When Sultān Nāṣiru-d-dīn became ruler of the kingdom of Lakhnautī, after some time, his elder brother who was named Sultān Muhammad and was known as Khān-i-Shahīd* was killed at Multān, fighting against the Mughals. And Sultān Ghiāsu-d-dīn Balban who was much attached to him, became dejected by his death, and summoned Sultān Nāṣiru-d-dīn from Lakhnautī. When the latter reached Delhī, after observing the necessary mourning ceremonies for his elder brother, he attempted to console the heart of his father. The Emperor said: “The death of your brother has made me sick and feeble, and soon the time of my departure from the world shall approach. At this time, your separation from me is not proper, because besides yourself, I have no other heir. Your son, Kaiqubād, and your nephew, Kai Khusrau, are young, and have no experience of life. Should the Empire fall into their hands, they would be incapable of defending it, and you would have to pay homage to either who might ascend the throne of Delhī. Therefore, it is meet that you should remain with me.” Nāṣiru-d-dīn, according to his father’s request, remained with his father. But on seeing his father regain some health, he quickly under pretext of hunting went out of the city, and without taking leave of the Emperor returned to Lakhnautī. The Emperor, being affected at this, again fell ill, and in the year 685 A.H., passed from this transitory world. And when Sultān Muizu-d-dīn Kaiqubād, after the death of his grand-father, at the age of eighteen years, mounted the throne of Delhī, in consequence of youth, indulging in frivolities and dissipations, he became unmindful of the affairs of the Empire, excepting women and wine.* And Malik Nizāmu-d-dīn setting himself to the destruction of the Balbanī family, induced Muizu-d-dīn to call his cousin Kaikhusraū from Multān, and to kill him on the way, and to dismiss many of the loyal Umarā. Sultān Nāṣiru-d-dīn Bughrā Khān at Lakhnautī, on receiving news of the negligence of his son, and of the over­bearing influence of Malik Nizāmu-d-dīn, wrote to his son letters containing instructions, and by insinuations and hints, advised him to beware of the wily enemy in the person of Nizamu-d-dīn. It was of no use. In despair, two years after the death of Emperor Balban, in the year 687 A.H., with the object of conquering the province of Delhī, and chastising his son, Nāṣiru-d-dīn Bughrā Khān marched with his army. On reaching Behār, Sultān Nāṣiru-d-dīn passing from Behar to the banks of the river Sarū, encamped.*

At length, after nearing each other, Sultān Nāṣiru-d-dīn, aban­doning the idea of the conquest of Delhī, made overtures for peace. And Sultān Muizu-d-dīn, owing to the instigation of Malik Nizāmu-d-dīn, refused to make peace, and prepared to fight. After negotiations had proceeded for three days between the con­tending parties, on the fourth day, Sultān Nāṣiru-d-dīn with his own hand wrote:—

“Son! I have a great longing to meet you. I have no further strength of self-restraint in your separation. If you show a way by which I who am consumed by the fire of misfortune, may behold you, and, Jacob-like, if once more my eye which has become blind, becomes bright by the sight of Joseph, no harm shall betide to your sovereignty and enjoyment.” The Sultān wound up this message with the following verse:—

Sultān Muizu-d-dīn being touched by the perusal of his father’s letter desired to proceed unattended, to meet his father. Nizāmu-d-dīn used dissuasion, and arranged that the Emperor, with all Imperial pomp and paraphernalia, should for the purpose of meeting his father march from the bank of the river Ghagar towards a plain, and then encamp on the bank of the Sarū. And it was also arranged that out of regard for the rank of the Emperor of Delhī, Nāṣiru-d-dīn crossing the Sarū should come to visit Kaiqubād, who should remain seated on the throne. Then Bughrā Khān embarking on a boat crossed the river, and proceeded to the tent of Muizu-d-dīn Kaiqubād. Kaiqubad being overpowered by feelings dismounted from the throne, prostrated himself on his father’s feet, and both the father and the son embracing each other, and giving each other kisses on the head and the face shed tears. After this, the father catching the hand of the son, placed the latter on the throne, and desired to stand in front of it. The son descending from the throne placed the father on it, and him­self respectfully sat before him; and ceremonies of rejoicings were performed. After a while, Sultān Nāṣiru-d-dīn left, and crossing the river returned to his tent. From both sides gifts were exchanged. Several days successively, Sultān Nāṣiru-d-dīn went to meet his son, and both were in each other’s company. And on the day of departure, after speaking some words of advice,* and taking his son in the lap, he departed, and weeping and crying returned to his own camp. That day he ate no food, and told his confidants: “To-day I have bid the last farewell to my son.” Then marching back from that place, he returned to his kingdom. And when Sultān Muizu-d-dīn Kaiqubād at the end of 689 A.H. was slain,* and the Empire was transferred from the Ghorian dynasty to the Khīljī family, and Sultān Jalālu-d-dīn Khiljī* mounted the throne of Delhī, Sultān Nāṣiru-d-dīn seeing no alter­native except profession of loyalty and submission put aside the royal umbrella and the Khutbah, conducted himself like other nobles, and remained contented with the fief of Lakhnautī. Till the reigns of Sultān Alāu-d-dīn and Sultān Qutbu-d-dīn,* Sultān Nāṣiru-d-dīn Bughra Khān conducted himself in this wise. The period of the rule of Sultān Nāṣiru-d-dīn in Bengal was six years.

In the reign of Sultān ‘Alāu-d-dīn, Bahādur Khān who was one of the connexions* of Sultān Nāṣiru-d-dīn, and was one of the leading nobles of Sultān ‘Alāu-d-dīn, was entrusted with the Viceroyalty of Bengal. For many years he occupied the Viceregal throne, and enforced the recital of the Khutbah and the minting of coins after the names of the Emperors of Delhī. During the reign, however, of Sultān Qutbu-d-dīn Khiljī, he usurped the sovereignty of Bengal, and proclaiming himself Bahādur Shāh, introduced the Khutbah and the coin in the kingdom of Bengal after his own name, and commenced oppressions. For some time, he passed in this wise. But when the Empire of Delhī passed to Ghiāsu-d-dīn Tughlak Shāh,* in the year 724 A.H. petitions from Lakhnautī describing the oppressions of the rulers of that country were received. Sultān Tughlak Shāh with an efficient army marched towards Bengal. When he reached Tirhut, Sultān Nāṣiru-d-dīn* whose fief had not been confiscated during Alau-d-din’s reign owing to his good conduct and who resided in a corner of Lakhnautī, not finding strength in himself to contend against Tughlak Shāh, submitted to his fate, marched from Lakhnautī to Tīrhūt, and presenting himself before the Emperor offered numerous presents. Sultān Ghiāsu-d-dīn Tughlak Shāh treated him honourably, bestowed on him the Royal Umbrella and the Royal Staff, and ratified according to the old custom the continu­ance of Sultān Nāṣiru-d-dīn’s fief. And bringing to his presence Bahādur Shāh who had proved hostile, the Emperor enrolled him in the ranks of nobles. He, too, submitting to the Emperor, behaved like one of the nobles. Emperor Ghiāsu-d-dīn, appoint­ing his adopted son, Tatār Khān, Governor of Sunārgāon, and entrusting to Nāṣiru-d-dīn the over-lordship of Sunārgāon, Gaur and Bengal, returned to Delhi.* But soon after, Sultān Nāṣiru-d-dīn died. The period of the rule of Bahādur Shāh in Bengal was thirty-eight years.

When Sultān Ghiāsu-d-dīn Tughlak Shāh returned from Bengal, before he could reach Delhī, on the way, in the month of Rabiu-l-āwwāl in the year 725 A.H., he perished under the roof of a newly built pavilion. His son, Ulagh Khān*, ascended the throne of Delhī and proclaiming himself Muhammad Shāh bestowed on all the nobles offices and Jagirs, and bestowing the title of Qadr Khān on Malik Bedār Khiljī, who was one of his leading nobles, he assigned to him the country of Lakhnautī, which had fallen vacant by the death of Sultān Nāṣiru-d-dīn. And giving the title of Bahrām Khān to Tatār Khān, whom Tughlak Shāh had appointed Governor of Sunārgāon, and who was an adopted brother of Sultan Muhammad Shāh, and bestowing on him in one day one hundred elephants and one thousand horses and one karor gold coins, and conferring on him the royal umbrella and the staff, and making him Viceroy of Bengal and Sunārgāon, he sent him to Bengal with all honours. And after fourteen years’ administration of that country, Qadr Khān was killed at the hands of his servant, Fakhru-d-dīn, as will be related hereafter.