Question

Blood and iron policy of balban

Answer 1

The blood and iron policy adopted by Ghiyas ud din Balban , was to create a terror or a fearful impact about himself among his subjects. He wanted his kingdom to fear at the very hearing of his name. Hence , this policy had certain specific features like-to create fear and respect for himself among his people, to make them follow divine kingship, introduction of spy system, introduction of doab system , chera system in the army, etc.,

Answer 2

The policy of harsh and ruthless to enemies and torture and blood shedding adopted by Balban has been described as Policy of Blood and Iron.

He used the iron and blood policy to suppress the internal revolts and protect the Sultanate from external invasions.

He first made the position of King very strong by claiming representative of God, introducing prostration and kissing of feet of King in the court.

After making his position strong, he adopted repressive policies against the rebels and suspicious nobles.

Few examples of his blood and iron policy include :

When Amir Khan, one of his generals was defeated by a rebel, Balban hanged him along with others over the gates of Ayodhya.

Similarly after killing a rebel named Tughril Khan, Balban ordered to kill all his friends and relatives.

Many nobles of the Chahalgani were poisoned to death secretly.

About the terror of Balban V.A Smith writes, "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."