The Delhi Sultanate and Its Rulers

The Delhi Sultanate and Its Rulers

Learning Objectives

Identify the five dynasties of the Delhi Sultanate and their contributions to Indian history.

What do you already know about the Delhi Sultanate and its rulers?

The foundation of Islamic rule in India and the establishment of the Delhi Sultanate

Muhammad Ghori's general, Qutubuddin Aibak, established the Delhi Sultanate in AD 1206.

The invasion of Persian invader Muhammad Ghori laid the foundation of Islamic rule in India. After putting an end to Rajput rule in the north, Ghori left his Turkish slave-general- Qutubuddin Aibak, in charge of his territories in India. When Ghori died in AD 1206, a tussle for power began among his generals. Soon, Qutbuddin Aibak managed to establish his control over Delhi and the Indian territories conquered by Ghori. Thus began the rule of the Delhi Sultans. The word ‘Sultan’ means ‘ruler’ in Arabic. The rule of the Sultans, or the Delhi Sultanate, lasted more than 3 centuries – from AD 1206 to AD 1526. From their capital in Delhi, they managed to establish their control over large parts of the Indian subcontinent.

There were five successive dynasties that comprised the Delhi Sultanate, namely the Slave dynasty founded by Aibak, the Khaljis, the Tughluqs, the Sayyids, and the Lodis. We will read some of the important rulers from all five dynasties in this chapter.

The Slave Dynasty and the rule of Raziyya Sultana

Raziyya Sultana, the first female Sultan of Delhi, faced opposition but proved to be a competent ruler.

Raziyya Sultana (AD 1236-AD 1240)

Qutbuddin Aibak had a slave under his command during his reign, called Iltutmish. Raziyya was the daughter of Sultan Iltutmish. Despite having sons, before his death, Iltutmish had nominated his daughter Raziyya as his successor. He felt she would prove a competent ruler. Chronicler Minhaj-i-Siraj also says she was more qualified than her brothers in matters of kingship. However, the nobles were uncomfortable about appointing a woman to the throne of the Sultanate. So they appointed one of Iltutmish’s sons to the throne. When he proved to be an incompetent ruler, Raziyya was finally made the Sultan of Delhi. She was the first woman to rule Delhi. To prove she was competent to rule over the Sultanate, she even dressed like a man, hunted, rode horses, and fought bravely against rebels.

Although Raziyya proved to be a wise and able ruler, she faced a lot of opposition from her brothers and nobles throughout her rule. The nobles, especially the chalisa, did not like the idea of a woman ruling over Delhi. They were also offended by the preference she showed for one of her slaves. So they began to plot against her. They managed to imprison her and put one of her brothers on the throne. However, one of the nobles, Altunia, was loyal to her. They eventually married, and together, they tried to recapture her lost throne. Unfortunately, but they were caught and put to death.

After Raziyya’s death, the throne of Delhi was occupied by a few weak rulers. Finally, one of her brothers, Nasiruddin, was made the Sultan. He, however, left the responsibilities of the empire in the hands of his minister and father-in-law, Ghiyasuddin Balban. Balban, who belonged to the powerful group of forty’, administered the Sultanate on Nasiruddin’s behalf for nearly 20 years. After Nasiruddin’s death, he declared himself the Sultan.

Apart from Raziyya Sultana, there were other women who ruled over other parts of the subcontinent in the medieval period one was Queen Rudramadevi of Warangal and Queen Didda of Kashmir. While Raziyya Sultana dressed in men’s clothes, Rudramadevi changed her name in inscriptions and pretended to be a man.

Ghiyasuddin Balban's idea of kingship and his administrative strategies

Balban reasserted the divine status of Sultans through strict court protocols and a strong military.

The Khalji Dynasty and the expansion under Alauddin Khalji

Alauddin Khalji's ambitions of conquest and administrative reforms strengthened the Sultanate.

The Tughluq Dynasty, Muhammad-bin Tughluq's policies, and Firuz Shah Tughluq's reforms

Muhammad-bin Tughluq's controversial policies, including the shifting of the capital and the introduction of token currency.

The system of administration, land grants, and the decline of the Tughluq dynasty

The Tughluq administration relied on bandagans, clients, and iqtadars to manage the empire.

Definition List

Delhi Sultanate, Raziyya Sultana, Ghiyasuddin Balban, Alauddin Khalji, Muhammad-bin Tughluq, Firuz Shah Tughluq, Iqtadars, Ulama

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Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.

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