BY- BHUMIKA PRAJAPATI

Delhi Sultanate (1206-1526AD)

•After death of Mohammed Ghori there were many contenders for throne, out of
which Qutb-ud-din Aibak ascended throne and started slave dynasty rule.
• The Muslim invasions into India had ultimately resulted in the establishment of Delhi
Sultanate which existed from A.D. 1206 to 1526.
• Five different dynasties – the Slave, Khalji, Tughlaq, Sayyids and Lodis – ruled under the
Delhi Sultanate

➢Slave Dynasty (1206-1290)

➢Khalji Dynasty (1290-1320)
➢Thuglaq Dynasty (1320-1414)
➢Sayeed Dynasty (1414-1451)
➢Lodhi Dynasty (1451-1526)
Maximum Ruled for Ruled for Ruled Least
number of shortest longest time + short number of
sultans time ruled vast territory sultans
territory

Slave Khilji Tuglaq Sayyed Lodhi

dynasty dynasty dynasty dynasty dynasty
[1206-1290] [1290-1320] [1320-1414] [1414-1451] [1451-1526]

Sayeeds were Lodis

Arabs and they were
proclaimed Afghans.
They belonged their
to turkish race descedency
from Prophet
Mohammed.
Qutub-ud- Razia
Iltutmish Nasiruddin Balban
din-aibak sultan
1. Qutub-ud-din-aibak 1206-10

•Aibak was slave of Mohammedd Ghori. In Arabic language slave means Mumluk.Hence dynasty
established by Qutbuddin Aibak is called slave dynasty or mumluk dynasty.
•Aibak is considered as real founder of Muslim rule in India.
•Founded First independent Turkish Kingdom in Indian & first to assume the title ‘Sultan’.
•He Made Lahore capital.
•He is Known as ‘lakh Baksh’ or giver of lakhs as he gave a lot of liberal donations.
•Aibak issued coins in gold, silver, billon and copper. He discarded carving the name of Abbasid
caliph on it.
•Title assumed by him were- 1. Quran khan
2. Lakh Baksh
3. Hatim tai
•In 1208–1209, Mahmud conferred a chatr (ceremonial parasol) on Aibak,and issued a
deed of recognizing him as the ruler of Hindustan. He may have also issued a deed of
manumission [release from slavery] for Aibak at this time. According to Minhaj's Tabaqat-i
Nasiri, Mahmud styled Aibak as a "Sultan"; chronicler Hasan Nizami also calls him a
"Sultan".Nizami states that the khutba was read and coins were struck in Aibak's name.

• ART & ARCHITECTURE

Aibak constructed 2 Mosques:

1. Quwwat-ul-Islam (Delhi).
2. Arhai din ka Jhonpara (Ajmer)
3. He Started construction of the Qutub Minar dedicated to Sufi Saint, Khwaja
Qutubuddin Bakthiyar Kaki – later completed by Iltutmish.
4. He patronized Fakhar-ud-Din author of Tarikh-i-Mubarak Shahi & Hasan Nizami
who wrote Tajul-Ma’asir, the first official history of the Delhi Sultanate.

•Aibak died suddenly while playing Chaugan (horse polo)

in c. 1210 CE.
2. Aram Shah (c. 1210 CE)

•Qutub-ud-din was succeeded by his son Aram Shah who was

incapable as a ruler.

• He was opposed by the Turkish armies and his rule lasted for only
eight months.
3. ILTUTMISH [1210-1236]

•Belonged to Ilbari tribe hence named Ilbari dynasty.

•His half brothers sold him as a slave to Aibak who made him his son-in-law by giving his
daughter to him. Later Aibak appointed him as Iqtadar of Gwalior. In c.1211 CE, Iltutmish
dethroned Aram Shah and became the Sultan with the name of Shamsuddin.
•Aibak had appointed him as iqtadar of Gwalior.
•Iltutmish was a great statesman. In c. 1229 CE, he received ‘mansur’, the letter of
recognition from the Abbasid Caliph by which he became the legal sovereign ruler of India.
•Real consolidator of Turkish rule in India and also Delhi.
•He Shifted capital from Lahore to Delhi.
•His mongol policy saved India from attack of Chengis Khan.
•Introduced Arabic coinage into India- Silver tanka became a standard coin in medieval
India and also issued Copper jital.
•Created a new class of ruling elite of forty powerful military leaders, the forty (Turkan-i-
chahalgani).
•He completed the contruction of Qutub minar
•He nominated Raziya as his successor. Thus, the
hereditary succession to Delhi Sultanate.

NOTE-
In c. 1220 CE, the leader of the Mongols, Temujin,
popularly known as Chengiz Khan, started his march
towards Central Asia. He defeated Jalal-ud-din
Mangabarni, the ruler of Khwarizm. Mangabarni
escaped from the Mongols and sought asylum from
Iltutmish. Iltutmish refused to provide him shelter in
order to save his empire from the onslaught of the
Mongols. This diplomatic policy of Iltutmish helped
him to save his empire from the wrath of Chengiz
Khan.
4. Ruknuddin Feruz Shah (c. 1236 CE)

•He was the eldest son of Iltutmish who ascended the throne with the help of nobles.
•When the governor of Multan revolted, Ruknuddin Feroz Shah marched to suppress the
revolt.
•Using this opportunity, Iltutmish’s daughter Raziya with the help of the Amirs of Delhi
seized the throne of the Delhi Sultanate.
5. Raziya Sultan (c. 1236 – 1239 CE)-

•Raziya Sultan was the first and only female ruler of medieval India’s Sultanate period.
•Raziya appointed an Abyssinian slave, Malik Jamal-ud-din Yaqut as master of the Royal horses
(Amir-i-akhur). The recruitment of a few other non-Turks to important positions aroused
resentment among the Turkish nobles. Raziya Sultan discarded the female apparel and held the
court with her face uncovered which further created resentment. She even went hunting and
led the army.
•In c. 1240 CE, Altunia, the governor of Bhatinda (Sirhaind) revolted against her. Raziya
alongside Yaqut marched against Altunia, but on the way, Turkish followers of Altunia murdered
Yaqut and took Raziya prisoner. In the meantime, the Turkish nobles put Bahram, another son of
Iltutmish on the throne. However, Raziya won over her captor, Altunia and after marrying him,
proceeded to Delhi.
•Later both Razia and Altuniya were killed by coup of Chalghani, while proceeding to DELHI
6. Bahram Shah (c. 1240 – 1242 CE)

The fall of Raziya Sultan paved the way for the ascendancy of ‘the Forty’. During the reign of
Bahram Shah, there continued the struggle for supremacy between Sultan and the nobles. The
Turkish nobles supported Bahram Shah in the beginning but later became disordered and
during this unrest, Bahram Shah was killed by his own army.

7. Alauddin Masud Shah (c. 1242 – 1246 CE)

He was the son of Ruknuddin Feroz Shah and nephew of Raziya Sultan. After the death of
Bahram Shah, he was chosen as the next ruler. However, he was incompetent and incapable of
handling the affairs in the government and was replaced by Nasiruddin Mahmud
8. Nasiruddin Mahmud (c. 1246 – 1265 CE)

•He was the grandson of Iltutmish who was young and inexperienced.
•He had ascended the throne with the help of Balban/Ulugh Khan, a member of Chahalgani
(the Forty) who himself assumed the position of regent. He married his daughter to Nasirruddin
and therefore, the real power lay in the hands of Balban.
•Balban was powerful in the administration but he had to face the conspiracy or plottings of his
rivals in the royal court. He overcame all the difficulties.
•In c. 1265 CE, Nasirruddin Mahmud died and according to some historians like Ibn Batuta and
Isami, Balban poisoned him and ascended the throne.
9. Balban (c. 1266 – 1286 CE)

•Also known as Ulugh khan.

•He was one of the main architects of the Delhi Sultanate.
•According to him, the Sultan was God’s shadow on earth
(Zil-i-Ilahi) and recipient of divine grace (Nibyabat-i-Khudai).
•He broke the power of the Forty.
•Introduced Persian festival Nawrouz.
•Called himself Nasir-amir-ul-momin
(Caliph’s right-hand man).
Administration-

• Separated Diwan-i-wizarat (Finance Department) from the Diwan-i-Arz (Military

Department).
•He introduced the Persian festival of Nauroz to impress the nobles and people with his
wealth and power.
• Administered justice with extreme impartiality.
• He followed policy of blood& iron.
• Excluded non-Turks from administration.
• Indian Muslims not given important posts.
• Appointed spies to monitor the activities of the nobles.
• Introduced sijada (prostration) and paibos (kissing the Sultan’s feet) to prove his
superiority over the nobles.
10. Kaiqubad (c. 1287 – 1290 CE)

Kaiqubad was the grandson of Balban and was made the Sultan of Delhi by the
nobles. He was soon replaced by his son, Kaimur. In c. 1290 CE, Feroz, the Ariz-e-
Mumalik (the minister of war) murdered Kaimur and captured the throne. He
took the title of Jalal-ud-din Khalji and established the Khalji dynasty.
 Jalal-ud-din Qutab-ud-din-
Alaud din khilji
khilji mubarak shah
1296-1316
1290-96 1316- 1320

Founder of the Jalal-ud-din Firoz Son of

Khilji/Khalji Khilji’s nephew Alauddin
Dynasty and son and the most Khilji
of Qaim Khan powerful ruler of
the Khilji period
1. Jalal-ud-din Khalji (c. 1290 – 1296 CE)

•Jalal-ud-din Khalji was the founder of the Khalji dynasty. He was 70 years old when he assumed
power
•Jalaluddin khalji was Turk , but settled in Afghanistan.
•Jalal-ud-din won many battles and even in old age he marched out against the Mongol hordes
and successfully halted their entry into India (1292).
•He gave his second daughter to Mongol leader Ulugh khan in marriage.
•Alauddin Khalji was son in law (also nephew ) of Jalaluddin. Alauddin was governor of Kara.
•Alauddin invaded Devagiri kingdom and procured lot of wealth.
•Devagiri was first south Indian state to receive Islamic invasion.
•Later Alauddin murdered his uncle Jalaluddin and ascended the throne.
2. Alla-ud-din khilji-
•Was appointed as Amir-i-Tuzuk (Master of Ceremonies) and Ariz-i-Mumalik (Minister of Law) by
Jalauddin Khalji.
•Jalauddin’s policy of tolerance was reversed by Alauddin Khalji; awarded harsh punishment who
opposed him.
•To keep hold on nobles –He prohibited to hold festivals, marriage without permission of him,
banned wines & intoxicants to avoid social gathering, reorganized spy services (Barids).
•He was first sultan who separated religion from politics. He proclaimed “Kingship knows no
kinship”.
•Barani wrote book ‘Tarikh-i-Firuz Shahi.
•Patronized poets like-Amir Khusrau and Mir Hasan Dehlv.
•He adopted the title of Sikander-i-Azam and gave Amir Khusrau the title of Tuti-i-Hind (Parrot of
India).
•He defeated Mongols in the battles of Jalandhar (1298), Kili (1299), Amroha (1305) and Ravi
(1306).
•Malik Kafur was his slave – general. he led a series of expeditions in the southern part of India,
against the Yadavas (1308), Kakatiyas (1310), Hoysalas (1311) etc.
Architecture: • Famous gateway known as Alai Darwaza, Hauz Khas, Mhal Hazaar Satoon,
Jamait Khana Mosque, Alai Minar and constructed a new capital at Siri.

• 1st sultan to have large permanent standing army & paid in cash from royal
treasury.
• Innovated: Chehra and Dagh system.
Military Reforms:
❖ Chehra – detailed description of each soldier
❖ Dagh– Branding of horse.
• In 1296, Alauddin constructed the Hauz-i-Alai.
• Alauddin built the Siri Fort & camped in Siri during the Mongol invasion in
Architecture
1303.
• He built the Qasr-i-Hazar Situn palace at the Siri fort.
• Alauddin constructed the Alai Darwaza – entrance gate to Qutub Minar.
 • Revenue was half of the produce & was based on land under cultivation.
• First ruler to fix land revenue in cash. It enabled him to pay his soldiers in
cash.
• Biswa was standard unit of measurement. Imposed one fifth of the produce
Land Revenue
and along with it house tax (Grahi) and pasture tax (Chari).
administration
• Abolished Kismat-i-Khuti (Headman’s cess). Confiscated religious
endowments and free lands (Inam and Wakt).
• He created post of Mustakraj to collect revenue.
• He brought area surrounding to Delhi directly under the state for revenue
purpose. Thus, Iqta system was not applied there.
 • Fixed cost of all commodities. For this purpose, he set up 3
markets – one for food grains, second for costly and third for horses,
slaves etc.
• He appointed Shahna-I-Mandi, Naib-I-Riyasat & Diwan-I-
Riyasat to keep check on these markets.
• He also received daily reports of markets
Market Reforms
from Barids (intelligence officer) and munhiyans (secret spies).
• Not clear whether these reforms were applied to only Delhi or
also to other towns.
• Reasons for Market Reforms:
- To enjoy the support of citizens
- To sustain large army with low salaries.
• Market regulations of Allauddin came to end after his death.
3. Qutbuddin Mubarak Shah (c. 1316 – 1320 CE)
After the death of Alauddin Khalji, Qutbuddin Mubarak Shah (one of the sons of Alauddin)
ascended the throne. He abolished all the harsh regulations of his father. He was not able
to run the administration efficiently and was murdered.

4. Nasiruddin Khusrau Shah (c. 1320 CE)

He killed Mubarak Shah. His reign did not last long. The governor of Dipalpur, Ghazi Malik
killed Khusrau Shah and ascended the throne of Delhi under the title of Ghiyasuddin
Tughlaq in c. 1320 CE.
He was the only Hindu convert to sit on the throne of Delhi.
Practice question-
1. Blood and iron policy was started by-
a. Balban
b. Razia sultan
c. Iltutmish
d. None of these

2. Qutub minar was constructed by-

a. qutub-uddinaibak
b. Iltutmish
c. Both a and b
d. None of these
3. Who were munhiyans ?
a. Secret spies
b. Market administators
c. Police officers
d. None of these

4. Chehra and dagh system was started by-

a. jalal-ud-din
b. Allauddin khilji
c. Nasiruddin shah
d. None of these

5. Nauroz festival was started by-

a. Iltutmish
b. Allaudin khilji
c. Balban
d. None of these
Answers-
1. Balban
2. Both a and b
3. Secret spies
4. Allaudin khilji
5. Balban