UPSC History Delhi Sultnat (Gulam, Khilji, Tughlak, Sayyed, Lodhi) Short Notes - The Delhi Sultanate (1206-1526 AD)

 The Delhi Sultanate (1206-1526 AD)

Dynasties of Delhi Sultanate

(i) Slave Dynasty             : 1206-1290 AD

(ii) Khilje   "                     : 1290-1320 AD

(iii) Tughlaq "                   : 1320-1414AD

(iv) Sayyid   "                  : 1414-1451 AD

(v) Lodhi   "                    : 1451-1526 AD

• Sources of Medieval Indian History: Tarikh i Firoze Shahi [Ziauddin barani); Tuzuk-i-Mubarak Shahi [Yahaya bin Ahmed Sirhindi); Futuhat-i-Firoze Shahi [Firoze Shah Tughluq), etc.
• The invasions of Mahmud of Ghazni and Muhammad Ghori introduced a new political chapter in India.
• The campaigns of Muhammad Ghor paved the way for the rule of the Turk; and the Afghans.
• Mahmud of Ghazni targeted the North Indian temple cities for wealth and iconoclastic fervour.
• Muhammad Ghori   nominate his    trusted    and    prominent slave, Qutubuddin Aibak as his representative to govern the newly conquered regions in India. It was the beginning of slave dynasty.        
• Delhi became the center of the Turkish and Afghan power,
• The Turkish rule from Delhi came to be known as the Delhi Sultanate.   
• The phrase 'Delhi Sultanate' is applied to the history of Northern India extending from 1206 to 1526.

The Mamluk dynasty or The Slave Dynasty (1206-1290 AD)

• Qutubuddin Aibak was the founder Qutubuddin Aibak was the founder of Slave Dynasty.
• He also began the construction of Qutub Minar, in the honour of famous Sufi Saint Khwaja Qutubuddin Bakhityar Kaki.
• He was given the title of Lakh Bakhsh [giver of Lakhs).
• He died in 1210 while playing Chaugan or Polo.
• Shamsuddin lltutmish was a slave of Qutubuddin Aibak.
• He organised Iqta system.
• He established the official nobility slaves known as Chahalgani/Chalisa (a group of forty).
• lltutmish stopped the Mongol attack in 1221 A.D led by Chenghiz Khan.
• lltutmish nominated his daughter Razia as the successor.
• She was the first and only Muslim lady that ever ruled in India.
• She married Altunia and they both headed towards Delhi.
• She further offended the nobles by her preference for an Abyssian slave Yakut.
• In 1240 A.D, Razia was the victim of a conspiracy and was killed near Kaithal [Haryana).
• After Razia, rulers were Bahrain Shah, Masud Shah, Nasiruddin Mahamud.
• Ghiyasuddin Balban ascended the throne in 1266.
• He ended the influence of Chalisa.
• He introduced the practice of sijda and paibos.
• Kaiqubad, grandson of Balban killed by the Khiiji family.
• Jalaluddin Khiiji founded Khiiji dynasty. Invaded the fort of Ranthambhor in 1290 and defeated Mongols in 1292.
• Alauddin Khiiji was the nephew and son-in-law ofjalaluddin Khiiji.
• He killed jalaluddin Khiiji and took over the throne in 1296.
• He was the first Turkish Sultan of Delhi who separated religion from politics.
• Alauddin took control of Gujarat (1298), Ranthambhor [1301), Mewar [1303), Malwa [1305), Jalor [1311). In Deccan, Alauddin's army led by Malik Kafur defeated Ram Chandra, Pratap Rudradeva, Vir ballal-111 and Vir Pandya.
• He appointed Diwan-i-Riyasat and Shahna-i-Mandi to regulate the fixed price market.
• He abolished Iqtes of royal troopers and the payment of their salaries in cash.
• He constructec'i monuments like Alai- Darwaza and Siritort in Delhi.
• Ghazi Malik with the name of Ghiyasuddin Tughluq became the Sultan of Delhi in 1320.
• His son jauna [Ulugh Khan) succeeded him with die title "Mohammad-bin- Tughlaq".
• Mohammad-bin-Tughlaq organized better postal system.
• Ghiyasuddin Tughiaq ascended the throne in 1325.
• He tried   to   introduce   many administrative reforms such as taxation in the Doab [1326), transfer of Capital to Daulatabad (1327), introduction of Token Currency (1329), etc.
• He established the city of Jahanpanah and created Diwan-i-Kohi.
• Firoz Shah Tughiaq established Diwan-i-Khairat (department for poor and needy people), and Diwan-1- Bundagan (department of slaves).
• He constructed some canals for irrigation.
• He repaired Qutub Minar in 1368 which had got damaged in an earthquake.
• Khizr Khan was the first Sultan of the Sayyed Dynasty.
• The other rulers of this dynasty were Mubarak Shah (1421-1434), Muhammad Shah (1434-1443), Alam Shah (1443-1451).
• Bahlol Lodhi (1451-88 A.D.) was an Afghan Sardar who founded the Lodhi dynasty.
• Sikandar Lodhi shifted his capital from Delhi to Agra and conquered Bihar and Western Bengal.
• He introduced the Gaz-i-Sikandari (Sikandar's yard) of 32 digits for measuring cultivated fields.
• Ibrahim Lodhi was the last king of Lodhi dynasty and the last Sultan of Delhi.
• At last Daulat Khan Lodhi, the governor of Punjab invited Babur to overthrow Ibrahim Lodhi, Babur accepted the offer and inflicted a crushing defeat on Ibrahim Lodhi in the first battle of Panipat in 1526.

Important Central Officials

Wazir                - The-Chief Minister of the State-in Charge of revenue and finances, controlled by other departments.

Ariz-i-Mamlik      - Head of Military department.

Qazi                   - Legal Officer [dispensed civil law based on Muslim law Shariat)

Wakil-i-dar          - Controller of the royal Household.

Barid-i- mumalik  - Head of the state news agency.

Amir-i-majlis       - Officer-in-charge of royal feasts, conference and festivals.

Majlis-i-am        - Council of friends and officers      consulted on important affairs of the state.

Dahir-i- mumalik - Head of the royal correspondence.

Sadr-us- sudur    - Dealt with the religious matters and endowments.

Sadr-i-jahan     - Officers-in-charge of religious and charitable endowment.

Amir-i-dad       - Public prosecutors

Naib wazir       - Deputy Minister

Mushrif-i-         - Accountant general mumalik

Amir-i-hazib     - Officer-in-charge of the royal court

Kazi-i- mumalik   - Chief Justice

Kazi-ul-kazat      - Head of the Central Judicial department

• There were five types of taxes, [i) Ushra [ii) Kharaj (iii] Khams pv) Jazia (v) Zakat.

Causes of the decline of Delhi Sultanate

(i) Weak system of government.

(ii) The invasion of Taimur.

(iii) Lack of clear cut succession policy.

(iv) Ibrahim Lodhi was a foolish emperor.

(v) Greed for wealth and luxury among nobles.