The Delhi Sultanate known as one of the India’s rich historical time-period. This empire rulers from the 13th- 16th century, played a pivotal role in shaping the country’s culture, architecture, and society. Delhi Sultanate was a series of Islamic dynasties that ruled over the Indian subcontinent.
It began with Ghurid invasion in 1192, establishing first Muslim rule in Delhi. Over the period various dynasties, such as Slave Dynasty, Khilji Dynasty, Tuglaq Dynasty, Sayyid Dynasty and the Lodi Dynasty, left their marks on the region. Lets discuss in detail:
Muizzuddin Muhammad, also known as Muhammad of Ghor, defeated the Chahmana ruler Prithviraj Chauhan in the Second battle of Tarain in 1192 CE. This defeat paved the way for further Ghurid expansion into India. The Rajputs failed miserably in forging any alliance to recover the lost territories.
In 1206, Qutubuddin Aibak established the Delhi Sultanate after declaring his independence from the Ghurids. The establishment of the Delhi sultanate resulted in profound changes in India’s society, administration, and cultural life.
Dynasties in Delhi Sultanate
As we have discussed above that Delhi Sultanate was a series of Islamic dynasties that ruled over India from Delhi.
Slave Dynasty
Khilji Dynasty
Tughlaq Dynasty
Sayyid Dynasty
Lodhi Dynasty Delhi Sultanate: All Dynasties With Time Period
1. The Mamluk or Ilbari or Slave Dynasty (1206-1290 CE) of Delhi Sultanate
Muhammad of Ghor, Sultan of the Ghurid Empire, was killed in 1206 CE. His empire was split into regions led by his former Mamluk (a non-Arab slave soldier who had converted to Islam)
Qutb-ud-din Aibak was the founder of slave dynasty, also we can sayfounded the Delhi Sultanate under the Slave dynasty.
Region
Ruler
Ghazni
Taj-ud-Din Yildoz
Bengal
Muhammad bin Bakhtiyar Khilji
Multan
Nasir-ud-Din Qabacha
Delhi
Qutbuddin Aibak
The Slave or Mamluk dynasty is also called the Ilbari dynasty, as most of the rulers were of the Ilbari tribe, such as Iltutmish and Ghiasuddin Balban. However, Qutbuddin Aibak was of the Aibak tribe.
People of Humble origin were often given a high rank in the Slave dynasty.
Map Of Delhi Sultanate During Qutubuddin Aibak And Balban
Rulers of Slave dynasty
Features
Qutbuddin Aibak(1206-1210 CE)
Capital – Lahore
He was a slave of Mohammad Ghori and one of his loyal Generals. Soon after Ghori’s assassination, he declared independence and established the first Muslim dynasty in India.
He took titles such as Malik and Sipahasalar and notSultan. He didn’t even mint coins in his name.
Ghiyasuddin Mahmud, the successor of Muhammad Ghori, gave him the title of Sultan.
He is also known as Lakh Baksh.
Started the construction of Qutub Minar (1199 CE), named after Khwaja Qutubuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki, a Sufi saint.
Iltutmish (1211-1236 CE)
Capital – Delhi
He had to fight a war of succession after the death of his father-in-law Aibak.
Crushed rebellions include Nasir-ud-din Qabacha from Lahore, Ali Mardan Khan and Iwaz from Bengal and Bihar.
The Mongol ruler Genghis Khan tried to Invade India during this time. He refused to help the Afghan ruler Jalal-al-Din to save his empire from Mongolian attack.
Chalukyas of Gujarat defeated him.
Established Iqta system.
Established a nobility known as Turkan-i-Chahalgani or Chalisa (a group of forty)
Minted coins – silver (Tanka) and copper (Jital).
He completed the construction of Qutub Minar and built the Hauz Shams and a madarsa around it.
Raziya (1236-1239 CE)
Succeeded her father, Iltutmish, after the death of her half-brother Ruknuddin.
He discarded the female dress and attended the court without a veil.
Razia was a devotee of Turkman Bayabani(a famous sufi saint).
She had to face multiple rebellions:
Kabir Khan, Governor of Lahore.
Altunia, Governor of Tabarhinda (Bhatinda).
Rajputs of Ranthambhore.
lltutmish’s Wazir, Nizam-ul-Mulk Junaidi, supported the revolters.
She married Altunia, the Governor of Bhatinda and her lover.
They marched toward Delhi to reclaim it from her half-brother Muizuddin Bahram. She was killed during this march.
A Series of Puppet rulers
After Razia’s death, Ghiasuddin Balban, a Turkish chief, ruled through puppet rulers for several decades.
During Raziya’s reign, he was a high rank noble. He was a naib or deputy to Nasiruddin Mahmud(1246-65), a younger son of Iltutmish.
Nasiruddin Mahmud was one of the puppet rulers who gave Balban the title of Ulugh Khan (Premier khan).
Ghiasuddin Balban (1266-1287CE)
He finally seized power in 1266 CE for himself.
He proclaimed the Sultan to be God (Zil-i-Ilahi) and thus mandated the practice of Sizda (prostration) and Paibos (kissing the feet of a sultan).
He tried to break the power of Chahalgani or Chalisa (a group of 40 Turkic nobles). Only Turkish noble family members were appointed to a government post.
Blood and Iron Policy: He became ruthless against enemies. He Administered justice with extreme impartiality and appointed spies everywhere. He even banned laughing or joking in court.
Established a newmilitarydepartment (Diwan-i-Arz).
Persian Influence: He declared that he is a descendant of the legendary Iranian King Afrasiyab and introduced the celebration of the Persian new year Nauroz in India.
Qaiqabad (1287-1290 CE) was the last ruler of slave dynasty; he was killed after getting paralysis. After his death, his son Kayumars was killed by a group of nobles led by Arz-i-Mamalik (military head) and Malik Firuz (Later known as Sultan Jalaluddin Firuz Khalji).
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