History of the Khaljis, A.D. 1290–1320 c20.s3.5

c20.s3.5

Thus, after the Devagiri expedition, all the qualities of generosity and large-heartedness which were characteristic of Quṭbuddīn at the beginning of his reign, disappeared, while his grosser nature gained an upper hand of his self. Gujarat and the Deccan had been brought under control and there was no independent chief or king in the country strong enough to challenge his authority. While this security, external and internal, had made Quṭbuddīn proud, Asad’s abortive conspiracy had made him ruthlessly cruel. Now he would not listen to any advice, nor would he trust anybody. There is no doubt that the plot was responsible for making him ruthless and unscrupulous, but his disgraceful habits were themselves responsible for the conspiracy. And though he extirpated the guilty as well as the not-guilty, he did not improve his own conduct. On the contrary his debauchery increased with time. Like the profligate Elagabalus of Rome (3rd century A.D.) the passions of the sultan could not be satisfied with “a long train of concubines” or a number of beardless boys. He preferred to dress himself in female attire and ornaments embroidered with laces and adorned with gems,⁷⁰ and occasionally went about dancing in the houses of the nobility. The king used to enjoy the sight of young eunuchs and ribald and dissolute women come stark naked to the court and cut indecent jokes with high officials like ‘Ainulmulk Multānī and Qara Beg. Toubah, a clown from Gujarat, openly used to abuse the noblemen and insult them with obscene pleasantries.⁷¹ In short, the court of Quṭbuddīn presented licence and obscenity in its utter nakedness. It was his sheer luck that the Mongols did not knock at the gates of India and the revolts against the sultanate were quickly suppressed.