Ghiyasuddin Balban took the title of:

Ghiyasuddin Balban (ruled 1266-1287) took the title "Zil-i-Ilahi", meaning "the Shadow of God".

Meaning of the title:

• By calling himself the "Shadow of God" on earth, Balban claimed that the Sultan's authority came from God, and that the king was God's representative.
• This was based on the old Persian idea of kingship, in which the king was regarded as divine or semi-divine.
• Balban believed that the Sultan's power was a gift of God ("niyabat-i-khudai", the deputyship of God), and that no one could question it.

His theory of kingship:

• He believed that the Sultan should be powerful, stern and dignified, and should keep the nobles under complete control.
• He believed that the Sultan should be of noble birth, and that only people of high birth should hold high offices.
• He followed a policy of "blood and iron" (strictness and force) to suppress rebellions and maintain law and order.
• He maintained a grand and dignified court, following Persian traditions.
• He never laughed or joked in public, and kept a distance from ordinary people.
• He gave great importance to justice, and punished even his own relatives for crimes.

His achievements:

• He broke the power of the Turkish nobility that had dominated the court after Iltutmish.
• He organised the army and an efficient spy system.
• He suppressed the Mewatis near Delhi and rebels in the Doab.
• He defended the north-west against the Mongols; his eldest son, Prince Muhammad, died fighting the Mongols in 1285.
• He suppressed the rebellion of Tughril Khan in Bengal.

Other titles of rulers:

• "Sikandar-i-Sani" (the second Alexander): a title used by Alauddin Khalji on his coins.
• "Lakh Bakhsh" (giver of lakhs): Qutbuddin Aibak.
• "Sultan-i-Azam" (the Great Sultan): a title used by other rulers.

Why not the other options?

• ✗Sikandar-i-Sani, Lakh Bakhsh and Sultan-i-Azam were titles of other rulers.