Shah Turkan
Shah Turkan, was the mother of 13th-century Mamluk ruler of the Delhi Sultanate, Ruknuddin Firuz. She became queen mother after her son ascended to the throne in 1236.
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 Turkic 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 Sultan.
Biography
Shah Turkan was a slave concubine of Iltutmish, the Mamluk ruler of the Delhi Sultanate. She gave birth to Iltutmish's son Ruknuddin Firuz. After the death of Iltutmish, her son succeeded him.Queen Mother of Ruknuddin
While Ruknuddin spent his time and the state funds in pursuing pleasure, he left the control of administration to his mother, Shah Turkan.Shah Turkan was originally reputed for charitable and religious donations, but her nature changed after she gained control of the administration; she became extremely spiteful, proud and violent. She mistreated ladies in Iltutmish's harem, and according to Minhaj, "destroyed" several of them. She and Ruknuddin ordered the blinding and killing of Qutubuddin, a young and popular son of Iltutmish, which triggered several rebellions.