The Foundation of Muslim Rule in India: A History of the Establishment and Progress of the Turkish Sultanate of Delhi, 1206–1290 A.D. c21.39

c21.39

With Balban’s appointment as the *naib*, however, this phase in the state’s evolution began to wane, for, although Mahmud’s elevation was calculated to ensure the continuance of this household system, in actual practice, it marked the beginning of its end. Balban shared in Iltutmish’s political ideals but not in his methods of buttressing the Crown’s absolutism by household slaves. Nor did he favour Raziah’s methods of counter-balancing the ‘Forty’ by non-Turkish supporters. During his long tenure of the *niyabat* he completely broke the party and restored the Crown’s power. His own accession to Mahmud’s throne confirmed the final dissolution of the Shamsi party. In its place, he aimed at creating a broader basis for the state in the person of the whole body of the Turkish immigrants. In so doing, he no doubt emphasised the clannish character of the Sultanate but the unprecedentedly autocratic powers which he assumed for the crown, prevented its growth into a rival political force. The new party consisting of all the Turks necessarily shared in Balban’s ideals and was irrevocably committed to upholding his dynasty as representing the racial despotism. Clannish loyalties were thus skilfully harnessed to the service of absolutist monarchy. How this racialism proved unworkable and led to a revolution has been noticed in the relevant chapter, but the monarchy came out unscathed from the disorder, to be utilised by the Khaljis to usher in a new phase in the Sultanate's development.