The Administration of the Sultanate of Dehli c16.s2.5
The Administration of the Sultanate of Dehlī c16.s2.5
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c16.s2.5
(ii) More difficult to explain is the appearance of *khallada'llahu khilafatahu* on such pieces as N. Wright, AR 1069, AE 1151. This simply shows that the first period of Mughul rule had already seen a weakening in the meaning of *khilafat* and that the word was used indiscriminately for 'empire' as well as 'caliphate'. I do not take this inscription to mean that Sher Shāh wanted to proclaim his caliphate; the evidence to the contrary is overwhelming. There are far too many coins bearing references to 'an amīr, supporter of the Faith' to justify the theory that Sher Shāh did not own theoretical allegiance to a caliph.