INTRODUCTION #
The conquest of the Delhi by Mohammad Ghori under his Viceroy Qutub-ud-din Aibek led to the foundation of Delhi Sultanate. One of the Chief features of the Sultanate was the Chahalgani i.e., a group 40 powerful nobles, who keep a tab on the throne. Under the able leadership of Iltutmish, the process of consolidation began. This process got momentum with the arrival of Sultan Balban who through systematically destroying the Chahalgani, thus centralised the power of the Sultanate.
Delhi’s name is associated with a Tomar King named Anangpal, who founded the Red Fort (Lal Kot) in the middle of the 11th century. The Lal Kot is the place where Qutub Mosque stands now. The name of Anangpal is inscribed in the Iron Pillar of Delhi. This celebrated pillar of Chandragupta Vikramaditya was removed by Anangpal from its original position (probably Mathura) and set up in 1052 AD as adjunct to some temples in Delhi, which were later destroyed and the Mohammedans constructed a great mosque. Anangpal was a ruler from Kannauj. His reign was from Agra to Hansi (Haryana) and Ajmer to Ganges. His dynasty lasted until 1151 when Chauhan King Bisal Deo of Ajmer overthrew it.
The first reference to the name of Dilli as Dhilli comes from the work of an Apabhramsha writer VibudhShridhar.
After Mohammad Ghori, his Turkic slaves distributed the empire among themselves. In 1206, before death Muhammad had appointed his slave Qutub-ud-din as Naib us Sultanate (Viceroy) of his empire in India and bestowed him the title of Aibak (The axis of faith). Thus, Qutb-ud-din Aibak
became the first of the 34 Muslim Kings who ruled between 1206 to 1526. These 34 Kings belonged to five dynasties and are collectively called “Delhi Sultanate”.
Meanwhile Bakhtiyar Khilji who was one more slave of Muhammad Ghori raided the oldest uni- versities of the world i.e. Nalanda and Vikramshila in 1193. At Nalanda, he is said to have committed mass execution of the Buddhist monks and many of the monks were burnt alive and beheaded. Bengal’s ruler Lakshaman Sen was defeated and Bakhtiyar made Lakhnauti his capital.
The five dynasties of the Delhi Sultanate are
- Mamluk Dynasty also known as Slave Dynasty. Turkish Origin.
- Khilji dynasty (1290–1320): Turkish Origin.
- Tughlaq dynasty (1320–1413): Turkish Origin.
- The continuance of the three Turkish origin dynasties was disturbed by the invasion of Timur in 1398, which put an end to the Tugh- laqs and the Kingdom of Delhi was broken up in pieces. It was taken over by the Sayyid Dynasty which were actually nobles and claimed Arabian descent from the dynasty of Hazarat Muhammad.
- Sayyid dynasty (1414–51): Disputed / Ara- bian Origin.
- Lodi dynasty (1451–1526): Afghan Origin.
QUTB-UD-DIN AIBAK #
Mamluk dynasty (1206–90) #
His chief exploits were achieved in his vice- royalty only, his reign was a short one of 4 years.
In 1210, when he was playing Chaugan, fell from Horse and died at Lahore.
Qutb-ud-din Aibak was known as Lakha Baksh Sultan after his generosity.
He laid the foundation of the Qutub Minar and named it not after his own name but after the name of a Sufi saint Khwaja Qutb-ud-din Bakhtiyar Kaki. Iltutmish later finished Qutub Minar. He commis- sioned the Quwwat Al Islam mosque. His tomb is located in Anarkali Bajar at Lahore. His successor Iltutmish was his son in law.
ILTUTMISH (1211-1236) #
This former slave and later son-in-law of Qutb- ud-din Aibak, was from the Ilbari tribe of the Turks and that is why some scholars call the slave dynasty as Ilbari dynasty.
The Ilbari tribe used to have administrative & military elite called “Chahalgani” or “Chalisa” or the “Corp of Forty”. Immediately after Qutb-ud-din died, the Chahalgani appointed one Aram Shah as its successor. However, Aaram Shah was ill qualified and very soon through a conspiracy appointed “Iltut- mish” as Sultan of Delhi. Iltutmish was Governor of Badaun at that time. There was a war with Aaram Shah at Jud (Delhi). Aaram shah was defeated easily.
Iltutmish rule of two and half decades was full of many experiments in Indian administration. He died in 1236. He is buried at Qutub Complex in New Delhi.
During the times of Iltutmish, the Mongols attacked under Chengez Khan. The Mongols were able to conquer the area around Indus River and crossed to invade Punjab. However, fortunately, their eyes were set at the west and they returned quickly from the Punjab towards Sind, Multan & Qabacha. Chengez Khan died in 1227.
Once relieved from Mongols, Iltutmish attacked on Western territories won by Mongols and placed Lahore and Multan under Delhi Sultanate. After that, he campaigned against the Rajput territories viz. Ranathambore, Mandsaur, Bayana, Ajmer, Sambhar, Nagaur, Gwalior etc. In 1235, Iltutmish sacked Ujjain and destroyed the Mahakal Temple.
Iltutmish should be noted for the following:
Hauz Shamsi: Iltutmish is known to have built the Hauz-i-Shamshi near Mahrauli in Delhi. On the edge of this reservoir, the Lodhi Rulers built the Jahaz Mahal. His eldest son when died he built the First Islamic Mausoleum Sultan Garhi in Delhi.
Qutub Minaar: The Qutub Minar was a com- plex of temples built by Tomaras and Chauhans. However, it was turned into a Minar of victory by Qutb-ud-din who used the same material to build the Minar. The first storey was built by Qutub-ud-din and Iltutmish completed rest of the work.
Iqta System: The Iqta system was a practice of grant of revenue from a territory in lieu of salary. This grant was not hereditary during the times of Iltutmish and was subject to passing from officer to officer. Iqta system linked the farthest part of the Sultanate linked to the Central Government.
Iqta System from Iltutmish to Khiljis #
The land of the empire was divided into sev- eral large and small tracts called Iqta and Iltutmish assigned these Iqtas to his soldiers, officers and nobles. This system saw numerous changes in the sultanate system. In the beginning, an Iqta was based upon salary. Later under Firoz Shah Tughlaq, it became hereditary. Literally, Iqta means land or land revenue assigned to an individual on certain conditions
There were two kinds of Iqtas viz. Large Iqtas and Small Iqtas. The holders of the large Iqtas were the provincial governors while the holders of the small Iqtas were the small troops holders who had no administrative responsibilities. The holders of these Iqtas were the trustful agents of the Sultan.
The small Iqta holders called Khuts and Muqa- ddams held and appropriated all the income the obtained from the cultivators. But as a quid pro quo, they were bound to present themselves with horses and arms whenever called upon by the Central Government.
The Khuts and Muqaddams became fond of luxurious living over the period of time. Later, Alauddin Khilji suddenly abolished the system of small Iqtas with a stroke of pen and brought them under the central Government, it is regarded as one of the most important agrarian reform of Alauddin
128 | Ancient and Medieval History
Khilji. But, at the same time, Alauddin made some harshest hike in tax part. Half of the produce was to be liable to be paid to the Government, which was disastrous to the peasants. This scale of agrarian tax at 50% was the highest under Khilji among all other sultans. Not only that, Khilji made the Khuts and Muqaddams to pay arrears into a new arrear department called Mustkharaj. This Mustkharaj reduced these people to beggars literally. As soon as Alauddin died, the system lost into oblivion. He also imposed a grazing tax called Charai.
Mohammad Tughlaq somehow tried to return to the Khilji’s system. Land Revenue System in Mughal Era . He did so as a pilot project in a local area in Doab, but this pilot project failed.
Centrally recruited Army: Iltutmish organized the army of the sultanate and made it the “King’s army” which was centrally recruited and centrally paid.
Tanka and Jital: The coins of Iltutmish: Iltut- mish introduced Silver Tanka and Copper Jital, the two coins of the Delhi Sultanate. The coins prior to Iltutmish were introduced by the invaders, which bear the Sanskrit characters and even Bull and Shiv- alinga. For example, Muhammad Ghori is known to have adopted the seated goddess Lakshmi type of the coins of Gahadavalas for circulation in the Gahadavala territories.
Iltutmish was the first to introduce a “Pure Arabic Coin” in India. The Coins were engraved with “The Mighty Sultan, Sun of the Empire and the Faith, Conquest-laden, Il-tutmish,” after he received an investiture of Sovereign Sultan of Delhi from the Caliph of Baghdad. The Silver Tanka issued by Iltutmish was weighing 175 grains. Balban later issued gold Tanka of the same weight.
RAZIA SULTAN (1236-1240) #
Sons of Iltutmish either died prematurely or were inefficient so Raziya , his military trained daughter was declared heir apparent.
She could not do all that she could do because the Chahalagani had become very strong and they did never want that a woman sit above them.
She sat on the throne of Delhi in 1236 and reigned for only three and half years until 1240.
The wise politician in Raziya was able to keep the Turkish Nobles in check but her preference for the Abyssinian Yakut, though seems innocent, roused the jealousy of the dominant Turks.
After the four year tryst with the 13th century throne of Delhi, Rajiya lost her life to Jats of modern Haryana.
BALBAN (1266-1287) #
Balban was a purchased slave of Iltutmish, he worked as a Bhisti (water bearer) initially but was fit for other better jobs. The feeble successors of Iltutmish invited frequent rebels among the Hindus and Balban had dedicated his energy in leading his troops through Doab, Ranthambore, Malwa, Kalinjar etc. He was the de facto ruler of Delhi serving under sultan Nasir-ud-din Mahmud for 20 years. Nasir-ud- din Mahmud was a religious person. He lived a life of Darvesh, spending his time in copying the Holy Koran, and had no female servants, mistresses etc. He was actually not worthy of becoming the 13th century Sultan of India, but it was Balban who could fill his space and care for the Government.
Balban first became the top Sardar of the nobles and became Sultan following the death of his master Nasirud- din Mahmud. The first thing he did was to take over the power of Chalisa. Once became Sultan, he mercilessly executed the Chahalgani. Subdued Mewatis by clearing forests and killing Lakhs of Mewatis. Subdued the dacoits of Doab. He refused to entrust any authority to Hindus. There was a rebel by Tughril Khan in Bengal, Balban subdued that also.
Balban, who ruled for 20 years was first king who understood the conditions and requirements of being a Sultan of Delhi and fulfilled them practically. He is known as one of the severest kings of India. He introduced “Zaminbosi” or “Practice of Sijda”, the people would Kneel down and touch the ground with their head to greet the Sultan.
He forwarded the Iranian Theory of Divine Rights, that Sultan is the representative of God on Earth. To counter the Mongols, he organized his military. For this he made some changes like abo- lition of the post of the Naik and creating a new department of military affairs known as Diwan-i-arz.
The in-charge of Diwan-i-arz was Ariz-i-Mumalik. He kept Hindus away from army or other authorities. He instructed the Ulemas to confine themselves to the religious affairs only.
Balban’s eldest son died prematurely. Second son Bughra Khan was governor of Bengal and loved to be in Bengal than to come at Delhi. So, Balban left the throne to his deceased son’s son named Kai- kubad, a young lad of 17 years as his heir apparent. Kaikubad, the young chap was carefully brought up
under his grandfather. This young man had been taught of all the good things. All of a sudden, he found himself as master of India and now everything his youth desired was available to him. The result was that he indulged in so much of drinking and debauchery, that he found himself struck with paral- ysis. When a mercenarily was sent to kill him, he was found in his bedroom in a lovely Sheesh Mahal (palace of mirrors) at Kilughari, a few miles from Delhi at the Bank of River Yamuna.
