History of the Khaljis, A.D. 1290–1320 c14.35

c14.35

We have already discussed the extent of the authority of the central government over these provinces. The governor of a province was a sort of a king in miniature. As was the king at Delhi, the provincial governor was the chief executive and judicial head of the province. Each governor had his own provincial force and was required to send a fixed quota of troops whenever required to do so.¹⁵ The governor held court, administered justice, and looked after other spheres of administration. He collected the land revenue of the province and after deducting the amount assigned to him, he sent the surplus to the imperial exchequer. Under weak kings the provincial governors behaved almost as independent rulers but under strong monarchs like Balban and 'Alāuddīn they dared not assume a contumacious attitude with impunity. That veteran generals like Ghazi Malik, Malik Kāfūr and Alp Khan loyally served the government for so long, is a proof of the strength and vigilance of 'Alāuddīn. It was only when the emperor was dying and the grip of the central government was becoming lax that trouble arose in some provinces of the empire.