Ala-ud-din Khalji was the second ruler of the Khalji dynasty in India. He was known for his military conquests and annexation of several territories to his empire. One of the regions that he annexed to his empire was the south Indian state of Devagiri.

Details:

- Devagiri, also known as Daulatabad, was a powerful kingdom in the Deccan region of south India during the medieval period.
- The rulers of Devagiri had maintained diplomatic relations with the Delhi Sultanate before the Khalji dynasty came to power.
- However, when Ala-ud-din Khalji became the ruler of Delhi in 1296, he had a different approach towards the southern kingdoms.
- He sent his army under the leadership of Malik Kafur to conquer the Deccan region.
- Malik Kafur defeated the ruler of Devagiri, Ramachandra, in 1307 and annexed the kingdom to the Delhi Sultanate.
- After this conquest, Ala-ud-din Khalji appointed his loyal governor, Malik Sarwar, to rule over Devagiri.

Significance:

- The annexation of Devagiri was a significant achievement for the Delhi Sultanate as it gave them access to the rich resources and trade routes of the Deccan region.
- It also helped the Khalji dynasty to establish its authority over the southern kingdoms and expand their empire further.
- However, the annexation of Devagiri was not without resistance. The people of the region continued to resist the Delhi Sultanate's rule and rebelled several times.

Conclusion:

Ala-ud-din Khalji's conquest of Devagiri was a major military achievement that helped in the expansion of the Delhi Sultanate. It also had significant implications for the political and economic landscape of the Deccan region.