[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) › [Tārīkh-i Fīrūzshāhī](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tarikh-i-firuzshahi-barani) › [Tarikh-i Firoz Shahi of Ziau-d Din Barni (extracts)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tarikh-i-firuzshahi-barani~en-elliot) › 2 # The History of Fīrūz Shāh (Baranī) 2: Biographical notices of the nobles and great men of the reign of Balban. Táríkh-i Fíroz Sháhí of Ziáu-d Dín Barní (extracts) 2 - **Language:** English ### [2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tarikh-i-firuzshahi-barani~en-elliot.2) To return to my history. When the Sultan grew weak and ill from grief for his lost son, he summoned his younger son, Bughra Khan, from Lakhnauti, and said to him, "Grief for your brother has brought me to my dying bed, and who knows how soon my end may come? This is no time for you to be absent, for I have no other son to take my place. Kai-Khusru and Kai-Kubad, your sons, whom I have cherished, are young, and have not experienced the heat and cold of fortune. Youthful passions and indulgence would make them unfit to govern my kingdom, if it should descend to them. The realm of Dehli would again become a child's toy, as it was under the successors of Shamsu-d din. If you are in Lakhnauti when another mounts the throne in Dehli, you must be his subordinate; but if you are established in Dehli, whoever rules in Lakhnauti must submit to you. Think over this; do not leave my side; cast away all desire of going to Lakhnauti." Bughra Khan was a heedless prince; he did not know that in the management of a kingdom questions are constantly arising and dangers threatening. He had been two or three months in Dehli, and his father's health had slightly improved. He wanted to go to Lakhnauti, so he found a pretext for doing so, and set off thither without leave from his father. Bughra Khan had a son named Kai-Kubad, who had been brought up by the Sultan, and now stayed by his side. The Khan had not reached Lakhnauti when the Sultan became worse. He knew that he was stricken by death, and gave up all hope of surviving. Three days before his death, he summoned to his presence Maliku-l-umara Kotwal of Dehli, Khwaja Husain Basri the wazir, and some other of his favourite servants, and said, You are old and are versed in matters of government : you know how things go on when kings die, and I know that my end is near. \* \* \* After I am gone, you must set upon the throne Kai-Khusru, son of my eldest son, the martyr prince, whom, after his father's death, I named as my successor, and who is worthy of the throne. He is young and incapable of ruling as yet, but what can I do ? Mahmud (Bughra Khan) has shrunk from the work, and people shut their eyes at him. He is gone to Lakhnauti, intent upon other views. The throne will not stand without a king, and I see no course but that of my making my will in favour of Kai-Khusru. He dismissed his friends, and three days afterwards he died. The kotwal and his people were strong, and, as confidants of the late king, had great power in the city. For a private reason, which it would be unseemly to expose, they had been unfriendly to the martyr prince, and they were apprehensive of danger if Kai-Khusru succeeded, so they sent him at once to Multan. They then took Kai-Kubad, the son of Bughra Khan, and placed him on the throne with the title of Mu'izzu-d din. The corpse of Sultan Balban was taken out of the Red Palace at night, and was buried in the house of rest, and thus ended one who for so many years had ruled with dignity, honour, and vigour. \* \* \* From the day that Balban, the father of his people, died, all security of life and property was lost, and no one had any confidence in the stability of the kingdom. Mu'izzu-d din had not reigned a year before the chiefs and nobles quarrelled with each other; many were killed upon suspicion and doubt; and the people, seeing the troubles and hardships which had befallen the country, sighed for a renewal of the reign of Balban. - [Previous: 1.42](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tarikh-i-firuzshahi-barani~en-elliot.1.42) - [Next: 3.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tarikh-i-firuzshahi-barani~en-elliot.3.1) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tarikh-i-firuzshahi-barani~en-elliot.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tarikh-i-firuzshahi-barani~en-elliot.2) · Pramāṇa