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Chapter 6 – The Earlier Career of Ulugh Khan, Afterwards Emperor Balban

The death of Queen Raziya was followed by six years of weak government by one of her brothers and a nephew, and then her younger brother Nasir-ad-din, the third son of the Slave King Altamish, took the throne and reigned for twenty years (1246–1266 A.D.). But during all this time the true power behind the throne was Ulugh Khan, who afterwards became Sultan Balban.

This remarkable man was originally a purchased slave from Turkistan, but he rose from that position and the menial services of water-carrier and huntsman to be prime minister and ultimately emperor. His devotion to his gentle master, Nasir-ad-din, was unswerving, whether as servant, general, or statesman, and on the death of Nasir he succeeded to the crown as Emperor Balban and reigned for twenty years himself, with the same qualities of noble greatness that marked all his previous life, which leave on our minds the impression that Balban was one of the strongest personalities among India’s rulers.

The history of this notable man’s earlier career is

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told in the annals of Nasir-ad-din, which were written by Minhaj-as-Siraj, the Mohammedan historian who has already been quoted at length, and an excerpt from his work forms a suitable chapter to trace the upward steps by which Ulugh Khan rose to fame:–

The Sultan Ulugh Khan-i-Azam, otherwise called Ghiyas-ad-din Balban, belonged to the stock of the Khakans of Albari. His father was khan over ten thousand houses (khanah), and the family was well known in Albari, among the Turkish tribes of Turkistan. Now, inasmuch as the Almighty desired to grant a support to the power of Islam and strength to the Mohammedan faith, to extend His glorious shadow over it, and to preserve Hindustan within the range of His favour and protection, He removed Ulugh Khan in his youth from Turkistan, separating him from his race and kindred, and from his tribe and relations, and conveying him to the country of Hindustan, for the purpose of curbing the Moghuls. God conducted him to Baghdad, and from that city to Gujarat, where Khwaja Jamal-ad-din Basri, a man remarkable for piety and integrity, ability and worth, purchased him and brought him up carefully like a son. Intelligence and ability shone out clearly in his countenance, and his patron, Jamal, looked upon him with an eye of kindness and treated him with especial consideration.

In the year 630 A.H. (1232 A.D.), Jamal-ad-din took Ulugh Khan to Delhi, in the days when Sultan Shams-ad-din Altamish adorned the throne; and when the Sultan perceived that Ulugh was a youth of great promise,

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he bought him and made him his personal attendant, placing the hawk of fortune, so to say, upon his wrist. His power now became conspicuous; but when Sultan Rukn-ad-din ascended the throne, Ulugh accompanied the Turks from Delhi to Hindustan, and when they were brought back, he returned to Delhi in their army.

The Diwan-i-Aam at Delhi

He was imprisoned for some days and subjected to indignity. The design in this may have been (God knows!) that he should taste the sufferings of the miserable, so that when he attained to sovereign rank, he might have compassion on them and be thankful for his own exaltation.

When the Empress Raziya ascended the throne, Ulugh Khan continued to be one of the royal attendants

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till fortune favoured him and he became chief huntsman. Fate proclaimed that the earth was to be the prey of his fortune and the world the game of his sovereignty. He held this office and discharged its duties for some time, till the sun of the supremacy of Raziya set and that of Mu’izz-ad-din Bahrain Shah shone forth. Fortune still befriended him. After remaining some time in his position of chief huntsman, performing his service and exhibiting marks of ability, he was made master of the horse. The steed of sovereignty and empire thus came under his bridle and control. When Badr-ad-din Sankar became lord chamberlain, he showed a paternal interest in Ulugh Khan and took such care of his advancement that he was raised to a higher position and received a grant of the lands of Riwari. He went to that place, and by his vigour and bravery punished the hill chiefs and brought the district under his sway.

When the power of the Mu’izzi dynasty was declining, the nobles conspired together and came to the gates of the city of Delhi. The princes and nobles all agreed as to the course to be pursued. Ulugh Khan, grantee of Riwari, displayed such energy and exhibited such remarkable resolution in securing the submission of the provinces, that no one of the princes and nobles, Turks or Arabs, was worth the hundredth part of him. All the confederates admitted that he surpassed them all in vigour, courage, and activity. When Delhi was conquered, he received a grant of Hansi. On taking possession of that territory, he applied himself

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to its improvement, and through his justice and generosity all the inhabitants were happy and contented. His success was so great that other nobles began to look upon him with jealousy and the thorn of envy commenced to rankle in their hearts. But it was the will of God that he should excel them all, so that the more the fire of their envy burnt, the stronger did the incense of his fortune rise from the censer of the times.

Trustworthy persons have recorded that in the year 641 A.H. (1243 A.D.) Ulugh Khan was appointed lord chamberlain. When the royal army marched from the capital, he inflicted a severe chastisement on the rebels of Jalali and Dewali, and also on the Mawas in the Doab district between the Ganges and Jumna. He fought much against the infidels and cleared the roads and neighbouring country from insurgents.

In the year 643 A.H. (1245 A.D.) the accursed Mangu Khan, who was one of the generals of the Moghuls and a prince of Turkistan, marched from the neighbourhood of Talikan and Kunduz into Sind. He laid siege to Uchh, one of the most renowned fortresses of Sind, which was commanded by a eunuch who belonged to the household of Taj-ad-din. When word regarding the invasion reached the court, Ulugh Khan made known his views to the Sultan and prepared an army to withstand the Moghuls. The princes and nobles were opposed to this expedition, but Ulugh Khan was very earnest about it.

When the royal army marched toward the seat of

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A scene at Lahore

warfare, Ulugh Khan appointed guides to lead the way, so that the marches might be made with the greatest celerity. In ordinary cases eight leagues would be one day’s march, but under his arrangements twelve leagues, or even more, were accomplished. The army arrived on the banks of the Biyah, crossed the river, and reached Lahore on the banks of the Ravi. There Ulugh Khan showed great energy and bravery in pushing forward the expedition, and incited the Sultan and the nobles to be zealous in the repulse of the infidel Moghuls.

On Monday, the twenty-fifth of Sha’ban, 643 A.H. (Jan. 15, 1246 A.D.), word was brought to the royal camp that the Moghuls had raised the siege of Uchh. The reason of their retreat was that when Ulugh Khan had reached the Biyah, he had sent messengers bearing letters from the Sultan to the garrison of the fort, announcing the approach of the royal army and dilating upon the vast numbers of the soldiers and elephants and describing the great valour and spirit of the forces which followed the royal standards. He also sent an advance force to reconnoitre. When the messengers came near Uchh, some of the letters fell into the hands of the besiegers, and some reached the garrison of the

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Exterior of the Jami Masjid at Delhi

fort. The drums were beaten in the fort to announce the joy of the besieged, and when the contents of the letters and the approach of the army of Islam became fully known to the foe, and when the horsemen of the vanguard were in the vicinity of Sind on the banks of the river Biyah, fear and dismay fell upon the hearts of the infidels, and the goodness of God lent its aid to the forces of Islam. Trusty men record that when Mangu Khan heard of the approach of the army of Islam under the royal standard, he was seized with panic and neither he nor his forces was able longer to make a stand. He divided his army into three bodies and fled.

After the achievement of this victory, Ulugh Khan advised that the royal army should march toward the river Sodra (Chinab), that it might impress the minds of the enemy with the great power, bravery, and magnitude of the army of Islam. The army accordingly proceeded to the banks of the Sodra, and from thence, on the twenty-seventh of Shawwal, 643 A.H. (Mar. 17, 1246 A.D.), it returned to Delhi, which it reached on Monday, the twelfth of Zu-l-hijja of the same year.

For some time past the mind of Sultan Ala-ad-din had been alienated from the nobles, he was seldom visible to the army, and besides this he had given himself up to depravity. The nobles all agreed to write secretly from Delhi to Nasir-ad-din, urging him to seize the throne. On Sunday, the twenty-third of Muharram, 644 A.H. (June 10, 1246 A.D.), he went to Delhi and sat upon the seat of empire. The Khutba of Islam was

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read and coin of the realm was struck in Nasir’s auspicious name. When Ulugh Khan represented how the accursed foe had fled before the armies of Islam in the previous year and had gone to the upper districts, it seemed advisable that the royal army should proceed in that direction. This advice was approved and orders were given for the march.

The army set forth on Monday, the first of Rajab, 644 A.H. (Nov. 12, 1246 A.D.), and proceeded to the river Sodra. Here Ulugh Khan was detached with several nobles and generals to make an incursion into the hills of Jud. The Rana of these hills had acted as guide to the Moghuls, but the hour of revenge for this was at hand. Ulugh Khan accordingly attacked the hills of Jud and the countries on the Jihlam, and led his forces as far as the banks of the Indus. All the women and dependents of the infidels that were in those regions were obliged to flee, and a party of the Moghul army crossed over the Jihlam and saw the forces which were arrayed under the command of Ulugh Khan. The manifold lines of the army, the numbers of the horse, and the wealth of armour filled all beholders with wonder and dismay. The bravery and generalship which Ulugh Khan displayed in scaling mountains, breaking through defiles, capturing fortified places, and crossing jungles cannot be described in writing. The fame of this campaign extended to Turkistan. There was no husbandry or agriculture in this country, however, and fodder became unobtainable, so that he was compelled to retire; but he returned victorious and triumphant to the

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royal camp, bringing back all his officers and troops in safety.

On Thursday, the sixth of Zu-l-ka’da, 644 A.H. (March 16, 1247 A.D.), his Majesty returned to the capital, which he reached on Thursday, the second of Muharram, 645 A.H. The perseverance and resolution of Ulugh Khan had been the means of showing to the army of Turkistan and the Moghuls such bravery and generalship that in the course of this year no one came from the upper districts toward Sind. Ulugh Khan, therefore, represented to his Majesty, in the month of Sha’ban, that the time had come to make an expedition into Hindustan, by which spoil would fall into the hands of the soldiers of Islam and wealth would be gained to strengthen the hands of the State in resisting the Moghuls.

The royal armies accordingly marched to Hindustan, passing through the Doab region between the Ganges and the Jumna. After some fighting, the fort of Nandana was captured, and Ulugh Khan was sent with some other generals and a Mohammedan force to oppose Dalaki-wa-Malaki, a powerful prince in the vicinity of the Jumna, between Kalinjar and Karra, over whom the kings of Kalinjar and Malwa had no authority. When Ulugh Khan reached his abode, Dalaki-wa-Malaki provided so carefully for the safety of himself and his family that he kept quiet from dawn until the time of evening prayer, and when it grew dark he fled to some more secure place. At daybreak, the Mohammedan army entered his abode and then pursued him,

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Indian village women

but the accursed infidel had escaped into the lofty mountains, where he could not be reached except by stratagem and the use of ropes and ladders. Ulugh Khan incited his soldiers to make the attempt, and, under his able direction, they succeeded in taking the place. All Dalaki-wa-Malaki’s wives, dependents, and children fell into the hands of the victors, together with many cattle, horses, and slaves, so that the spoil which was secured exceeded all computation. At the beginning of Shawwal, 645 A.H. (February, 1248 A.D.), the forces of Ulugh Khan returned to the royal camp with their booty, and after the festival of sacrifices, the whole army marched toward Delhi, which it reached on the fourth of Muharram, 646 A.H. (April, 1248 A.D.).

In Sha’ban, 646 A.H. (November, 1248 A.D.), the royal army marched through the upper country to the neighbourhood of the Biyah and then returned to the capital. Ulugh Khan, with several nobles under him, was sent with an ample force toward Rantambhor, the capital of Bahar Deo, who was the greatest of the rajas of Hindustan. He ravaged the whole of those territories and gained much booty.

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On Monday, the third of Safar, 647 A.H. (May 18, 1249 A.D.), Ulugh Khan and his army arrived at Delhi. In the course of this year his Majesty was pleased to recognize the great ability and distinguished services of his general, whom he promoted from the rank of a general and the office of lord chamberlain to the dignity of a Khan, while on Tuesday, the third of Rajab, 647 A.H. (Oct. 12, 1249 A.D.), he named him lieutenant of the government, army, and royal fortune, with the title of Ulugh Khan. The truth of the adage that “the worth of titles is revealed by heaven” was proved in this case, for from that day forth the services of Ulugh Khan to the house of Nasir-ad-din became still more conspicuous.

On Tuesday, the twenty-fifth of Sha’ban, 649 A.H. (Nov. 12, 1251 A.D.), the royal army marched toward Malwa and Kalinjar. When Ulugh Khan arrived there with the army of Islam, he defeated Jahir of Ijari, a great king, who had a large army and many adherents, and destroyed both him and his kingdom. On Monday, the twenty-third of Rabi’-al-awwal, 650 A.H. (June 25, 1252 A.D.), the army returned to Delhi and remained there for six months. On the twelfth of Shawwal of the same year (Jan. 18, 1250 A.D.), it marched through the upper country to the Biyah, but when the army reached the banks of that river, Imad-ad-din Rihan conspired with other chiefs and excited envy and enmity against Ulugh Khan, since they found their own importance dimmed by his glory, and they resolved to do some hurt and injury to his august person,

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either in hunting, in passing through mountain defiles, or in crossing rivers. Ulugh Khan’s good fortune preserved him, however, and his adversaries were unable to do him any harm. When they found that their plans were ineffectual, they agreed upon another course, and presenting themselves at the doors of the royal tent, urged upon his Majesty that Ulugh Khan ought to be sent to his estates at Hansi.

On Saturday, the new moon of Muharram, 651 A.H. (March, 1253 A.D.), Ulugh Khan accordingly proceeded to Hansi with his followers and family. When the Sultan reached Delhi, the thorn of envy, which still festered in the malicious heart of Rihan, impelled him to recommend his Majesty to send Ulugh Khan to Nagor and to give the country of Hansi to one of the royal princes. His Majesty accordingly went to Hansi, and the Khan was removed to Nagor. This happened in Jumada-l-akhir, 651 A.H. On his departure for Hansi, Imad-ad-din Rihan became viceroy, and the execution of the royal commands passed into his hands.

On returning to the capital, on the seventeenth of Shawwal, Malik Saif-ad-din Kishli Khan, brother of Ulugh Khan, was sent to his estate of Karra, and Izz-ad-din Balban, son-in-law of Katlagh Khan, was appointed lord chamberlain. All the officers who had been appointed at the instance of Ulugh Khan were removed, and the business and quietude of the State were disturbed through the machinations of Imad-ad-din.

At this period, Ulugh Khan, who was at Nagor, led a Mohammedan force in the direction of Rantambhor,

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The Tower of Victory at Chitor

Hindi, and Chitor. Bahar Deo, Raja of Rantambhor, the most noble and illustrious of all the princes of Hindustan, assembled an army to inflict a blow on Ulugh

Khan; but it was the will of God that the name of the Khan should be celebrated for his victories, and although the raja’s army was large and well equipped with arms and horses, it was put to flight and many of its valiant fighting-men were slain.

The Mussulmans obtained great spoil and captured many horses and

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prisoners, after which they returned to Nagor, which had become a place of great importance in consequence of Ulugh Khan’s presence.

At the opening of the year 651 A.H. (1253 A.D.) those who had suffered oppression and hardship through the disgrace of Ulugh Khan retired to their homes, and like fish out of water, and as sick men without slumber, from night till morn and from morn till night, they offered up their prayers to the Creator, imploring Him to let the dawn of Ulugh Khan’s prosperity break forth in splendour and dispel by its brilliant light the darkness due to his rival Imad-ad-din Milan. The Almighty graciously gave ear to the prayers of the wretched and harkened to the cries of the distressed, so that the victorious banners of Ulugh Khan were carried out from Nagor, and he went to Delhi, the capital.

The circumstances of his coming were as follows. The nobles and servants of the State were all Turks of pure origin and Arabs of good stock, but Imad-ad-din Rihan was a eunuch and belonged to one of the tribes of Hindustan. Notwithstanding all this, he exercised authority over the heads of all those chiefs until they became disgusted with the state of affairs and could no longer endure it. They suffered so much from the hands of the bullies who were retained by Imad-ad-din Rihan, that for six months they could not leave their houses nor even go to prayers on Fridays. The chiefs of Hindustan, Karra, Manikpur, Oudh, and the upper country as far as Badaun, Tabarhindh, Sanam,

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Samana, and the Siwalik Hills, accordingly sent to Ulugh Khan, inviting him to return. Arslan Khan led an army out of Tabarhindh, Ban Khan came forth from Sanam and Mansurpur, and Ulugh Khan collected his forces in Nagor and the Siwalik Hills. Malik Jalal-ad-din Mas’ud Shah ibn Sultan joined them from Lahore, and they marched upon the capital.

Imad-ad-din Rihan advised his Majesty to go forth and repress the malcontents, and accordingly he led his army toward Salaam. Ulugh Khan was in the neighbourhood of Tabarhindh with several other chiefs. On the twenty-seventh of Ramazan, 652 A.H. (Nov. 10, 1254 A.D.), the opposing armies drew near to each other, the outposts met, and great disquietude arose. The festival of the end of the fast of Ramazan was passed at Sanam, and on Saturday, the eighth of Shawwal (Nov. 21), the royal army fell back to Hansi. Malik Jalal-ad-din, Ulugh Khan, and the nobles with them proceeded to Kaithal, whereupon the chiefs and nobles on both sides deemed it desirable to hold a parley. Karra Jamak, a personal attendant of Ulugh Khan and well known for his integrity, acted on the part of the insurgents; and the noble of the black banner, Hisam-ad-din Katlagh, a man of conciliatory character and great probity, was deputed to meet him

The discontented nobles ‘represented to his Majesty that they were all willing to obey his commands, but that they had no security against the machinations and outrageous conduct of Imad-ad-din Rihan. If he were banished from the court, they would all submit and

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would willingly obey the orders of the Sultan. The royal army marched from Hansi to Jind, and on Saturday, the twenty-second of Shawwal, 652 A.H. (Dec. 5, 1254 A.D.), Imad-ad-din was dismissed from his office of minister (thanks be to God for it!) and was given, instead, the privileges attaching to the government of Badaun.

Izz-ad-din Balban, deputy of the lord chamberlain, repaired to the camp of Ulugh Khan, and on Tuesday, the third of Zu-l-ka’da, Ban Khan Aybek Khitai came to the royal camp to make the final arrangements regarding the terms of peace. An extraordinary plot was now formed, since Imad-ad-din Khan, aided by a number of Turks of low degree, who were inimical to Ulugh Khan, resolved to murder Ban Khan Aybek Khitai at the entrance of the royal tent, in order that Ulugh Khan, on hearing of the assassination, might slay Izz-ad-din Balban in retaliation. Peace would thus be prevented, Imad-ad-din would retain his position in safety, and Ulugh Khan would be unable to come to court. Kutb-ad-din Hasan heard of the conspiracy and sent one of the chief attendants of the chamberlain to Ban Khan, advising him not to go to the royal tent in the morning, but to remain at his own lodging. Ban Khan acted on this advice, and the plot failed. The facts became known, and Imad-ad-din was sent off to Badaun at the command of the Sultan.

On Tuesday, the seventeenth of Zu-l-ka’da, his Majesty, in his desire of making peace, directed Minhaj-as-Siraj, the author of this history, to offer terms of

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agreement to all. On the next day, Ulugh Khan came to court with the other nobles and had the honour of kissing hands. The Sultan then turned homewards, accompanied by Ulugh Khan, and reached the capital on Wednesday, the ninth of Zu-l-hijja. The kindness of the Almighty now became manifest. For a long time there had been no rain, but upon the approach of Ulugh Khan the Almighty displayed His mercy, and the rain, which is the life of herbs and plants, and of men and animals, descended upon the earth. No wonder, then, that men regarded the return of Ulugh Khan as a happy omen, that his compeers rejoiced over it, and that all were grateful to the Almighty for His bounty.

The year 653 A.H. (1255 A.D.) opened. Something happened in the royal harem of which no one had accurate knowledge, but Katlagh Khan, the stepfather of the Sultan, was directed to take charge of the government of Oudh, and thither he proceeded. At the same time the government of Bahraich was given to Imad-ad-din Rihan. The success of Ulugh Khan shone forth with brilliant radiance, the garden of the world began to put forth leaf, and the key of divine mercy opened the doors of the hearts of men who had been driven into seclusion.

After Katlagh Khan had been in Oudh some time, the course of events rendered him disaffected. Repeated. and imperative orders were sent to him from court, but he paid no heed to them. Imad-ad-din Rihan busied himself in stirring up strife, and endeavoured by intrigue

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and deceit to cast the dust of his selfish plots on the prosperity of Ulugh Khan and to cloud the glory of that dignitary with the emanations of his malice. But “Divine mercy is forever sufficient,” and it prevented the success of these schemes. Malik Taj-ad-din Sanjar had been confined in prison by Katlagh Khan. By a bold device the captive escaped from Oudh and crossing the river Saru (Gogra) in a boat, he proceeded with a few horsemen to Bahraich. By the decree of fate, the fortune of the Turks now triumphed, and the power of the Hindus was levelled to the dust. Imad-ad-din was defeated and taken prisoner, and was put to death in Bahraich in the month of Rajab, 653 A.H. (Aug., 1255 A.D.). With him Katlagh Khan’s fortunes declined.

When these disturbances arose in Hindustan, several of the chief nobles of the court were drawn away from their allegiance, and it became necessary to put down the insurrection and to punish the disaffected nobles. The army accordingly left Delhi, on the new moon of Shawwal, 653 A.H. (Dec., 1255 A.D.), and marched toward Hindustan. Delay had occurred in assembling the forces of the Siwalik Hills, which were included in the government of Ulugh Khan, so he hastened to Hansi. He arrived there on the seventeenth of Zu-l-ka’da, and so exerted himself that in fourteen days the soldiers of the Siwalik Hills, Hansi, Sarsuti, Jind, Barwala, and the neighbouring regions were collected, and marched in great force to Delhi, where they arrived on the third of Zu-l-hijja. Ulugh Khan remained in

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MohammedanTombAtDelhi A Mohammedan tomb at Delhi

Delhi eighteen days, recruiting and refitting the army of Mewat and the hills.

On the nineteenth of the month he marched with a brave and well equipped army to the royal camp, and reached Oudh in the month of Muharram, 654 A.H. (Feb., 1256 A.D.).

Katlagh Khan and the nobles who were in league with him were all subjects of the Sultan, but adverse circumstances led them to revolt. From Oudh they retreated over the river Saru, and by royal command Ulugh Khan pursued them with a strong force. They had got a good start, however, the jungles were dense, the roads difficult, and the trees numerous,

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so that he could not come up with them. Nevertheless, he advanced as far as Bishanpur, on the confines of Tirhut, and returned with great spoil to the royal camp. When Ulugh Khan crossed the Saru from Oudh on his return from the pursuit, his Majesty marched toward the capital, and Ulugh Khan joined the royal army at Kasmandi. “On Tuesday, the sixth of Rabi’-al-awwal, 654 A.H. (May, 1256 A.D.), they arrived at Delhi.

Katlagh Khan had found no place in ‘Hindustan where he could make a stand, so in the midst of the campaign he proceeded toward Santur and strengthened himself in the hills of that country. The chiefs paid him every respect, for he was a noble of high rank, a grandee of the court, and one of the principal Turks. He had strong claims, therefore, upon his compeers, and wherever he went he was treated with great consideration.

He made himself secure in the hills of Santur, where he was joined by the Raja Debal Hindi, who held a prominent rank among the Hindus. When the news of this alliance reached the royal camp, the army marched toward Santur, at the beginning of Rabi’-al-awwal, 655 A.H. (Mar., 1257 A.D.). With great difficulty and after much fighting, Ulugh Khan, with the royal army and some officers of the court, made his way into the hills and seized upon the passes and defiles. He penetrated as far as Salmur, a fort and district belonging to the raja, who fled before Ulugh Khan, while the city and markets of Salmur fell into the hands of the army of Islam. By the favour of

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God the soldiers of Ulugh Khan thus subdued a place which the Mohammedan armies had never reached before, and they returned laden with plunder to the capital, where they arrived on the fifth of Rabi’-al-akhir, 655 A.H. (April, 1257 A.D.).

When the royal army had returned to Delhi, Katlagh Khan issued from the mountains of Salmur, and Malik Balban Kishlu Khan came from Sind to the banks of the Biyah, where the two chiefs joined their forces and marched toward Samana and Kahram, taking possession of the country. The Sultan sent Ulugh Khan, Kishli Khan, and several other nobles to quell this revolt. Ulugh Khan left Delhi on Thursday, the fifteenth of Jumada-l-awwal, 655 A.H. (May 31, 1257 A.D.), and hastened with all speed to Kaithal. Katlagh Khan was in the vicinity, and the two armies approached each other. Ulugh Khan deemed it expedient to detach the household troops from the main army, and placed them under the. command of his cousin, Sher Khan. The main body, together with the elephants, he put under the command of his own brother, Kishli Khan, the lord chamberlain, thus forming two distinct divisions.

The opposing armies drew near to each other in the vicinity of Samana and Kaithal, and their lines were within view on either side. While they were thus confronting each other, a man came as a spy from the camp of Malik Balban Kishlu Khan, representing that he was sent on behalf of the chiefs and nobles that were with Malik Balban, who were desirous of joining

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An engine of war

Iflugh Khan. If a promise of immunity and fair treatment were given them, and a grant made for the support of the bearer of these overtures, he would win over all the chiefs and nobles who were with Balban, and would arrange matters as far as other officers were concerned.

Perceiving the fellow’s intentions, “Hugh Khan gave orders that the whole of the army should be shown to him; and all the troops, munitions, and implements of war, as well as the elephants and horses, were accordingly displayed before his eyes. The Khan then dictated a letter to the chiefs and nobles in the following terms: “Your letter has reached me, and its import has been understood. I have no doubt that, if you submit, grants will be made to you all, and your maintenance will be most amply provided for; but if you take a different course, then, on this very day, the world shall learn how your pretensions will be settled by the wounds of the trenchant sword and the flaming spear, and how you will be carried fettered with the bonds of fate to the foot of the royal standard.” This letter was delivered to the spy, and he returned.

When the letter was delivered to the officers of Malik Balban, those of them who were wise perceived its drift, and knew that the dissensions between the nobles and generals would be settled elsewhere. Fresh letters now arrived from Delhi, and Malik Balban and

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Katlagh Khan set forth in that direction and showed no intention of returning. Two days later, Ulugh Khan became aware of their design, and his mind was troubled as to what might happen to the throne and capital. After this extraordinary incident, letters reached him from Delhi, and he turned thither, reaching the city in safety.

After Ulugh Khan had remained quietly in the capital for seven months, news came that the army of the infidel Moghuls, under the command of Salin Nawin, had made a descent upon Sind. When these tidings reached the capital, Ulugh Khan advised his Majesty to set the royal army in motion, and it marched forth accordingly on the second of Muharram, 656 A.H. (January 9, 1258 A.D.), encamping within sight of the city. Orders were sent to all parts of the kingdom, directing the nobles and officers to collect what forces they could and to join the army.

With a numerous and well-appointed army, Ulugh Khan marched in company with his Majesty and all the nobles, attended by their followers. When the infidel Moghul heard of this host on the frontier which he had assailed, he advanced no farther and showed no spirit. It seemed expedient, therefore, for the royal army to remain within sight of the city of Delhi for four months or more, making various forays. At length word came that the accursed foe had retreated, and all disquietude on his account was at an end.

Ulugh Khan was now informed that Arslan Khan Sanjar and Kalij Khan Mas’ud Khani had taken alarm

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at the orders which they had received to join the royal camp, and were meditating revolt. Ulugh Khan advised his Majesty to nip this project in the bud and to smother their intentions before they had time to form and gather strength. The advice was approved and followed, although it was the hot season and the army was depleted by the inroad of the Moghuls. On Tuesday, the sixth of Jumada-l-akhir, the royal forces marched toward Hindustan and reached the neighbourhood of Karra and Manikpur, where Ulugh Khan exerted himself most strenuously in punishing the rebellious Hindus.

Upon the arrival of Ulugh Khan, the two confederates, Arslan Khan and Kalij Khan, parted, and were obliged to send their families and dependents among the Mawas. They also deputed some trusty persons to wait on Ulugh Khan and prevail upon him to inform the Sultan that they had been obliged to disperse their followers, and that they were ready to promise to come to the capital and do homage as soon as the royal army was withdrawn. Upon this representation the forces were recalled and reached the capital on Monday, the second of Ramazan, 656 A.H. (Sept. 2, 1258 A.D.). Arslan Khan and Kalij Khan repaired to court, where Ulugh Khan exerted himself so generously and strenuously in their behalf that their rebellion was forgiven, and in the course of two months Kalij Khan was appointed to govern Lakhnauti, while Arslan Khan was sent to rule over Karra.

On the thirteenth of Muharram, at the beginning

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of the year 657 A.H. (Jan., 1259 A.D.), the royal forces again marched from Delhi. Ulugh Khan now very properly used his influence in favour of his nephew, Sher Khan, and on Sunday, the twenty-first of Safar (Feb. 17, 1259 A.D.), all the territories of Bayana, Kol, Jalesar, and Gwalior were assigned to him. There was nothing to require the action of the army during the rest of the year. On Wednesday, the fourth of Jumada-l-akhir (May 29, 1259 A.D.), treasure, wealth, and many valuables, together with two elephants, were brought to court from Lakhnauti, as presents from Izz-ad-din Balban Uzbeg, who was grantee of Lakhnauti; and by the influence of Ulugh Khan the grant was confirmed, and honours were bestowed upon him.

At the beginning of 658 A.H. (Dec., 1259 A.D.), Ulugh Khan resolved upon a campaign in the hills near Delhi. These hills were inhabited by a turbulent people, who committed depredations on the roads, plundered the goods of Mussulmans, drove away the cultivators, and ravaged the villages in the districts of Harriana, the Siwalik Hills, and Bayana. Three years before, they had carried off from Hansi a drove of camels and a number of the people of Ulugh Khan. Their chief was a Hindu named Malka, a fierce and desperate fellow, who had carried off the camels and fomented disturbances among the Hindus from the hills to Rantambhor. He did these things, however, at a moment when the army was otherwise engaged and the soldiers and followers of Ulugh Khan had not the means to transport their baggage and implements. Ulugh Khan and

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The Tomb of Mohammad Ghaus at Gwalior.

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all the princes and nobles were sorely vexed, but it was then impossible to do anything, as the army was fully employed in repelling the Moghul forces which had attacked the frontiers of Islam in Sind, at Lahore, and in the vicinity of the river Biyah. At this time, ambassadors to the Sultan came to Khorasan from Irak, on behalf of Hulaku Mughal, son of Toli, son of Chingiz Khan, and orders were given that the embassy was to halt at Maruta.

Ulugh Khan and other nobles, with the royal troops and their own followers, suddenly resolved upon a campaign in the hills, and started on Monday, the fourth of Safar, 658 A.H. (Jan., 1260 A.D.). In their first forced march they accomplished nearly fifty leagues and fell unexpectedly upon the rebels, who retreated to the tops of the mountains and to defiles, deep gorges, and narrow valleys, only to be taken and put to the sword. For twenty days the troops traversed the hills in all directions. The villages and habitations of the mountaineers were on the summits of the loftiest hills and rocks and were of great strength, but they were all stormed and ravaged by order of Ulugh Khan, and the inhabitants were slain. A piece of silver was offered for every head, and two pieces for every man brought in alive. Eager for these rewards, the soldiers, especially the Afghans, climbed the highest hills and penetrated the deepest gorges, bringing in heads and captives. Fortune now favoured Ulugh Khan so that he was able to penetrate to a fastness which no Mussulman army had ever reached, and thus the Hindu rebel,

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A group of Afghans

Malka, who had carried off the camels, was taken prisoner with his children and dependents, while 250 of the chiefs of the rebels were captured.

In the course of twenty days this great work was accomplished, and the army returned to Delhi on the twenty-fourth of Rabi’-al-awwal, 658 A.H. (Mar. 9, 1260 A.D.). His Majesty, with a great retinue of chiefs and nobles, went forth to the plain of Hauz-rani, to meet the conqueror, and a grand durbar was held, in which many honours and rewards were bestowed. After a stay of two days in the capital, the court again went forth to Hauz-rani on a mission of revenge. The elephants were prepared, and the Turks made ready their trenchant swords. By royal command many of the

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rebels were cast under the feet of elephants, and the fierce Turks cut the bodies of the Hindus in two. About a hundred met their death at the hands of the flayers, being skinned from head to foot, after which their skins were all stuffed with straw, and some of them were hung over each gate of the city. The plain of Hauz-rani and the gates of Delhi remembered no punishment like this, nor had any one ever heard such a tale of horror.

Ulugh Khan now represented to the Sultan that the Moghul ambassadors in Khorasan should be brought to court and granted an interview. On Wednesday, the seventh of Rabi’-al-akbir, the court accordingly proceeded to the Green Palace, and Ulugh Khan gave orders for armed men to be collected from all quarters round Delhi to the number of two hundred thousand foot and fifty thousand horse, with banners and accoutrements. Great numbers of armed men of all ranks went forth from the capital and assembled at the royal residence in the new city of Kilu-ghari, where they were drawn up shoulder to shoulder in twenty lines. When the ambassadors entered the city, they were received with the utmost honour and were conducted before the throne with the highest possible ceremony. The palace was decked out in the most splendid array, all the princes, nobles, and officers attended in gorgeous dresses, and a poem written by the author of this work was recited before the throne. After the reception the ambassadors were conducted in great state to the place appointed for their abode.

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When Ulugh Khan carried war into the hills and punished the rebels in the way we have related, a number of them escaped by flight. These survivors again took to plundering on the highways and murdering Mussulmans to such an extent that the roads became dangerous. When this matter was reported to Ulugh Khan, he sent emissaries and spies to find out the places where. the rebels had taken refuge, and to make a full report of their state and condition. On Monday, the twenty-fourth of Rajab, 658 A.H. (July, 1260 A.D.), he marched from Delhi with his own troops, the main army, and the forces of several chiefs. He hastened toward the hills, and, accomplishing more than fifty leagues in one day’s journey, he fell upon the insurgents unawares and captured them all, to the number of twelve thousand – men, women, and children – whom he put to the sword. All their valleys and strongholds were overrun and cleared, and great booty was captured. Thanks be to God for this victory of Islam!

This concludes the principal events of Ulugh Khan’s career until the death of his royal master, Nasir-ad-din, six years later, in 1266 A.D., when Ulugh, the great statesman and general, became king himself under the title of Balban, as already described by Professor Lane-Poole in the third volume of this series.

This collection transcribed by Chris Gage
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