Jalaluddin Khilji was the first ruler of Khilji dynasty of
Delhi and ruled from 1290 to 1296. He was an ethnic Turk; his ancestors had
migrated from Turkestan to Afghanistan. His family migrated from Afghanistan to
India and he along with his brother served the Delhi Sultan Balban for several
years; rising in the ranks subsequently. After Balban's death in 1287, his
teenage grandson got the throne but died under mysterious circumstances amidst
conspiracies. After a short bloodied power struggle, Jalaluddin Khilji got the
throne in June 1290. Jalaluddin was initially very unpopular but gradually
established himself as a popular ruler.
Jalaluddin had appointed his nephew Ali Gurshasp as the
governor of Kara (an old town in UP, about 70 km from Allahabad). Ali's father
had died when he was young, and Jalaluddin had brought him and his brother
Almas Beg up. Jalaluddin had also got two of his daughters married to Ali and
Almas.
By 1296, Jalaluddin was quite old. And Ali decided to start a
coup against him. Ali and his brother plotted against him for years, making
raids on other kingdoms to raise money for a war while keeping Jalaluddin in
the dark. After a raid, Ali asked for a meeting with Jalaluddin, seeking pardon
for his act, and expressed to consume poison if he was not pardoned by
Jalaluddin.
Jalaluddin Khilji went to meet his nephew Ali crossing a
river on a boat. Upon meeting, Ali bent on his feet and Jalaluddin raised him
with affection, giving a kiss on his cheek. At that point, Ali signaled to his
armed guard who assassinated Jalaluddin Khilji.
Thus died the founder of the famous Khilji dynasty of Delhi!
And his nephew Ali Gurshasp, whom he had raised from
childhood and gave power, took to his throne calling himself "Alauddin
Khilji".
This Alauddin Khilji is the character our favorite actor
Ranveer Singh plays in the upcoming movie "Padmavati"
- Rahul
(to be continued)
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