Ghiyas ud din Balban

Ghiyas ud din Balban was one of the most powerful sultans of the Slave dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate of South Asia. The real name of Ghiyas-ud-din Balban was Ulugh Khan. His famous titles were: Nabāb-e-Khudā (Acolyte of God), Jhil-e-Ellāhi (Shadow of God), Khudā-e-Vandgār (Devotee of God). Ghiyas-ud-din was the 9th sultan of the Mamluk dynasty which ruled the Delhi Sultanate. He ruled Delhi from 1266AD to 1286AD. Balban used the ‘blood and iron’ policy to strengthen his hold over his rule. During his reign, he appointed a spying agency called "Barid". Amir Khusrau (poet) came to the subcontinent during the reign of Sultan Ghiyas-ud-din Balban. Later Amir Khusrau become a famous court poet of Ala-ud-din Khalji. Some poems Amir Khusrau made are Kiran-ush-Sadin and Tughlaq Nama. Amir Khusrau was also known as the Parrot of India. Balban enforced some laws such as "Sizada" (penalization) and "Paibas" (kissing the throne). Balban created the first military department of the Delhi Sultanate. It was called "Dewan-e-Arz". After the death of Sultan Iltutmish, Rukn-ud-din Firoz had been the ruler of the Delhi Sultanate. In 1236, Razia Sultana had become the Sultana of the Delhi Sultanate until she was killed by Balban. After Death of Razia Sultan in 1240 Ghiyas ud din Balban become the Sultan of Delhi.