The Foundation of Muslim Rule in India: A History of the Establishment and Progress of the Turkish Sultanate of Delhi, 1206–1290 A.D. c8.9

c8.9

It was therefore a fulfilment of his master's wish when, in response to the invitation of the Lahore citizens, he came from Delhi and assumed sovereign power. Qutbuddin Aibak's formal accession took place on the 17th zilqad, 602/June 24th, 1206³, more than three months after Muizuddin's death, an interval that must have been occupied by manœuvres to build up a party of supporters. Technically he was still a slave for, although Ghiyasuddin Mahmud from Ghor sent him the royal insignia and standard and also conferred the title of *Sultan*⁴, his formal manumission was not obtained till 605/1208; in inscriptions no higher titles are used with his name than *Malik* and *Sipahsalar*⁵. The statement that 'coins were struck and the *khutbah* read in his name throughout Hindusthan' must be taken as a conventional phrase emphasising his sovereign power, for no silver or billon coin of his has yet been discovered⁶.