MUIZUDDIN-BAHRAM SHAH
Bahram Shah was raised to the throne by the nobles on the condition that he would hand over all the powers of the state in the hands of his naib-i-mamlakat. First, Malik Ikhtiyar-ud-din Aitigin was given this post. But, would the Sultan agree to this situation? Bahram Shah accepted the power of the nobles but refused to compromise with his respect and privileges and therefore, he too was deposed fromm the throne and the nobles succeeded in enhancing further their position in the state.
Aitigin married one of the sisters of the Sultan, kept a naubat at the gate of his palace and also an elephant which were the special prerogatives of the Sultan. Therefore, Bahram felt offended and got him murdered in his office itself. No naib was appointed after him but very soon Badr-ud-din Sunqar who was an influential member of the Turkish nobility known as the forty appropriated all the powers of the state. Bahram Shah became dissatisfied with him as well, took Vazir to his side and conspired against Sunqar. Sunqar, in his own turn, Tried to depose the Sultan and plotted against him. But the vazir disclosed the conspiracy to the Sultan. Bahram Shah imprisoned all the conspirators but, realizing his weak position, failed to punish them severely. Some of them were deposed from their positions while others were sent outside Delhi. Sunqar was sent to Badaun from where he came back only after four months. Bahram Shah put him to death and also another noble, Saiyyid Taj-ud-din Ali Musawi.
The Turkish nobles were dissatisfied with the murder of Aitigin but the murders of Sunqar and Taj-ud-din alarmed them. The ulema were also dissatisfied with the Sultan. The vazir, Muhazab-ud-din now decided to make use of their dissatisfaction in his own favour. In 1241 A.D. he got the right opportunity when the Mongols besieged Lahore. He himself went with the army which was sent for the rescue of Lahore. In the way, he instigated the Turkish nobles by convincing them that the Sultan had given secret orders to kill them all. This infuriated the nobles who took an oath to depose the Sultan and returned to Delhi. Bahram Shah was captured and killed in May 1242 A.D. One of the Turkish nobles, Malik Izz-ud-din Balban Kishlu Khan, who had entered Delhi first, tried to make himself Sultan but as other noble sdid not agree to it, he gave up his claim. Ultimately, Ala-ud-din Masud, son of Firoz Shah was placed on the throne.
Note: This article is copy of a chapter of BOOK- History of Medieval India by L.P Sharma
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