Malik Bahauddin Tughril (), commonly known as Bahauddin Tughril or Baha al-Din Tughril was a senior Turkic slave of the Ghurid ruler Muhammad of Ghor who was in charge of the Bayana region in the present-day Indian state of Rajasthan. He was admitted into the slave-household of the Ghurids during early reign of Muhammad of Ghor and gradually emerged as one of his eminent slave lieutenant along with Qutb al-Din Aibak, playing a significant role in the Ghurid conquest of northern Indian plain.
After Muhammad of Ghor seized Bayana in 1195–96 to guard the southern flank of Delhi, he made Tughril the viceory of Bayana. Under his administration, the region of Bayana briefly emerged as a cosmopolitan centre, encouraging considerable Muslim settlements from all over the Khurasan. After Muhammad of Ghor's assassination on 15 March 1206, Tughril like other Ghurid mamluks was manumitted, thereby he announced himself as the "Sultan". He died in 1210, and afterwards, the territory was soon brought under by Illtutmish, although Tughril's family continued to exercise influence over the region of Bayana even half a century after his death.
Bahauddin Tughril also commissioned a number of monuments in Bayana during his reign which included - Chaurasi Khamba Mosque, the mosque of Ukha Mandir and a Eidgah constructed after recycling the components of demolished Hindu temples.
Early life
The contemporaneous evidences regarding Bahauddin early life are scarce, probably indicating that he rose from obscurity in the Ghurid services. Bahauddin was sold into slavery and was purchased by the Ghurid ruler Muhammad of Ghor or Muhammad Ghori during his early reign. He eventually played a key role in the Ghurid conquest of northern India accompanying Muhammad of Ghor and earned his admiration, eventually becoming one of his high-ranked slave generals.
After sweeping aside the major political centres of northern India, Muhammad with Qutb al-Din Aybeg and Bahauddin in his ranks move towards the lucrative Bayana region in the present-day state of Rajasthan, to guard the southern flank of Delhi. The region was under the control of Jadaun clan of Rajputs whose ruler Kunwarpaal instead of resisting the Ghurid armies outside of his capital, move to Thankar (Tahangarh). Muhammad and his troops besieged him in Thankar and forced him to surrender after a brief siege. According to the chronicler Hasan Nizami, the life of the Rai (Kunwarpal) was spared by Muhammad and the "centre of idolatry became the abode of Allah's glory, following the taking of the impregnable fortress".
The region of Bayana and its administration was conferred upon Bahauddin Tughril by Muhammad who returned to Khurasan. The contemporaneous accounts credit Tughril reign for the booming period (ma'mur) of the conquered region. According to Juzjani, Bayana under Bahauddin emerged as a cosmopolitan centre from the status of a secondary city under previous Hindu ruling clans, encouraging a large amount of Muslim settlements from all over Khurasan and parts of Hindustan.
After finding the region of Thankar inappropriate for his troops, Bahauddin established a city on the western foot of Bayana and named it as Sultankot which became his new capital and was subsequently utilized by him as a springboard for further military operations in the Ganges Valley. The town also became the nucleus of the township of his stronghold at Bayana.
Death
Muhammad of Ghor besieged the castle of Gwalior which was under the control of Parihar clan, although due to the ailing health of his brother Ghiyath al-Din Muhammad, Muhammad was compelled to leave to Firuzkuh. According to the later historian Muhammad Qasim Ferishta — Muhammad promised Tughril the governance of Gwalior on its seizure. However, owing to the increasing domain and influence of Tughril who might have gained significant plunder on the capitulation of Gwalior, as a result Qutb al-Din himself laid siege to Gwalior. The fort held out for long time, however, hard pressed by the Ghurids, they eventually surrendered it to Qutb al-Din Aybeg. Summarily, Qutb al-Din appointed his slave Iltutmish as the governor of the region. Chronicler Juzjani laconically mentioned that Qutb al-Din's annexation of Gwalior despite the fact that Tughril was endeavoring for it, led to a polito-military rivalry between Qutb al-Din and Tughril.