Muzaffar Shah II

First Idar campaign (1515)

For some time before his father's death, Prince Khalil Khan had been living at Baroda (now Vadodara), and shortly after his accession, he visited that neighbourhood and founded a town named Daulatabad. In 1515, Rao Bhim, the son of Rao Bhan of Idar State, defeated Ain-ul-Mulk, governor of Patan, who was coming to Ahmedabad to pay his respects to the king. The officer had turned aside to punish Rao for some disturbance he had created, but failing in his purpose, was himself defeated. When Muzaffar Shah approached, Rao abandoned Idar and made peace by agreeing to pay a heavy tribute. Meanwhile, the king marched to Godhra, and then to Malwa via Dahod and soon after went on to Dhar.^[11]

Second Idar campaign (1517)

After a short stay in Malwa, seeking to take advantage of the distracted condition of Mahmud of Malwa, who was at war with his nobles, Muzaffar returned to Muhammadabad (Champaner). At this time, Raimal, nephew of the late Rao Bhim of Idar, expelled the Rao's son Bharmal with the aid of his father-in-law, Rana Sanga of Chittor and succeeded to the chieftainship of Idar.

The king was displeased at the interference of the Rana, and directed Nizam Khan, the governor of Ahmednagar (now Himatnagar), to expel Raimal and reinstate Bharmal. Nizam Khan took Idar and gave it to Bharmal. Raimal betook himself to the hills where Nizam Khan, incautiously pursuing and engaging him, lost many men.

The Sultan visited Idar. Shortly after, Nizam Khan, the governor of Ahmednagar, fell sick and was called to court. He left Idar in charge of Zahir-ul-Mulk at the head of a hundred horse. Raimal made a sudden raid on Idar and killed Zahir-ul-Mulk and twenty-seven of his men. On hearing this, Muzaffar Shah II ordered Nizam Khan to destroy Bijapur.^[11]

Campaign of Malwa (1518)

In 1517, the nobles of Malwa sought Muzaffar Shah's interference, alleging that the minister Medini Rai was planning to depose the Malwa Sultan, Mahmud Khilji II, and usurp the throne. Muzaffar Shah promised to come to their help, and shortly after, Sultan Mahmud Khilji, escaping from the surveillance of Medani Rai, himself sought the aid of the Gujarat monarch. In 1518, Muzaffar Shah marched by Godhra into Malwa, and on his arrival at Dhar, that town was evacuated by Medani Rai. The king besieged Mandu, and Medani Rai summoned the Chittor Rana to his aid. When the Rana reached Sarangpur, Muzaffar Shah detached a force caused the Rana to retire, while the Khan's soldiers exerted themselves so strenuously that they captured Mandu, recovering the girdle which Qutb-ud-dIn Ahmad Shah II had lost at the battle of Kapadvanj. This conquest virtually placed Malwa in Muzaffar's power, but he honourably restored the kingdom to Sultan Mahmud Khilji, and withdrew from Gujarat, proceeded to Muhammadabad.^{[citation needed]}

In 1519, news was received of the defeat and capture of Sultan Mahmud Khilji by the Rana of Chittor. Muzaffar Shah sent a force to protect Mandu. But, the Rana, who distinguished himself by releasing the Sultan of Malwa and keeping his son in his stead as a hostage, enjoyed continued good fortune.^{[citation needed]}

Rana Sanga's invasion of Gujarat (1520)

In 1520, Rana Sanga invaded Idar to restore his son-in-law Raimal to the throne and to punish Mubariz-ul-Mulk, the governor of Idar, who had insulted him by chaining a dog named after the Rana at the fort gate. Leading a combined force of around 52,000 troops alongside regional allies like Rao Ganga of Marwar, Sanga easily captured Idar against a small Gujarati garrison, reinstated Raimal. He demolished a local mosque to build a Hindu temple, and advanced toward Ahmadnagar. In the ensuing battle of Ahmednagar Sanga's overwhelming forces completely surrounded the enemy. Key Gujarati commanders were slain, and a severely wounded Mubariz-ul-Mulk fled toward Ahmedabad. The victory was total as the Rajputs captured and sacked both Ahmadnagar and Visnagar, spared the Brahmin-populated town of Vadnagar before Sanga successfully concluded his campaign and returned to Chittor.^{[citation needed]}

Invasion of Mewar (1520–1521)

In January 1521, Muzaffar Shah II dispatched an army of 100,000 horsemen and 100 elephants, led by Malik Ayaz, the governor of Sorath, to punish the Rana for his incursion into Gujarat. The towns of Bakor, Galiakot, Dungarpur, Sagwara, and Banswara were pillaged and left in ruins. In Banswara, a sizable Hindu force hiding in ambush was attacked and driven off after sustaining casualties. Following this, Malik Ayaz advanced to Mandsaur and laid siege to the town. Rana Sangrama moved to relieve Mandsaur, but kept a distance of twenty miles from the Muslim camp. He sent emissaries to Malik Ayaz, offering tribute to Muzaffar Shah II in exchange for lifting the siege, but his plea was disregarded. Mahmud Khalji II later joined forces with Malik Ayaz, and Mandsaur might have been captured and Sangrama defeated.^[12] However, a misunderstanding arose, causing apprehension that Malik Dawam-ul-Mulk, an amir of Gujarat, might unjustly claim all credit for the anticipated victory over Rana Sanga. Consequently, despite resistance from the other amirs who harboured grievances against Malik Ayaz, when Rana Sanga dispatched a messenger offering vassalage to the Sultan, he willingly acquiesced to the terms of peace proposed by the Rajput ruler.^[13] Shortly afterwards, on the death of Malik Ayaz, Muzaffar Shah II confirmed his elder son Malik Is-hak in his father's rank and possessions. Malik Is-hak remained in Sorath, which was confirmed as his jagir. In the following year, the Sultan went about his dominions strengthening his frontier posts, especially the fort of Modasa, which he rebuilt.^[11]

Safavid Empire

In January 1512, Mirza Yadgar Beg, ambassador of Shah Ismail of Persia, arrived in Gujarat. Muzaffar Shah received the envoy warmly. The ambassador met the Sultan, presented gifts, and in return received robes of honour. The exchange strengthened diplomatic ties between Gujarat and Iran, after which Mirza Yadgar Beg returned to his country.^[10]

Portuguese

In early 1514, the Portuguese general, Afonso de Albuquerque, sent ambassadors to Muzaffar Shah II to seek permission to build a fort on Diu Island. Although this mission returned without any agreement, diplomatic gifts were exchanged, including an Indian rhinoceros named Genda.^[16] Alfonso further passed on Genda along with its Indian keeper to King Manuel I of Portugal.^[17] This gift caused quite a sensation in King Manuel's kingdom as nobody had seen a living rhinoceros in Europe. In late 1515, Manuel further sent Genda as a gift to Pope Leo X in Rome, but the ship carrying the animal capsized. The memory of the rhino lived on due to the works of the artist Albrecht Dürer.^{[citation needed]}