THE DELHI SULTANATE
The assumption of sovereign powers by Qutub-ud-din Aibak in 1206 is regarded as the foundation of the Sultanate of Delhi and the first ruling dynasty father of the Sultanate.
The Delhi Sultanate (AD 1206-1326) had five ruling dynaties, which are as follow
1. The Slave or Ilbari Dynasty (AD 1206-1290)
The first dynasty of the Sultanate has been designated by various scholars as the Slave Dynasty or the Mamluk Dynasty or the Ilbari Dynasty.
Qutub-ud-din Aibak (AD 1206-1210)
- After the death of Ghori in 1206, Aibak declared his Independence. He served all connection with the kingdom of Ghori and thus founded the Slave or Ilbari dynasty as well as Delhi Sultanate.
- He was the founder of the Sultanate of Delhi. Qutub-ud-din Aibak was the first Muslim King of India.
- He began his reign with the modest title Malik and Sipashalar which had been conferred upon him by Mohammad Ghori.
- Lahore and later Delhi were his capitals. His task was only half done when he died of a sudden fall from a horse at Lahore in 1210 while playing Chaugan (Horse Polo) in 1210. He was succeeded by his son Aram Baksh, who was replaced by Iltutmish after eight Months.
- He was famous for his generosity and earned the sobriquet of lakh-baksh (giver of lakhs).
- He laid the foundation of Qutub Minar in Delhi after the name of the famous Sufi Saint Khwaja Qutub-ud-din Bakhriyar Kaki.
- Aibak constructed the first mosque in India Quwat-ul-Islam (Delhi) and Adhai Din ka Jhopana (At Ajmer).
- Hasan Nizami and Fakhr-ud-din (whom Aibak patronised) were all praised for the qualities of head and heart of Aibak and sense of justice in their works Taj ul Massir and Tarikli Mubarik Shahi respectively.
Shams-ud-din Iltutmish (AD 1210-1236)
- Iltutmish belong to Ilbari tribe and hence his dynasty name as Ilbari Dynasty. His half brother sold him as a slave to Aibak, who made his son -in-law by giving his daughter in marriage to him. Latter Aibak appointed him iqtadar of Gwalior.
- In 1211 Iltutmish defeated Aram Baksh and became Sultan.
- Iltutmish was also known as Saviour of Delhi.
- He nominated his daughter Razia his successor. thus the hereditary succession to Delhi Sultanate was initiated by Iltutmish.
- Iltutmish introduce the Arabic coinage into India and Silver tanka weighing 175 grams became a standard coin in Medieval India.
- Iltutmish had also created a new class of ruling elite of forty powerful military leaders, the Forty.
- Iltutmish was the real founder of the Sultanate of Delhi. He succeeded Qutub-ud-din Aibak as the Sultan and was real consolidator of Turkish conquest in India. He made Delhi as the capital of the empire.
- Iltutmish was one of the most outstanding rulers of medieval India. He suppressed the revolts of ambitious nobles, fought with the sons of Aibak and sent expeditions against the Rajputs in Ranthambore, Jalor, Mewar.
- His governing class was entirely of foreign origin. It consisted of two groups Turkish slave officers and Tazik.
- He organised the iqtas, the army and also the currency, the three most important organs of the imperial structure of the Delhi Sultanate.
- He is called the father of Tomb building (built Sultan Garhi), Chengiz Khan Mongol invaded during his period.
Razia (AD 1236-1240)
- She was the first and the last Muslim woman ruler of medieval India. The first rebellion was raised against her by Kabir Khan, the Governor of Lahore.
- Altunia the Governor of Bhatinda was also a revolutionary. So she moved straight towards Bhatinda, but was defeated and taken as prisoner by Altunia who married her.
- Razia with her husband was moving towards Delhi. She was defeated by Bahram Shah, a son of Iltutmish.
- Razia succession continued, in which three rulers ruled in significantly
- Bahram Shah (AD 1240-1242)
- Ala-ud-din Masud Shah (AD 1242-1246)
- Nasir-ud-din Mahmud (AD 1246-1266)
- Nasir-ud-din was the grandson of Iltutmish
Balban (AD 1266-1287)
- Ghiyasuddin Balban, who also known as Ulugh Khan servedas Naib or regent to Sultan Nasiruddin Mahmud. He also strengthened his position by marrying his Daughter to the Sultan.
- Balban ascended the throne in 1266-67 with host of problems. The first and foremost among these were the future relationship of the nobility with the king.
- He ordered the separation of the military department from the finance department (Diwan-i-wizarat) and the former was placed under a minister for military affairs (Diwan-i-ariz).
- He impressed upon the people that kingship was the vice regency of God on Earth (Niyavat-i-khudai) and its dignity was next only to prophet hood. The king was the shadow of God (Zil-i-ilahi).
- Balban introduce Sijdah and Paibos (Kissing the Sultan's feet) and started Nauroz Festival. Balban took strong measures to safeguard the North-west frontier against the mongol invasions.
Khilji Dynasty
Jalal-ud-din Firuz Khilji
- The slave or the Mamluk dynasty was replaced by Khilji dynasty as the ruling dynasty of India. The founder of Khilji dynasty was Jalal ud din Firuz Khilji. He killed last descendant of slaved dynasty and declare himself the Sultan of Delhi Sultanate and age of 70 years in 1290 AD.
- The Khilji can trace their origin to Afghan village of Khalij. Jalal ud din Firuz Khilji original name was Malik Firuz. He was not cruel by nature. When Balban's nephew Malik Chhajjuimposed a war on Jalal ud din Firuz Khilji, the former defeated and captured alive, but was forgiven by Sultan of Delhi.
- Mangols attack India during Jalal ud din Firuz Khilji times under Halaku but avoided a open War after some negotiation.
- Monhols attack once again under Ulugh Khan. He accepted Islam and was given Sultan's daughter in marriage. He settle Near Delhi.
- Jalal-ud-din Khilji pardoned criminal whether it was conspirator on trator. This policy was not appreciated by his courtiers and nobles. They, actually exasperated by his kind behavior. As a result Jalaluddin Khilji was killed by his nephew and son-in-law Alauddin Khilji who succeeded him as the new king of Khilji dynasty.
Ala-ud-din Khilji
- He introduced Dagh and Chehra during his rule. Dagh is the system of branding the horses and Chehra was related to the biometric information about soldiers.
- He treated his nobles with an iron hand. He forbade them to marry among each other's families.
- Diwan-i-Mustakhraj was introduced by Allauddin Khilji to know and collect the revenue arrears.
- He also set up separate markets for food grains and cloths etc. Diwan-i-riyasat and Shahna-i-Mandi were created by him to control the markets.
- The espionage system was strengthened. Alauddin was the first sultan of Delhi to have a standing army.
- The Iqta system introduced by Iltutmish, was abolished by Alauddin and the salary was paid to soldiers in cash.
- Alauddin died in 1316 AD amid chaos within the empire. His sons were not capable enough to carry out his legacy. Alauddin was a strong and capable ruler of India
Economic Policy Under Khilji Dynasty
- Economic policy and administration under Khilji dynasty were very strict and was all in hands of the King. The situation of peasants, businessman and the common man was very poor and sometimes hard to sustain. Few of these policies are listed below:
- Khilji rulers especially Alauddin Khilji changed the expense approaches just to increase his treasury and to pay his obligations and store for his wars of expansion.
- He raised agribusiness taxes straight forwardly from 20% tá 50% payable in kind of grain and rural produce or with cash and he discarded instalments.
- Alauddin Khilji maintained four sorts of charges on non-Muslims in the Sultanate, called as jizya or poll tax, kharaj or land tax, kari or house tax and the last one chari as field duty.
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There was a type of quality controls on all agribusiness produce, animals and slaves in kingdom, furthermore controls were implemented on where, how and by whom these could be sold.
Ø Markets called Shahana-i-Mandi were made. Muslim shippers were yielded particular licenses and a plan of action in these mandi to buy and trade.
No one other than these merchants could buy from agriculturists or offer in urban zones.
Ø There was an expansive arrangement of detectives who may screen the mandi and had the capacity to seize anyone trying to buy or offer anything out of proposed limit.
Ø The private stockpiling of sustenance was banned. Distributing system was introduced by Alauddin and there was a system of quality control.
The method of quality control could not work much after the death of Alauddin Khilji.
