Delhi Sultanate (1206-1526) Notes for 7th Class – MEDIEVAL INDIA HISTORY NOTES

Major Dynasties of the Delhi Sultanate (1206-1526)

1. Mamluk Dynasty (1206-1290)
2. Khilji Dynasty (1290-1320)
3. Tughlaq Dynasty (1320-1414)
4. Sayyid Dynasty (1414-1451)
5. Lodi Dynasty (1451-1526)

(1). Slave Dynasty (Mamluk/Ilbari Dynasty)

1. Founder: Qutbuddin Aibak (1206-1210 AD)
• Capital: Lahore
• Died while playing polo in 1210 AD; mausoleum at Lahore, Pakistan.
• Known as 'Lakhbaksh' meaning 'giver of lakhs'.
• Architectures:
  • 'Quwwat-ul-Islam' mosque in Mehrauli, Delhi
  • 'Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra' in Ajmer
  • Laid the foundation of the "Qutub Minar" in memory of Sufi saint 'Khawaja Qutubuddin Bakhtiar Kaki', completed by Iltutmish.

Iltutmish (1211-1236 AD)

1. Real founder of the Delhi Sultanate.
2. Governor of Badaun; made Delhi his capital.
3. Known as the "Slave of Slaves" as he was a slave of Qutub-ud-din Aibak.
4. Titled "Sultan-e-Azam" by the Caliph of Baghdad in 1229.
5. Administration:
   • Formed the Turkan-e-Chahalgani, known as the Forty.
   • First Turkish Sultan to issue pure Arabic coins and started the minting of silver and copper coins.
   • His wazir or prime minister was Nizam-ul-Mulk Junaidi.
   • 'Tabaqat-e-Nasiri' by Minhaj-us-Siraj.
   • Built a reservoir called "Hauz-e-Sultani".

Razia Sultan (1236-1240 AD)

1. First and last female ruler of the Delhi Sultanate.
2. Daughter of Sultan Iltutmish.
3. Appointed head of the royal stable (Amir-i-Akhur) - Jalaluddin Yakut.
4. Married Altunia to suppress the rebellion led by Turkish nobles.
5. Historian Al-Numan stated: "if Razia were not a woman, her name would have been counted among the great rulers of India".

Ghiyasuddin Balban (1266-1287 AD)

1. Became king after the death of Nasiruddin Mahmud (1265).
2. Ended the Chahalgani system and implemented Iranian practices.
3. Introduced the Sijdah and Paibos system & Iranian festival of Nowruz.
4. Adopted the policy of "Iron and Blood" to strengthen the governance system.
5. Took the title of Ilahi (Divine).
6. Gave the title of Ulugh Khan by Nasiruddin Mahmud.
7. Amir Khusro resided in Balban's court.
8. Major Departments:
   • Diwan-e-Arj: Military department.
   • Barid-e-Mumalik: Spy agency, head called "Barid".
   • Diwan-e-Wajahat: Financial department.

(2). Khilji Dynasty (1290-1320)

1. Founder: Jalal-ud-din Khilji (1290 – 1296 AD)
• Shortest reigning dynasty - Khilji dynasty.
• Adopted a policy of tolerance.
• Murdered by his nephew and son-in-law, Alauddin Khilji.

Alauddin Khilji (1296-1316 AD)

1. Known as the Alexander (Sikandar-e-Sani) of India.
2. First emperor to maintain a standing army and paid soldiers in cash.
3. Architectures:
   • Entrance gate of Qutub Minar (Alai Darwaza)
   • Palaces of Hauz Khas
   • The Siri Fort
4. Political Campaigns:
   • Attacked Ranthambore (1301 AD), Chittor (1303 AD), and Marwar (1308 AD).
   • Commander-in-chief: Malik Kafur, known as 'Hazar Dinari'.
   • Defeated Mongols 7 times.
5. Administration:
   • Military Reform:
     • Military minister - "Ariz-e-Mumalik".
     • Started the practice of branding horses (Daag Pratha).
     • Concept of huliya (descriptive list of soldiers).
   • Market Reform:
     • Established four different markets in Delhi.
     • Created the 'public distribution system'.
   • Land Revenue Administration:
     • 1st Sultan of Delhi to order the measurement of land ("Masahat").
     • Land revenue collected in cash.
     • Imposed four types of taxes: Jizya, Kharaj, Ghari, and Charai.

(3). Tughlaq Dynasty (1320-1414)

1. Founder: Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq (1320-1325)
• Real name: Ghazi Malik.
• Capital: Tughlaqabad.
• Started the postal and revenue systems.
• Brought Warangal and Bengal under the Delhi Sultanate.

Muhammad bin Tughlaq (1325-1351)

• Real Name: Jauna Khan or Ulugh Khan
• Scholar in: Logic, philosophy, astronomy, mathematics, calligraphy, and physics
• Historical Note: Ibn Battuta visited India during his reign
• Controversy: Some historians considered him bloodthirsty, irreligious, and ruthless
• Death: Near Thatta (Sindh) in 1351

Reforms of Muhammad bin Tughlaq

• Department: Diwan-i-Amir Kohi - for the advancement of agriculture
• Capital Transfer: From Delhi to Devagiri (Daulatabad)
• Population Relocation: Entire population was forcibly relocated
• Token Currency: Introduced in 1329
• Land Revenue Increase: In Doab region between Ganga and Yamuna rivers
• Currency Exchange Failure: In Daulatabad, leading to severe famine and farmer rebellions

Firoz Shah Tughlaq (1351-1388)

• Ascension: Became ruler in 1351 AD
• Crowning: Crowned twice
• Autobiography: "Futuhat-e-Firozshahi"
• Contemporary Views: Referred to as the "first welfare state builder and an autocratic ruler" by contemporary historians
• Historical Note: Elphinstone called him the "Akbar of the Sultanate era"

Administrative Reforms

• Agricultural Loans: Took back all agricultural loans given by Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq
• Revenue System: Organized the first-ever revenue system
• Canals: Built canals like 'Rajwahi' and 'Ulugkhan'
• Jizya Tax: Imposed on Brahmins
• Coins: Introduced mixed copper and silver coins named 'Adha' and 'Bikh'
• Loan Waiver: Waived off loans for farmers
• Illegal Practices: Ended illegal and unjust practices
• Taxes Collected:
  • Kharaj - 1/10th of the produce of the land
  • Khams - 1/5 of war booty
  • Jizya - Poll tax
  • Zakat - Tax on Muslims
• Cities Built: Firozabad, Hisar, Jaunpur, and Fatehabad

(4). Sayyid Dynasty (1414–1451)

• Characteristics: Relatively small and quickly ruled Delhi
• Rulers:
  • Khizr Khan
  • Mubarak
  • Muhammad Shah
  • Alam Shah (37 years reign, 1414 - 1451)

Khizr Khan (1414-1421)

• Founder: Khizr Khan
• Position: Governor of Multan
• Reign: Ruled as a representative of Shah Rukh, the son and successor of Timur
• Title: "Rayyat-i-Ala" (descendant of Prophet Muhammad)
• Death: In 1421 CE

Mubarak Shah (1421-1434)

• Son: Of Khizr Khan
• Reputation: Most capable ruler of the Sayyid dynasty
• City Founded: Mubarakabad (banks of the Yamuna river)

Muhammad Shah (1434-1445)

• Assistance: Became king with help from Sarwar-ul-Mulk
• Title: Khan-e-Khana - Bahlul Lodi

Alauddin Alamshah (1445-1451)

• Last Ruler: Of the Sayyid dynasty
• Title: Alam Shah

(5). Lodi Dynasty (1451-1526)

• Characteristics: First Afghan dynasty to rule the Delhi Sultanate
• Prominent Rulers:
  • Bahlul Lodi
  • Sikandar Lodi
  • Ibrahim Lodi

Bahlul Lodi (1451-1489)

• Founder: Of the Lodi dynasty
• Position: Governor of Lahore and Sirhind during Muhammad Shah
• Provinces Conquered: Mewat, Sambhal, Suket, Bhongir, Rewari, Etawa, and Chandwar

Sikandar Lodi (1498-1517)

• Reputation: Most suitable among the three Lodhi rulers
• Victories: Over Bihar and Tirhut
• Treaty: With Alauddin Hussain Shah
• Governor Appointed: Daria Khan as the governor of Bengal
• Measurement System: Introduced 'Gaz-i-Sikandari' (Sikandar yard) - 32 inches long
• Administrative Reforms:
  • Efficient spying system and audit of government accounts
  • Capital Shift: From Delhi to Agra (established 1504 AD)
  • Imposed the "Jizya" tax on Hindus
  • Wrote "Gulrukh" in Persian

Ibrahim Lodi (1517-1526)

• Death of Sikandar Shah: Ibrahim Lodi took control
• Ruler of Agra: Ibrahim Lodi
• Conflict: Killed Jalal, ruler of Jaunpur, to become king
• End of the Lodi Dynasty: The first battle of Panipat in 1526 AD with Babur