The Cambridge History of India, Vol. III: Turks and Afghans v3.c20.93

v3.c20.93

Khusrav Shāh was succeeded by his son Khusrav, who bore the title of Malik. He was a mild and voluptuous prince to whom authority was irksome. The governors of the districts of his small kingdom behaved as independent rulers, but he recked nothing, so long as the means of indulgence was at hand. The districts fell one by one, as will be related in the following chapter, into the hands of Mu‘izz-ud-dīn Muhammad *bin* Sām, the World-burner’s nephew, who occupied Ghaznī and ruled the southern portion of the country now known as Afghānistān as the lieutenant of his elder brother, Ghiyās-ud-dīn Muhammad, who governed the now extensive dominions of his family from his capital, Fīrūzkūh in Ghūr. In 1181 Mu‘izz-ud-dīn Muhammad appeared before Lahore and compelled Khusrav Malik to surrender, as a token of submission, his finest elephant, and as a hostage, his son. Muhammad then marched to Siālkot, built the fort there and placed one of his own officers in command of it. After his departure Khusrav Malik plucked up courage and besieged Siālkot, but could not take it and returned to Lahore. In 1186 Muhammad again appeared before Lahore and Khusrav sued for peace. He left the city, under a safe conduct, to arrange the terms, but Muhammad violated his engagement, seized him, and occupied Lahore. Khusrav Malik was sent to Ghiyās-ud-dīn at Fīrūzkūh, where he remained a prisoner until 1192, when Ghiyās-ud-dīn and his brother were preparing for hostilities against Sultān Shāh Jalāl-ud-dīn Mahmūd of Khvārazm and put him and his son Bahrām to death as dangerous incumbrances.