The reign of Nasiruddin was quiet as compared to the other successors of Iltutmish. Nasiruddin soon became a popular ruler because of his gentle, pious and virtuous life. He selected Balban among the nobles to act as his Wazir. Earlier he was working as Amir-i-Hajib. After giving his daughter in marriage to the young Sultan, he, further, cemented his position and received the post of Niib-i-Mamlakat.
The position of new Wazir AbuBakr declined as he had to act according to the commands of Balban. He served Sultan Nasiruddin very faithfully Balban strengthened his position by promoting his friends and relatives His younger brother Kishiu Khan and cousin Sher Khan Sunqar were among his favourites who helped in strengthening his position. But in 1253 a.d. Balban was replaced by Raihan, an Indian Muslim.
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Achievements of Balban as Minister:
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The political condition of Delhi SuHanaie was very depiorable when Balban was appointed Minister of Nasiruddin The Mongols were creating headache on the north-west frontier of Indian Hindu chiefs and Turkish slaves were also trying to put off the yoke of Delhi Slutanate.
The power and prestige of the kingdom had dipped very low as a result of constant court intrigues, political assassinations and change of Sultans. Anti-social elements had flourished and the life of the citizens was not secure.
Balban after taking over charge as Minister directed his attention to the problem of law and order in Delhi Sultanate. He adopted the policy of blood and iron’ and strengthened the royal forces so that peace could be established in the internal and external affairs of the kingdom.
Balban not only made a show of the powerful royal army but also launched attacks against rebellious Muslim Governors and Hindu chiefs. This not only restored faith in the hearts of the subjects towards their Sultan but also consolidated the power and prestige of the Central Government. Thus the future disintegration of the Sultanate was checked. Balban was quite stern towards the rebel Governors and disobedient officers. He handled them with iron hand.
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First of all, during the reign of Nasiruddin, Balban launched an expedition against the Khokhars and the Mongols in Punjab. The royal forces encamped on the bank of Ravi whereas Balban moved through the salt range to the Indus.
No doubt, the Mongols retreated but they plundered and ruined the area up to Lahore and carried away a large number of people as their captives or slaves. Balban returned to reorganize his army.
Secondly, Balban made a punitive expedition against the nobles and landlords of Doab who were not obedient to the Sultan of Delhi. Balban defeated some Hindu landlords and crushed their supporters severely. Balban granted the Jagir of Sambhal and Badaun to his step-brother, Jalaluddin, who had helped him during the expedition but later on he became a rebel and ran away to Turkistan.
Kishlu Khan, the younger brother of Balban, was dissatisfied with his position as a Governor of Nagor, so he raised his voice against Balban along with Raihan. They hatched a conspiracy against Balban with help of Malika-i-Jahan, the mother of Sultan Nasiruddin.
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They not only poured venom in the ears of the Sultan but also planned for the murder of Balban, the Naib. Balban having realized that his position was weak, volunteered to give up his claim to the post of Naib.
He was transferred as the Governor of Hansi and Raihan was appointed on the post of Naib-i-Mamlakat. But he could not remain on this post for more than a year and was transferred as Governor of Badaun. Balban was restored to his previous prize position of Naib. The other supporters of Raihan were also pardoned but they were sent out of the capital to various provinces.
Balban after taking over charge as Naib in 1253 a.d. adopted threefold policy for the consolidation of the empire. Suppression of Turkish nobles, vigilance towards Hindu chiefs and a stern view towards Mongols were the chief characteristics of his policy. Raihan was the first governor to raise a voice against Balban.
He also had the support of Qutulugh Khan but Balban marched upon Badaun against him and killed Raihan in the battlefield. Qutulugh Khan fled away toward Sirmur Hills and refused to obey his transfer orders. He took shelter with Raja Ramapal of Santagarh who refused to hand over the fugitive governor to Balban. The Turkish forces devastated his territory for disobeying the orders of Balban.
By this time the influence of Mongols had spread over Khurasan, Persia. Afghanistan and Khyber Pass Hence they had become an incessant danger on the north-west frontier of India. Balban dared not invade the Mongols due to scanty resources of Delhi Sultanate but he took effective steps for the safety of Delhi from Mongol invasion Jalaluddin, the half-brother of Sultan Nasiruddin who previously tried to join hands with Mongols, ultimately returned to India and endeavored to have amicable relations with the Sultanate of Delhi. Balban was a shrewd politician. He in order to create a buffer state between Delhi and the Mongols appointed him the Governor of Lahore in 1255A.D.
In the same way, Kishlu Khan was never faithful to Balban. In 1257 a.d. when the Mongnl leader Halaku, ruler of Persia, led a force against him, Kishlu Khan instead of waging a war, concluded a treaty with him and both of them decided to invade Delhi jointly. Balban after coming to know the designs of Kishlu Khan did not waste time and immediately won the favour of Halaku Khan, the ruler of Persia.
The Mongols were very much influenced by the power and prosperity of the Sultanate of Delhi. They realized that the army of Delhi was capable enough to defend its frontiers, so they gave up the idea of making an invasion on Delhi and thus the evil scheme of Kishlu Khan and other Turkish nobles ended in smoke. At the same time Balban failed to establish his effective control or the provinces of Lahore, Multan and Sindh.
Balban, as minister of Nasiruddin, led an effective invasion against the rebel Hindu chiefs of Rajputana, Malwa and Bunldelkhand who were growing powerful day by day but he did not succeed in his mission. He defeated the Chandels in 1248-49 a.d. but failed to occupy Kalinjar. He also made abortive attempts to establish his sway over Gawalior from 1251-52.
Ranthambhor also could not be reconquered in spite of repeated efforts. The Mewati Rajputs consolidated their power to a great extent and posed danger to the safety of the capital itself. Balban could not achieve success against them. Later on, Balban adopted a defensive attitude towards the Hindus as desired by Sultan Nasiruddin. Balban ascended the throne after the death of Nasiruddin, the then Sultan of Delhi.
Historians hold different opinions about the premature death of Nasiruddin. Isami, a contemporary writer, mentions that the Sultan died due to slow poison which was administered by Bajban Ferishta also writes that Balban got several of the relatives of Iltutmish assassinated so that no one could claim the throne after Nasiruddin.
Professor K. A. Nizami also opines that there was a large difference of age between Nasiruddin and Balban; the justification of his murder by Balban is quite sound. The old Balban was tired of waiting whereas young Nasiruddin was ruling peacefully.
Sir Wolseley Haig and Professor Habibullah are of the view that after the sad and sudden death of Nasiruddin, there was none to succeed him, so Balban, his father-in-law, wore the crown and was declared Sultan. Thus the conflict between the Sultans of Delhi and the Forty Slaves came to an end when a member of this group, Balban, was powerful enough to become the Sultan himself.