Ghiyas ud din Balban

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Ghiyas ud din Balban (1200 – 1286) (Urdu: غیاث الدین بلبن) was a Turkic ruler of the Delhi Sultanate during the Mamluk dynasty (or Slave dynasty) from 1266 to 1286. He was a slave of Iltutmish who at the orders of his own master Qutbuddin Aibak released him from slavery and brought him up in a manner befitting a prince. He was liberally educated. He became the head of the 'Chalissa'or 'Forty' a group of forty leading Turkish nobles of the state. After the overthrow of Razia Sultana he made rapid strides in the subsequent reigns. He was initially the Prime Minister from 1246 to 1266, but Balban declared himself the Sultan of Delhi after the previous sultan Nasir ud din Mahmud's death. Though he was the father in law of the late Sultan.

During his reign, Balban ruled with an iron fist. He broke up the Chihalgani, a group of the forty most important nobles in the court. He tried to establish peace and order in the country of India. He built many outposts in areas where there was crime and garrisoned them with soldiers. Balban wanted to make sure everyone was loyal to the crown by establishing an efficient espionage system.

He ruled as the Sultan from 1266 until his death. His successors were weak and incompetent and the throne was eventually captured by Jalal ud din Firuz Khilji in 1290, bringing an end to the Slave dynasty.

[edit] See also

• History of India
• Mamluk dynasty of Delhi

[edit] References

• Ghiyas ud din Balban's biography at storyofpakistan.com
• [1]

Preceded by Nasir ud din Mahmud	Slave Dynasty 1206–1290	Succeeded by Muiz ud din Qaiqabad
Preceded by Nasir ud din Mahmud	Sultan of Delhi 1206–1290	Succeeded by Muiz ud din Qaiqabad