Ghiyasuddin Balban | Brief Biography
Ghiyasuddin Balban | Brief Biography
Ghiyasuddin Balban was a 13th-century ruler of the Delhi Sultanate in India. He was born in the town of Jaspur in present-day Uzbekistan, and his family served as officers in the Mongol army. Balban rose to power in the Sultanate during a time of political instability and internal strife, and he is credited with restoring stability and centralizing power in the state.
Balban began his career as a soldier in the service of the Sultanate’s ruler, Iltutmish, and he quickly rose through the ranks to become one of his most trusted advisors. After Iltutmish’s death, Balban supported his successor, Ruknuddin Firoz, but the latter’s incompetence and lack of leadership skills led to his overthrow by Balban.
As Sultan, Balban introduced a number of reforms to strengthen the state’s administrative and military apparatus. He reorganized the army, created a new class of elite soldiers, and built a network of fortifications and watchtowers to defend the Sultanate against external threats.
Ghiyasuddin Balban also implemented strict measures to maintain law and order, and his rule was characterized by strict adherence to Islamic law and principles. He established a spy network to keep a watchful eye on potential rivals, and his court was renowned for its strict protocols and formalities.
Despite his strict rule, Ghiyasuddin Balban was a patron of the arts, and his court was a center of poetry, music, and literature. He himself was a gifted poet and musician, and he commissioned the construction of several grand monuments, including the Qutub Minar and the Hauz-i-Shamsi.
Balban ruled the Sultanate for 20 years, until his death in 1287. His reign is remembered as a time of stability and order, and his legacy as a strong and effective ruler has endured to this day. 0 0 0.
Sources:
Khan, M. A. (2017). The Sultanate of Delhi 1206-1526. Bloomsbury Publishing.
Majumdar, R. C. (1964). The Delhi Sultanate. Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. ***
Ghiyasuddin Balban Brief Biography
N.B. This article originally belongs to the book entitled ‘Brief Biographies of Eminent Generals and Conquerors’ by Menonim Menonimus.
Books of Biography by M. Menonimus:
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