]08 C. A. Silberrad —History of Western Bundelkhand. [No. 1, 
In 1544 Sher Sh5h, 1 having temporarily defeated Hutnaynn and 
thus become Emperor of Delhi, attempted the conquest of Bundel¬ 
khand. In accordance with the order of the Raja, Madhkur Sah with 
5000 selected cavalry attacked the enemy’s forces, and though he 
suffered heavily succeeded in getting possession of the enemy’s standard, 
and so steadily harassed his army that be was forced to retire. 
The Emperor Sher Shah beseiged Kalinjar and annexed the neigh¬ 
bouring country. Daring the siege the Imperial Magazine caught fire 
and exploded, killing the Emperor. In 1545 his son Selim Shah ascended 
the throne and in his reign Bhartichand took Kalinjar. This success 
of the Bundela Chief Selim Shah was compelled to overlook as he was 
at that time engaged in a contest with Humayun and also with his own 
brothers. He had indeed once sent a small detachment from Grwalior, 
which was compelled to retire without even crossing the Sindh. Bharti¬ 
chand extended his kingdom till it stretched from the Tons to the 
Sindh and from the Jamna to the Narbada, and yielded a revenue of 
two crores. From about this time this part of India was known as 
Bundelkhand—the country of the Bundelas. 
In 1551 Bhartichand performed Bajpai-yug 2 * at Tongaran. 8 As 
he had no son he was succeeded on his death in 1552 by his next 
brother Madhkur Sah, who proved a wise and pious prince, learned in 
the Shastras and laws. He was specially a follower of the two-handed 
Narsingh-Bkagwan whom he worshipped morning and evening. He 
was also a man of great valour and simplicity, often riding out un¬ 
attended. His love of justice was such that however important the 
question at issue might be he would not utter judgment without first 
consulting the code of Manu. The Delhi Emperor attacked him on 
several occasions but without success; these attacks were during 
Akbar’s minority conducted with insufficient forces ; when he however 
succeeded to full power he sent a large and well-equipped army under 
Niamat. Khan. The Raja advanced as far as Baroni 4 and there met 
the Imperial army, a severe engagement followed resulting in the 
retirement of Niamat Khan. Akbar then sent Ali Kuli Khan with a 
second force. To meet this Madhkur Sah despatched his 'eldest son 
1 Assumed the Empire of Delhi 1542, and was killed at the siege of Kalinjar 
1545. 
2 This the author tells me may be offered to any deity; it lasts for 21 days 
during each of which various ceremonies and offerings are performed culminating in 
a sacrifice of 21 goats on the 21st day and the gift of various things including seven 
elephants. 
8 Close to Orchha. 
4 In Datia, 5 miles W. of Datia town. 
