Nasiruddin Mahmud Shah, Sultan of Delhi

Nasir ud din Mahmud Shah (1229/1230 – 19 November 1266, reigned: 1246–1265) was the eighth sultan of the Mamluk Sultanate (Slave dynasty). The Tabaqat-i Nasiri, written by the court historian Minhaj-i-Siraj, is dedicated to him. His father-in-law Ghiyas ud din Balban handled the state affairs during his reign. Tabaqat-i Nasiri, written by the Sultan's court historian Minhaj-i-Siraj, calls him a son (ibn) of Iltutmish. According to Minhaj's account, Nasiruddin was born in the year of 626 Hijri (1229-1230 CE), in Delhi's Kasr-Bagh (the Garden Castle). His mother was a concubine ( who later, during his son's reign, was given the title of Malikah-i-Jahan). He was born sometime after the untimely death of Iltutmish's eldest son and heir apparent Nasir-ud-din Mahmud Shah. Iltutmish named the child after the deceased prince, and sent him and his mother to live in a palace in the Loni (or Luni) village. Isami and Firishta describe the Sultan as a grandson of Iltutmish instead. Some modern scholars consider Minhaj as more reliable because he was a contemporary of the Sultan, while others believe that he was a son of Iltutmish's eldest son Nasiruddin, and was named after his father. For example, historians K. A. Nizami and J. L. Mehta believe that it is unlikely that Iltutmish sent his own son away from Delhi to the Loni village instead of bringing him up at the royal palace. Mehta states that Minhaj's statement that the child was "brought up and educated as a prince" indirectly implies that the child was not a prince by birth. Plus, Minhaj states that in 1225 CE, Sultan Nasiruddin's mother married an office named Qutlugh Khan. According to Nizami and Mehta, it is unlikely that a widow of Iltutmish married a petty noble: it is more likely that Sultan Nasiruddin's mother was a widow of Iltutmish's son Nasiruddin. On May 10,1242, Sultan Muiz ud din Bahram was dethroned. Amirs and Maliks took the possession of Delhi from him.