Zafar Khan (general)

Zafar Khan was the Muslim Indian general of Alauddin Khilji of the Khilji dynasty, ruler of the Delhi Sultanate in northern India.

Life
Zafar Khan holds the honour of being one of the few undefeated military commanders in history.

Zafar Khan defeated an invading Mongol army near Jalandhar in 1297 which secured Alauddin Khilji's throne.

In 1299, a horde of 200,000 Mongols entered India with the intention of conquest. Though vastly outnumbered, Zafar Khan showed desperate valor in battle. The Mongols were defeated, but Khan did not survive.

In an invasion, the Mongols attacked under the command of Saldi. They captured the fort Siri. Zafar Khan, recaptured the fort. About 2,000 Mongols were captured and brought before the King.

The biggest Mongol invasion took place in 1299, when under the command of Qutlugh Khwaja, 200,000 Mongols attacked India. This time they did not just want to rob the country. Now, they wanted to establish their own kingdom. The Mongols did not plunder the people on the way to Delhi. They did not want to waste their energy doing this. This was a wise step and succeeded to reach near Delhi. The situation became very grave. The people of nearby areas entered into Delhi. There was no free space even in mosques.

Ala-ud-Din consulted his ministers and chiefs. Many of them said that it was impossible to say as to which side was likely to emerge victorious. They said that their own army had spent their lives in warfare against the Hindus only, and had not joined in battle against the Mongols. They suggested for a compromise, but Ala-ud-Din was not ready for it. He rejected their advice and said, "If I were to follow your advice how could I show my face, how could I go into my harem? No, come what may tomorrow, I must march into the battlefield".

He ordered his army to attack under the command of Zafar Khan and Ulugh Khan. His army attacked and fought bravely. They defeated the Mongols after many great battles. Legend has it that Zafar Khan created such great terror in the minds of the Mongols that whenever their horse refused to drink water, the Mongols would ask them if they had seen Zafar Khan.

Ala-ud-Din defeated the Mongols. Zafar Khan was killed in this battle by the Mongol commander Targhi Beg. Zafar Khan's tomb is situated just opposite the main entrance of Tughlaqabad Fort in the octagonal fortress enclosing the majestic tomb of Ghiyasuddin Tughluq which also has the grave of Muhammad bin Tughluq, on the Mehrauli-Badarpur Road in New Delhi.

Other Language Books

 * Jaamiya Taareekh e Hind ( Urdu) by Dr. Khaliq Ahmad Nizami. Aligarh Muslim University Press 1954.
 * The Behmanis of Deccan by Dr. Harun Khan Sherwani. National Book Trust New Delhi 1979.
 * ''Futuhussalaateen ( Persian) by Abdul Malik Isami.
 * Tareekh i Firuzshahi ( Persian) by Shamsuddin Ibn Sirajuddin Afeef.
 * Tareekh i Firuzshahi ( Persian) by Ziauddin Barni.