Malik Kafur

Who is Malik Kafur?

Malik Kafur, his real name was Sabour bhai son of Jera bhai, who was a rajput landlord of solankis family, was a slave who became a head general in the army of Alauddin Khilji, ruler of the Delhi sultanate from 1296 to 1316 AD. Kafur was originally seized by Alauddin's army after the army conquered the city of Khambhat. Kafur was castrated and made a eunuch. Malik Kafur was also called Hazar Dinari as he was bought by Sultan Alauddin's general Nusrat Khan for a thousand dinars. Kafur rose quickly in the army. In 1305 Kafur defeated the Mongols at the Battle of Amroha and led two campaigns in south India between 1309 and 1311 - the first against Warangal and the second against Dwar Samudra, Mabar and Madurai. Kafur was made malik naib, the senior commander of the army after its southern campaigns. In 1294 Kafur led the sultan's army against the capital city of the Yadava kingdom, Devagiri. Kafur led further invasions southward into the Kakatiya dynasty, winning immense riches for the sultanate and sacking many Hindu temples.

The booty from Warangal included the famous Koh-i-Noor diamond.