The Cambridge History of India, Vol. III: Turks and Afghans v3.c20.144

v3.c20.144

Mahmūd now governed Bengal as his father’s deputy, and made the most of an opportunity which was closed by his early death in April, 1229, for he defeated and slew raja Britu, possibly the raja of Kāmrūp, who had, until that time, defeated the Muslims on every occasion on which they had attacked him. On Mahmūd’s death Balkā, the son of ‘Iwaz, caused himself to be proclaimed king of Bengal under the title of Ikhtiyār-ud-dīn Daulat Shāh Balkā, and it was not until the winter of 1230–31 that Iltutmish was able to lead an army into Bengal to crush the rebellion. Balkā was captured and probably put to death, and ‘Alā-ud-dīn Jānī was appointed governor of Bengal.