A FOUNDATION FOR HISTORYbiography of Qabacha is worth citing in full, as it discusses Qabacha's
political and military maneuverings. According to Juzjani, Qabacha
had unparalleled "foresight, wisdom, manners, and work ethic," and
he served Sultan Mu'izzuddin Sam in many capacities. His bravery and
leadership caused the sultan to give two of his daughters to Qabacha
in marriage. Juzjani narrates how he reached Uch after Qabacha's de-
feat at the hands of Jalaluddin:
When Chingiz Khan and Jalaluddin Khawarzam Shah fought near, the
river Indus, Khawarzam Shah entered Sind. He went to Daybul and
Multan. After conquering Nanda, the Tartari commander Turbi
No'in came to Multan with a heavy army and surrounded it for forty
days. During the siege, Qabacha opened the gates of the treasury and
gave grants to all the people. His wisdom, foresightedness, 'and
bravery accomplished miracles that will be remembered until the
Day of Judgment. This happened in 621 AH [1224 CE) [ ... )
That same year, the writer of these words, Minhaj Siraj, came
from Khurasan to Ghazna to Multan and via boat to Uch. It was the
twenty-sixth of Jamadi Awal of 624 AH [1227 CE). In 625 AH [1228
CE], control of the madrasa Firuzi in Uch was given to the writer of
these words. [Also granted to Juzjani) was an appointment to the army
of 'Alauddin Bahram Shah. In 625 AH [1228 CE], Sultan Syed Sham-
suddin laid siege to Uch, and Malik Nasiruddin [Qabacha) fled to
Bhakkar. The sultani army continued the siege for twenty-sevt;n pays
until the fort was occupied. When Malik Nasiruddin [Qabacha)
learned of the fall of Uch, he sent his son 'Alauddin Bahram Shah to
Sultan Shamsuddin. When he reached the [besieging) army, the news
of the conquest of Bhakkar also reached him [Bahram Shah). Malik
Nasiruddin [Qabacha) drowned in the river Indus. His life ended.
Over Sind, Uch, and Multan, he ruled for twenty-two years.7After Qabacha's death, Muslim political power in north India
shifted its base to Delhi, but the world of the interconnected city
states continued despite the disruptions of military sieges and outright
destructions.^8 Such continuities deserve attention, for they too are
symptomatic of the political order of the period. While Juzjani's state-
ment about a "constant struggle" between Iltutmish and Qabacha
can be read to emphasize only the political and military tussle be-
tween the two claimants, it also hints at the need to make cultural