The Foundation of Muslim Rule in India: A History of the Establishment and Progress of the Turkish Sultanate of Delhi, 1206–1290 A.D. c9.32

c9.32

the *amirs and maliks*, stationed at the court and in the neighbouring provinces, with the object not only of deposing her but also of rendering the future sovereign permanently and constitutionally impotent¹. At the head of this conspiracy stood Aetigin, lately governor of Budaun and now the *amir-i-hajib*, whose proximity to the queen was a great advantage; he was bound by ties of great friendship with Malik Iltuniah, the superintendent of Bhatinda². But the execution of their plan seemed far more difficult than in the case of Firoz. For Raziah commanded strong support in the city; her vigilance left no scope for a palace revolution; and a military siege of the capital stood no better chance of success now, than at the beginning of the reign. It was therefore essential to decoy her to a distant province and there to seize her by overwhelming military power or at any rate, to occupy the capital. Early in 1240 Kabir Khan revolted in Lahore. Direct evidence is lacking, but the coincidence of the subsequent events connect it with the conspirator's general plan. But the queen was prompt to take action. Immediately on receipt of the news she marched out with the available troops and thus forestalled their plan of assembling their forces there. Unaided, Kabir Khan could offer little resistance and was compelled to retreat westwards until at the Chinab, he found his progress barred by the Mongols operating across the river, and halted. As the queen's forces came up, he turned back and surrendered unconditionally³.