Page:The Architecture of Ancient Delhi Especially the Buildings Around the Kutb Minar 1872 by Henry Hardy Cole.djvu/137

 CHAPTER V. SHAMS-UD-DIN'S GATEWAYS AND TOMB. Shams-id-din's Keign. Photograph XV. South-West Gateway. Photograph XVI. North-West Gateway. Shams-ud-din's Inscriptions — His Extension of the Great Mosque. Photograph XVII. Exterior of Shanis-ud-din's Tomb. Photograph XVIII. Interior of Shams-ud-din's Tomb. Photograph XIX. Niche in the Tomb called Sultan Ghori. N 1 the Tabkat Xasiri an account is given of the ancestry and early life Shams-ud-din's reign. of Shams-ud-din Altamsh, who rose to be the greatest of the slave-kings of Delhi. At first sight it seems remarkable that the most majestic and beautiful remaining buildings at the Kutb were the works of these slave- kings. But this fact undoubtedly testifies to the ambition and energy with which this race of sovereigns was endowed. Notwithstanding the inferior breeding of his parents, Altamsh is said to have been able to trace his descent from a noble family. Like the Joseph of scripture history, he was looked on with jealousy by his brothers on account of the partiality shown to him by his father. Whilst out hunting these brothers stripped and sold him to a merchant who carried him to Bokhara. Here he was sold to a prince who educated him. He was owned by various people and eventually purchased by Kutb- ud-din at Delhi, for 50,000 pieces of silver. 1 Profiting by the education given to him, Altamsh displayed talents whereby he was able to ingratiate himself with, and obtain the good opinion of, his master, whose second daughter he marr ied. After holding an appoint- ment as Governor of Gwalior, Bulandshahar and Budaon — he became, in A. D. 1210, 1 1,00000 jitals. See Thomas' " Pathau Kings of Delhi."