Delhi before the Moghal Conquest
being put to death. At last, in A.D. 1300, the king began to think that he himself might be to blame for the frequent conspiracies against him,and, on the advice of a council of nobles, relaxed his severities. He contemplated the formation of a new religion, and therefore saw that his nobles reformed their ways, not to his disadvantage, for he confiscated their ill-gotten gains.
While he was away from Delhi, on an expedition into Bengal, the Moghals saw their chance, and raided right up to the walls. Ala- ud-din hastened back, but had to leave his cavalry behind. He could do nothing but entrench his army round Shahpur, and send urgent messages to the provincial governors for reinforcements. The Moghals were, however, in a position to intercept these, and matters looked very black until, after two months of inaction, the Moghals suddenly retired, some say in a panic brought about by the miraculous powers of Nizam-ud-din, the saint. This was in A.D. 1303. Upon the retirement of the invaders Ala-ud-din commenced the building of the city of Siri, the erection within it of a "palace of a thousand pillars," and the repair or reconstruction of the walls of the citadel of Old Delhi. He also prepared to punish the Moghals, and began to collect a vast army for the purpose. He is said to have been able to put187
