History of the Khaljis, A.D. 1290–1320 c1.38

c1.38

With the Turkish party crushed, the infant king in his possession, and the paralytic Mu‘izzuddīn in the throes of death, Jalāluddīn was now all powerful. A couple of days after Shamsuddīn’s abduction Jalāl sent to Kīlughari a man named Turkesh,⁵⁵ whose father had been killed by Mu‘izzuddīn, to avenge his father’s death by finishing the dying sultan. The man entered the palace, wrapped the king’s body in a carpet, delivered a few kicks at it, and flung it into the Jumna. The river bore away the last of the Ilbārī sultans (19th Muharram 689, Wednesday, February 1st, 1290).⁵⁶ The crown was almost thrust on Jalāluddīn’s head but he hesitated to adorn the diadem all at once. He seated Shamsuddīn on the throne at Bahārpur and proposed to Malik Chhajjū, nephew of Balban, to undertake the duties of Regent and the guardianship of the young king. On his behalf, he requested for the districts of Tabarhinda, Deopalpur and Multan.⁵⁷ Malik Chhajjū on the other hand asked for the fief of Kara, yielding Regency and Vazirship to Shayastā Khān. Jalāluddīn assented to the proposal and assigned Kara to Chhajjū who immediately left for his fief. For some time Jalāluddīn used to bring Shamsuddīn into the darbār and place him on the throne, himself discharging the duties of Regent and Vazīr, but everybody knew that such an arrangement was not to continue for long. Friends and foes all hailed the rising star and Jalāluddīn left Bahārpur with the puppet king and a large concourse of people. He arrived in Kīlughari and crowned himself king. Shamsuddīn was thrown into prison where he died after some time.⁵⁸