Alp Khan

(?-1316)

   Originally called Junaid, he was a brother of Sultan 'Ala al Din Khalji's wife (mother of Prince Khizr Khan), who apparently belonged to a family of Khalji chiefs. He was entitled Alp Khan by 'Ala al-Din (1296-1316) and was entrusted with the position of the chief of protocol (amir-i majlis). Alp Khan held Multan as his iqta' for some time. From there he was transferred, in 1310, to Gujarat. The Jain works praise Alp Khan for permitting the reconstruction of temples destroyed during the Muslim conquest. As a maternal uncle and father-in-law of the heir apparent, he became influential at the court in the latter part of 'Ala al-Din Khalji's reign. During the last few months of 'Ala al-Din's life (1315), a bitter controversy arose between him and Malik Kafur, the viceroy (na'ib) who suspected Alp Khan of trying to influence the ailing sultan's mind with the help of his sister, the chief wife. Malik Kafur obtained from the dying sultan an order for Alp Khan's execution. Alp Khan and his sister were subsequently executed before 'Ala al-Din died in January 1316, theoretically because they were attempting to poison him.