Life and Conditions of the People of Hindustan (1200–1550 A.D.) c5.s2.t1.29

c5.s2.t1.29

3. *Royal Slaves (Bandagan-i-Khas).*—We shall discuss the position of the slaves in the next section. Let us, however, note here that slave-holding was time-honoured institution throughout the Muslim world during the period and until recently, and every nobleman and respectable person kept a few slaves. The royal slaves (or *Bandagan-i-Khas*) were considerable in number and international in their composition, bound together by the bond of service and allegiance to a common master. Having no local connections or interests of their own, the Sultan could always rely on their faithfulness and devotion more than on that of other State officials and nobles. The powers of the Sultan over them as master and king were absolute. He could kill them, give them away or dispose of them in any other way, as he thought fit.³ In practice, however, the relations between the Sultan and his slaves were anything but unpleasant and hardly gave an opportunity for the exercise of these extreme powers. On the other hand, the slaves were brought up almost as sons and confidantes, so that sometimes when the son of the Sultan was of doubtful capacity or was otherwise unfit to govern the kingdom, the slave of the monarch, who had struggled in the school of adversity and experience, successfully guided the ship of State through troubled waters.⁴ Qutb-ud-din Aibak, Iltutmish and Balban are three outstanding examples of royal slaves who rose to power and came to the throne.⁵