During the 84-year reign of the Slave dynasty, the Blood and Iron Policy of Balban played a crucial role in establishing Ghiyasuddin Balban’s power and influence, which remained for 40 years. Out of these 40 years, he worked for 20 years as ‘Naib’ or ‘Deputy’ under Nasiruddin Mahmud, and for the remaining 20 years, he worked as ‘Sultan’. The remaining 10 Slave Dynasty rulers ruled for 44 years. Since the Blood and Iron Policy of Balban was carried out successfully, it became possible for Balban to attain this honor.
This policy strengthened the foundation of the Delhi Sultanate. The influence of the Blood and Iron Policy continued not only under the subsequent rulers of the Sultanate but also extended into the Mughal Empire.
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Meaning of the Blood and Iron Policy of Balban
Blood and Iron Policy of Balban suggests using a sword, treating opponents cruelly, being rude and severe, and spilling blood. It permitted the use of a variety of techniques for terrorizing and harming enemies.
Even before ascending to the throne of the Delhi Sultanate, he had gradually applied the Blood and Iron Policy in many areas. These include: when Razia Sultan was the ruler of Delhi, he conspired against her and declared rebellion. He even deposed Bahram Shah and placed Masud on the throne as king.
Later, he removed Masud and placed Nasir-Ud-Din Mahmud on Delhi’s throne. In other words, he had turned the Sultan into his puppet. He was so powerful that he could change the Sultan according to his own will and preferences.
For 20 years, he worked under Nasir-Ud-Din Mahmud as ‘naib’ or ‘prime minister’. So, when he became the Sultan of Delhi, he had become so experienced that he was not shaken in the face of internal and external enemies.
A few examples for Blood and Iron Policy of Balban
- Prof. S.R. Sharma said in his statement, “The infuriated sultan, in his paroxysm of rage, ordered the defeated generals to be hanged over the gates of Ayodhya.”
- When Tughril Khan rebelled, he sent Turkish officers Amir Khan and Bahadur one after another, but they were defeated. Then Balban himself suppressed Tughril Khan’s rebellion. In addition, he killed everyone, from Tughril Khan’s friends to all those who rebelled against the Sultan. Historian Lane-Poole commented on this situation, “Even a beggar to whom the usurper had been kind was not spared.”
- According to Barani, “Such punishment as was inflicted on Lakhnauti had never been heard of in Delhi, nor could anyone remember such a thing in all Hindustan.”
- Balban himself was a member of the ‘Corps of Forty’, also known as ‘Turkan-E-Chahalgani’. While being a member of ‘Turkan-E-Chahalgani’, he felt that unless the power of the nobles included in this group was curtailed, the Sultan’s supremacy and authority would never be established. As a result, he secretly poisoned and killed the members of this group one by one. He eventually brought it to an end.
- According to Dr. V.S. Smith, “By royal command, many of the rebels were cast under the feet of elephants….. skinned from head to feet….. some of them were hung over every gate of Delhi ….. one never heard such a tale of terror.”
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Conclusion
Although Blood and Iron Policy of Balban appears to be an example of cruelty and tyranny, there was no alternative but to adopt it in the circumstances of the time. After the death of Iltutmish, the royal power had become so weak that it was not possible to carry on the reign of the Slave Dynasty in Delhi without a brave, strong, just, and autocratic ruler like Balban.
