Question

Alauddin Khilji's commander who led the campaign to South India was _____.
A. Alpkhan
B. Ulugh Khan
C. Nusrat Khan
D. Malik Kafur

Answer 1

Hint: Malik Kafur, who was also known as Taj al-Din Izz al-Dawla, was captured as a slave by Nusrat Khan, Alauddin's general during the 1299 invasion of Gujarat. He was a prominent slave-general of Alauddin Khilji , the Delhi Sultanate ruler and rose to prominence in the 1300s by leading campaigns to south India.

Complete answer:
Let us discuss each option individually in detail to figure out the correct answer.

Alpkhan: Alp Khan was one of the generals of Alauddin Khilji. He was the governor of Gujarat. He did not lead to campaigns in south India. There, this is not the correct option.

Ulugh Khan: Ullugh Khan was the brother of Alauddin Khilji, he had the iqta of Bayana in present day India. Therefore, this is not the correct option.

Nusrat Khan: Nusrat Khan was Alauddin’s general during the 1299 invasion of Gujarat. Therefore, this is not the correct option.

Malik Kafur: As stated in the hint, Malik Kafur was the general of Alauddin Khilji who led campaigns in South India. Therefore, this is the correct option.

Hence the correct answer is option D.

Note:As a commander of under Alauddin's reign, Kafur conquered large regions, he defeated the Mongol invaders in 1306. Subsequently, he then led a series of expeditions in the southern part of India, against the Yadavas (1308), the Kakatiyas (1310), the Hoysalas (1311), and the Pandyas (1311). From these conquests, he possessed and brought back many treasures, many elephants and horses for the Delhi Sultanate.