Zafar Khan (general)
| Malik Hizbaruddin | |
|---|---|
| Born | Unknown |
| Died | 1299 Keli plains near Gora Badal Mewari, near Delhi |
| Allegiance | Delhi Sultanate |
| Service/branch | Khilji dynasty, Ariz-i-Mumalik |
| Years of service | ? - 1299 |
| Battles/wars | Mongol invasions of India |
Zafar Khan(Persian: ظفر خان literally chief of victory), originally named Malik Hizbaruddin Yusuf, with Zafar a title was a Muslim Pashtun military general of Khilji dynasty, ruler of the Delhi Sultanate in northern India. He successfully repelled several Chagatai Khanate Mongol's invasions which secured Alauddin Khilji's throne.
Zafar Khan was one of the earliest followers of Alauddin Khilji who followed him even at the time of Alauddin's Uncle, Jalaluddin Khilji, who are of non-Turkish origins aside Nusrat Khan and Malik Kafur who also achieved high positions in the sultanate. Together with Ulugh Khan they are important supporters of Alauddin when the future Sultan attempted his coup against Jalaluddin Khilji and succeeded as the next Sultan. According to Barani's Tarikh i Firoze Shahi, he was regarded by Barani as one of four Alauddin's most important and trusted generals, collectively known as four great Khans of Delhi Sultanate, the other Khans consisting of Ulugh Khan, Nusrat Khan, and Alp Khan. He had a nephew named Alisha, or Ali Shah, who was an amir a sada(literally leader of hundred) under Qutlugh Khan
During Alauddin's launched expedition in southern India, first campaign taking place in Deccan in 1294, without Jalaluddin's permission, Zafar Khan had been in the forefront along with another Khilji's famous general Malik Kafur through hilly range path. Both generals easily defeated the Devagiri army in this campaign and Alauddin exacted tributary status towards Devagiri kingdom
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