The untimely death of Qutbuddin Aibak came like a bolt from the blue and it created chaos and confusion among his followers. The issue of succession was yet to be decided. The nobles of Lahore seated his son Aram Shah on the throne but he was a very weak person.
The word Ben-Aibak after the name of Aram Shah in Tabaqat-i-Nasiri had created the impression that Aram Shah was the son of Aibak whereas Minhaj refers to his three daughters only and his contemporary Hasan Nizami and Fakhr-i-Muddawar are silent about it.
Abul Fazl writes that Aram Shah was the brother of Aibak but this is also not acceptable as we have no knowledge of the parentage of Aibak. Some historians hold the opinion that he being the only weak person available was placed on the throne by the nobles for the sake of restraining tumult so that by the time a proper successor was discovered, he could be replaced without difficulty. Thus his disqualification became his best qualification and he could rule for some months as Sultan of Delhi.
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The nobles of Delhi realized that a strong and competent person was needed at the throne of Delhi at this critical juncture; so after lot of consideration they invited Iltutmish, the Governor of Badaun, and son-in-law of Aibak to sit on the throne of Delhi.
When Iltutmish reached Delhi and assumed sovereign powers. Aram Shah marched against him from Lahore. The armies of both fought at Judd near Delhi in which Iltutmishachieved victory. Aram Shah was put to death after defeat or imprisoned and died in imprisonment.
Aram Shah ruled for eight months, only and during his regime, the Sultanate of Delhi turned topsy-turvy and the power of provincial governors increased much and they declared their independence. Hence-after his enthronement Iltutmish had to face several problems.