[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Dark Ages](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages) › [Delhi Sultanate (1206–1526)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate) › [Ṭabaqāt-i Nāṣirī](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri) › [Tabakat-i-Nasiri](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty) › 196 # The Nāṣirī Generations 196: III. SULTAN RUKN-UD-DIN, FIRUZ SHAH, SON OF THE SULTAN \[I-YAL-TIMISH\]. Tabakat-i-Nasiri 196 - **Language:** English ### III. SULTAN RUKN-UD-DIN, FIRUZ SHAH, SON OF THE SULTAN \[I-YAL-TIMISH\]. ### [196.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.196.1) Sultan Rukn-ud-Din, Firuz Shah, was a beneficent sovereign, of handsome exterior, was endowed with gentleness and humanity to perfection, and in bountifulness and liberality he was a second Hatim. His mother, Shah Turkan, was a Turkish hand-maid, and the head \[woman\] of all the Sultan’s haram, and great was the bounty, benevolence, and charity, of that Malikah, towards ’Ulama, Sayyids, priests, and recluses. In the year 625 H. Sultan Rukn-ud-Din, Firuz Shah, obtained the fief of Buda’un, and a green canopy of state, and the ’Ain-ul-Mulk, Husain-i-Ash’ari, who was \[had been ?\] Wazir of Malik \[Sultan\] Nasir-ud-Din, Kaba-jah, at this time, became the Wazir of Sultan Rukn-ud-Din, Firuz Shah. When Sultan Shams-ud-Din returned to the capital, Dihli, from Gwaliyur, after the capture of that fortress and country, the territory of Lohor, which had been the seat of government of the Khusrau Maliki \[dynasty\], was conferred upon Sultan Rukn-ud-Din, Firuz Shah; and, on Sultan Shams-ud-Din's return from his last expedition, from the river Sind and Banian, he brought along with him, to the capital, his son Rukn-ud-Din, Firuz Shah, for the people had their eyes upon him, since, after \[the late\] Malik Nasir-ud-Din, Mahmud Shah, he was the eldest of Sultan Shams-ud-Din's sons. ### [196.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.196.2) When that august Sultan passed from the kingdom of this world to the throne of the world to come, the Maliks and grandees of the kingdom, by agreement, seated Ruknud-Din upon the throne, on Tuesday, the 21st of the month Sha'ban, 633 H., and the diadem and throne acquired beauty and splendour from his dignity and excellence, and elegance; and all rejoiced at his accession, and donned honorary dresses \[to testify their joy\]. ### [196.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.196.3) When the different Maliks returned from the capital \[to their various posts\], Sultan Rukn-ud-Din, Firuz Shah, opened the door of his treasuries, and gave himself up to pleasure, and began to expend, in the most profuse fashion, the funds of the Bait-ul-Mal in an improper manner. Such was his excessive appetite for pleasure and sensual enjoyments, that the business of the country, the concerns of the state, and the regulation of the affairs of the kingdom fell into a state of disorder and confusion; and his mother, Shah Turkan, began to assume the decision and disposal of state affairs, and used to issue \[her\] commands. Perhaps it was by reason of this, that, during the lifetime of the august Sultan, Shams-ud-Din, she had experienced envy and jealousy on the part of \[some of the\] other ladies of the haram, that she \[now\] brought misfortune upon that party among the inmates of the haram, and, by tyranny and cruelty, destroyed several of them. The minds of men in authority became troubled at their \[the mother's and son’s\] conduct ; and, in the face of all these acts, they caused a son of the \[late\] Sultan, who was styled Kutb-ud-Din, and a youth of great worth and promise, by their directions, to be deprived of the sight of both eyes, and afterwards had him put to death. From these causes, the hostility of the Maliks, in different parts, began to be manifested. ### [196.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.196.4) Malik Ghiyas-ud-Din, Muhammad Shah, son of Sultan Shams-ud-Din, who was younger in years than Rukn-ud-Din, Firuz Shah, displayed his hostility in Awadh, and took possession of the whole of the treasure of Lakhanawati which was being conveyed to the capital, and, after that, sacked and plundered several of the towns of Hindustan. Malik ’Izz-ud-Din, Muhammad, Salari, who was the feudatory of Buda’un, broke out into rebellion ; and, in another direction, Malik ’Izz-ud-Din, Kabir Khan-i-Ayaz, feoffee of Multan, Malik Saif-ud-Din, Kuji, who was feudatory of Hansi, and Malik ’Ala-ud-Din, Jani, who held the fief of Lohor, united together, and began to act with hostility and contumacy. Sultan Rukn-ud-Din, Firuz Shah, with the determination of coercing them, moved an army from the capital. The Wazir of the kingdom, the Nizam-ul-Mulk, Muhammad, Junaidi, became frightened, and fled from Gilu-khari, and retired towards Kol, and from thence joined Malik ’Izz-ud-Din, Muhammad, Salari; and both of them joined Malik Jani and Malik Kuji. ### [196.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.196.5) Sultan Rukn-ud-Din, Firuz Shah, led his army towards Kuhram. The Turk Amirs and the slaves of the household, who were serving with the centre \[the contingents forming the centre\] followed the example; and, in the vicinity of Mansur-pur and Tara'in they martyred the Taj-ul-Mulk, Mahmud, the Dabir \[Secretary\], the son of the Mushrif-i-Mamalik, and Baha-ud-Din, Hasan \[Husain?\] -i-Ash’ari, Karim-ud-Din-i-Zahid \[the Recluse\], Ziya-ul-Mulk \[ud-Din?\], the son of the Nizam-ul-Mulk, Muhammad, Junaidi, Nizam-ud-Din, Shafurkani, the Khwajah Rashid-ud-Din, Maikani, Amir Fakhr-ud-Din, the Dabir \[Secretary\], and a number of other Tajik officials; and, in the month of Rabi'-ul-Awwal, in the year 634 H., Sultan Raziyyat, who was the eldest daughter of Sultan Shams-ud-Din, entered upon open hostility with the mother of Sultan Rukn-ud-Din, Firuz Shah, at Dihli, and he, as a matter of necessity, returned again towards the capital. His mother had conspired against Sultan Raziyyat to put her to death. The people of the city, upon this, rose, and attacked the royal Kasr \[Castle\], and seized the mother of Rukn-ud-Din, Firuz Shah. ### [196.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.196.6) When Rukn-ud-Din, Firuz Shah, reached the city, insurrection had \[already\] broken out therein, and his mother had been made prisoner. The centre contingents \[of the Dihli forces\] and the Turk Amirs all entered Dihli and joined Sultan Raziyyat, pledged their allegiance to her, and placed her on the throne. Having ascended the throne, she despatched a force consisting of the Turkish slaves and Amirs to Gilu-khari, so that they made prisoner of Sultan Rukn-ud-Din, Firuz Shah, and brought him into the city. He was imprisoned and confined, and, in that prison, he was received into the Almighty’s mercy. This circumstance of his seizure, imprisonment, and death occurred on Sunday, the 18th of the month Rabi'-ul-Awwal, in the year 634 H.; and his reign was six months and twenty-six days. ### [196.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.196.7) Sultan Rukn-ud-Din, Firuz Shah, in munificence and liberality, was a second Hatim, and what he did, in expending wealth, in conferring so many honorary dresses, and the superfluity of presents, no king, at any time, or in any reign, had done the like of; but his misfortune was this, that his inclinations were wholly towards buffoonery, sensuality, and diversion, and that he was entirely enslaved by dissipation and debauchery; and most of his honorary dresses and his presents were made to such people as musicians and singers, buffoons and Ganymedes. His excessive waste of money was to such degree, that, while in a state of intoxication, seated on the back of an elephant, he would drive through the bazar of the city, scattering tangahs of red gold which the people in the street used to pick up, and gain advantage by. He had a passion for frolic, and for riding elephants, and the whole class of elephant drivers derived immense benefit from his riches and good-nature. It was not in his nature and disposition to injure a human being, and this fact was the cause of the wane of his dominion. It is essential above all things, that sovereigns should have justice in order that their subjects should dwell in, tranquillity and repose, and that they possess beneficence so that their followers may be satisfied and contented; and revelry and merriment, and companionship with the base and ignoble, becomes the means of an empire’s ruin. The Almighty pardon him! --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.196](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tabaqat-i-nasiri~en-raverty.196) · Pramāṇa