Balban is considered to be one of the most renowned Sultans of the so-called slave dynasty. He not only saved the infant Muslim Empire from decadence but also consolidated and strengthened it.
The lost power and prestige of the crown was re-established in his regime and he adopted the Blood and Iron “policy in order to achieve his objectives.
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Early Life and Accession:
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Ghiasuddin Balban belonged to the Ilbari Tribe like Iltutmish. His father was a Khan of 10,000 families. His early name was Bahauddin. In his early age, he was mad prisoner by the Mongols who sold him as a slave to Jamaluddin of Basra. He was a learned man and brought up Balban like his son.
In the year 1232 a.d. Iltutmish purchased Balban and appointed him his Khassdar (Personal Attendant). Seeing his ability and capability lltutmish included him in the group of forty slaves. During the reign of Raziya, the post of Amir-i-Shikar was given to him.
He was given the Jagir of Rewari and Hansi under the reign of Bahram Shah and he continued to “enjoy the same privileges in the reign of Alauddin Masud Shah As he played a prominent role in the enthronement of Nasiruddin Mahmood and the dethronement of Alauddin Masud Shah, the post of Amir-i- Hajib was given to him as a recognition of his services. In 1249 a.d. Balban gave his daughter to Sultan Nasiruddin in marriage.
As a result, the post of Naib-i-Mamlakat; and title of Ulugh. Khaowas bestowed upon him as a token of honour, being the fafMf-iti-Iaw of the Sultan. It cemented his position and within no time, he became the most powerful person of the Delhi Sultanate by dint of his ability, tact and courage. Balban reached the zenith of his power during the reign of his predecessor.
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Nasiruddin seeing no way out, gladly handed over all his able and worthy Naib who controlled the affairs of Delhi Sultanate and paved the way for his own elevation to the post of Sultan. Lanepoole remarks, “In fact, Balban had become the guiding spirit of the Muslim rule and when Masud was deposed and his uncle Nasiruddin sat upon the throne, the real authority was in the hands of the brilliant slave commander-in-chief”.
Hence, after the death of Nasiruddin in 1266 A.D. when Balban sat on the throne of Delhi, people did not oppose at all for they were already being ruled by Balban as the Minister of Nasiruddin. Lane-poole writes, “For twenty years in all Balban served the Sultan in- defatigably and they were years full of rebellion and conspiracy”.