Nasir-ud-Din Qabacha

Nasir-ud-Din Qabacha
Sultan of Multan
Old City building Multan
Reign	1203-1228
Predecessor	Muhammad of Ghor
Successor	Iltutmish
Born	Cumania
Died	1228 Indus River
Spouse	Daughter of Qutb-ud-din-Aibak
Dynasty	Slave Dynasty
Religion	Islam

Nasir-ud-Din Qabacha or Kaba-cha (Persian: ناصرالدین قباچه‎‎) was the Muslim Turkic governor of Multan, appointed by Sultan Shahabuddin Muhammad Ghauri in 1203.

Ghauri had no offspring, but he treated thousands of his Turkic slaves as his sons, who were trained both as soldiers and administrators and provided with the best possible education. Many of his hardworking and intelligent slaves rose to positions of importance in Ghauri's army and government.

When a courtier lamented that the Sultan had no male heirs, Ghauri retorted:

"Other monarchs may have one son, or two sons; I have thousands of sons, my Turkish slaves who will be the heirs of my dominions, and who, after me, will take care to preserve my name in the Khuṭbah (Friday sermon) throughout these territories."

Ghauri's prediction proved true. After his assassination, his Empire was divided amongst his slaves. Most notably:

In 1210 Nasir-ud-Din Qabacha declared himself independent. He twice repulsed the attacks of Tajuddin Elduz of Ghazni, but could not defeat Shams-ud-Din Iltutmish and drowned in the Indus River while trying to escape.

In 1214 Muhammad II of Khwarezm drove Tajuddin Elduz from Ghazni, and took him to Lahore, and gave the authority to Nasir-ud-Din Qabacha. Iltutmish protested against this act of aggression, and when the protest was disregarded marched towards Lahore. Tajuddin Elduz accepted the challenge and on January 25, 1216, the armies met on the already famous field of Taraori. Tajuddin Elduz was defeated and taken, and after being led through the streets of Delhi was sent to Budaun, where he was put to death in the same year. After the overthrow of Tajuddin Elduz, Nasir-ud-Din Qabacha again occupied Lahore.