The Foundation of Muslim Rule in India: A History of the Establishment and Progress of the Turkish Sultanate of Delhi, 1206–1290 A.D. c9.9

c9.9

mish finality seemed difficult to attain. His incompetence notwithstanding, Firoz had the prodigal’s winning grace; his mother, Shah Turkan, was an adept intriguer and counted supporters among the state-officers. Whether the expected change had shown itself in Firoz’s character, or whether in the courtiers’ talk Iltutmish was given cause to read more than mere well-meaning apprehension, the chronicler gives us no clue to ascertain. That Iltutmish was contemplating some concession to him is all that can be gathered from the statement that on his way back from his last expedition in 1236 he brought Firoz with him from Lahore whither he had lately been transferred as, ‘since he was the eldest of his surviving sons, the people had their eyes on him’.¹