Twilight of the Sultanate c12.s2.1

c12.s2.1

After the death of Muhammad Shāh, his son succeeded peacefully to the throne with the title of Sultan 'Alāuddīn 'Ālam Shāh, in accordance with the testamentary disposition of his father⁵⁴ and the concurrence of the nobility.⁵⁵ Shāh 'Ālam signalised the event by issuing coins,⁵⁶ and all and sundry did him homage.⁵⁷ In those troubled times no king could have got such an easy succession to the throne, without any opposition whatsoever, but unfortunately 'Alāuddīn lacked acquaintance with the affairs of the state and within a short time proved himself to be even less intelligent and more vacillating than his father.⁵⁸ A pleasure seeker by temperament, he found kingship a difficult office. Sincere advice used to sting him, while the pursuit of pleasure was all that he thought life worth for.