Delhi

Sultanate
HISTORY

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Delhi Sultanate 1206-1526

Timeline of Delhi Sultanate

Dynasty Name of Sultan Ruling Years

Qutub-Ud-din Aibek AD 1206- 1210

Shams-ud-din Iltutmish AD 1211-1230

Slave Dynasty Razia Begum AD 1236- 1240

(1206-1290)
Nasiruddin Mahmud AD 1246-1266

Ghias-ud-din Balban AD 1266-1287

Kaiqubad AD 1287-1290

Jalal-ud-din Khilji AD 1290-96

Alauddin Khilji AD1296-1316

Khilji Dynasty
(1290-1320)
Shiba-ud-din Omar AD 1316

Mubarak khilji AD 1316-1320

Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq AD 1320-1325

Muhammad Bin Tughlaq AD 1325-51

Firoz Shah Tughlaq AD1351-1388

Tughlaq Dynasty Tughlaq Shah AD 1388-1398

(AD 1320-1412) Abu Bakar

During the next 14 years three
Muhammad Shah sultans ascended the throne.
Then followed Nasiruddin
Alauddin Sikander Shah Mahmud the last sultan of this
dynasty.
Nasiruddin Mahmud

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Dynasty Name of Sultan Ruling Years

Khizr Khan AD 1414-1421

Sayyid Tughlaq Mubarak Shah AD 1421-1434

(AD 1414-1450) Muhammad Shah AD1434-1445

Alauddin Alam Shah AD 1445-1450

Bahlol Lodhi AD 1451-1489

Lodhi Dynasty
Sikander Lodhi AD 1489- 1517
(AD 1451- 1526)
Ibrahim Lodhi AD 1517-1526

Slave Dynasty
Qutub-ud-din-Aibak
 Slave Dynasty was also called Ilbari Dynasty or Mamluk
Dynasty.

 Qutub-ud-din Aibak was a slave of Muhammed Ghori and he

founded the Slave Dynasty in 1206 AD. The capital of Qutub-
ud-din Aibak was at Lahore. He was known as ‘Lakh Baksh’
or ‘giver of lakhs’ for his magnanimity.

 Hasan Nizam was a famous historian in the court of the Aibak.

 Qutub-ud-din Aibak started the construction of Qutub Minar in 1199 in Delhi in

memory of the Sufi saint Quaja Qutub-ud-din Bhaktiar Kaki. Its construction was
completed by Iltutmish. It is a five-storied building.

 Qutub-ud-din Aibak died in 1210 by falling from horseback while playing Polo.

 After the death of Qutubuddin, Aram Shah ascended the throne, but he was
deposed by Iltutmish and crowned himself the Sultan.

 During the period of Iltutmish (1210-1236) Chengizkhan, the Mongolian conqueror

attacked India (1221).

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Shams-ud-din Iltutmish
 Iltutmish is considered as the real founder of Delhi Sultanate
because he was the first Sultan of Delhi to get recognition of
the Khalifa of Bagdad.

 Iltutmish was also the first Sultan to make Delhi his capital.
Coins were introduced by Iltutmish, ‘Silver Thanka’ and
‘Copper Jital’ were the two basic coins of the Sultanate period.

 He organized the ‘Chalisa’ or the famous Turkish forty to help him in the
administration.

 Iltutmish completed the construction of Qutub Minar. The revenue system of the
Sultanate ‘Iqta system’, was introduced by Iltutmish.

 He was succeeded by his son Ruknuddin Firoz Shah, but he was later executed and
Razia became the sultan (daughter of Iltutmish)

Razia Begum
 After Iltutmish, Razia became the sultan (daughter of Iltutmish).

 She was the first woman to sit on the throne of Delhi.

 But the nobles revolted against her and made her brother
Mohin-ud-Din Bahram Shah sit on the throne.

 Meanwhile, Razia got married to Negro Altunia, the Governor of Bhatinda. For
capturing the throne, they both marched towards Delhi, Bahram sends his army to
capture them.

 The armies of both the parties fought near Kaithal and Razia was killed on 14th
October,1240 AD and was buried at the site of her death.

Nasiruddin Mahmud
 Nasir ud din Mahmud, Nasir ud din Firuz Shah (reigned: 1246–1266) was the
eighth sultan of the Mamluk Sultanate (Slave dynasty).

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 He was the grandson of Shams ud din Iltutmish (1211–36), and ascended to the
throne of Delhi Sultanate in 1246 at the tender age of 17 or 18 after the disposition
of Masud Shah.

 He succeeded Ala ud din Masud after the chiefs replaced Masud when they felt that
he began to behave as a tyrant.

Ghias-ud-din Balban
 Ghiyasuddin Balban, a slave water carreer, huntsman, noble, statesman became
the Sultan of Delhi in 1266 and continued in power till 1686 AD.

 Balban is considered as the founder of Second Ilbari Dynasty.

 Balban described himself as ‘shadow of God’ or the ‘viceregent of God on Earth’ (Zil
-i-illahi).

 Balban because of his autocratic rule is considered as a ‘typical oriental despot’.

 The Chalisa or forty established by Iltutmish was abolished by Balban.

 His Policies were ‘Draconian’. He was a patron of men of letters and showed special
favour to the poet Amir Khusrau.

Kaiqubad

 After Balban’s death in 1286, Kayqubad (1287-90) became the Sultan.

 Balban’s Tomb is situated in Delhi. It was constructed by Balban himself.

 Kayqubad was the last Slave Sultan.

 Kayumars who ruled for a term of three months was the last Slave Sultan.

 He was killed by Jalaluddin Khilji and founded the Khilji Dynasty.

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Khilji Dynasty
Jalal-ud-din Khilji
 The founder of Khilji Dynasty was Jalal ud din Firuz Khilji.

 He killed the last descendent of Slave Dynasty and declared

himself the sultan of Delhi sultanate at the age of 70 years in
1290 AD.

 The Khilji clan traced their origin to Afghan village of Khalji.

 Jalal-ud-din Firuz Khilji’s original name was Malik Firuz.

 He was not cruel by nature.

 When Balban’s nephew Malik Chhajju imposed a war on Jalal-ud-din Firuz Khilji.

 The former was defeated and captured alive but was forgiven by the Sultan of Delhi.

Alauddin Khilji
 He became the Sultan in 1296 AD and ruled till 1316 AD.

 In 1303 he attacked Chittor, the capital of Mewar, to marry

Padmini the wife of Chittor king Ratan Singh.

 But Padmini and other Rajput women committed Jauhar

(Jauhar is a mass suicide by Jumping into fire, committed
by Rajput women to escape from being polluted by others).

 Padmavat is a historical kavya about Padmini episode

written by Malik Muhammed Jayasi.

 Malik Muhammed Jayasi was the court poet of Shershah Suri.

 Alauddin Khilji was the first Muslim ruler to attack South India.

 Malik Kafur was Alauddin Khilji’s Commander who attacked South India.

 Alauddin Khilji was the most famous ruler of the Khilji Dynasty.

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 He was the Sultan of Delhi who banned the use of liquor.

 He had a dream of a World conquest, so he assumed the title ‘Sikhandar-i-sani’ or

Second Alexander Demitrius a Bactrian ruler is popularly known as Second
Alexander.

 Alauddin abolished the Zamindari System and imposed a tax on cattle. He was the
first Muslim ruler of Delhi to introduce the measurement of land for tax assessment.

 His market regulations were to get goods at a controlled price to the people of Delhi.
Alauddin Khilji was the first Sultan of Delhi who separated religion from politics.

 He was also the first to proclaim ‘‘I am the Khalifa’’.

 Alauddin constructed Alai Darwaza the gateway of Qutub Minar. He built the city of
Siri, the second of the seven cities of Delhi, near Qutub Minar.

 Alauddin Khilji was killed by his commander Malik Kafur by poisoning.

 Amir Khusru was the court poet of Alauddin Amir Khusru is known as the ‘Parrot of
India’ He is considered as the father of Urdu language and the inventor of Sitar.
Laila Majnu and Tughlaq Nama are the famous works of Amir Khusru.

 Alauddin khilji was the first Sultan to maintain a permanent standing army. Alauddin
Khilji was responsible for the introduction of the postal system in medieval India.

Shiba-ud-din Omar
 Shibab-ud-din Omar (1316) was the third Sultan of the Khalji Dynasty of Delhi
Sultanate in India.

 After the death of his father Alauddin Khalji in 1316, he ascended the throne as a
minor, with the support of Alauddin's slave-general Malik Kafur.

Mubarak khilji
 Mubarak shah khilji was the last ruler of the Khilji Dynasty.

 Khilji dynasty came to an end when the Mubarak shah Khilji was killed by Khusrau
Khan. Some historians consider Khusrau Khan as the last Khilji Sultan.

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Tughlaq Dynasty
Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq
 Tughlaq Dynasty was founded by Ghiasuddin Tughlaq
(Real name- Ghazi Malik).

 Ghiasuddin Tughlaq founded the dynasty after killing

Khuzru Khan in 1320.

 Ghiasuddin died by the collapse of a pavilion

 He built the Tughlaqabad Fort in Delhi.

 Ghiasuddin Tughlaq was the first Sultan to start irrigation works.

Muhammad Bin Tughlaq

 Ghiassuddin Tughlaq was succeeded by his son Jauna

Khan, popularly known as Muhammed Bin Tughlaq.

 Muhammed Bin Tughlaq is considered as the single

most responsible person for the decline of Delhi
Sultanate.

 Muhammed Bin Tughlaq was known as a mixture of

opposites, wisest fools, unfortunate idealogue and the
predecessor of Akbar in intellectual and religious
matters. Ibn Batuta called him ‘‘an ill-starred idealist’’.

 He shifted his capital from Delhi to Devagiri (Daulatabad) in 1327.

 In 1330 he introduced token currency of bronze and copper.

 Moroccan Traveler Ibn Batuta visited India during his period.

 Edward Thomas described him as ‘prince of moneyers’.

 Muhammed Bin Tughlaq was succeeded by his elderly cousin, Firoz Shah Tughlaq.

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Firoz Shah Tughlaq

 Firoz Shah Tughlaq was the first Sultan of Delhi to impose
Jizya. It was a religious tax for the freedom of worship.

 He imposed it only upon Brahmins. He built the city of

Firozabad in Delhi. Firoz Shah Kotla was also built by him.

 The gateway of Firozshah Kotla is Khooni Darwaza, or

blood-stained gate.

 It was constructed by Shershah Suri. He transplanted two Ashokan Pillars to

Firozabad. He is the author of Fatuhat -i- Firozshahi.

 After Firozshah Tughlaq, Muhammed Shah Tughlaq or Naziruddin Muhammed

came to the throne.

 It was during the period of his reign that Timur, the Turkish conqueror of the Tartar
tribe from Samarkand attacked India in 1398.

 Timur appointed Khizr Khan, the governor of Multan his authority in India.

 During the next 14 years three sultans ascended the throne. Then followed
Nasiruddin Mahmud the last sultan of this dynasty.

Sayyid Dynasty
Khizr Khan
 Khizr Khan was the governor of Multan under Firuz Shah Tughlaq.

 When Timur invaded India, Khizr Khan, a Sayyid from Multan joined him.

 Timur appointed him the governor of Multan and Lahore.

 He then conquered the city of Delhi and started the rule of the Sayyids in 1414.

 He was ruling in the name of Timur.

 He could not assume an independent position in all respects.

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Mubarak Shah
 Mubarak Shah was the child of Khizr Khan, who ruled in the year 1421.

 But, scared to made any attempt in getting back the lost regions of the realm, unlike
his dad.

Muhammad Shah
 Muhammad Shah was a nephew of Mubarak Shah. He governed from 1434–1443.

 Muhammad Shah consented to the seat with the assistance of Sarwar ul Mulk.

 After that Shah needed to liberate himself from the mastery of Sarwar ul Mulk with
the assistance of his devoted vizier Kamal ul Mulk.

 His rule was set apart by numerous uprisings and intrigues, and he kicked the
bucket in the year 1445.

 The last ruler of the Sayyid dynasty, Alauddin Alam Shah was defeated by Bahlol
Lodi, who started the Lodi dynasty.

Lodhi Dynasty
Bahlol Lodhi
 Lodhi dynasty was founded by Bahlol Lodhi in 1451.
The dynasty lasted up to 1526.

 Bahlul Khan Lodi (1451–1489) was the nephew and

son-in-law of Malik Sultan Shah Lodi, the governor
of Sirhind in (Punjab), India and succeeded him as
the governor of Sirhind during the reign of Sayyid
dynasty ruler Muhammad Shah

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Sikandar Lodhi
 Sikandar Lodi (r. 1489–1517) (born Nizam Khan), the second son of Bahlul,
succeeded him after his death on 17 July 1489 and took up the title Sikandar Shah.

 He was nominated by his father to succeed him and was crowned sultan on 15 July
1489.

 He founded Agra in 1504 and built mosques.

 He shifted the capital from Delhi to Agra.

Ibrahim Lodhi
 Last Lodhi Sultan or last Delhi Sultan was Ibrahim Lodhi.

 Rana Sangram Singh of Mewar defeated him.

 His brother Daulat Khan Lodhi invited Babar to India to defeat Ibrahim Lodhi in 1524.

 Babar defeated Ibrahim Lodhi in the First Battle of Panipat on 1526 April 21.

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