The Delhi Sultans ruled for about 300 years in the history of India. The era during which the Delhi Sultans ruled India from 1206 to 1526 AD is known as the “Age of Sultans”. Muhammad Ghori made many conquests in North India and achieved success. After his conquests, he was killed by a tribe called Khakhor while returning to his homeland. Taking this opportunity, Qutubuddin Aibak, who had been an assistant in Muhammad Ghori’s conquests, declared himself the ruler in 1206 AD and established a slave dynasty. With this, Muslim rule in India began from 1206 AD. The last king of the Delhi Empire, Ibrahim Lodi, was defeated by Babur in the First Battle of Panipat in 1526 AD and established the Mughal dynasty.
A total of 5 Muslim dynasties ruled from 1206 to 1526 CE with Delhi as their capital.
Slave Dynasty (1206-1290)
Qutubuddin Aibak served as a slave to Muhammad Ghori. After the death of Muhammad Ghori, he established the first Muslim dynasty in India. He successfully suppressed internal rebellions in the kingdom and saved the Muslim kingdom. He made many donations and earned the fame of ‘Lak Bakhsh’. He built the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque in Delhi and the ‘Adai Din Ka Zon Para Mosque’ in Ajmer. He started the construction of the ‘Qutub Minar’ in honor of his favorite spiritual teacher, Qutubuddin Bakhtiar Kaki. Hasan Nizami, the author of ‘Taj-ul-Masiri’, was a guest in his court. Qutubuddin Aibak died in 1210 while playing horse polo. He was succeeded by his son, Aram Shah (1210-1211). When Aram Shah became incapacitated, Qutubuddin Aibak’s son-in-law, Iltut Mish, assumed the throne.
After the death of Qutubuddin Aibak, his son Aram Shah became incapacitated, and Qutubuddin Aibak’s son-in-law Iltut Mish assumed the throne. He belonged to the Ilbari tribe of the Turks. During Qutubuddin Aibak’s reign, he served as a regional governor and protected the kingdom from internal attacks. Recognizing his authority, the Caliph bestowed upon him the title of ‘Nazar Amir ul Mumin’. Iltut Mish was the first ruler to receive the title of ‘Sultan’. He divided the kingdom into Iqtas (states) and ruled them. He distributed the Iqtas to the Turk chiefs (muftis). The main duties of the Muftis were to collect taxes for the state, administer justice, and raise armies when the Sultan called for them. Iltut Mish minted Arabic coins. Coins like the silver ‘tanka’ and the copper ‘jital’ came into use during his reign. He completed the construction of the Qutub Minar, which was started by Qutubuddin Aibak. After his death in 1236, his daughter Razia Sultana assumed the throne.
Razia Sultana became the first and only Muslim woman to rule India after the death of Iltutmish . She was the daughter of Iltutmish. Realizing her power, Iltutmish declared Razia Sultana as his successor instead of his two sons. This led to several rebellions against her by the feudal lords and chieftains who could not stomach the idea of a woman ruler. Razia Sultana effectively suppressed these. During her reign, Malik Jamaluddin Yakut, an Abyssinian, was appointed as the chief of the cavalry. The Muslims and chieftains who opposed this appointment joined hands with Altuniya, defeated Razia Sultana and imprisoned her. Razia Sultana, who escaped from prison, was murdered in a place called Khaital in 1240.
‘Min Huzuddin Siraj’, who worked in his court, wrote a book called ‘Tabiqat Inasiri’ and dedicated it to Nasiruddin Muhammad. During Nasiruddin’s time, all power was in the hands of his uncle Balban. Balban also acted as the representative (nayab) of the Sultan. He suppressed the gang of robbers called ‘Meewatis’ who had established settlements in the forests around Delhi and were committing road robberies.
Balban served as a slave of Iltutmish. He was the greatest of the slave kings. His first name was Bahauddin. Balban married Iltutmish’s daughter and became a member of the Chihalghani. After the death of Nasiruddin, Balban ascended the throne in 1266 and assumed the title of ‘Ghianuddin’. He assumed the title of ‘Shadow of God’. He effectively repelled the Mongol invasion and introduced Persian monarchy in India. He completely abolished the Chihalghani that had begun during Iltutmish’s reign. He proposed the theory of divine monarchy, and is known as the Iron Man of Medieval India. He introduced the spy system, the Persian monarchy system, and the Chamberlain system. He renounced the universality of Islam. He suppressed the Bengal governor Tughril Khan. He introduced the ‘Sizza’ system of bowing down to the king and the ‘Pybos’ system of kissing the words of the Sultan. He introduced the festival of Nowruz. He introduced the old age pension system in the military system. He cut down forests and converted them into agricultural lands. After his death, his grandson Kaiqubad ascended the throne.
He ascended the throne of Delhi after the death of Ghiyazuddin Balban
. He was the grandson of Ghiyazuddin Balban.His general Jalaluddin Khilji killed him and founded the Khilji dynasty.
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