CHAPTER THE DELHI SULTANATE 3.1 (1206-1526 AD) Introduction After Muhammad Ghori’s death, his nephew Ghiyasuddin Mahmud became the ruler of Ghur, but he was in constant fear of internal revolts and foreign invasions. Tajuddin Yalduz, Nasiruddin Qubacha and Qutbud-din Aibak - the three able and trusted Turkish nobles of Muhammad Ghuri each one of them aspired for independence. Ghiyasuddin Mahmud could not suppress their revolts and hence immediately after the death of Muhammad Ghuri, partition of his empire started. Yalduz succeeded at Ghazni and as the ruler of Ghazni wished to bring India also under his suzerainty. Qubacha who had held Multan and Uchh since 1205, occupied the whole of Sind and decided to declare his independence. The Indian possession was held by Qutbud-din-Aibak. The establishment of Delhi Sultanate which existed from A.D. 1206 to 1526 had fi ve different dynasties - the Slave (Mamluk Sultans), Khilji, Tughlaq, Sayyids and Lodis. Not only they extended their rule over North India, but they also penetrated into the Deccan and South India. Their rule in India resulted in far-reaching changes in society, administration and cultural life. Slave/Mamluk Dynasty (Ilbari Turks) The dynasty founded by the Ilbari Turks is generally called the ‘Slave Dynasty’ or ‘Mamluk Dynasty’ because many of the important rulers of this dynasty had originally been slaves like Qutbud-din was a slave of Mahmud Ghuri, and Iltutmish was slave of Qutbud-din. Qutbuddin Aibak (1206-1210 AD) Qutbuddin Aibak was a Turkish slave who had risen to high rank in Muhammad Ghori’s army. After Muhammad Ghori’s death in AD 1206, the control of his Indian possessions was passed on to Qutbuddin Aibak. Aibak was the fi rst independent Muslim ruler of Northern India, the founder of Delhi Sultanate. Aibak had to face many revolts from Rajputs and other Indian chiefs. Tajudding Yaldauz, the rule of Ghazni, claimed his rule over Delhi. Aibak defeated Yaldauz and severed all connections with Ghazni. Aibak was able to win over his enemies by conciliatory measures as well as a display of power. 32 The successor of Jaichand, Harishchandra had driven out the Turks from Badayun and Farukhabad. Aibak re-conquered both Badayun and Farukhabad. Qutbuddin Aibak was brave, faithful and generous and due to his generosity he was known as “Lakh Baksh”. Most of the scholars consider Aibak as the real founder of Muslim rule in India. Aibak died in 1210 AD, while playing Chaugan (horse polo). Iltutmish (1210-1236 AD) On Aibak’s death in 1210 AD his adopted son Aram Shah succeeded to the throne but he was shortly after removed by Iltutmish, Qutbud-din’s slave and governor of Budaun. Iltutmish’s elevation was resented by many Turkish nobles while Qubacha, the governor of Sind and Yalduz, the governor of Ghazni rose in open revolt. Yalduz was defeated near Tarain in 1215 AD and Qubacha was fi nally subdued in 1228 AD. Ali Mordan Khan of Bengal and Bihar, who had rebelled, was suppressed. The revolt of Hindu rulers at Gwalior and Ranthambore who had declared their independence was tackled. In Bihar and Bengal, a person called Iwaz had taken the title of Sultan Ghiyasuddin has assumed his independence. In 1226-27, Iwaz was defeated and killed in a battle near Lakhanauti. Mongols under the leadership of Changiz Khan in pursuit of Jalaluddin, a prince of Khwarizm who had fl ed to Punjab and sought asylum in Iltutmish’s court marched towards India. India was in imminent danger of being overrun by the Mongols but Iltutmish’s acting with precedence, refused asylum and saved the infant Turkish empire from the wrath of the Mongol warlord. In 1229 AD, Iltutmish received a role of honour and a patent of investiture from Al Mustansir Bildah, the reigning caliph of Baghdad who confi rmed him Sultan-Azmi (great Sultan). In return, Iltutmish described himself as the ‘Lieutenant’ of the caliph and the name of caliph was inscribed on the coins issued by him and this strengthened his position still more. He issued a purely Arabic coinage of silver and was the fi rst to do so. He was the real founder of Delhi Sultanate and an architect of its administration. He eliminated the refractory nobles from all-important posts and organized a band of his own forty trusted nobles called ‘Turkan-I-Chihalgani’ (Chalisa). He organised the Iqta System and introduced reforms in civil administration and army, which was now centrally paid and recruited. He completed Qutub Minar in A.D. 1231-32 named after a Sufi saint Khwaja Qutb-ud-din Kaki, a native of Ush area in Baghdad. He extended the screen walls of the Quwwatul Islam Mosque constructed by Qutb-ud-din. Minhaj-us-Siraj, his contemporary historian too praised him. Raziya Sultan (1236-1240 AD) Although Iltutmish nominated his daughter Raziya as his successor, the Qazi of Delhi and Wazir put Ruknuddin Feroz on the throne. When the governor of Multan revolted, Ruknuddin marched to suppress that revolt and Raziya with the support of Amirs of Delhi seized the throne of Delhi Sultanate. She appointed an Abyssinian slave Yakuth as Master of the Royal Horses. 33 Raziya discarded the female apparel and held the court with her face unveiled and even went for hunting and led the army which aroused resentment among the Turkish nobles. In 1240, Altunia, the governor of Bhatinda revolted against her. She went in person to suppress the revolt but Altunia killed Yakuth and took Raziya prisoner. In the meantime, the Turkish nobles put Bahram, another son of Iltutmish on the throne. Raziya won over her captor, Altunia, and after marrying him marched towards Delhi but was defeated and killed. Nasirud-din-Mahmud (1246-1266 AD) After Raziya’s death, two weak rulers Bahram (1240-1242 AD) and Aluddin Masud (12142-46 AD) followed in quick succession. Their brief inglorious rule was marked by nothing else but the invasions of Mongols. In 1246 AD, Nasirud-din Mahmud, another son of Iltutmish ascended the throne. He was a man of peaceful and pious disposition and an excellent calligraphist spending his leisure time in copying Quran. Nasiruddin placed all powers into the hands of his Prime Minister Balban. They worked in perfect harmony except on one occasion when Balban was removed from offi ce for a brief period (1253 AD) at the instigation of Imadud-din Raihan, the leader of the part of Indian Mulsim nobles. As Prime Minister, Balban ruled with a strong hand and crushed the rebellious governors of Bengal, Avadh and Sind, defended the kingdom from Mongols who had marked into the Punjab in 1257 AD. Balban swooped upon the hilly country of Mewat and punished the Mewati marauders. The frontier posts were strongly garrisoned under his able cousin Sher Khan for checking the Mongol inroads and suppressed the refractory elements. After the death of Nasirud-din who had no son, Balban, ascended the throne. The contemporary chronicler Minhaj-us-Siraj had held a high post (chief Quazi) under the Sultan Nasirud-din and dedicated his ‘Tabaqat-i-Nasiri’ to his patron. Balban (1266-1287 AD) The struggle between the sultan and the Turkish nobles continued, till one of the Turkish chiefs. Balban, gradually arrogated all power to himself and fi nally ascended the throne in AD 1266. When Balban became the Sultan, his position was not secure and many Turkish chiefs were hostile to him. The Mongols were looking forward for an opportunity for attacking the Sultanate. The governors of the distant provinces were also trying to become independent rulers. The Indian rulers were also ready to revolt at the smallest opportunity. The law and order situation in the area around Delhi and in the Doab region had deteriorated. In the Ganga-Yamuna doab and Awadh, the roads were infested with the robbers and dacoits, because of which the communication with the eastern areas had become diffi cult. Some of the Rajput zamindars had set up forts in the area, and defi ed the government. The Mewatis had become so bold as to plunder people up to the outskirts of Delhi. To deal with these elements, Balban adopted a stern policy. In the Mewat many were killed. In the area around Badayun, Rajput strongholds were destroyed. Balban ruled in an autocratic manner and worked hard to elevate the position of the Sultan. He did not allow any noble to assume great power. He even formulated the theory of kingship. He introduced Sijda (postration before the monarch) and Paibos (kissing the feet of monarch). 34 The historian Barani, who was himself a great champion of the Turkish nobles, says that Balban Facts to Know remarked ‘whenever I see a base born ignoble man, During Balban’s reign, Firoz had been my eyes burn and I reach in anger for my sword (to the warden of the marches in north- kill him).” (It is not known if Balban actually said these west and had fought many successful words but his attitude towards the non-Turks was battles against the Mongols. that of contempt.) Firoz was called to Delhi as Ariz-i- Balban was not prepared to share power with anyone, Mumalik (Minister of War). not even with his own family. In 1290 AD Firoz murdered Kaimurs and seized the throne. Balban broke the power of the Chahalgani which A group of Khalji nobles led by him was his greatest contribution towards the stability of established the Khalji dynasty. the sultanate. Some scholars call this event as the To kept himself well informed, Balban appointed ‘dynastic revolution’ of 1290 AD.