ABSTRACT
The Muslim invasions and the establishment of the Pathan kingdom at Delhi naturally strengthened the earlier trend towards a magnification of the position of the kings. Except to the extent to which the King of Delhi was restrained by the teaching of the Quran, his will was law, and he was in no sense legally bound to pay attention to the advice of his ministers. The organisation of spies which had been so marked a feature of the Maurya administration also played an important part under the Pathan kings of Delhi and was supplemented by severe criminal laws and the frequent use of torture. The provincial rulers under the Delhi kings were themselves almost despots, sometimes under the control of the Central Government, but more often practically independent of it, except for payment of revenue.
