The period from 1221 to 1327 witnessed a series of Mongol invasions into the Indian subcontinent, with campaigns ranging from punitive raids for plunder to calculated attempts at occupying key city centers. These invasions, marked by strategic prowess and military conflicts, played a crucial role in shaping the history of the Indian subcontinent.
Background of Mongol Invasions:
The Mongols, originally a nomadic tribe from the plains of Central Asia, became a formidable force under the leadership of Genghis Khan. In 1206, Genghis Khan united the fractious Mongol tribes, embarking on a path of conquest that eventually resulted in the creation of the largest contiguous land empire in human history by 1237. The Mongol Empire stretched from Korea in the east to the borders of Poland in the west.
Initial Incursions into the Indian Subcontinent:
Genghis Khan's incursions into the Indian subcontinent began in 1221 when he pursued Jalal al Din, the last ruler of the Khwarezmian Empire, to the Indus River. The Mongols sacked several cities in the Punjab region during this pursuit, limiting their incursions to the western banks of the Sindh river at that time. After Genghis Khan's death in 1227, the Mongol Empire experienced a period of civil war among his sons, resulting in a decrease in large-scale invasions and providing the Delhi Sultanate with an opportunity to strengthen its defenses.
Mongol Wars Against the Delhi Sultanate:
The 1260s witnessed the outbreak of civil war in the Mongol Empire, with the Chagatai Khanate emerging as a dominant force in Central Asia. Duwa Khan, leader of the Chagatai Khanate since the 1280s, sought to extend Mongol rule into India. The Mongol invasions, led by descendants of Genghis Khan or divisional commanders, involved armies ranging in size from 10,000 to 30,000 cavalry.
Notable Battles and Defeats:
The Chagatai Khanate invaded Punjab in 1292, but their advance guard, led by Ulghu, suffered a defeat and imprisonment by Jalaluddin, the founder of the Khilji Dynasty. The Delhi Sultanate, under Alauddin Khilji, achieved significant victories against Chagatai armies in 1296-1297. The Battle of Kili in 1299 was a turning point, as the Delhi Sultanate thwarted a major invasion, contrasting with earlier plundering raids.
Subsequent invasions in 1305 and 1306 faced defeat at the hands of Alauddin Khilji, and after the death of Mongol Khan Duwa in the same year, the spate of Mongol raids into India ceased. Alauddin's general, Malik Tughluq, took advantage of the situation, raiding Mongol territories in present-day Afghanistan.
