Page:A Comprehensive History of India Vol 1.djvu/99

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THE SULTANA KEZIA.

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cares of government, and devolved them on liis mother, who was ambitious ad. viss. enough to undertake the task, but performed it so capriciously and tp'annically, that a rebellion broke out, and, at the end of seven months, Kukn-u-din was

de[)0,sed to make way for his sister, who __ __^ ..___

assumed the title of Sultana Rezia. She was not new to government, for her father, when absent on his campaigns, intrusted her with the administration in preference to l^is sons. According to Ferishta, "Rezia Begum was endowed with every princely virtue; and those who scrutinize her actions most severely, will find in her no fault but that she was a woman."

The circumstances under which she assumed the government were difficult. The two most powerful parties in the state were cordially united in deposing her brother, but only one of them con- curred in her elevation. The malcon- tent faction, lieaded by the vizier of the two previous reigns, at once appealed to the sword, and, appearing before Delhi, defeated an army which was advancing to its relief But though Rezia was weak in arms, she was powerful in intrigue, uei skiii in and succeeded so well in sowing dissensions, that the confederacy formed against her melted away of its own accord. Equal skill and success marked her internal administration. Seated daily on her tin-one, she was accessible to all, gave a patient ear to complaints, redressed grievances, reformed abuses, and dispensed justice firmly and impartially. Unfortunately, she had one failing which affected her reputation, and lowered her in the estimation of her subjects. Sbe showed a strong and undisguised favour for her master of the horse, whom, though originally an Abyssinian slave, she raised above all her other nol)ilitv, V>y appointing him commander-in-chief It does not seem that her honour was compromised; for the utmost said against her in this respect is, that she allowed him to lift her up when she mounted on horseback. It was enough, however, to excite a rebellion, and make it successful. After a short struggle, the Abys- sinian was murdered, and Sultana Rezia was deposed. She was confided to the charge of a Turki chief called Altunia, who had been the leader in the rebellion. Here her blandishments again availed her, and she so won upon Altunia that he fell de.sperately in love with her, married her, and attempted to restore her to the throne. At the head of an army, she advanced to Delhi, fought two

Vci, 1. 9

IXTKRIOR OK THfc; ToMU OK ALTAMSH.

From Lviiiril's Views in India.