The Foundation of Muslim Rule in India: A History of the Establishment and Progress of the Turkish Sultanate of Delhi, 1206–1290 A.D. c6.s1.25

c6.s1.25

The Ghorides found their ambition thwarted for Khwarizm reimposed her domination in Khurasan; Sultan only aggravated a situation in which a recourse to arms seemed unavoidable. Owing to their preoccupations with the Ghaznawides at the moment and Ghiyasuddin’s brother, Muizzuddin’s projected Indian expedition, the Ghorides, however, could hardly open hostilities and sought to negotiate with Takash regarding matters in Khurasan; Ghiyasuddin was even anxious to obtain the latter’s help against Sultan Shah, and in a letter dated in 1183 he offered armed assistance in return². Minhaj speaks even of a treaty of alliance between the two sovereigns³, and makes some reference to, possibly, a resultant, Ghoride conflict with the Qara-Khitai the termination of whose unwelcome suzerainty the Khwarizm Shah desired by all means. After Takash’s above-mentioned agreement with his brother, the alliance, directed against Sultan, naturally became inoperative; the Ghorides were thus left to deal single handed with Sultan. When they were in a position to move against him in 586/1190-91⁴, they had, however, a freer hand, for the Ghaznawide enemy had been entirely eliminated. Both Sultan, and his ally, Tughril of Herat, were easily defeated, and Herat most probably annexed to Ghor¹. Sultan died next year but his possessions were at once occupied by Takash².