Question map
Who among the following Sultans succeeded in finally breaking and destroying the power of Turkan-i-Chihalgani?
Explanation
The Turkan-i-Chihalgani, also known as the 'Forty' or 'Chalisa', was a powerful group of Turkish slave-officers established by Shams-ud-din Iltutmish to serve as the ruling elite of the Delhi Sultanate. Following Iltutmish's death, this group became extremely influential, engaging in factionalism and deciding the succession of several rulers. Ghiyas-ud-din Balban, who was himself a member of the Chihalgani and a slave of Iltutmish, eventually ascended the throne in 1266. Recognizing that the power of these nobles posed a direct threat to the monarchy, Balban propounded a new theory of kingship and took decisive steps to destroy the power of the Turkan-i-Chihalgani to consolidate his own authority. By suppressing these nobles, he transformed the nature of the Sultanate's governance, shifting power from the Turkish oligarchy back to the Sultan.