History of the Khaljis, A.D. 1290–1320 c18.6

c18.6

Such tyranny on the one hand and the disgraceful attachment to his favourites on the other, had affected the Sultan's prestige. His infatuation for the eunuch Kāfūr had made the latter the most powerful man in the country; and as the king's health rapidly declined this mean and ungrateful wretch committed innumerable crimes to serve his own selfish ends. With the removal from office of Maliks Hamīduddīn and A‘izzuddīn and with the assassination of Sharf Qayinī, the departments of Revenue (Dīvān-i-Vuzrā), Finance (Dīvān-i-Risālat) and Correspondence (Dīvān-i-Inshā) were altogether ruined. Talented officers were removed from service and in their stead unworthy clerks and despicable sycophants disgraced the honourable offices allotted to them.⁴ A nincompoop like Bahāuddīn Dabīr was made ‘Umdatul Mulk.⁵ If one or two able men like Malik Qīrān, the Amīr-i-Shikār, and Malik Qīrā Bēg commanded some respect, they neither held a high office nor power at the court. Thus, while the king had concentrated all power in his own hands, no wise person was left to offer opinion on knotty problems.