History of the Khaljis, A.D. 1290–1320 c21.63

c21.63

Thus died Nāsiruddin Khusrau after a restless reign of four months and some days. He had lived a life of great vicissitudes. Captured in the sack of Malwa, he began his life as a slave. From that low position he rose from post to post and ultimately attained to the highest dignity of sovereign through favouritism, through cunning and through his own merit. The orthodox Barani, to whom this low born infidel was nothing short of a devil upon earth, hurls every short of abuse upon Khusrau Shāh. But other historians like Amīr Khusrau, Yahya and even the orthodox Badaonī give him just praise: He secured the throne by such crafty yet admirable means that he deserves our praise for his planning intellect and dexterity. Once he had gained possession of the crown he tried to preserve it with all the might he could command. It was not his fault that his reign was so short. His only fault was that he had trusted too much to a nobility and a soldiery who were accustomed to worship the rising sun and desert a weak cause. Deceived by his followers and deserted by his troops, he stood on the field of battle till the last hour of the fight, and directed the remnant of his army with perseverence that deserves our applause. The last days of Khusrau call forth for a pardon of his early life. He had lived a life of scandal but died the death of a soldier.