Delhi Under Bahram and Masud, and the Mongol Invasions
During Sultan Iltutmish's reign, the Mongols first appeared near the Indus in 1221. This post discusses the invasion of Mongols occurred during the time of Iltutmish's weak successors, Muizz al-Din Bahram (r: 1240-1242) and Ala al-Din Masud (r: 1242-1246).
Aitegin, the Naib (deputy), stipulated with Bahram, suggesting that, since the Sultan was young, he should entrust the administration of the kingdom to Aitegin for one year.
Aitegin then proceeded to manage the affairs of the kingdom in union with Nizam-ul-Mulk Muhazzab-ud-din. In order to further strengthen his position, Aitegin married Bahram's divorced sister.
After a couple of months, Sultan Bahram became concerned about Aitegin's ambitious behavior and sought ways to eliminate the threat. He secretly hired two Turks to assassinate both Aitegin and Nizam-ul-Mulk. Aitegin was killed, but Nizam-ul-Mulk, despite sustaining injuries, managed to escape. As soon as Nizam-ul-Mulk recovered, he returned to the court as usual, but waited for an opportunity to seek revenge on Bahram.
In September 1240, Raziyya with her husband Altunia marched towards Delhi to regain her throne. Bahram sent an army to oppose them, resulting in their defeat. After the assassination of Raziyya, the sovereign power was firmly established in the hands of Bahram.
Shortly thereafter, Badr-ud-din Sunkar Rumi, the Amir-i-Hajib, conspired with several influential nobles to overthrow Bahram. However, Nizam-ul-Mulk, who hated Badr-ud-din, gave intimation to Bahram about this plot. Bahram executed all of the conspirators at various times.
After these events, the amirs became frightened and apprehensive of the Sultan.
Following the sacking of Lahore, the Mongol forces withdrew. (Ogedei Khan died on the second day after the capture of Lahore.)
Bahram then sent Malik Qutub-ud-din Hasan and Nizam-ul-Mulk with an army to check the advance of the Mongols.
When the royal army reached the banks of the river Beas, Nizam-ul-Mulk began to sow the seeds of sedition in the minds of the amirs. He sent a secret message to Bahram, stating, "The Turkish amirs will never become obedient. It is advisable that an edict should be issued by His Majesty, that I and Qutub-ud-din, should destroy all the amirs and Turks, by such means as may be attainable, in order that the country may be clear of them."
Bahram wrote and sent out an edict as requested. When the edict reached the camp, the crafty wazir showed it to the amirs saying that the Sultan had issued that madate respecting them. They became incensed against Bahram and pledged themselves to effect the dethronement of Bahram.
When Bahram came to know of this insurrection, he dispatched the Muhammadan Patriarch Sayyid Qutbuddin for pacifying the amirs, but the Sayyid changed his mind when he reached the rebel camp.
Soon after, the rebels advanced to Delhi and besieged Bahram in the fortress. After a 4-month siege, Delhi was captured in May 1242, and Bahram was imprisoned and later executed.
Malik Balban was made the governor of the provinces of Nagaur, Mandawar and Ajmer. Ghiyas-ud-din Balban (afterwards Sultan Balban) became the Amir-i-Hajib (Lord Chamberlain).
Nizam-ul-Mulk Muhazzab-ud-din, the wazir, gained full control of the kingdom. He had previously turned the Turkish amirs against Bahram, but now he deprived them of all power. The amirs conspired against him and eventually killed him.
Masud conferred upon his two uncles, Nasir-ud-din (afterwards Sultan Nasir-ud-din Mahmud) and Jalal-ud-din, the governments of Bahraich and Kannauj.
Shortly afterwards, Masud began to engage in unworthy actions, such as killing the amirs. He neglected state affairs and indulged in drinking and sensual pleasures. The maliks and amirs turned against him and secretly invited Prince Nasir-ud-din Mahmud from Bahraich. When Nasir-ud-din reached Delhi, the nobles cast Ala-ud-din Masud into prison, where he met his end.
Reign of Muizz al-Din Bahram
Following Sultan Raziyya's imprisonment at Bhatinda, the maliks and amirs installed her half-brother, Muizz-ud-din Bahram, on the throne of Delhi in April 1240. The deputy-ship was assigned to Malik Ikhtiyar al-Din Aitegin, while Nizam-ul-Mulk Khwaja Muhazzab al-Din continued as wazir.
Aitegin, the Naib (deputy), stipulated with Bahram, suggesting that, since the Sultan was young, he should entrust the administration of the kingdom to Aitegin for one year.
Aitegin then proceeded to manage the affairs of the kingdom in union with Nizam-ul-Mulk Muhazzab-ud-din. In order to further strengthen his position, Aitegin married Bahram's divorced sister.
After a couple of months, Sultan Bahram became concerned about Aitegin's ambitious behavior and sought ways to eliminate the threat. He secretly hired two Turks to assassinate both Aitegin and Nizam-ul-Mulk. Aitegin was killed, but Nizam-ul-Mulk, despite sustaining injuries, managed to escape. As soon as Nizam-ul-Mulk recovered, he returned to the court as usual, but waited for an opportunity to seek revenge on Bahram.
In September 1240, Raziyya with her husband Altunia marched towards Delhi to regain her throne. Bahram sent an army to oppose them, resulting in their defeat. After the assassination of Raziyya, the sovereign power was firmly established in the hands of Bahram.
Shortly thereafter, Badr-ud-din Sunkar Rumi, the Amir-i-Hajib, conspired with several influential nobles to overthrow Bahram. However, Nizam-ul-Mulk, who hated Badr-ud-din, gave intimation to Bahram about this plot. Bahram executed all of the conspirators at various times.
After these events, the amirs became frightened and apprehensive of the Sultan.
Ogedei Khan's Invasion
In December 1241, Ogedei Khan, a son of Genghis Khan, sent an army under the command of Dayir to besiege Lahore. Malik Qaraqash, the governor of Lahore, fled to Delhi when he found that the people of Lahore were not assisting in defending the fort walls or fighting the Mongols. The Mongols then captured Lahore, where they massacred many of its inhabitants and took others captive.Following the sacking of Lahore, the Mongol forces withdrew. (Ogedei Khan died on the second day after the capture of Lahore.)
Bahram then sent Malik Qutub-ud-din Hasan and Nizam-ul-Mulk with an army to check the advance of the Mongols.
When the royal army reached the banks of the river Beas, Nizam-ul-Mulk began to sow the seeds of sedition in the minds of the amirs. He sent a secret message to Bahram, stating, "The Turkish amirs will never become obedient. It is advisable that an edict should be issued by His Majesty, that I and Qutub-ud-din, should destroy all the amirs and Turks, by such means as may be attainable, in order that the country may be clear of them."
Bahram wrote and sent out an edict as requested. When the edict reached the camp, the crafty wazir showed it to the amirs saying that the Sultan had issued that madate respecting them. They became incensed against Bahram and pledged themselves to effect the dethronement of Bahram.
When Bahram came to know of this insurrection, he dispatched the Muhammadan Patriarch Sayyid Qutbuddin for pacifying the amirs, but the Sayyid changed his mind when he reached the rebel camp.
Soon after, the rebels advanced to Delhi and besieged Bahram in the fortress. After a 4-month siege, Delhi was captured in May 1242, and Bahram was imprisoned and later executed.
Reign of Ala al-Din Masud
After Bahram's death, Malik Iz-ud-Din Balban-i-Kashlu Khan, who had led the rebellion against Bahram, proclaimed himself Sultan at Delhi. However, the majority of the nobility disapproved of this. They released from confinement Nasir-ud-din (afterwards Sultan Nasir-ud-din Mahmud) and Jalal-ud-din, the sons of Iltutmish, and Ala ud-din Masud, the son of Rukn-ud-din Firuz, the son of Iltutmish. The nobles then placed Ala ud-din Masud on the throne, and Malik Balban also sided with them.
Malik Balban was made the governor of the provinces of Nagaur, Mandawar and Ajmer. Ghiyas-ud-din Balban (afterwards Sultan Balban) became the Amir-i-Hajib (Lord Chamberlain).
Nizam-ul-Mulk Muhazzab-ud-din, the wazir, gained full control of the kingdom. He had previously turned the Turkish amirs against Bahram, but now he deprived them of all power. The amirs conspired against him and eventually killed him.
Masud conferred upon his two uncles, Nasir-ud-din (afterwards Sultan Nasir-ud-din Mahmud) and Jalal-ud-din, the governments of Bahraich and Kannauj.
Manguta Khan's Invasion
In 1244-45, an army of Mongols led by Manguta Khan besieged Uch. Masud assembled his forces and marched to confront the invaders. On their arrival near the banks of Beas, the Mongols learned that an immense army was advancing against them. They raised the siege and retreated to Khorasan.Shortly afterwards, Masud began to engage in unworthy actions, such as killing the amirs. He neglected state affairs and indulged in drinking and sensual pleasures. The maliks and amirs turned against him and secretly invited Prince Nasir-ud-din Mahmud from Bahraich. When Nasir-ud-din reached Delhi, the nobles cast Ala-ud-din Masud into prison, where he met his end.
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