muzaffar II. (a.d. 1511–1526) of Gujarát and Sikandar Sháh Lodi (a.d. 1488–1516) of Dehli, was baffled by the foresight and energy of the same Rájput general. Mehmúd, feeling that his power had passed to the Hindus, tried to disband the Rájputs and assassinate Medáni Rái. Failing in both attempts Mehmúd fled from Mándu to Gujarát, where he was well received by Sultán Muzaffar (a.d. 1511–1526).[63] They advanced together against Mándu, and in a.d. 1519, after a close siege of several months, took the fort by assault. The Rájput garrison, who are said to have lost 19,000 men, fought to the last, consecrating the close of their defence by a general javar or fire-sacrifice. Sultán Mehmúd entered Mándu close after the storming party, and while Mehmúd established his authority in Mándu, Muzaffar withdrew to Dhár. When order was restored Mehmúd sent this message to Muzaffar at Dhár: “Mándu is a splendid fort. You should come and see it.” “May Mándu,” Muzaffar replied, “bring good fortune to Sultán Mehmúd. He is the master of the fort. For the sake of the Lord I came to his help. On Friday I will go to the fortress, and having had the sermon read in Mehmúd’s name will return.” On Muzaffar’s arrival in Mándu Mehmúd gave a great entertainment;[64] and Muzaffar
Appendix II.
The Hill Fort of Mándu.
History
The Málwa Sultáns, a.d. 1400–1570. retired to Gujarát leaving a force of 3000 Gujarátis to help to guard the hill.[65] Immediately after Muzaffar’s departure, as Sultán Mehmúd was anxious to recover Chanderi and Gágraun, which still remained in the possession of Medáni Rái and his supporters, he marched against them. Rána Sánga of Chitor came to Medáni’s aid and a great battle was fought.[66] Mehmúd’s hastiness led him to attack when his men were weary and the Rájputs were fresh. In spite of the greatest bravery on the part of himself and of his officers the Musalmán army was defeated, and Mehmúd, weakened by loss of blood, was made prisoner. Rána Sánga had Mehmúd’s wounds dressed, sent him to Chitor, and on his recovery released him.[67]

Sultán Bahádur of Gujarát, a.d. 1526–1534.In a.d. 1526, by giving protection to his outlawed brother Chánd Khán and to Razí-ul-Mulk, a refugee Gujarát noble, Mehmúd brought on himself the wrath of Bahádur Sháh of Gujarát (a.d. 1526–1536). The offended Bahádur did not act hastily. He wrote to Mehmúd asking him to come to his camp and settle their quarrels. He waited on the Gujarát frontier at Karji Ghát, east of Bánswara, until at last satisfied that Mehmúd did not wish for a peaceful settlement he advanced on Mándu. Meanwhile Mehmúd had repaired the walls of Mándu, which soon after was invested by Bahádur. The siege was proceeding in regular course by mines and batteries, and the garrison, though overtaxed, were still loyal and in heart, when in the dim light of morning Mehmúd suddenly found the Gujarát flag waving on the battlements. According to the Mirăt-i-Sikandari[68] Bahádur annoyed by the slow progress of the siege asked his spies where was the highest ground near Mándu. The spies said: Towards Songad-Chitor the hill is extremely high. With a few followers the Sultán scaled Songad, and rushing down the slope burst through the wall and took the fort (May 20th, 1526).[69] Mehmúd surrendered. Near Dohad, on his way to his prison at Chámpánír, an attempt was made to rescue Mehmúd, and to prevent their escape he and some of his sons were slain and buried on the bank of the Dohad tank.[70] Bahádur spent the rainy season (June-October 1526) in Mándu, and Málwa was incorporated with Gujarát.

The Emperor Humáyún, a.d. 1534–1535.Mándu remained under Gujarát, till in a.d. 1534, after Bahádur’s defeat by Humáyún at Mandasor, Bahádur retired to Mándu. Humáyún followed. At night 200 of Humáyún’s soldiers went to the back of the fortress, according to Farishtah the south-west height of Songad[71] by which Bahádur had surprised Mehmúd’s garrison, scaled the walls by ladders and ropes, opened the gate, and let others in. Mallu Khán, the commandant of the batteries, a native of Málwa, who afterwards gained the title of Kádir Sháh, went to Bahádur and wakened him. Bahádur rushed out with four or five attendants. He was joined by about twenty more, and reaching the gate at the top of the maidán, apparently the Tárápúr gate by which Humáyún’s men had entered, cut through 200 of Humáyún’s troops and went off with Mallu Khán to the fort of Songad,
Appendix II.
The Hill Fort of Mándu.
History
The Málwa Sultáns, a.d. 1400–1570. the citadel of Mándu. While two of Bahádur’s chiefs, Sadr Khán and Sultán Álam Lodi, threw themselves into Songad, Bahádur himself let his horses down the cliff by ropes and after a thousand difficulties made his way to Chámpánír.[72] On the day after Bahádur’s escape Sadr Khán and Sultán Álam Lodi came out of Songad and surrendered to Humáyún.[73]

In the following year (a.d. 1535) the combined news of Sher Sháh’s revolt in Bengal, and of the defeat of his officers at Broach and Cambay, forced Humáyún to retire from Gujarát. As he preferred its climate he withdrew, not to Agra but to Mándu.[74] From Mándu, as fortune was against him in Bengal, Humáyún went (a.d. 1535–36) to Agra.

Local Musalmán Chiefs, a.d. 1536–1542.On Humáyún’s departure three chiefs attempted to establish themselves at Mándu: Bhúpat Rái, the ruler of Bíjágar, sixty miles south of Mándu; Mallu Khán or Kádir Sháh, a former commandant of Mándu; and Mírán Muhammad Fárúki from Burhánpur.[75] Of these three Mallu Khán was successful. In a.d. 1536, when Humáyún fled from Sher Sháh to Persia, Mallu spread his power from Mándu to Ujjain Sárangpúr and Rantambhor, assumed the title of Kádir Sháh Málwi, and made Mándu his capital. Some time after Sher Sháh, who was now supreme, wrote to Mallu Kádir Sháh ordering him to co-operate in expelling the Mughals. Kádir Sháh resenting this assumption of overlordship, addressed Sher Sháh as an inferior. Sher Sháh Súr, a.d. 1542–1545.When Sher Sháh received Mallu’s order he folded it and placed it in the scabbard of his poniard to keep the indignity fresh in his mind. Alláh willing, he said, we shall ask an explanation for this in person.[76] In a.d. 1542 (H. 949) as Kádir Sháh failed to act with Kutb Khán, who had been sent to establish Sher Sháh’s overlordship in Málwa, Sher Sháh advanced from Gwálior towards Mándu with the object of punishing Kádir Sháh.[77] As he knew he could not stand against Sher Sháh Kádir Sháh went to Sárangpúr to do homage. Though on arrival Kádir Sháh was well received, his kingdom was given to Shujáât Khán, one of Sher Sháh’s chief followers, and himself placed in Shujáât Khán’s keeping.[78] Suspicious of what might be in store for
Appendix II.
The Hill Fort of Mándu.
History
The Málwa Sultáns, a.d. 1400–1570. him Kádir Sháh fled to Gujarát. Sher Sháh was so much annoyed at Shujáât Khán’s remissness in not preventing Kádir Sháh’s escape that he transferred the command at Dhár and Mándu from Shujáât Khán to Háji Khán and Junaid Khán. Shortly after Kádir Sháh brought a force from Gujarát and attacked Mándu. Shujáât came to Háji Khán’s help and routed Kádir Sháh under the walls of Mándu. In reward Sher Sháh made him ruler of the whole country of Mándu.[79] Shujáât Khán established his head-quarters at Mándu with 10,000 horse and 7000 matchlockmen.

Salím Sháh Súr, a.d. 1545–1553.During the reign of Sher Sháh’s successor Salím Sháh (a.d. 1545–1553), Shujáât was forced to leave Málwa and seek shelter in Dúngarpúr. Selím pardoned Shujáât, but divided Málwa among other nobles. Shujáât remained in Hindustán till in a.d. 1553, on the accession of Salím’s successor, Ádili, he recovered Málwa, and in a.d. 1554, on the decay of Ádili’s power, assumed independence.[80] He died almost immediately after, and was succeeded by his eldest son Malik Báyazíd.[81] Shujáât Khán was a great builder. Besides his chief works at Shujáwalpúr near Ujjain, he left many memorials in different parts of Málwa.[82] So far none of the remains at Mándu are known to have been erected during the rule of Shujáât Khán.

Báz Bahádur, a.d. 1555–1570.On the death of his father Malik Báyazíd killed his brother Daulat Khán, and was crowned in a.d. 1555 with the title of Báz Bahádur. He attacked the Gonds, but met with so crushing a defeat that he foreswore fighting.[83] He gave himself to enjoyment and become famous as a musician,[84] and for his poetic love of Rúp Mani or Rúp Mati, who according to one account was a wise and beautiful courtezan of Saháranpur in Northern India, and according to another was the daughter of a Nímar Rájput, the master of the town of Dharampuri.[85] In a.d. 1560 Pír Muhammad, a general of Akbar’s, afterwards ennobled as Khán Jehán, defeated Báz Bahádur, drove him out of Mándu, and made the hill his own head-quarters.[86] In the following year (a.d. 1561), by the help of the Berár chief, Pír Muhammad was slain and Báz Bahádur reinstated. On news of this defeat (a.d. 1562) Akbar sent Abdulláh Khán Uzbak with almost unlimited power to reconquer the province. Abdulláh was successful, but, as he showed signs of assuming independence, Akbar moved against him and he fled to Gujarát.[87] Akbar remained in Mándu during the greater part of the following rains (a.d. 1563), examining with interest the buildings erected by the Khilji kings.[88] At Mándu Akbar married the daughter of Mírán Mubárak Khán of Khándesh.[89] When Akbar left (August 1564) he appointed Karra Bahádur Khán governor of Mándu and returned to Ágra.[90] In a.d. 1568 the Mírzás, Akbar’s cousins, flying from Gujarát attacked
Appendix II.
The Hill Fort of Mándu.
History
The Mughals, a.d. 1570–1720. Ujjain. From Ujjain they retreated to Mándu and failing to make any impression on the fort withdrew to Gujarát.[91] The Mirzás’ failure was due to the ability of Akbar’s general, Háji Muhammad Khán, to whom Akbar granted the province of Mándu.[92] At the same time (a.d. 1568) the command of Mándu hill was entrusted to Sháh Budágh Khán, who continued commandant of the fort till his death many years later. During his command, in a picturesque spot overlooking a well-watered ravine in the south of Mándu, between the Ságar Lake and the Tárápur Gateway, Budágh Khán built a pleasure-house, which he named, or rather perhaps which he continued to call Nílkanth or Blue Throat. This lodge is interesting from the following inscriptions, which show that the emperor Akbar more than once rested within its walls.[93]

The inscription on the small north arch of Nílkanth, dated a.d. 1574, runs: