The Cambridge History of India, Vol. III: Turks and Afghans v3.c20.163

v3.c20.163

The situation at court was now extremely complicated. Sunqar, the new lord chamberlain, was as arrogant and as obnoxious to his master as his predecessor had been. Nizām-ul-Mulk, who had condoned the attempt on his life and still held office as minister, resented, equally with Bahrām, Sunqar's usurpation of authority, and allied himself with the king. Sunqar perceived that his life would not be safe as long as Bahrām reigned and conspired to depose him, but committed the error of confiding in Nizām-ul-Mulk. He would not believe that the minister had really forgiven Bahrām and could not perceive that he was subordinating his resentment to his interest. He received Sunqar's emissary apparently in privacy, but as soon as he had departed dispatched a confidential servant who had been concealed behind a curtain to acquaint Bahrām with what he had heard. Bahrām acted with promptitude and decision; he rode at once to the meeting to which Nizām-ul-Mulk had been summoned and compelled the conspirators to return with him to the palace. Sunqar was dismissed from his high office, but his influence among the great Turkish nobles, or slaves, who were now known as 'the Forty' saved his life for the time, and his appointment to Budaun removed him from the capital. Three other leading conspirators fled from the city, and in November, 1241, Sunqar's return from Budaun without permission gave the king a pretext for arresting him and putting him to death. This necessary act of severity greatly incensed the Forty.