Ahmad Shah II

Qutb-ud-Din Ahmad Shah II (born Jalal Khan; 1429 – 13 May 1459) was a ruler of the Muzaffarid dynasty, who reigned over the Gujarat Sultanate from 1451 to 1458. He defeated invading Malwa forces at the battle of Kapadvanj. In his attempt to seize Nagor, the Sultan found himself in conflict with Rana Kumbha of Chittor, leading to a succession of devastating losses for the Sultan at the hands of the great Maharana.

Reign Billon Tanka of Qutb ud-Din Ahmad Shah II, dated AH 862 (AD 1457–58). In 1451, after death of Muhammad Shah II, the nobles placed his son Jalal Khan on the throne with the title of Qutb-ud-din Ahmad Shah II. Sultan Mahmud Khilji of Malwa Sultanate had invaded Gujarat and had laid siege to Sultanpur. Malik Ala-ud-din bin Sohrab Qutb-ud-din's commander surrendered the fort, and was sent with honour to Malwa and appointed governor of Mandu. Sultan Mahmud, marching to Sarsa-Paldi, summoned Bharuch, then commanded by Sidi Marjan on behalf of Gujarat Sultanate. The Sidi refused, and fearing delay, the Malwa Sultan after plundering Baroda (now Vadodara) proceeded to Nadiad, whose Brahmans astonished him by their bravery in killing a mad elephant. Qutb-ud-din Shah now advancing met Sultan Mahmud at Kapadvanj where, after a doubtful fight of some hours, he defeated Sultan Mahmud, though during the battle of Kapadvanj that prince was able to penetrate to Qutb-ud-din's camp and carry off his crown and jewelled girdle. The Mirat-i-Sikandari ascribes Qutb-ud-din's victory in great measure to the gallantry of certain inhabitants of Dholka called Darwaziyahs. Muzaffar Khan, who is said to have incited the Malwa Sultan to invade Gujarat, was captured and beheaded, and his head was hung up at the gate of Kapadvanj. On his return from Kapadvanj Qutb-ud-din built the magnificent Hauzi Qutb or Kankariya Tank about a mile to the south of Ahmedabad.

According to the Mirat-i-Sikandari this war between Malwa and Gujarat was controlled by the spiritual power of certain holy teachers. The war was brought on by the prayers of Sheikh Kamal Malwi, whose shrine is in Ahmedabad behind Khudawand Khan's mosque near Shah-i-alam's tomb, who favoured Malwa. Qutb-ud-din's cause was aided by the blessing of Qutbi Alam who sent his son the famous Shah Alam time after time to persuade Kamal to be loyal to Gujarat. At last Kamal produced a writing said to be from heaven giving the victory to Malwa. The young Shah Alam tore this charter to shreds, and, as no evil befell him, Kamal saw that his spiritual power paled before Shah Alam and fell back dead. Shah Alam against his will accompanied Qutb-ud-din some marches on his advance to Kapadvanj. Before leaving the army Shah alam blessed a mean camp elephant and ordered him to destroy the famous Malwa champion elephant known as the Butcher. He also, against his wish for he knew the future, at the Sultan's request bound his own sword round Qutb-ud-din's waist. In the battle the commissariat elephant ripped the Butcher and some years later Qutb-ud-din by accident gashed his knee with the saint's sword and died.