The Administration of the Sultanate of Dehli c7.14

c7.14

The central authority weakened at the death of Īltutmish, and the real power passed into the hands of the ‘Forty.’ Their policy was to maintain a balance of power amongst themselves and to turn against anyone who threatened their domination. Balban, however, succeeded in breaking their power and in restoring the prestige of the central government. The independence and turbulence of the ‘Forty’ had considerably degraded the monarchy, and the natural reaction was that Balban introduced the Persian ceremonial which gave royalty a new dignity.¹ His court was the asylum of a large number of distinguished refugees—princes, administrators, scholars and artists. Dehlī became the most enlightened city of the East and the fame of the sultanate spread to the four corners of the Muslim world.² Balban concentrated on home defence and on strengthening the administration. The rebellious elements were suppressed, and the country was considerably opened up by cutting down forests and constructing roads.³