RULE OF ‘ALĪ MARDĀN KHĪLJĪ IN BENGAL.

After the assassination of ‘Azz-ud-dīn, his assassin, ‘Alī Mardān Khiljī became ruler of Bengal, styled himself Sultān ‘Alāu-d-dīn, and introduced the Khutbah and the coin in his own name.* The breeze of insolence and vanity blew into the recesses of his brain, and he commenced oppressions and innovations. Two years he continued to rule, at length when the Imperial army from Delhī arrived, all the Khiljīs making a common cause with the Imperial army avenged the murder of ‘Azu-d-dīn. After this, the rule of this kingdom passed to Ghiāsu-d-dīn Khiljī.

RULE OF GHIĀSU-D-DĪN KHILJĪ IN BENGAL.

Ghiāsu-d-dīn Khiljī* succeeded to the rule of Bengal. In that year 607 A.H., Sultān Qutbu-d-dīn, whilst playing at polo at Lahor, fell from his horse, and died, and his son, Aram Shāh, mounted the throne of Delhī, and the Empire fell into decay. Ghiāsu-d-dīn establishing completely his rule over this province, introduced the Khutbah and the coin in his own name, and to some extent arrogating to himself the sovereign power, he ruled over this country. And when the throne of Delhī by the accession of Sultān Shamsu-d-dīn Altamsh received eclat in the year 622 A.H., the latter marched with his forces to Behār, and invaded Lakhnauti. Sultan Ghiāsu-d-dīn not finding strength in himself to stand an encounter, presented to the Emperor thirty-eight elephants, eighty thousand rupees, together with various valuables and other presents, and enlisted himself amongst the adherents of the Emperor. Sultān Shamsu-d-dīn Altamsh introducing there the Khutbah and the coin in his own name and bestowing on his eldest son the title of Sultān Nāṣiru-d-din, and entrusting to him the rule over the kingdom of Lakhnauti, and presenting to him the royal umbrella and staff, himself returned to the metropolis of Delhi. Sultān Ghiāsu-d-dīn was just and liberal, and the period of his rule was twelve years.

RULE OF SULTĀN NĀṢIRU-D-DĪN, SON OF SULTĀN SHAMSU-D-DĪN ALTAMSH, EMPEROR OF DELHI.

Sultān Nāiru-d-dīn succeeded to the rule of Bengal. After the return of Sultan Shamsu-d-din Altamsh towards Delhī, Ghiāsu-d-dīn who had gone towards the kingdom of Kamrup, returning, raised the standard of revolt. Sultān Nāṣiru-d-dīn killed him after a bloody engagement, and obtaining much booty, sent many valuables and presents of this country to many of his acquaintances at Delhi, and for three years and some months he continued to rule over Bengal. In the year 626 A.H., at Lakhnauti, he tasted the untasty lotion of death.* And Hussāmu-d-din Khiljī* who was one of the nobles of Md. Bakhtiār succeeded to the rule of Bengal.

RULE OF ‘ALĀU-D-DĪN KHĀN.

When Sultān Shamsu-d-din Altamsh heard the news of the death of his beloved son, he observed the necessary ceremonies of mourning, and in the year 627 A. H. for the purpose of quench­ing the fire of insurrection which had appeared in Bengal after the death of Nāṣiru-d-dīn, proceeded to Lakhnauti, and after fighting with Malik Hussamu-d-din Khilji, who raising insurrec­tion had brought about complete disorder in the government of Bengal, captured him. After weeding out the root of insurrec­tion, and quelling the tumult of rebellion, he assigned the rule of that kingdom to Izzul-mulk Malik ‘Alau-d-din Khān.* And the latter devoting himself to the subjugation and administration of the country enforced in this country the Imperial Khutbah and coin. After ruling three years, he was recalled.

RULE OF SAIFU-D-DĪN TURK.*

After supercession of Izzu-l-mulk ‘Alau-d-dīn, Saifu-d-dīn Turk received the Royal patent of Viceroyalty of Bengal. He, too, occupied the Viceregal throne for three years, when he died of poison.

RULE OF IZZU-D-DĪN TUGHAN KHĀN.*

Since the juggling sky at that time had thrown the reins of the empire of Delhī into the hands of Sultān Raziah,* daughter of Sultān Shamsu-d-din Altamsh, during her reign, the Viceroyalty of Lakhnautí was bestowed on Izzu-d-din Tughan Khan. The latter devoted himself to the administration of the country, and for a period was successful. When in the year 639 A.H. Sultān Alau-d-dīn Masud ascended the throne of Delhi, Tughān Khan sent many presents and valuables to the Emperor of Dehli in charge of Sharfu-l-Mulk Sanqarī, and the Emperor sent to Izzu-d-dīn Tughān Khān in charge of Qāzī Jalālu-d-dīn, Governor of Oudh, a ruby-laid umbrella and a special robe of honour. And in the year 642 A.H., thirty thousand Mughal soldiers of Changiz Khān, making an incursion into the kingdom of Lakhnauti through the passes of the northern mountains, created much confusion. Malik Izzu-d-dīn sent an account of this to Sultān Alāu-d-dīn. On hearing of this, the Emperor despatched to Lakhnauti a large force under Malik Qurabēg Tamar Khān, who was one of the servants of Khwājah Tāsh, for assisting Tughān Khan. At the time of engagement, the Mughal forces not being able to give battle returned to their country, vanquished. In the meantime, on certain occasions between Izzu-d-dīn Tughān Khān and Malik Qurābēg Tamar Khān, dissension set in; consequently, Sultān Alāu-d-dīn, in accordance with the saying “Two rulers cannot rule over one country,” appointed Malik Qurābēg Tamar Khān to be ruler of Lakhnauti, and recalled to Dehlī Malik Izzu-d-dīn Tughān Khān. Tughān Khān ruled for 13 years and some months.

RULE OF MALIK QURĀBĒG TAMAR KHĀN.*

After supercession of Malik Izzu-d-dīn Tughān Khān, Qurābēg Tamar Khān, becoming ruler of the kingdom of Lakhnauti, set himself to administrative affairs. After ruling ten years, he died. And in the reign of Emperor Nāṣiru-d-dīn* Mahmūd, son of Sultān Shamsu-d-dīn Altamsh in the year 655 H. the Viceroyalty of Lakhnauti was entrusted to Malik Jalālu-d-din Khān,

RULE OF MALIK JALALU-D-DĪN KHĀN.*

When Malik Jalālu-d-din Khān succeeded to the Viceroyalty of the kingdom of Lakhnauti, he ruled over it for a year more or less, and in the year 656 A.H. he was superceded, and Arsalān Khān was appointed Viceroy of that province.

RULE OF ARSALĀN KHĀN.*

When Arsalān Khan became Viceroy of Lakhnauti, he devotad himself to administrative matters. He asserted some amount of independence. In the year 657 A.H., he sent two elephants and much jewellery and rare stuffs to Sultan Naṣiru-d-dīn, and shortly after died at Lakhnauti.

RULE OF MUHAMMAD TĀTĀR KHĀN.*

After the death of Arsalan Khān, his son, Md. Tātār Khān, who was illustrious for his bravery, liberality, heroism and honesty, becoming independent in his rule of Lakhnauti, did not much bend his head in submission to Emperor Nāṣiru-d-dīn. And after a while, he had the Khutbah in the kingdom of Lakhnauti recited in his own name, and for some time he passed in this wise. And when in the year 664 A.H. the throne of Dehlī received eclat from the accession of Sultān Ghiāsu-d-dīn Balban, and the fame of high aspiration and steadiness and high ambition of that Emperor spread to all sides, Md. Tātār Khān, using foresight, sent sixty-three head of elephants, together with other presents, to Dehlī. As this was the first year of his accession, Sultān Ghiāsu-d-dīn Balban considering this an auspicious augury, illu­minated the City with lamps, and the nobles, feudatories and the principal officers presenting nazar became recipients of gifts. And the envoys of Muhammad Tātār Khān, after being loaded with presents, got permission to return. Tatar Khan pleased with the Imperial gifts, submitted and enrolled himself in the ranks of the Emperor’s Omara. Sultān Ghiasu-d-din Balban appointed a Turkish slave named Tughral to the Viceroyalty of Lakhnauti.*