In Sha'bán, 646 H. (Nov. 1248), the royal army marched
through the upper country to the neighbourhood of the Biyáh,
and then returned to the capital. Ulugh Khán with several
nobles under him, was sent with an ample force towards Rantam-
On Monday, 3rd Safar, 647 H. (May, 1249), they arrived at
Dehli. In the course of this year his majesty was pleased to
recognize the great ability and distinguished services of his
general.*
He therefore promoted him from the rank of a Malik
and the office of lord chamberlain to the dignity of a Khán, and
on Tuesday, 3rd Rajab, 647 H., he named him lieutenant of the
government, army, and royal fortune (bakhtiyárí), with the title
of Ulugh Khán. The truth of the adage that “the worth of
titles is revealed by heaven,” was proved in this case, for from
that day forth the services of Ulugh Khán to the house of Násir
became still more conspicuous. When he was thus promoted,
his brother Kishlí Khán Aibak, master of the horse, became lord
chamberlain. He was a nobleman of kind and generous character,
and endowed with many virtues. Malik Táju-d dín Sanjar
Tabar Khán became deputy of the lord chamberlain, and my
excellent dear son 'Alau-d dín Ayyáz Tabar Khán Zanjání,*
who was Amíru-l hujjáb (superintendant of the royal door-
On Monday, 9th Sha'bán, 647 H. (Nov. 1249), the royal army left the capital and took the field. Passing over the Jumna it encamped and engaged in operations against the Mawás. [Matters personal of the author, see page 350.]
On Tuesday, 25th Sha'bán, 649 H. (Nov. 1251), the royal
army marched towards Málwa and Kálinjar. When Ulugh
Khán arrived there with the army of Islám, he defeated Jáhir
of Ijárí, a great rána, who had a large army and many adherents,
and destroyed both him and his kingdom. This Jáhir, rána of
Ijárí, was an active and able man. In the reign of Sa'íd Shamsu-d
dín, in the year 632 H. (1234), the army of Islám was sent from
Bayána Sultán-kot, Kanauj, Mahr, Maháwan and Gwalior,
against Kálinjar and Jamú, under the command of Malik Nus-
On Monday, 23rd Rabí'u-l awwal, 650 H. (June, 1252), the army returned to Dehli and remained there for six months. On the 12th Shawwal of the same year, it marched through the upper country to the banks of the Biyáh. At this time Malik Balban held the fief of Badáún, and Katlagh Khán that of Bayána. They were both summoned to the Royal presence, and both attended with all the generals of the army at the royal abode. When the army reached the banks of the Biyáh, 'Imádu-d dín Ríhán conspired with other chiefs, and excited envy and enmity against Ulugh Khán. The envious found their own importance dimmed by his glory, and they resolved to do some hurt and injury to his august person, either in hunting, in passing through mountain defiles, or in crossing rivers. Ulugh Khán's good fortune preserved him, and his adversaries were unable to do him any harm. When the conspirators found that their plans were ineffectual, they agreed upon another course, and presenting themselves at the doors of the royal tent, urged upon his majesty that Ulugh Khán ought to be sent to his estates. The result of all this was that the order was given to him indirectly.*
On Saturday, the new moon of Muharram, 651 H., Ulugh Khán proceeded to Hánsí with his followers and family. When the Sultán reached Dehli, the thorn of envy, which still festered in the malicious heart of Ríhán, impelled him to recommend his majesty to send Ulugh Khán to Nágor, and to give the country of Hánsí to one of the royal princes. His majesty accordingly went to Hánsí, and the Khán removed to Nágor. This happened in Jumáda-l ákhir 651 H. On his departure for Hánsí, 'Imádu-d dín Ríhán became wakíldar,* and the administration of the royal orders passed into his hands.
Through the envy and malignity of the new minister, the office of Kází of the State was taken from the author, Minháj Siráj, in Rajab, 651, and given to Kází Shamsu-d dín Bahráíchí. On returning to the capital, on the 17th Shawwál, Malik Saifu-d dín Kishlí Khán, brother of Ulugh Khán, was sent to his estate of Karra, and 'Izzu-d dín Balban, son-in-law of Katlagh Khán, was appointed to the charge of the office of lord chamberlain. All the officers who had been appointed through the interest of Ulugh Khán were removed, and the business and quietude of the State were disturbed, all through the machinations of 'Imádu-d dín.
At this period, when Ulugh Khán (May God prolong his reign!) went to Nágor, he led a Muhammadan force in the direction of Rantambhor, Hindí, and Chitror. Báhar Deo, Ráí of Rantambhor, the greatest of the Ráís, and the most noble and illustrious of all the princes of Hindustán, assembled an army to inflict a blow on Ulugh Khán. But it was the will of God that the name of the Khán should be celebrated for his victories in the annals of the time, and although the Ráí's army was large and well appointed with arms and horses, it was put to flight, and many of its valiant fighting men were sent to hell. The Musulmáns obtained great spoil and captured many horses and prisoners (burda). They then returned safe with their booty to Nágor, which, in consequence of Ulugh Khán's presence, had become a place of great importance.
At the opening of the year 651 H., the numerous people who had suffered oppression and hardship through the disgrace of Ulugh Khán retired to their closets, and like fish out of water, and sick men without slumber, from night till morn, and from morn till night, they offered up their prayers to the Creator, supplicating him to let the dawn of Ulugh Khán's prosperity break forth in splendour, and dispel with its brilliant light the gloom occasioned by his rival Ríhán. The Almighty graciously gave ear to the prayers of the wretched, and the cries of the distressed. The victorious banners of Ulugh Khán were borne from Nágor, and he went to the capital. The reason of his return was this. The nobles and servants of the State were all Turks of pure origin and Táziks of good stock, but 'Imádu-d dín was an eunuch and impotent; he, moreover, belonged to one of the tribes of Hindustán. Notwithstanding all this he exercised authority over the heads of all these chiefs, They were disgusted with this state of affairs and could no longer endure it. They suffered so much from the hands of the bullies who were retained by 'Imádu-d dín, that for six months they could not leave their houses, nor could they even go to prayers on Fridays. How was it possible for Turks and Maliks, accustomed to power, rule, and warfare, to remain quiet under such ignominy? The chiefs of Hindustán, of Karra, Mánikpúr, Oudh and the upper country to Badáún, of Tabarhindh, Sanám, Samána, and the Siwálik Hills, sent to Ulugh Khán inviting him to return. Arslán Khán led an army out of Tabarhindh, Ban Khán came forth from Sanám and Mansúrpúr, and Ulugh Khán collected his forces in Nágor and the Siwálik hills. Malik Jalálu-d dín Mas'úd Sháh bin Sultán joined them from Lahore, and they marched upon the capital.