Ala- Ud-din- Khalji Invasions(1296-1316)
Jalaluddin Kahalji was the founder of Kahaji dynasty. He came to power after the overthrow of the slave dynasty. Jalaluddin ascended the thrown at the age of seventy years of age and weakness of old age affected his atitudes and activities. He was lenient in his treatment of the rebels. He even adopted a conciliatiory policy toward the Mongol. At the time Alladuddin Khalji murdered jalaluddin and came to power in 1296 A.D.
Alluddin Kahlji was the nephew of jalaluddin kahalji entered delhi and procalaimed the sultan of Delhi. Alauddin Khilji was born in Delhi in 1266 CE, lived his entire life in the Indian subcontinent, and ruled as sultan of Delhi from 1296 CE – 1316 CE. By any definition, he would have to be called an Indian monarch, not a foreign invader. As a ruler, he would prove himself to be one of India’s greatest warrior kings and one of the world’s great military geniuses.
The reign of Alluddin Khallji, marks the zenith of the power of the Delhi Sultanate.
Invasions
Historical details about the Khiljis are obtained from fundamental sources such as Ferishta, who lived during the time of the sultan of Bijapur, Ibrahim Adil Shah II, and Ziauddin Barani, who lived at the time of Mohammad Bin Tughlaq and Firuz Shah Tughlaq. These accounts are well-summarised in the works of eminent contemporary historians such as K.S. Lal, Satish Chandra, and Peter Jackson.
Khilji greatly expanded the empire that he inherited from his uncle, Sultan Jalaluddin Khilji, after killing him. Many of his conquests were of kingdoms ruled by Hindu kings, including Chittor, Devgiri, Warangal (from where he acquired the famous Kohinoor diamond), Gujarat, Ranthambore, and the Hoysala and Pandya kingdoms. He was able to do all this not because these other kingdoms were weak, but because he was a great soldier and general with a well- trained and disciplined army, using superior Turkic cavalry and infantry tactics, and had built a solid economic base which provided him with the resources to finance these campaigns.
Ala-ud-Din followed the measures mentioned below to check the Mongol invasions:
Effective Measures against Mongols
1. Old forts were repaired and experienced troops under the charge of capable officers were posted.
2. New forts were built and put under the charge of seasoned officers and well-trained soldiers.
3. Armament factories were set up and skilled engineers and technicians appointed.
4. A permanent and separate army was prepared for the defence of the North-West Frontier.
5. A special governor was appointed for the North-West Frontier.
6. In the frontier areas of Dipalpur, Samana and Multan, separate armies were stationed.
7. Army was re-organised and its striking power enhanced.
8. Experienced generals like Zafar Khan, Ghazi Malik and Malik Kafur were entrusted the responsibility of defending the border. Ala-ud-Din’s frontier policy proved very successful. According to Barani and Feristha, not only did the Mongols cease their agressions during the later years of Ala-ud-Din’s reign, but also now they had to defend themselves against the troops of Ala-ud-Din. They have further stated that the governor of the North- West Frontier attacked Kabul, Ghazni and Kandhar and plundered the territories of the Mongols
Domestic Policies of Alauddin Khilji
Ala-ud-din followed the Divine Right Theory of Kingship.
He introduced four ordinances to prevent repeated revolts.
He impounded pious grants and free grants of lands
He restructured the spy system.
He banned social parties and wine.
He introduced a permanent standing army.
He started the system of branding of horses and descriptive roster of individual soldiers to inhibit corruption.
He fixed the prices of necessary commodities which were below the normal market rates.
He strictly prohibited black marketing.
Revenue was collected in cash and not in kind.
He followed discriminatory policies towards the Hindus and imposed the Jizya, a grazing tax and a house tax on the Hindu community.
Marketing System
Officers called Diwan-i-riyasat were appointed in the offices called Shahana-i-mandi to standardize the market. Merchants should have to register themselves in the office (Shahana-i- mandi) before selling their goods at the fixed rates.
North Indian Conquest
1. Conquest of Ranthambore
Allaudin Khilji led a siege to the fort of Ranthambore after its king Raja Hammir had given shelter to Muhammad Shah. This happened in 1299 AD. After initial failures, Alauddin treacherously captured the fort with the help of Rajput traitor Ranmal. Hammir dev along with Muhammad Shah was killed.
2. Conquest of Chittor
The Army of Delhi sultanate invaded Chittor in 1303 AD. The Chittor was ruled by Rawal Rattan Singh. It is believed that Aluddin coveted Padmini, Rani of Chittor. After 8 months seize, Chittor was finally won by the Sultan of Delhi.Khijra Khan was made governor of Chittor and it was named Khijrabad.
Victories in Deccan
He was the first Sultan who attacked South India.
He sent his confidante and general Malik Kafur against the rulers of the south.Prataprudra-II of Warangal, Ramachandra Deva, the Yadava king of Devagiri, and Vira Ballala-III the Hoysala king were defeated.He constructed a mosque in Rameswaram. The kingdoms of the south acknowledged the power of Alauddin Khilji and paid his monetary tributes.
After winning two important forts of Chittor and Ranthambore, Alauddin desired the conquest of Deccan. He sent a huge army under Malik Kafur in 1303 AD to recover Devagiri whose king had refused to pay tribute to Delhi Empire. The army of Devagiri was defeated and the king was taken as prisoner. Malik Kafur went further in the south region and invaded Warangal region. He also campaigned against Veera Ballala III, the Hoyasala king. Malik Kafur returned to Alauddin Khilji with a great booty.
The Highlights of Alauddin Khilji’s Rule
• He introduced Dagh and Chehra during his rule. Dagh is the system of branding the horses and Chehra was related to the biometric information about soldiers.
• He treated his nobles with an iron hand. He forbade them to marry among each other’s families.
• Diwan-i-Mustakhraj was introduced by Allauddin Khilji to know and collect the revenue arrears.
• He also set up separate markets for food grains and cloths etc. Diwan-i- riyasat and Shahna-i-Mandi were created by him to control the markets.
• The espionage system was strengthened. Alauddin was the first sultan of Delhi to have a standing army.
• The Iqta system introduced by Iltutmish, was abolished by Alauddin and the salary was paid to soldiers in cash.
Alauddin died in 1316 AD amid chaos within the empire. His sons were not capable enough to carry out his legacy. Alauddin was a strong and capable ruler of India.