History of the Khaljis, A.D. 1290–1320 c20.s4: An Estimate of Mubarak Shah
History of the Khaljis, A.D. 1290–1320 c20.s4
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An Estimate of Mubarak Shah
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The way in which Qutbuddin met his death goes to show how depraved and foolish he was. The qualities of generosity and kindheartedness with which he was rewarded by his early hardships disappeared on his attaining to unlimited power. He had received little education and from whatever little experience of life he had, he had refused to learn that unbridled debauchery led to disaster. The grosser appetites of man dominated his self and he practised every vice that goes to debase human nature. It need hardly be mentioned that the king did not say the daily prayers and did not observe the fast of Ramzan.
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Qutbuddin's arrogance knew no bounds. In his pride he ordered barbaric punishments, and the tortures inflicted upon Harpal Deva and the relations of Yoghresh bear witness to his perverted mentality. So haughty and malicious was he that he refused to acknowledge the salutations of a pious man like Shaikh Nizāmuddīn Aulia: and while great monarchs like 'Alāūddīn addressed themselves only as "Yamīnul Khilāfat" (Right hand of the Khalīfā) or "Nāṣir-i-Amīrul Mauminīn" (Defender of the faithful),⁹⁹ Quṭbuddīn took the title of Khalīfā to himself. He declared himself "Al Imām-ul-A‘zam, Khalīfā-i-Rabbul 'Almīn", "Khilāfat-ul-Lah", and "Amīrul Mauminīn".¹⁰⁰ Not only was he keen on adopting pompous titles, he had in fact a passion for the novel, the beautiful. His coins and inscriptions stand out for their boldness of execution and variety of inscriptions. His coins are round and square, of gold, silver, billon and copper. The square coin was for the first time introduced by him in 718 H.¹⁰¹ The engravings on his inscriptions are "typically ornamental naqsh", in *sulus* and in *tughra* "of intricate type".¹⁰² He patronized scholarship, was fond of music and composed verses too.¹⁰³ But the fact that the fear of royalty vanished completely, and the prestige of the Delhi sultanate lost its lusture during his regime, prove that he was a worthless king. It was his good luck that so long as he ruled no Mongol invasion threatened the peace of the country, no famine devastated the land, military enterprises were successful and rebellions were quickly suppressed; yet his ways disgusted the nobility and encouraged rebellions. Qutbuddin well deserved the doom meted out to him.
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⁹⁹ Nelson Wright: pp. 88-95. Rogers: *Catalogue of Coins*. p. 46.
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¹⁰⁰ Nelson Wright pp. 107-109. "*Chronicles*" pp. 179-81. Lanepoole: *Muhammadan States* pp. 44-48.
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¹⁰¹ Nelson Wright: p. 107.
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¹⁰² *Epig. Indo-Moslemica*, 1938 pp. 38-39. *Ibid.* 1931-38 p. 48. *Ibid.* 1937 pp. 49-50.
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¹⁰³ Baranī p. 382. *Tab. Akb.* p. 76.
Cites (1)
- Tārīkh-i Fīrūzshāhī — Shams-i Sirāj ʿAfīf, Persian