History of the Khaljis, A.D. 1290–1320 c1.26

c1.26

This saving of the throne for the Turks was nothing but a gesture on the part of the old aristocracy against Jalāluddīn Khaljī who had outdone them all in efficiency and ability. The nobility at Delhi was hereafter clearly divided into two camps. The Turkish party was headed by the adventurous Aitmar Kachhan and Aitmar Surkhāh and consisted of old Balbanī barons. The other was headed by Jalāluddīn Khaljī, whom public opinion did not consider as belonging to Turkish blood. Aitmar Kachhan and Aitmar Surkhāh together with some Turkish nobles decided that such nobles as were not real Turks should be divested of all power and removed from their positions. They prepared a list of such names and the name of Jalāluddin headed the list.²⁶ Jalāluddin was informed of this conspiracy by Malik Ahmad Chap the chief Hājib of the king.²⁷ Jalāl now felt that it was not safe for him to stay in Delhi any longer and he with his adherents betook themselves to Bahārpur.²⁸ He called some men from his fief of Baran (modern Bulandshahr) and rallied round him a strong party of relatives and friends.