| Rukn-ud-din Firuz | |
|---|---|
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| 4thSultan of Delhi | |
| Reign | 30 April 1236 – 19 November 1236 |
| Predecessor | Iltutmish |
| Successor | Razia Sultana |
| Born | c. 1211 |
| Died | 19 November 1236 (aged 25–24) Delhi Sultanate |
| Burial | |
| Issue | Ala ud din Masud |
| Dynasty | Mamluk |
| Father | Iltutmish |
| Mother | Shah Turkan |
| Religion | Islam |
Rukn-ud-din Firuz (Persian:رکنالدین فیروز), further transliterated asRukn al-Din Firoz and also known asFiruz I (1211 – 19 November 1236), was theSultan of Delhi for less than seven months in 1236. As a prince, he had administered theBadaun andLahore provinces of the Sultanate. He ascended the throne after the death of his fatherIltutmish, a powerfulMamluk ruler who had established the Sultanate as the most powerful kingdom in northern India. However, he pursued pleasure, wine, women, and left his motherShah Turkan in control of the administration. The misadministration led to rebellions against Ruknuddin and his mother, both of whom were arrested and imprisoned. The nobles and the army subsequently appointed his half-sisterRazia on the throne.
Ruknuddin was born to the Delhi Sultan Iltutmish and his wifeKhudawanda-i-JahanShah Turkan, who was a hand-maid of Turkic origin.[1] As a prince, he was assigned theiqta' ofBadaun in 1228.[2][3] He administered Badaun with the support of Ainul Mulk Husain Ash'ari, a former minister of Iltutmish's rivalNasir ad-Din Qabacha.[1]
Iltutmish had groomed his eldest sonNasiruddin Mahmud to be his successor, but this son died unexpectedly in 1229.[4] While leaving for his Gwalior campaign in 1231, Iltutmish left his daughterRazia as the in-charge of Delhi's administration. Razia handled the administration well, and when Iltutmish returned, he ordered preparation of a decree naming Razia as hisheir apparent, despite opposition from the orthodox nobles.[5] Iltutmish declared that his surviving sons were absorbed in pleasurable activities, and were incapable of managing the state affairs after his death. However, shortly before his death, Iltutmish appears to have agreed to appoint Ruknuddin - a son - as his successor.[6] In 1233, he appointed Ruknuddin as the administrator of Lahore.[2] During his last days, when he had become seriously ill, he recalled Ruknuddin from Lahore to Delhi, and Ruknuddin was unanimously accepted as his successor by the nobles.[6]
After the death of his father Iltutmish, Ruknuddin ascended the throne in April–May 1236.[3] Saifuddin HasanQarlugh, who assumed that the Delhi Sultanate would be weakened after Iltutmish's death, invaded India around this time. However, Saifuddin Aibak - a Turkic slave officer appointed as the governor ofUch by Iltutmish, defeated him and forced him to retreat.[7]
Minhaj praises Ruknuddin for three qualities: handsomeness, gentle temperament, and generous nature.[3] According to Minhaj, Ruknuddin greatly enjoyed riding elephants, and greatly favouredmahouts, who became important in his court.[8] Minhaj narrates that Ruknuddin would scatter gold coins inbazaars, while riding intoxicated on an elephant. He used to spend a lot of money on musicians, clowns, and eunuchs.[9] While spending his time and the state funds in pursuing pleasure, Ruknuddin left the control of administration to his mother Shah Turkan.[1]
Shah Turkan was originally reputed for charitable and religious donations, but her nature changed after she gained control of the administration. She mistreated ladies in Iltutmish's harem, and according to Minhaj, "destroyed" several of them. She and Ruknuddin ordered the blinding and killing of Qutubuddin, a young and popular son of Iltutmish, which triggered several rebellions:[10]
Ruknuddin sent an army against the rebels, but hiswazir (prime minister)Nizamul Mulk Junaidi deserted the army at Kailugarhi, and fled toKoil (modern Aligarh), later joining Salari. The forces of Junaidi and Salari subsequently joined the forces of Kuchi and Jani.[10]
The officers of Ruknuddin's father Iltutmish belonged to two major categories: the Turkic-origin slaves and theTazik-origin non-slaves. The Tazik officers included the prime minister Junaidi.[11] After the rebellions against Ruknuddin, the Turkic officers, who formed the core of Ruknuddin's army, planned murders of many Tazik officers in theMansurpur-Tarain region.[10] Several important Tazik officers were killed as a result:[12]
Ruknuddin marched towardsKuhram to fight the rebels.[10] Meanwhile, in Delhi, his half-sisterRazia - whom his mother Shah Turkan had planned to execute - instigated the general public against Shah Turkan at acongregational prayer. A mob then attacked the royal palace and detained Shah Turkan. Several nobles and the army pledged allegiance to Razia, and placed her on the throne. Ruknuddin marched back to Delhi, but Razia sent a force to arrest him: he was imprisoned and probably executed on 19 November 1236, having ruled for 6 months and 28 days.[9]