Life and Conditions of the People of Hindustan (1200–1550 A.D.) c5.s4.t2.38

c5.s4.t2.38

3. The *Nobility and the Sultanate of Delhi*.—In the early period of the Sultanate the *Umara* or nobles were its greatest, if not its only, prop. Their significance was duly recognized by Sultan Shams-ud-din Iltutmish, who may be said to be the first to consolidate the possessions of his predecessors as well as his own considerable conquests.⁵ The establishment of the kingdom had only been possible because of the support and the devotion of these chiefs who came from the same class as other monarchs of the Slave dynasty, and had no particular reason to subordinate themselves like other common subjects of the State to the will of the Sultan. As a result, long before the reign of Sultan ‘Ala-ud-din Khalji, the power of the nobles and their organization began to develop. They organized themselves into a corporate body of nobles which was better known as ‘The Forty’. The behaviour of its members and its occasional conflicts with the administration convinced Sultan Ghiyas-ud-din Balban (who was one of them) that its existence was a serious menace to the State.⁶ He managed to exterminate most of its influential members and finally to dissolve the organization most ruthlessly. However, even Balban did not forget to safeguard the privileges of the nobles. He warned his son that no kingdom could prosper without the support of the nobility.¹ Thus the Sultanate was not opposed to the growth or the existence of the nobility, but only to its corporate organization. After this temporary set-back under Balban, the nobles established their political influence again, and became sufficiently powerful for the Sultans to court their support in maintaining their throne.²