11. Malik Kafur: The Thousand-Gold Slave General
Malik Kafur started as a Hindu slave in Gujarat before the Delhi Sultanate’s ruler Alauddin Khilji bought him for 1,000 gold coins around 1300 CE. This enormous price earned him the nickname “Thousand-Dinar Kafur.” After castration and conversion to Islam, Kafur’s military skills helped him rise quickly. He led armies deeper into southern India than any previous Muslim ruler, raiding wealthy Hindu temples. His campaigns brought back enormous wealth that helped fund the Sultanate’s ambitious building projects.
