Aram Shah

Who is Aram Shah?

Aram Shah was the second sultan of the Mamluk Sultanate. The relationship of Aram with Qutb-ud-din Aibak is a subject of controversy. According to some, he was Aibak's son, but Minhaj-us-Siraj distinctly writes that Qutb-ud-din only had three daughters. Abul Fazl has made the "astonishing statement" that he was the Sultan's brother. A modern writer has hazarded the opinion that "he was no relation of Qutub-ud-din" but was selected as his successor as he was available on the spot. In fact, there were no fixed rules governing the succession to the Crown in the Turkish State. It was determined largely by the exigencies of the moment and the influence of the Chihalgani or 'Corp of Forty'. The Chihalgani, who were the administrative and military elite of the Ilbari tribe, crowned him king thinking that he would be able to deal with the problems facing the Sultanate. Aram was ill-qualified to govern a kingdom. The Chihalgani soon conspired against him and invited Shams-ud-din Iltutmish, then Governor of Badaun, to replace Aram. Iltutmish responded to their call, and, advancing with his entire army, defeated Aram on the plain of Jud near Delhi in 1211. What became of Aram is not quite certain.