History of the Khaljis, A.D. 1290–1320 c1.s1.6

c1.s1.6

But later historians have tried to elucidate the point. Niẓāmuddīn Aḥmad is perhaps the first among them. According to him the Khaljīs were the descendants of Qulij Khan, a son-in-law of Changīz Khan. Qulij was not on good terms with his wife but dared not break away openly from her father, the Mongol emperor. At last he found a welcome opportunity to overthrow his allegiance to Changīz, when with his family and followers numbering about 30,000 men, he migrated to the dales of Ghaur and Jurjistān. There he remained undisturbed, and his people came to be known as Qāljī from Qalij or Qulij; but later on, on account of constant use, the word changed into Khaljī. When the rulers of Ghaur conquered India, the Khaljīs followed in their train in large numbers and took service under the sultans of Hindustān. Among these Khaljīs were the ancestors of Sultan Jalāluddīn of Delhi and Sultan Maḥmūd of Malwa. Niẓāmuddīn further adds that according to the author of the Saljūqnāmah the Khaljīs were descended from Turk, son of Japhet, son of Noah.⁴²