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Arabesque scroll from the minaret of Kutb-ad-din Aybek

Chapter 4 – Kutb-ad-din Aybek and Altamish – Two of the Slave Kings

1206–1236 A.D.

At the beginning of the thirteenth century a line of slaves, born from the blood of Turks, rose to be kings of Northern India and formed a powerful dynasty that governed Hindustan for more than eighty years (1206–1290 A.D.). The strain of royal democracy in their veins seemed to possess the qualities that make for greatness, and three of the ten “Slave Kings” – Kutb-ad-din Aybek, Altamish, and Balban – were men of remarkable power, while the administrative strength of all of them was enhanced by the special advantage of not ruling India at a distance, from Ghazni and Ghor in Afghanistan, but sitting directly on the throne of Delhi itself.

Kutb-ad-din Aybek, the first of these dynasts, was a slave of Mohammad of Ghor, but was raised by his imperial master to the rank of viceroy because of his merit, and became the nominal founder of the Slave

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Sultans, although his rule as an independent sovereign at Delhi (1206–1210 A.D.) was too short to enable him to consolidate an empire. There is a concise account of his short career written by Minhaj-as-Siraj, who was quoted in the preceding chapter, and it is reproduced in the following paragraphs:–

Sultan Kutb-ad-din was a brave and liberal king, and the Almighty bestowed on him such courage and generosity that in his time there was no king like unto him from the east to the west. When the Almighty God wishes to exhibit to His people an example of greatness and majesty He endows one of His slaves with the qualities of courage and generosity, and then friends and enemies are influenced by His bounteous generosity and warlike prowess. So this king was generous and brave, and all the regions of Hindustan were filled with friends and cleared of foes. His bounty was continuous and his slaughter was unceasing.

When Kutb-ad-din was first brought from Turkistan, his lot fell in the city of Naishapur, where he was bought by the chief judge, Kadi Fakhr-ad-din Abd-al-Aziz of Kufa, one of the descendants of the great Imam Abu Hanifa of Kufa and governor of Naishapur and its dependencies. Kutb-ad-din grew up in the service and society of his master’s sons, and with them he learned to read the Koran and also acquired the arts of riding and archery. In a short time he became remarkable for his manly qualities. When he had nearly arrived at the age of manhood, merchants brought him to Ghazni, and Sultan Ghazi Mu’izz-ad-din Mohammad

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A Hindu Musician

Sam (Mohammad Ghori) purchased him from them. He was possessed of every quality and virtue, but he was not comely in appearance. His little finger was broken from his hand, and he was therefore called Aybek, “maimed in the hand.”

Sultan Mu’izz-ad-din (Mohammad Ghori) used occasionally to indulge in music and conviviality, and one night he had a party, and in the course of the banquet he graciously bestowed gifts of money and of uncoined gold and silver upon his servants. Kutb-ad-din received his share among the rest, but whatever he got, whether gold or silver, coined or uncoined, he gave it all, when he went out of the assembly, to the Turkish soldiers, guards, farashes, and other servants. He kept nothing, either small or great, for himself. Next day when this was reported to the king, Kutb was looked upon with great favour and condescension, and was appointed to some important duties about the court. He thus became a great officer, and his rank grew higher every day, until by the king’s favour he was appointed Master of the Horse.

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While he held this station, the kings of Ghor, Ghazni, and Bamian went toward Khorasan, and Kutb-ad-din showed great activity in repelling the attacks of Sultan Shah. He held the command of the foragers, and one day, while in quest of supplies, he was unexpectedly attacked by the cavalry of the enemy. Kutb-ad-din showed great bravery in the fight which ensued, but his party was small, so he was overpowered, made a prisoner, and carried to Sultan Shah. This prince ordered him to be placed in confinement, but when the battle was fought and Sultan Shah was defeated, the victors released Kutb-ad-din and brought him in his iron fetters, riding on a camel, to his master Sultan Mu’izz-ad-din. The Sultan received him kindly and, on his arrival at his capital, Ghazni, conferred on him the districts of Kahram. From thence he went to Mirat, of which he took possession in 587 A.H. (1191 A.D.). In the same year he marched from Mirat and captured Delhi.

In 590 A.H. (1194 A.D.) he and Izz-ad-din Husain Kharmil, both being generals of the army, accompanied the Sultan and defeated Rai Jai Chand of Benares in the neighbourhood of Chandawal. In the year 591 A.H. (1195 A.D.) Thankar was conquered, and two years later Kutb-ad-din went toward Nahrwala, defeated Raja Bhim-deo, and took revenge on behalf of the Sultan. He also reduced other countries of Hindustan as far as the outskirts of the dominions of China on the east.

When Sultan Mohammad of Ghor died, Sultan

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Minar of Kutb-ad-din at Delhi.

Ghiyas-ad-din Mahmud Mohammad Sam, his nephew, gave Kutb-ad-din the royal canopy and the title of Sultan. In 602 A.H. (1205 A.D.) the new monarch marched from Delhi to attack Lahore, and on Tuesday, the eighteenth of the month of Zu-l-ka’da, 602 A.H. (June 26, 1206), he ascended the throne in that city. After some time a dispute arose between him and Sultan Taj-ad-din Yildiz respecting Lahore, and it ended in a battle, in which the victory was gained by Sultan Kutb-ad-din. Taj-ad-din fled, and Sultan Kutb-ad-din then proceeded toward Ghazni, which he captured, and he sat upon the throne of that city for forty days, at the end of which time he returned to Delhi.

Death now claimed his own, and in the year 607 A.H. (1210 A.D.) the Sultan fell from his horse in the field while he was playing polo (chaugan), and the horse came down upon him, so that the pommel of the saddle entered his chest and killed him. The period of his

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government, from his first conquest of Delhi up to this time, was twenty years, and the time of his reign, during which he wore the crown and had the Khutba read and caused coin to be struck in his name, was something more than four years.

Some confusion followed upon the death of Kutb-ad-din Aybek, since his son Aram proved unworthy to succeed him. The throne then passed to his son-in-law, Shams-ad-din Altamish, who was likewise originally a slave but had raised himself by his ability and had married Kutb-ad-din’s third daughter. In the words of Minhaj, our Arab chronicler, the monarch had regarded him “as well suited for empire and had called him his son;” in fact “it was destined from all eternity by the Most High and Holy God that the country of Hindustan should be placed under the protection of this great king, the light of the world and of religion.” The remainder of the chapter is abridged from the chronicler’s own account of Altamish, or Sultan Shams-ad-din, as he prefers to call him:–

It is related by credible persons that Sultan Shams-ad-din Altamish was chosen in early childhood by the destiny of Providence from the tribes of Albari in Turkistan for the sovereignty of Islam and of the dominions of Hindustan. His father, whose name was Yalam Khan, had numerous dependents, relatives, and followers in his employ. The future monarch was remarkable from his childhood for beauty, intelligence, and grace, which excited such jealousy in the hearts of his brothers that, like Joseph’s brethren, they enticed

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A Pious Mendicant

him away from his father and mother on the pretence of going to see a drove of horses; but when they brought him there, they sold him to a horse-dealer. Some say that his sellers were his cousins. The horse-dealers took him to Bokhara and sold him to one of the relatives of the chief judge of that city. For some time he remained with that great and noble family, whose chiefs nourished and educated him like a son.

A credible person has related that he heard in the gracious words of the king himself that on a certain occasion one of the members of the family gave him a piece of money and ordered him to go to the bazaar and buy some grapes. He went to the bazaar, and on the way lost the coin. Being of tender age, he began to cry for fear; and while he was weeping and crying, a dervish came to him, took his hand, purchased some grapes, and gave them to him, saying: “When you obtain wealth and dominion, take care that you show respect to dervishes and holy men, and uphold their rights.” He gave his promise to the dervish, and whatever fortune and power he obtained he always ascribed to the favour shown him by that kindly man.

Altamish was purchased from his noble and distinguished owner by a merchant whose name was Haji

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Bokhari, and he sold him to another merchant named Jamal-ad-din Chast Kaba, who brought him to Ghazni. No slave equal to him in beauty, virtue, intelligence, and nobility had ever been brought to that city. Mention was made of him before his Majesty Sultan Mu’izz-ad-din Mohammad Sam of Ghor, who commanded a price to be named for him. A thousand dinars in refined gold was fixed as his value, but Jamal-ad-din Chast Kaba declined to sell him for that price, and the Sultan accordingly gave orders that nobody should purchase him. After this, Jamal-ad-din Chast Kaba staid for a year in Ghazni, and then went to Bokhara, carrying the future Sultan with him. After staying there three years, he brought him back to Ghazni; but no one ventured to purchase him, for fear of the king’s orders.

The youth had been there a year, when Kutb-ad-din returned to Ghazni with Malik Nasir-ad-din Husain after the invasion of Nahrwala and the conquest of Gujarat. Kutb heard an account of Shams-ad-din Altamish and asked Sultan Mu’izz-ad-din for permission to purchase him. The Sultan replied that orders had been issued that he should not be purchased in Ghazni, but said that he might take him to Delhi and buy him there. Kutb-ad-din entrusted the management of the affair to Nizam-ad-din Mohammad and ordered him to take Jamal-ad-din Chast Kaba with him to Hindustan, that he might purchase Shams-ad-din Altamish there. According to these directions, Nizam-ad-din took them to Delhi, where Kutb-ad-din purchased

The Kutb Minar at Delhi.

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him. Altamish was made chief of the guards, and Kutb-ad-din called him his son and kept him near his person. His rank and honour increased every day, and such marks of intelligence were evident in all his acts that he was elevated to the rank of chief huntsman. When Gwalior was taken, he became amir of that place, and after that he obtained the district and town of Baran and its dependencies. Some time after this, when proofs of his energy, bravery, and heroism had been fully displayed and had been witnessed by Kutb-ad-din, the country of Badaun was entrusted to him. When Sultan Mu’izz-ad-din Mohammad Sam returned from Khwarizm, after being defeated in the battle of Andkhod by the armies of Khita, the Gakkar tribes broke out in rebellion, and the Sultan marched against them from Ghazni. Kutb-ad-din, according to his orders, brought up an army from Hindustan, and Shams-ad-din Altamish accompanied him with the forces of Badaun.

In the midst of the battle the Sultan observed his feats of daring and courage, and inquired who he was. When his Majesty was enlightened upon this point, he called him into his presence and honoured him with especial notice. Kutb-ad-din was commanded to treat Altamish well, as he was destined for great works. His Majesty then ordered the deed of his freedom to be written out, and graciously granted him his liberty.

When Sultan Kutb-ad-din expired at Lahore in 607 A.H. (1210 A.D.), the commander-in-chief, Ali Isma’il, who had charge of Delhi, joined with some other

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View of Lahore from the palace in the fort

nobles and principal men, and sent letters to Badaun, inviting Shams-ad-din Altamish to succeed the late ruler. When he arrived, he mounted the throne of Delhi and established his authority. The Turks and the Mu’izzi chiefs assembled at Delhi from all quarters, but the Turks and Mu’izzi chiefs of that city did not join them.

They resolved to try the effect of resistance, so they went out from Delhi, collected in the environs, and raised the standard of revolt. Sultan Shams-ad-din Altamish marched out of the city with a body of horse and his own personal followers, defeated the rebels in the plains of the Jumna, and put most of their horsemen to the sword. Sultan Taj-ad-din later

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made a treaty with him from Lahore and Ghazni, and sent him some insignia of royalty. Repeated disputes arose between Sultan Shams-ad-din Altamish and Malik Nasir-ad-din Kubacha about Lahore, Tabarhindh, and Kahram, and in the year 614 A.H. (1217 A.D.) the Sultan defeated Kubacha. Hostilities also broke out at different times between him and the chiefs of various parts of Hindustan and the Turks, but as he was assisted by divine favour, everyone who resisted him or rebelled was subdued. Heaven still continued to favour him, and all the territories belonging to Delhi, Badaun, Oudh, Benares, and the Siwalik Hills came under his sway.

Sultan Taj-ad-din Yildiz came to Lahore, fleeing before the army of Khwarizm. A dispute arose between him and Sultan Shams-ad-din Altamish regarding the limits of their possessions, and a battle was fought between them at Narain in 612 A.H. (1215 A.D.), in which Altamish won the victory, and Taj-ad-din Yildiz was taken prisoner. He was taken, according to orders, to Delhi and then sent to Badaun, where he was put to death and buried. After this another battle was fought in the year 614 A.H. (1217 A.D.) with Malik Nasir-ad-din Kubacha, and he was again defeated.

Great events now occurred in Khorasan through the appearance of the Moghul Chingiz Khan. In 615 A.H. (1218 A.D.) Jalal-ad-din, King of Khwarizm, came toward Hindustan, fleeing from the army of the infidels, and some fighting followed on the frontiers of Lahore. Shams-ad-din Altamish led his forces out of

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Delhi toward Lahore, and Khwarizm Shah fled before the army of Hindustan and went toward Sind and Siwistan.

After this, in 622 A.H. (1225 A.D.), Sultan Shams-ad-din carried his arms toward Lakhnauti, and Ghiyas-ad-din Auz Khalji placed the yoke of servitude on the neck of submission, and presented thirty elephants and eight millions of the current coin. He also ordered sermons to be read and coinage to be struck in the name of Shams-ad-din.

In 623 A.H. (1226 A.D.) Sultan Shams-ad-din marched to conquer the fortress of Rantambhor, which is celebrated in all parts of Hindustan for its great strength and security, and it is related in the Hindu histories that it had been invaded by more than seventy kings, but that no one had been able to take it. In the space of a few months in the year 623 A.H. (1226 A.D.), through the favour of God, the fortress fell into the hands of Shams-ad-din. One year after this, in 624 A.H. (1227 A.D.), he attacked the fort of Mandur in the Siwalik Hills, where God again bestowed victory on him, and where much plunder fell into the hands of his followers.

After the lapse of another year, in 625 A.H. (1228 A.D.), an army was sent from Delhi toward the cities of Uchh and Multan. On the first of Rabi’-al-awwal, 625 A.H. (Feb. 9, 1228 A.D.), Sultan Said Shams-ad-din Altamish reached the foot of the fort of Uchh. Malik Nasir-ad-din Kubacha had pitched his camp at the gate of the fort of Amravat, and all his followers

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A house at Multan

and baggage were in ships and boats moored in front of the camp.

On Friday, after the time of prayer, some swift runners came from the direction of Multan and reported that Malik Nasir-ad-din Aitamur had been detached from Lahore and had come to the fort of Multan; and also that Sultan Shams-ad-din Altamish himself was marching onward to Uchh by way of Tabarhindh. Malik Nasir-ad-din Kubacha immediately fled with all his army in boats to Bhakkar and ordered his minister, Ain-al-Mulk Husain Ashghari, to remove all the treasure from the fortress of Uchh and transfer it to Bhakkar.

Sultan Shams-ad-din then sent two of his principal generals in advance with an army to the walls of Uchh. Four days later, the Sultan himself arrived at Uchh with all his elephants and baggage, and pitched his tents there. He sent his minister, Nizam-ad-din Mohammad Junaidi, with other nobles, in pursuit of Malik Nasir-ad-din

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to the fort of Bhakkar. Fighting continued for a month under the walls of Uchh, and on Tuesday, the twenty-ninth of Jumada-l-awwal, 625 A.H. (May 5, 1228 A.D.), the place capitulated. In the same month Malik Nasir-ad-din Kubacha drowned himself at the fort of Bhakkar in the waters of the Indus, a few days after sending his son, Malik Ala-ad-din Bahrain Shah, to wait upon Sultan Shams-ad-din. A few days later, the treasures were seized, and the remaining forces of Malik Nasir-ad-din entered the service of the conqueror. All the country down to the seashore was subdued, and Malik Sinan-ad-din Habsh, chief of Daibul and Sind, came and did homage to the Sultan. When the noble mind of the king was satisfied with the conquest of the country, he returned to Delhi.

In 627 A.H. (1230 A.D.) Balka Malik Khalji rebelled in the territories of Lakhnauti, and Sultan Shams-ad-din Altamish led thither the armies of Hindustan, and having captured the rebel, he gave the throne of Lakhnauti to Malik Ala-ad-din Jani, and returned to his capital in the month of Rajab of the same year.

In 629 A.H. (1232 A.D.) the Sultan marched forth to conquer Gwalior, and when his royal tents were pitched beneath the walls of the fort, Milak Deo the accursed began the hostilities. For eleven months the camp remained under the fort, until on Tuesday, the twenty-sixth of Safar, 630 A.H. (Dec. 12, 1232 A.D.), the citadel was taken.

The accursed Milak Deo escaped from the fort in the night-time and fled. About seven hundred persons

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The road neear a ruined temple at Ujjain

were ordered to receive punishment at the door of the royal tent, and after this, promotions were made in the ranks of the nobles and great officers. On the second of Rabi’-al-awwal in the same year, his Majesty started on his return from the fort, and after reaching the capital he sent the army of Islam toward Malwa, and took the fort and city of Bhilsa in 632 A.H. (1234 A.D.).

There was a temple there which was three hundred years in building and was about one hundred and five cubits high. He demolished it. From thence he proceeded to Ujjain, where there was a temple of Maha-kal, which he destroyed, as well as the image of Vikramajit, who was King of rjjain and reigned 1316 years before his time. The Hindu era dates from his reign. Some other images cast in copper were carried to Delhi with the stone image of Maha-kal.

In 633 A.H. (1236 A.D.) Sultan Shams-ad-din Altamish led the armies of Hindustan toward Banyan, but in this journey his Majesty fell sick and was obliged by his severe illness to return home. Wednesday morning,

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the first of Sha’ban, was fixed by the astrologers for his entrance into Delhi, the seat of his government, and he entered the city in a howdah on the back of an elephant. His illness increased, and nineteen days later, on the twentieth of Sha’ban, 633 A.H. (end of April, 1236 A.D.), he departed from this perishable world to everlasting life. The length of his reign was twenty-six years.

This collection transcribed by Chris Gage
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