Ruknuddin Firuz

Ruknuddin was born to the Delhi Sultan Iltutmish and his wife Khudawanda-i-Jahan Shah Turkan, who was a hand-maid of Turkic origin.[1] As a prince, he was assigned the iqta' of Badaun in 1228.[2][3] He administered Badaun with the support of Ainul Mulk Husain Ash'ari, a former minister of Iltutmish's rival Nasir ad-Din Qabacha.[1]

Iltutmish had groomed his eldest son Nasiruddin Mahmud to be his successor, but this son died unexpectedly in 1229.[4] While leaving for his Gwalior campaign in 1231, Iltutmish left his daughter Razia as the in-charge of Delhi's administration. Razia handled the administration well, and when Iltutmish returned, he ordered preparation of a decree naming Razia as his heir apparent, despite opposition from the orthodox nobles.[5] Iltutmish declared that his surviving sons were absorbed in pleasurable activities, and were incapable of managing the state affairs after his death. However, shortly before his death, Iltutmish appears to have agreed to appoint Ruknuddin - a son - as his successor.[6] In 1233, he appointed Ruknuddin as the administrator of Lahore.[2] During his last days, when he had become seriously ill, he recalled Ruknuddin from Lahore to Delhi, and Ruknuddin was unanimously accepted as his successor by the nobles.[6]

After the death of his father Iltutmish, Ruknuddin ascended the throne in April–May 1236.[3] Saifuddin Hasan Qarlugh, who assumed that the Delhi Sultanate would be weakened after Iltutmish's death, invaded India around this time. However, Saifuddin Aibak - a Turkic slave officer appointed as the governor of Uch by Iltutmish, defeated him and forced him to retreat.[7]

Minhaj praises Ruknuddin for three qualities: handsomeness, gentle temperament, and generous nature.[3] According to Minhaj, Ruknuddin greatly enjoyed riding elephants, and greatly favoured mahouts, who became important in his court.[8] Minhaj narrates that Ruknuddin would scatter gold coins in bazaars, while riding intoxicated on an elephant. He used to spend a lot of money on musicians, clowns, and eunuchs.[9] While spending his time and the state funds in pursuing pleasure, Ruknuddin left the control of administration to his mother Shah Turkan.[1]

Ruknuddin marched towards Kuhram to fight the rebels.[10] Meanwhile, in Delhi, his half-sister Razia - whom his mother Shah Turkan had planned to execute - instigated the general public against Shah Turkan at a congregational prayer. A mob then attacked the royal palace and detained Shah Turkan. Several nobles and the army pledged allegiance to Razia, and placed her on the throne. Ruknuddin marched back to Delhi, but Razia sent a force to arrest him: he was imprisoned and probably executed on 19 November 1236, having ruled for 6 months and 28 days.[9]