Riyaz al-salatin 60: REIGN OF FATH SHAH, SON OF YUSUF SHAH.

60

After the death of Yusuf Shah, his son Sikandar Shah, ascended the throne. He had a little touch of lunacy. As he had no capacity for this important function, the nobles and the leaders deliberating that very day superseded him, and raised to the throne another son of Yusuf Shah, named Fath Shah. The latter was wise and sagacious. Observing with wisdom the usages of the rulers and sovereigns of the past, and bestowing on the nobles dignities according to their individual ranks, he pursued a liberal policy towards his subjects. In his reign, the gates of happiness and comfort were thrown open to the people of Bengal. It was then the established custom in Bengal for five thousand paiks to turn out every night with music, and for the king to go out for a while in the morning to receive their salute, and then to give them leave to depart, a new corps of paiks relieving them. One day, the eunuch of Fath Shah, bearing the name of Barbag, leagued with the paiks, and slew Fath Shah. This event took place in the year 896 A.H. Fath Shah's reign lasted seven years and five months.