Component-I (A) – Personal details: 1 Component-I (B) – Description of module: Subject Name Indian Culture Paper Name Outlines of Indian History The Sayyid and Lodi Dynasties & Module Name/Title Salient features of the Delhi Sultanate Module Id I C / OIH / 23 Knowledge in Medieval history of India and the Pre-requisites rule of Delhi Sultanate To study the History of the Sayyid and Lodi Dynasties and Declining of the Delhi Sultanate. Objectives The contribution of Delhi Sultanates to Indian Culture Delhi Sultanate / Sayyid / Lodi / Indo-Persian Keywords Culture E-text (Quadrant-I) 1. The Sayyid dynasty (1414 - 1451) The Sayyid dynasty was the fourth dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate ruled from 1414 – 1451. This family claimed to be sayyids, or descendants of the Prophet Muhammad. The central authority of the Delhi sultanate had been fatally weakened by the invasion of the Turkish conqueror Timur and his capture of Delhi in 1398. Khizr Khan, who had been appointed Governor of Lahore, Multan and Dipalpur by Amir Timur, acquired control of Delhi after defeating its de facto ruler Daulat Khan. Taking advantage of the confusion that prevailed in India after the death of the last Tughlaq, Nasiruddin Mahmud Shah, Khizr Khan marched on Delhi, occupied the throne for himself on May 28, 1414 1. 1 Khizr Khan (1414-1421) Khizr Khan laid the foundation of a new dynasty of the Sayyids. He was a man of high moral character who combined in him the qualities of a saint, soldier and politician. Khizr Khan ruled Delhi independently for seven years. His kingdom comprising of Sindh, Punjab and some parts of the Doab. He did not assume sovereign title of Sultan or Shah nor stuck coins in his name. He professed to rule as the deputy to Timur’s son and successor, Shah Rukh, to whom he probably sent occasional tributes. He tried to suppress the refractory chieftains in Rohilkhand, Doab and Mewat, but no attempt was made to re-conquer the provinces which had succeeded from the Sultan. Khizr Khan died on May 20, 1421. He was popular among the people of Delhi because of public welfare activities and humanitarian approach to the administration. 1.2 Mubarak Shah, (1421-1434) Mubarak was the son and successor of Khizr Khan, assumed the title of Sultan. He was a competent military general and suppressed a few revolts of the Hindu Zamindars of the Doab and defeated the Muslim nobles in the Punjab. His successful expeditions against Mewatis, Katihar and the Gangetic doab enabled him to collect revenue from that region, although Delhi’s authority over their chiefs was precarious. Mubarak Shah was assassinated in 1434 by some of his own nobles. 1.3 Muhammad Shah (1434-1445) 2 The power of the Sayyids declined rapidly after the murder of Mubark Shah. The conspirators led by Sarwarul Mulk, raised Muhammad Shah, a nephew of the deceased Sultan, on the throne. But the real power of the state was usurped by Sarwarul Mulk, the Wazir. The Sultan was unable to combat the intrigues among the leading nobles. Taking his incompetence, Muhammad Khilji of Malwa and Bahlul Lodi became independent. He was in fact reduced to the pitiable position of ruling a territory which extended merely forty miles around his capital. 1.4 Alam Shah (1445-1451) On the death of Muhammad Shah in 1445, his son Alauddin ascended the throne of Delhi with the high sounding title of Alam Shah. He proved to be the last and the most incompetent ruler of the Sayyid dynasty. Unable to cope with the administrative problems, revolts and intrigues of his courtiers, he retired to his personal estate at Badaun. This provided an opportunity to Bahlul Lodi to capture Delhi. The Sultan did not contest Bahlul’s usurpation and formally transferred the sovereignty of Delhi to him in 1451. 2. Lodi Dynasty (1451-1526) 2.1 Bahlul Lodi (1451 – 1489) Lodi’s were the last Sultans of Delhi Sultanate ruled for about 75 years. Bahlul was the founder of the Lodi dynasty. The Lodis constituted a clan of the Ghilzai tribe of the Afghans. Bahlul was capable and ambitious. He had the wisdom to realize that the Sultanate could no longer be restored to its former extent, power and prestige. In order to strengthen his position, Bahlul tried to win over the confidence of the Army by distributing Gifts and Bounties. Bahlul’s most important achievement was the conquest of the Sultanate of Jaunpur. The Sharqi Sultans of Jaunpur claimed to be the legitimate successors of the Sayyids of Delhi on the basis of matrimonial relations. A long war resulted in the decisive defeat of Sultan Husain Shah Sharqi and the incorporation of his territories in Bahlul’s dominions (1479). He consolidated his authority in the Doab by suppressing the Rajput chiefs. 2.2 Sikandar Shah (1489 – 1517) Bahlul Lodi was succeeded by his third son, Nizam Khan, who took the title of Sikandar Shah. He shifted his capital in 1504 to the village of Agra on the bank of the river Yamuna, which was developed into a beautiful town during his period. He defeated Husain Shah, the former Sharqi Sultan and also the Sultan of Bengal in 1498. Sikandar Lodi attempted to revive the concept of absolute monarchy by bringing the Afghan nobles under the effective control of the central authority. He set up an efficient espionage system to keep himself abreast of all the developments in his dominions and watch the activities of the disaffected officers. He suppressed the rebellions with firmness and determination, thereby restoring respect for the central government. He did not spare even the haughty Afghan nobles. They were made to realize that they were in fact not equal to the Sultans. Although he did not introduce any basic change in the system of administration, he insisted on proper auditing of accounts and punished defalcation and embezzlement with a severity. His patronage to Muslim scholars helped the progress of learning. He wrote verses in Persian under the “nom de plume of Gulrukhi”. But his policy towards the Hindus was marred by intolerance and persecution. 2.3 Ibrahim Lodi (1517 - 1526) Ibrahim the son of Sikandar Lodi was the last king of the Lodi dynasty and of the Dellhi Sultanate. Ibrahim Lodi wanted to strengthen his position at the cost of his nobles and adopted all measures to humble them. His ill-treatment turned the loyal Afghan nobles against him. They hatched a conspiracy to declare his uncle, Jalal Khan, as the ruler of Delhi, but they failed. He put an end to his brother Jalal, the governor of Jaunpur and Azam Humayun, the governor of Gwalior. He adopted a dictatorial attitude towards the old and experienced Afghan officers and annoyed his ministers and provincial governors by the display of irritable temper and 3 arrogance. He insulted openly his own relatives viz., Daulat Khan Lodi of Punjab and Alak Khan Lodi (brother of Sikandar Lodi). Daulat Khan Lodi organized a movement against the Sultan with the support of the Afghan nobles. They sent invitations to Babur in Kabul to invade India. With the support of Daulat Khan Lodi and Alak Khan Lodi, Babur entered Punjab in December 1525 and occupied Lahore and proceeded to Delhi. Ibrahim led a large army in person. Babar defeated and killed Ibrahim Lodi in the first battle of Panipat (1526). The battle of Panipat ended the Lodi dynasty and brought the rule of Mughals. 3. Disintegration of the Delhi Sultanate : Most of the Sayyids and Lodi’s were weak. The disintegration of the Delhi Sultanate started even during the reigns of Muhammad Bin Tughlaq and Firoz Tughlaq and the process could not be checked by their in competent successors. The weakness of the Delhi Sultanate was made even worse by Timur invasion of Delhi (1398). The invasion of Timur may, however be regarded as marking the end of the phase of strong rule by the Delhi Sultans, although the Tughlaq dynasty itself lingered on till 1414. Taking advantage of the situation number of independent states was set up in different parts of the country. No substantial improvement was made in the fortunes of the Delhi Sultanate during the reigns of the Sayyid and Lodi rulers. They did not recover any territory that was lost or became independent during the time of Tughlaqs. They spent most of their precious time in suppressing the revolts. In fact their rule was confined only to Delhi and its neighbourhood. Thus it is correct to regard Sayyids and Lodis as phantom (unreal) Sultans of Delhi. 4. Salient features of Delhi Sultanate: The establishment of the Delhi Sultanate towards the beginnings of the 13th century may be said marking a new phase in the cultural development of the country. The expansion of the Delhi Sultanate led to the evolution of a powerful and efficient administrative system. 4.1 Administration The government established by the Turks was a compromise between Islamic political ideas and institutions on the one hand and the existing Rajput system of government on the other. Consequently many elements of the Rajput political system, with or without changes, became part and parcel of the Turkish administration in India. In theory the Muslim state was a theocracy, i.e. the head of the state was also the religious head and derived his position and authority from God. The Sultans of Delhi, were, therefore, independent rulers of their territorial possessions and did not owe their sovereignty to any earthly power, neither the Caliph nor the Millat. Their nominal allegiance to the Caliph was a matter of courtesy or at the best a social political expediency.