Eternal India Encyclopedia

Eternal India encyclopedia

LURE - THRU THE AGES

DELHI SULTANATE THE SLAVE DYNASTY 1206-1290 A.D.

Overview * The I and II Battles of Tarain and the death of Prithviraj Chouhan paved the way for the foundation of Muslim dominion in India in 1206. * Kutb-ud-din Aibak, founded the dynasty after the death of his master Mohammad Ghori in 1206 A.D. * Kutb-ud-Aibak, Iltutmish and Balban were the famous rulers of the Slave dynasty. * The famous Qutub-Minar at Delhi was their chief contribution. Advent * The slave dynasty was the founded by Kutb-ud-din Aibak, one of the slaves of Mohammed Ghori in 1206 A.D.

Iltutmish : He was conferred the honour of Sultan- i-Azam (Great Sultan). The Mongols invaded India during his time; his empire extended over the whole of northern India.

Qutub-Minar

Delhi Sultanate under Slave Dynasty (1206-1290). curbed the power of the nobles. He drove back the Mongol invaders. Balban modelled his court after the old Persian kings by introducing Persian eti- quette and manners. The famous poet Amir Khusrau was a contemporary of Balban. The empire of Balban extended throughout North India stretching from Punjab and Sindh in the' west to Bengal in the east. He died in 1286. Kaiquabad (1286-90) : Balban was succeeded by his grandson Kaiquabad. He paid no attention to the affairs of the state and indulged himself in pleasures. Disorder and confusion prevailed throughout the kingdom. Many nobles contested for the throne. Kaiquabad was done to death in his palace of mirrors by a noble.

It was during his time the famous column Qutub-Minar was constructed. He died in 1236. He was succeeded by his daughter Razia Begum. Razia Begum : She wore male attire, administered justice in open court, led her armies against rebels, gave audience to all, revised the laws and proved to be an able and just ruler. Nasir-ud-din Mohammad (1246-66) He was the son of Iltutmish. Being a pious man he spent his leisure moments in copying the Quran. He entrusted the government to his minister Balban. Balban (1266-86) : Minister of Nasir-ud- din Mohammad for 20 years. He became Sultan after Nasir-ud-din Mohammad's death. He reorganised the army and established law and order in the kingdom which was ravaged by robber bands. He Oudh and Kara by his uncle. Attracted by the fabulous wealth of Devagiri he plun- dered it and collected huge booty. He beat back the Mongols; conquered Gujarat (1299); Chittor (1303); and also Ujjain, Mandu, Dhar and Chanden and Marwar. In 1306-07 Alauddin commissioned Malik Kafur to invade South Indian King- doms. Khilji dynasty disintegrated with his death in 1316. Administration * Alauddin confiscated all grants of tax free land and seized Muslim religious endow- ments. Intelligence system was reorgan- ised. * He himself abandoned drinking and en- forced strict prohibition in Delhi. He for- bade social gatherings in noblemen's houses. In order to keep his army satisfied the Sul- tan introduced strict prices. KHILJI DYNASTY 1290 1320 A.D.

(1206-1210)

Chronology Kutbuddin Aibak

*

* Iltutmish

(1210-1236) (1236-1236) (1236-1240) (1240-1242) (1242-1246) (1246-1266) (1266-1286) (1286-1290)

* Rukhnuddin

Razia Sultana

*

Bahram Masud

*

*

Nasiruddin Mohammad

*

Ghiasuddin Balban

*

* Kaiquabad

Kutbuddin Aibak : Ruled between 1206- 1210 A.D. started the construction of Qutub- Minar; died at Lahore 1210.

Overview The Khilji Empire was the largest em- pire in Indian history. The empire included Kashmir, Punjab, Delhi-Agra, Sindh, Malwa, Oudh, Bihar, Bengal, Gondvana, Devagiri, Warangal, Dwarasamudra and Madurai kingdoms.

Chronology *

Jalaluddin Alauddin Mubarak

(1290-1296) (1216-1316) (1316-1320) (1320-1320)

* * *

Khusru

Jalaluddin Firuz (1290-96) : He was of Turkish-Afghan origin. He was too meek and gentle which made him a victim of in- trigues. Ala-ud-din Khilji (1296 - 1316) : He was the nephew and son-in-law of Jalalud- din Firuz. He was given the chiefdom of