Question

Balban belonged to the ___________
(A) Khilji Dynasty
(B) Tughlaq Dynasty
(C) Slave Dynasty
(D) Suri Dynasty

Answer 1

Hint: Nasir-ud-din-Mahmud was the king for namesake only. The actual power was in the hands of Ghiyas-ud-din Balban. He was the slave of Iltutmish and belonged to the Kalabari tribe of the Turks. He reigned Delhi sultanate from the year 1266 to 1287.

Complete answer:
Ghiyas ud din Balban was the Sultan of Delhi. Earlier he was the wazir and heir of the Nasir ud-Din, who was the last Shamsi Sultan. He reduced the power of the treacherous nobility and further heightened the stature of the sultan. Although he was having only a few military achievements. But still, he was the most powerful ruler of the sultanate who reigned between Shamsuddin Iltutmish and Alauddin Khilji.
Ghiyas ud din Balban was the slave, who became Sultan later on. He belonged to the Slave Dynasty. Other three Dynasties are after the time period of Balban.

The correct option is C

Additional information:
After the death of Queen Raziya, for the next six years, the only weak government had ruled Delhi. It was by one of her brothers and a nephew, and after that by her younger brother Nasir-ad-din. He was the third son of the Slave King Iltutmish. He took the throne and reigned for almost twenty years from 1246 to 1266 A.D. But during all this time the real power was behind the throne and held by Ulugh Khan. Later on, Ulugh Khan became Sultan Balban.

Note: Balban was originally a purchased slave from Turkistan. But he rose from that position and became the prime minister and ultimately the emperor. Emperor Balban was one of the strongest personalities among the rules of India.