Ahmad Chap, Malik

   A Khalji officer who rose to prominence during the reign of Sultan Muiz al-Din Kaiqubad (1287-1290), Ahmad Chap was related to Firuz Khalji (later Sultan Jalal al-Din Firuz, 1290-1296). He was appointed to a high position in the cen-tral administration after the capture of power by the Khalji nobles in the Delhi sultanate. Ahmad Chap was one of the advisors of Jalal al-Din Firuz Khalji and he vainly urged the latter to be harsh with the disgruntled nobles of the previous regime and to distrust his ambitious nephew and son-in-law 'Ali Garshasp (later Sultan 'Ala al-Din Khalji). In 1296, while proceeding to Kara for a meeting with 'Ali Garshasp, Sultan Jalal al-Din left Ahmad Chap in command of the main army. After the assassination of the sultan at Kara and proclamation of 'Ali Garshasp's accession with the title Sultan 'Ala al-Din Khalji, Ahmad Chap joined the nobles loyal to the family of the deceased king at Delhi. From there, he, along with Jalal al-Din's son Rukn al-Din, escaped to Multan. Eventually, Ahmad Chap was captured and blinded on Sultan 'Ala al-Din Khalji's orders.