Devapala was a great ruler who ruled the Pala Empire of Bengal in the Indian Subcontinent from 810 to 850 CE. He succeeded his father, Dharamapala (ruled 770–810 CE), as the third king of the dynasty. He inherited a vast empire that his father had constructed and contributed significantly to its expansion. He expanded the empire’s borders by capturing modern-day Assam and Orissa. His vast realm was marked on the west by Kambhoja, the south by the Vindhya mountain range, the north by the Himalayas, and the east by the Bay of Bengal. 

Devapala (810 – 850 CE) – Background 

• Devapala was the third king of the dynasty, succeeding his father Dharamapala. 

• He was son of Rannadevi, a Rashtrakuta princess. 

• He was a great warrior just like his father. 

• During his reign, palas were crowned with success everywhere. 

• His successful military campaigns took him to Kamboja in the northwest and Deccan in the south. 

• Devapala was an expert at commanding a large army and able to win because of his clever war strategies. 

• Badal pillar inscription states that Devapala destroyed the Utkalas, invaded Pragjyotisha, broke the Hunas’ dignity, and humbled the Gurjara and Dravidas lords. 

• He invaded Pragjyotisha ( Assam) where the king surrendered without a struggle and Utkala (Odisha) whose king fled away. 

• Vajrasattva, a Buddhist poet, was present in Devapala’s court. He was the author of Lokeshwarasataka. 

Devapala – Military Strength and Expansion policy 

• Devapala had maintained a huge army with more than fifty-thousand elephant infantry units at his disposal. 

• Suleiman, an Arab trader, praises Devapala’s large army for its power and discipline. There were reportedly fifteen thousand washermen dedicated to cleaning the army’s uniforms. 

• Devapala was an expert at commanding the army and able to win because of his clever war strategies. 

• Devapala organized a military campaign with the help of his cousin and commander Jayapala. 

• He had rounded up the Pala Empire in the east and southeast (Kamarupa and Utkala) and was keeping an eye on the Pratihara and Rashtrakuta forces for any uprisings. 

• He marched his army south to Vindhyas and west to the Indus. 

• He was powerful enough to meddle in Tamil Nadu affairs and form a confederacy against the Pandya King. 

• He had also invaded and occupied the kingdoms of the violent tribes – Khasas and Latas. 

• King Balaputradeva of Java and Sumatra had dispatched an envoy to his country, asking for permission to erect a monastery in Nalanda with the help of five villages. 

• According to the Badal Pillar Inscription, he was the supreme lord of northern India, which stretched from the Himalayas to the Vindhya and from the eastern to the western seas. 

Devapala – Patron of Literature, Education, and Culture  

• Apart from being a great conqueror, Devapala was a great supporter of literature, education, and culture. 

• Bengal has prospered in every aspect of life during his reign. Devapala was a devout Buddhist who had gifted five villages to Buddhist monasteries for the advancement of Buddhism and the welfare and comfort of the Bhiksushs. 

• During his rule, Nalanda became the most important Buddhist learning center in ancient India. 

• People from all throughout India, as well as from other countries, flocked to Nalanda University to study Buddhist literature. 

• During his rule, Bengal had made unparalleled growth and a galaxy of scholars blossomed. 

• He built countless temples and monasteries in Magadha. 

• Devapala was a very benevolent administrator. He was tolerant of other religious beliefs and encouraged the spread of new religions within his Empire. 

Conclusion 

Devapala was the greatest ruler of the Pala Empire who had stretched his empire from the Himalayas to the Vindhya and from the Eastern to the Western seas. Pala dominance reached new heights during his reign. He was a clever war strategist and led many war campaigns successfully. Apart from being a great conqueror, he was a great supporter of literature, education, and culture. However, Devapala’s death caused the Pala dynasty to fall apart. He was succeeded by Vigrahapala, who stepped down after a reign of three or four years.

Ghiyas-ud-din Balban, the Sultan of Delhi from 1266 to 1287 AD, was one of the most powerful Sultans of the Middle Ages. He rose to power, like his master Iltutmish, and became the Sultan of Delhi. Balban was a member of Iltutmish’s famed group of 40 Turkic slaves. After thirty years of near-anarchy since the days of iltutmish, he restored peace and order to the kingdom, as well as the sultan’s power and dignity.

Ghiyas-ud-din Balban – Background

• Balban, like his master Iltutmish, was born into a Turkish family.
• He was abducted by the Mongols when he was young and sold to Khwaja Jamal-ud-din, a slave dealer.
• He carried him to Delhi, where Iltutmish bought him.
• Iltutmish was so pleased by Balban’s knowledge and talent that he enrolled him in the legendary army of the forty slaves during his stay in Delhi.
• Balban was raised to the position of Amir-i-Shikar (Lord of the Hunt) under the reign of Raziya Sultana.
• In the beginning, he was devoted to Raziya. Later, he teamed up with the nobles and successfully removed Raziya Sultana from the throne of Delhi.
• The succeeding Sultan, Bahram Shah, rewarded him with the Jagir of Rewari and Hansi in exchange for his loyalty.
• During Bahram Shah’s reign, he successfully resisted a Mongol invasion as a famous warrior.
• He was a kingmaker and he played a role in the deposition of Masud and the ascension of Nasir-ud-din Mahmud to the throne of Delhi.
• Nasir-ud-din rewarded him by appointing him as the Principal adviser of the Sultan and married to his daughter.

Ascension to Throne

• Balban was given the title of Ulugh khan by Sultan Nasir-ud-din Mahmud, who was impressed with his dedication and devotion.
• He was also given the title of Naib-i-mamlikat, or Deputy Sultan.
• This was possibly owing to Nasir-ud-din’s weakness and incompetence, and his reliance on him for state affairs management.
• As a result, Balban gradually gained control of the real power and his influence and popularity rose steadily.
• He also put down a series of internal uprisings as well as external aggressions, particularly from Mongols.
• Nasir-ud-din, the Sultan, considered him indispensable and he appointed Balban as his successor since he lacked an heir to the throne.
• After Nasir-ud-din Mahmud died in 1266, Balban assumed the title of Ghiyasuddin Balban and came to the throne.

Reign of Ghiyas ud din Balban

Re-organisation of Army

• As the fundamental foundation of his autocratic administration, Balban reorganised his army and made it strong and effective.
• He appointed Imad-ul-Mulk, a capable and vigilant general, to be the army’s Diwan-i-Ariz (Minister of War).
• The minister in charge of the army was freed from the Wazir’s financial oversight, and he had the Sultan’s full confidence.
• Balban enhanced the Army’s efficiency and morale and so he successfully repressed internal rebellions and exterior aggressions with the support of a large and powerful army.

Clearance of Mewatis

• The Mewatis’ authority on the outskirts of Delhi was so terrifying that the city’s gates were closed in the evening after the evening Namaz.
• Balban is said to have crushed the infidel Mewatis and ordered the clearance of the forests.
• The jungles were cleared, and everybody who got in the way was slain, bringing the total death toll to 100,000.
• He Iron Handly dealt the dacoits in the Doab region.

Battle with Bengal

• The rulers of Bengal were a major headache for the Delhi government.
• When there was chaos in Delhi, the local rulers declared their independence.
• Tugril Khan, the Bengal subedar, ignored the elderly Sultan of Delhi and declared his independence in 1279.
• The enraged Sultan dispatched a large force, but Tugril Khan destroyed them.
• Balban dispatched a second army, which received no better reception.
• Then, Balban dispatched a larger force to Bengal.
• Tugril Khan fled the capital and sought refuge in the forests after learning about Balban’s march into Bengal.
• He was apprehended, tortured, and murdered.
• At his place, a mass massacre was ordered, and all Tugril Khan loyalists were killed.
• After defeating the insurrection, the Bengal’s affairs were transferred to Balban’s second son Bugara Khan, and Sultan returned to Delhi.

Mongol Invasions

• On the border, Mongol invasions were common, giving Sultan Balban a continuous headache.
• Lahore was then under Mongol influence on the western frontier, while Sind and Multan were continually at risk of invasion.
• As a result, Sultan Balban took a number of precautions to protect the western frontiers.
• He first built a line of forts along the border and garrisoned them but Mongols resumed their plundering assaults without fear.
• Balban put experienced Amirs in command of the frontiers, but they couldn’t keep the Mongols at bay.
• Finally, he separated the border territory into two sections. His eldest son, Prince Muhammad Khan, was in control of one portion and his second son Bughra Khan was handed the second portion.
• Prince Muhammad Khan died while fighting and this was the biggest surprise for Balban.
• Although taking back Lahore from the Mongols, he was unable to recover from the shock of his son’s death.

Death of Ghiyas ud din Balban

• Balban’s health deteriorated steadily after his son’s death, as Prince Muhammad was his favourite son.
• He was old and had reached the end of his life.
• Realizing his demise, he named his heir as Kai Khusrav.
• He was the son of his eldest son, Prince Muhammad.
• Balban died at the age of eighty in 1287.

Legacy of Ghiyas ud din Balban

• Balban was the first king to fully comprehend and implement the conditions and obligations of being a Sultan of Delhi. He is regarded as one of India’s most brutal kings.
• He brought the Persian court practices of Sijda or Zaminbosi and Paibosi to India.
• To greet Sultan Sijda / Zaminbosi, they would kneel down and touch the ground with their heads, and kiss Sultan Paibosi’s feet.
• He advanced the Iranian Theory of Divine Rights, which states that the Sultan is God’s representative on Earth.
• He put an end to the “Corp of Forty’s” influence.
• Balban had defeated the formidable slave group known as “Chihalagani,” who were actual Iltutmish heirs.
• He assembled his military to fight the Mongols. He accomplished this by abolishing the office of Naik and establishing the Diwan-i-arz, a new military affairs agency. Ariz-i-Mumalik was in command of Diwan-i-arz.
• Balban was a strong supporter of education and learning. He had given a large number of educated men from Central Asia scope and facilities.
• During his reign, the great Persian poets Amir Khusru and Amir Hosan flourished.

Conclusion

Ghiyas ud din Balban’s reign is remembered as one of the most illustrious in the history of the Delhi Sultanate. With an iron fist, he defeated the rebellion forces, leapt on the troublesome location like a lion, and exterminated the rebels mercilessly. He did not forgive anyone for even minor offences. He was ruthless with the officers, killing them without mercy. It was Balban who protect the country from the frequent Mongol raids. He was one of the most powerful Sultans in the Delhi Sultanate.