Excerpt from
The History of India, as Told by Its Own Historians. The Muhammadan Period
Sir H. M. Elliot
Edited by John Dowson
Raziya, Daughter of the Sultn.
Sultn Raziya was a great monarch. She was wise, just, and generous, a benefactor to her kingdom, a dispenser of justice, the protector of her subjects, and the leader of her armies. She was endowed with all the qualities befitting a king, but she was not born of the right sex, and so in the estimation of men all these virtues were worthless. (May God have mercy on her!) In the time of her father, Sultn Sa'id Shamsu-d dn, she had exercised authority with great dignity. Her mother was the chief wife of his majesty, and she resided in the chief royal palace in the Kushk-froz. The Sultn discerned in her countenance the signs of power and bravery, and, although she was a girl and lived in retirement, yet when the Sultn returned from the conquest of Gwalior, he directed his secretary, Tju-l Malik Mahmd, who was director of the government, to put her name in writing as heir of the kingdom, and successor to the throne. Before this farmn was executed, the servants of the State, who were in close intimacy with his majesty, represented that, seeing the king had grown up sons who were worthy of the dignity, what wisdom could there be in making a woman the heir to a Muhammadan throne, and what advantage could accrue from it? They besought him to set their minds at ease, for the course that he proposed seemed very inexpedient. The king replied, My sons are devoted to the pleasures of youth, and no one of them is qualified to be king. They are unfit to rule the country, and after my death you will find that there is no one more competent to guide the State than my daughter. It was afterwards agreed by common consent that the king had judged wisely.
When Sultn Raziya succeeded to the throne, all things reverted to their old order. But the wazr of the State, Nizmu-l Mulk Junaid did not give in his adhesion. He, together with Malik Jn, Malik Koch, Malik Kabr Khn, and Malik 'Izzu-d dn Muhammad Slr, assembling from different parts of the country at the gates of Dehli, made war against Sultn Raziya, and hostilities were carried on for a long time. After a while, Malik Nasru-d dn Tbash Mu'izz, who was governor of Oudh, brought up his forces to Dehli to the assistance of Sultn Raziya. When he had crossed the Ganges, the generals, who were fighting against Dehli, met him unexpectedly and took him prisoner. He then fell sick and died.
The stay of the insurgents at the gates of Dehli was protracted. Sultn Raziya, favoured by fortune, went out from the city and ordered her tents to be pitched at a place on the banks of the Jumna. Several engagements took place between the Turkish nobles who were on the side of the Sultn, and the insurgent chiefs. At last peace was effected, with great adroitness and judicious management. Malik 'Izzu-d dn Muhammad Slr and Malik 'Izzu-d dn Kabr Khn Ayyz secretly joined the Sultn and came at night to her majesty's tents, upon the understanding that Malik Jn, Malik Koch, and Nizmu-l Mulk Junaid were to be summoned and closely imprisoned, so that the rebellion might subside. When these chiefs were informed of this matter they fled from their camps, and some horsemen of the Sultn pursued them. Malik Koch and his brother Fakh-ru-d dn were captured, and were afterwards killed in prison. Malik Jn was slain in the neighbourhood of Bbul and Nakwn. Nizmu-l Mulk Junaid went into the mountains of Bardr,* and died there after a while.
When the affairs of Raziya were thus settled, she conferred the office of wazr on an upright officer who had been the deputy of Nizmu-l Mulk, and he likewise received the title of Nizmu-l Mulk. The command of the army was given to Malik Saifu-d dn Aibak Baht, with the title of Katlagh Khn. To Kabr Khn was assigned the province of Lhore. The country now enjoyed peace, and the power of the State became manifest. Throughout its territories from Lakhnaut to Dewal all the princes and nobles made their submission.
Shortly after Malik Aibak Baht died, and Malik Kutbu-d dn Hasan Ghor was appointed to his office, and was ordered to march against the fort of Rantambhor. The Hinds laid siege to this fort after the death of Shamsu-d dn, and had been before it some time, but when Kutbu-d dn arrived, he drew the Musul-mn forces out of the fort and destroyed it. He then returned to Dehli.
About this time Malik Ikhtiyru-d dn tign was appointed lord chamberlain, and Amr Jamlu-d dn Ykt, the superintendent of the stables, was made a personal attendant of her majesty. This created jealousy among the Turkish generals and nobles. The Sultn Raziya now threw off the dress and veil of women. She put on a coat (kab) and cap, and showed herself among the people. When she rode on an elephant all men clearly saw her. She now ordered an army to march to Gwalior, and sent with it large gifts. There being no possibility of resistance, this well-wisher of the victorious government, Minhj Sirj, together with Majdu-l Umar Za'u-d dn Junaid, chief justice of Gwalior, and with other principal officers, came out of the fort of Gwalior on the 1st of Sha'bn, A.H. 635 (Feb. 1238), and proceeded to the Court of Dehli. In the month of Sha'bn of the same year, Sultn Raziya (may peace be to her!), appointed this well-wisher to the Nsiriya college* and to the office of Kz of Gwalior. In A.H. 637 (1239 A.D.) Malik 'Izzu-d dn Kabr Khn, governor of Lahore, broke out in revolt. The Sultn led her army from Dehli in that direction and pursued him. After a time he made peace and did homage. The province of Multn, which was held by Malik Karkash, was given to Malik 'Izzu-d dn Kabr Khn.
On Thursday, the 19th of Ramazn A.H. 637 (April, 1240), Sultn Raziya returned to the capital. Malik Altniya, who was governor of Tabarhindh,* revolted, and some of the officers of the Court on the frontier supported him. On Wednesday, the 9th of the same month and year she marched with a numerous army towards Tabarhindh to put down these rebels. When she arrived there she was attacked by the Turks, who put Amr Jallu-d dn Ykt, the Abyssinian, to death. They then seized the Sultn Raziya and sent her a prisoner to the fort of Tabarhindh.
Among the incidents which occurred at the beginning of the reign of Sultn Raziya, this was the most remarkable, that the Karmatians and heretics of Hindustn, being seduced by a person with some pretensions to learning, who was called Nr Turk, flocked to him in large numbers from all parts of Hindus-tn: such as Guzert, Sind, the environs of the capital, and the banks of the Jumna and Ganges. They assembled in Dehli, and making a compact of fidelity to each other, they, at the instigation of this Nr Turk, declared open hostility against the people of Islm. When Nr preached, the rabble used to gather round him. He used to say that the learned Sunnis and their flocks were nsibs, and to call them marjs.* He endeavoured also to inflame the minds of the common people against the wise men who followed the doctrines of Ab Hanfa and Shfi'. On a day appointed, on Friday, the 6th of the month of Rajab. A.H. 634 (March, 1237), the whole body of heretics and Karmatians, to the number of about one thousand men, armed with swords, shields, arrows, and other weapons, came in two parties to the Jma' masjid of Dehli. One division came from the northern side and passed by the fort of Nr to the gate of the masjid. The other proceeded from the clothes bzr, and entered the gate of the Mu'izz, under the impression that it was the masjid. On both sides they attacked the Musulmns. Many of the faithful were slain by the sword and many were trampled to death by the crowd. When a cry arose from the people in consequence of this outrage, the brave officers of the government, such as Nasru-d dn Aitamur Balarmi, Amr Imm Nsir Sh'ir and others, fully armed with mail, cuirass, and helmet, with spears, shields, and other weapons, gathered on all sides and rode into the masjid. They plied their swords on the heretics and Karmatians; and the Musulmns who had gone (for refuge) to the top of the mosque hurled down stones and bricks till every heretic and Karmatian was sent to hell, and the riot was quelled.* Thanks be to God for the favour and glory he has given to the faith.
When Sultn Raziya was taken prisoner to Tabarhindh, Malik Altniya espoused her and led her army towards Dehli to regain possession of the kingdom. Malik 'Izzu-d dn Muhammad Slr and Malik Karkash left the capital and went to join them. Meanwhile, Mu'izzu-d dn had ascended the throne, Ikhtiyru-d dn tign, lord chamberlain, had been slain, and Badru-d dn Sankar Rm had been appointed his successor. In the month of Rab'u-l awwal A.H. 638 (Sept. 1240), the Sultn marched his army from Dehli to repel his opponents, and Sultn Raziya and Malik Altniya were defeated. When in their flight they reached Kaithal, their remaining forces abandoned them, and they both fell into the hands of the Hinds and were killed. The date of this defeat was the 24th of Rab'u-l awwal A.H. 638 (Oct. 1240), and the Sultn Raziya was killed on the day following. She had reigned three years and six days.
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