Delhi Sultanate | History of India in English | Indian History | The openbook

The Sultans of Delhi Part 1 Formation of the Delhi Sultanate In 1206 A.D. Muhammad Ghori died and Qutub-ud-Din Ayyub declared himself the Sultan of Delhi. 2. The Sultanate Period The period of about 320 years from 1206 C.E. to 1526 C.E. is known in Indian history as the Sultanate Period. During this period five dynasties ruled over Delhi. The Slave Dynasty Qutub-ud-Din Ayyub laid the foundation of the Slave Dynasty. He ruled for four years. Aram Shah became the ruler of the Slave Dynasty after Ayyub's death but was defeated and overthrown by Qutub-ud-Din Ayyub's son-in-law Iltithmish. An able and powerful administrator Iltithmish established a vast kingdom by 1220 A.D. Shortly after Iltithmish's death his able daughter Razia ascended the throne. Being a woman she had to face many difficulties. Some of the Turkish nobles plotted against her and she was murdered in 1240 as she favored non-Turkish nobles. Administration of the Delhi Sultanate was carried over by Balban. Balban was strong built and a powerful personality. Being a strict disciplinarian he recommended simple living. Balban died in 1287 and the throne went to the Khilji Dynasty. Let us now talk about the Khilji Dynasty. They ruled during the years 1290 to 1320 A.D. The Khilji Dynasty was established by Jalal-ud-Din Feroz in 1290. Among the Khilji kings the most ambitious ruler was Alauddin Khilji who was known for his conquests and reforms. Like Alexander he wanted to conquer the world. He ascended the throne by killing his father-in-law. Apart from Gujarat and Malwa he attacked Chittor the capital of Mewar to capture Padmini, the beautiful queen of Mewar's ruler Ratan Singh. He even sent a large army to the south under the command of Malik Kafur to bring the rich kingdoms of the Deccan under control. Being an able administrator he brought about many reforms. He kept administration and religion separate at all times. He introduced price control and standardized weights and measures. Cheating was punishable. Soldiers received money as salaries. Land revenue was according to the size of the land. Amir Khosrow was a member of this court. After him there was an immense power struggle. In 1320 A.D. the Tughlaq family took the control of the Sultanate. They ruled between the years 1320 to 1399 A.D. Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq started the Tughlaq dynasty in 1320 and was succeeded by his son Jauna Khan who took the title of Muhammad bin Tughlaq. He was an able administrator but his plan to shift his capital from Delhi to Devagiri which he renamed as Daulatabad failed. Another plan of having bronze token coins to preserve the gold and silver also failed. He lost the support of his nobles and died in 1351. Firoz Shah Tughlaq succeeded Muhammad bin Tughlaq. He could neither suppress revolts nor win back the provinces that had broken away. After Firoz's death in 1388 the Sultanate rapidly declined. We shall now look at Timur's invasion and the Sayyid dynasty. Timur Lung also known as Chamberlain invaded India in 1398. He marched to Delhi and defeated the Tughlaq rulers. Timur's deputy Khizr Khan settled in Delhi and declared himself as the Sultan of Delhi. In 1440 Khizr Khan established the Sayyid dynasty which lasted till 1451. This dynasty was usurped by the Lodhis and Afghan tribes. The Lodhi dynasty and the decline of the Sultanate. Bahlul Lodhi founded the Lodhi dynasty in 1451 and was succeeded by his son Sikandar Lodhi in 1489. The most important ruler of the Lodhi dynasty was Ibrahim Lodhi who was defeated by Babur on the battlefield of Panipat. Thus the Lodhi dynasty and the Delhi Sultanate came to an end and Babur established the Mughal Empire.