B.A.(Programme) Semester-III HISTORY DISCIPLINE SPECIFIC CORE COURSE History of India, c. 1200-1700 STUDY MATERIAL : Unit I-VII SCHOOL OF OPEN LEARNING University of Delhi Department of History Course Coordinator : Dr. Rajni Nanda Mathew Content Writers Dr. Meera Khare Dr. Madhu Trivedi Associate Professor (Retired) Associate Professor (Retired) Department of History, School of Open Learning, PGDAV College (M), University of Delhi University of Delhi, Delhi Dr. Rakesh Kumar Dr. Shubhra Sinha Associate Professor Associate Professor, Ram Lal Anand College, Department of History, University of Delhi Kamla Nehru College, University of Delhi Dr. Sarbani Kumar Dr. Parul Lau Gaur Associate Professor Assistant Professor P G D A V College (Morning) Ram Lal Anand College University of Delhi University of Delhi Undergraduate Course DISCIPLINE SPECIFIC CORE COURSE History of India, c. 1200-1700 Contents Unit I : Foundation, Expansion and Consolidation of the Sultanates of Delhi c. 13th to 15th century Unit II : Regional Political Formation: Vijayanagara Unit III : Foundation, Expansion and Consolidation of The Mughal State, c.16th to 17th Century Unit IV : 17th Century Transitions: Marathas Unit V : Art and Architecture In Medieval India Unit VI : Society, Culture and Religion Unit VII : Economy and Integrated Patterns of Exchange Course Coordinator Dr. Rajni Nanda Mathew SCHOOL OF OPEN LEARNING University of Delhi 5, Cavalry Lane, Delhi-110007 Unit I FOUNDATION, EXPANSION AND CONSOLIDATION OF THE SULTANATES OF DELHI C. 13TH TO 15TH CENTURY 1.1 Foundation and Expansion of the Delhi Sultanate (1206 – 1236) The Foundation of Delhi Sultanate The sudden death of Muhammad Ghuri in 1206 by an assasin created a difficult situation for the Turks in Northern India. He left behind an extensive empire that stretched from Ghuri in Central Asia to Nadia in Bengal, and from the Himalayan Tarai to the deserts of Rajputana. However, it is to be noted that in India the Turks were not firmly in control of their possessions. Rather the Turkish hold was precarious. What prevented the infant Turkish empire from being sucked into the whirlpool of destruction in India was the wisdom, boldness and the imagination of Muhammad Ghuri’s trusted lieutenant, Qutubuddin Aibek. Moreover, the defeated Indian ruling class did not have sufficient military strength to take advantage of this opportune moment. Muizzuddin, popularly known as Muhammad Ghuri left no male heir to succeed him but Aibek was his ablest officer. The foundation of the Delhi Sultanate was laid by Qutbuddin Aibek, who after his humiliating retreat from Ghazni thought, of confining his energies to the territories of Northern India. The Turkish empire in Northern India was unique in some respects. The Delhi Sultanate saw a number of rulers who did not originally belong to India. Obviously they had different socio-cultural and religious background. However, the new immigrant ruling class including the Sultans gradually had become an inseparable part of the Indian society. The most significant thing to understand is that even when the new government was based on exploitation the wealth of the country was not drained out as happened under the British rule. The Turks established essentially a military rule in Northern India, which was based on centralized despotism. The Turkish ‘Slave System’ Muhammad Ghuri had no son. His Indian possessions fell into the hands of one of his slave-officer, Qutubuddin Aibek, who became the first Sultan of the newly established Delhi Sultanate. That a slave could have attained such a high status seems rather strange. There was little social stigma attached to slavery among Turks. Often slaves married in the family of their masters and then succeeded them after their death. As such the phenomenal rise of Aibek was neither exceptional nor accidental. It was the result of as unique ‘Slave System’ among the Turks where the talented boys were bought as slaves and methodical trained and carefully groomed for high officers. 1 Sultan Qutubuddin Aibek After the second battle to Tarain in 1192 Qutubuddin Aibek was entrusted with the charge of his master’s Indian dominion. Much of the credit of the Ghurid conquests in India should go to Aibek. He saved Ajmer from two uprisings. He played an important role in the defeat of Jai Chand. Besides, Qutubuddin Aibek captured Koil (Aligarh), Ranthambhor (1195). Badaun (1197-98) and Kanauj (1198-99). Kalinjar, Mahoba and Khajuraho (1202-03). He also occupied Delhi and made it capital of the newly established Turkish empire in 1193. It was Aibek who was formally invested with viceregal powers and promoted to the rank of a malik in 1206. The death of Muhammad Ghuri marked only a change of status for Aibek. who lost no time in exploiting the situation in his favour. He marched to Lahore and formally assumed power as a sovereign of the Ghurid empire on 25 June 1206. The death of Muhammad Ghuri removed the support of a powerful protector and involved Qutubuddin Aibek in the intricate web of Central Asian politics. The Ghurid empire broke up into warring fragments; Ghiyasuddin Mahmud succeeded in establishing his rule in Ghur. Tajuddin Yalduz, another slave of Muhammad Ghuri, laid claims to his master’s Indian possessions. The internal situation, in Northern India was also disturbing. Preoccupied with these affairs, Aibek could not deal effectively with the Rajputs who lately were quite active in recovering their lost political authority. Kalinjar had been recovered by the Chandellas, the Gahadwalas under Harishchandra reoccupied Farrukhabad and Badaun, while Gwalior seems to have been lost to the Prariharas. In 1210 when Aibek died of injuries sustained from a fall from his horse while playing chaugan (polo), the Delhi sultanate lacked political stability and had no effective administration. Yet his contribution is immense as he laid the foundation of the Delhi Sultanate which had an independent status. Aibek was a brave soldier and a competent military general, whose contribution in extending the Turkish empire was unique. Besides it is to be noted that his early training in Nishapur equipped him with refined literary taste as is evident from his patronage of scholars like Hasan Nizami and Fakhre Mudabbir. His generosity was proverbial and earned him the title “lakh bakhsh” (giver of lakhs). As his reign was too short and the difficulties he faced were too many, he did not seem to have made a significant contribution in evolving a solid administrative structure of the Delhi Sultanate. But there is no doubt that he managed the show. Abul Fazl the official historian of Akbar’s reign is all praise for Aibek and sums up his contribution in the following words : “He achieved things, good and great.” Sultan Iltutmish On the death of Aibek, the Turkish faction at Lahore supported Aibek’s son Aram Shah (there is a good deal of controversy whether he was actually the son of Qutubuddin Aibek or not). 2 The nobles at Delhi, led by Ismail, who occupied the post of amir-i-dad (an important functionary of judicial department), invited Iltutmish to ascend the throne. Iltutmish at that time was the governor of Badaun. He marched towards Delhi. But before entering the capital he met the army of Aram Shah. He easily defeated Aram Shah, whose rule lasted only for about eight months (1210-1211) and was of no significance. Shamsuddin Iltutmish was the son of a noble belonging to the Ilbari (ILBARI) tribe of the Turks. He was sold as a slave by his jealous brothers to a merchant named Jamaluddin, from whom he was bought by Qutbuddin Aibek. It is interesting to note that like Aibek, the rise of Iltutmish was rapid. In due course of time he rose to the post of amir-i akhur (master of stables). Iltutmish married a daughter of Qutbuddin Aibek, who after sometime appointed him the muqtai (governor) of Badaun. And finally he succeeded in occupying the throne of the Delhi Sultanate in 1211. The Initial Problems Iltutmish did not find the throne of Delhi a ‘bed of roses’. The death of Aibek had plunged the Delhi Sultanate into confusion. Iltutmish had to start cautiously. His was a task fraught with dangers and difficulties which were not only numerous but of a varied character: internal and external, political and administrative and cultural. However, Iltutmish rose to the occasion. By showing proper understanding and adopting timely measures he provided a fresh lease of life to the infant Delhi Sultanate. The Turkish jandars (guards) of Delhi rose in rebellion and created a difficult situation before Iltutmish. They were, however, taken to task and were finally suppressed. Yet there were other problems also. Yalduz and Qubacha claimed of sovereignty. Bengal shook off its allegiance to the central authority. Ali Mardan assumed royal status at Lakhnauti in Bengal. Rajput chiefs rose in rebellion and ravaged the country-side Jalor and Ranthambhor were first to regain independence. Above all, there loomed large over the north-western frontier the Mongol hurricane that could easily sweep aside the infant Turkish empire in India before it could stand on its legs. That the new Sultan was able to deal effectively with most of these problems is the proof of his ability and tactfulness. Iltutmish was a realist and a shrewd statesman. He followed a policy of caution and compromise. Unwilling to risk a civil war or provoke his rivals, he even compromised his sovereign status by accepting the royal insignia (canopy and baton) sent by Yalduz, Iltutmish bided his time, and followed a defensive policy towards his contenders for the throne of the Delhi Sultanate. However when Yalduz occupied the Punjab and moved towards Delhi he came forward to meet the challenge. Yalduz was defeated at the battle field of Tarain in 1215-16.