Shah Turkan


Shah Turkan was a mistress of Iltutmish, the Mamluk ruler of the Delhi Sultanate, and the mother of his successor, Rukn ud din Firuz. After the death of Iltutmish, Ruknuddin indulged himself in the pursuit of pleasure and left his mother to handle the affairs of the state. Turkan had been a Turkish hand-maid and had risen to take control of the Sultan's harem. She took this opportunity to wreak vengeance against all those who had slighted her in the past. Consequently, Ruknuddin's rule turned unpopular and paved the way for the ascension of Razia Sultana.