Madurai Sultanate - Ghiyas-ud-Din Muhammad Damghani

Ghiyas-ud-Din Muhammad Damghani

Ghiyasuddin was originally a soldier in the service of Muhammad bin Tughluq. He consolidated his position by marrying a daughter of Jalaluddin Ahsan Khan. Ibn Battuta visited Madurai during his reign and wrote about Ghiyasuddin's atrocities. Ibn Battuta writes about how the sultan impaled Hindus alive and cut the throats of women and children. An appalled Battuta wrote that it was for this reason that God fastened Ghiyasuddin's death.

Ghiyasuddin was defeated by the Hoysala king Veera Ballala III at first, but later managed to capture and kill Ballala in 1343 CE during the siege of Kannanur Koppam. Ghiyasuddin captured Balalla, robbed him of his wealth, had him killed and his stuffed body displayed on the walls of Madurai. Ghiyasuddin died in 1344 CE from the after effects of an aphrodisiac.