History of the Khaljis, A.D. 1290–1320 c20.s4.2

c20.s4.2

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.