The Delhi Sultanate and Slave Dynasty

• The Delhi Sultanate existed from 1206-1526 AD.
• Mohammed Ghori's conquests marked the beginning of the Delhi Sultanate, a new political entity in India.
• The Delhi Sultanate period is divided into 5 dynasties.
• The Slave Dynasty (1206-1290)
• The Khilji Dynasty (1290-1320)
• The Tughlaq Dynasty (1320-1414)
• The Sayyid Dynasty (1414-1451)
• The Lodhi Dynasty (1451-1526)

The Slave Dynasty: 1206-1290 AD

• Qutubuddin Aibak ruled from 1206-1210.
• Aibak was a Turkish slave purchased by Mohammad Ghori, who appointed him as governor.
• After Ghori's death, Aibak became the master of Hindustan and founded the Slave Dynasty in 1206.
• He was known as Lakh Bakhsh (giver of Lakhs) for his generosity.
• Aibak died in 1210 playing Chaugan or Polo.
• He built two mosques: Quwat-ul-Islam at Delhi and Adhai din ka Jhonpra at Ajmer.
• Aibak began construction of Qutub Minar in honor of Khwaja Qutubuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki.
• Aibak supported scholars such as Hasan-un-Nizami (author of 'Taj-ul-Massir') and Fakhruddin (author of 'Tarikh-i-Mubarak Shahi').

Shamsuddin Iltutmish: 1211-1236

• Iltutmish, a slave of Qutubuddin Aibak, took the Delhi throne in 1211 after removing Aram Bakhsh.
• He is considered the "real founder" of the Delhi Sultanate.
• Iltutmish moved the capital from Lahore to Delhi.
• He protected the Delhi Sultanate from Chengiz Khan by refusing refuge to Khwarizm Shah.
• Iltutmish introduced the silver coin (tanka) and the copper coin (jital).
• He organized the Iqta system and reformed the civil administration and army.
• He created an official nobility of slaves known as Chahalgani/Chalisa (group of 40).
• Iltutmish finished the construction of Qutub Minar, which was started by Aibak.
• He supported Minhaj-us-Siraj, the author of "Tabaqat-i-Nasiri."

Ruknuddin: 1236

• Ruknuddin was Iltutmish's son and was put on the throne by his mother, Shah Turkan.
• He was overthrown by Razia, Iltutmish's daughter, while away from the capital dealing with a rebellion in Avadh.

Razia Sultana: 1236-1240

• Although Iltutmish nominated Razia as his successor, nobles initially placed Ruknuddin Firoj on the throne.
• Razia removed Ruknuddin and became the ruler.
• She was the first and only Muslim woman to rule India.
• Razia was popular among the people but faced opposition from nobles and theologians.
• Her preference for the Abyssinian slave Yakut further angered the nobles.
• Governors of Multan, Badaun, Hansi, and Lahore revolted following her accession.
• A major rebellion occurred in Bhatinda, led by Altunia, who refused to recognize Razia's rule.
• Razia, accompanied by Yakut, marched against Altunia.
• Altunia had Yakut murdered and imprisoned Razia.
• Razia then married Altunia, and together they marched towards Delhi.
• In 1240 AD, Razia was assassinated near Kaithal (Haryana).

Bahram Shah: 1240-1242

• After Razia, Bahram Shah, Iltutmish's third son, was placed on the throne by the Turkish council Chalisa.
• He was considered a de jure ruler, with Naib-e-mamlakat (the regent) as the de facto ruler.
• Bahram Shah lost his life after failing to assert his authority on the throne.

Masud Shah: 1242-1246

• Masud Shah, Ruknuddin's son, was deposed after Balban and Nasiruddin Mahamud's mother, Malika-e-Jahan, conspired against him and established Nasiruddin Mahamud as the new Sultan.

Nasiruddin Mahamud: 1246-1266

• He was Iltutmish's son, known as the Darvesi King because of his piety and nobility.
• He died in 1266.

Ghiyasuddin Balban: 1266-1287

• Balban ascended the throne in 1266.
• He broke the power of Chalisa and restored the prestige of the crown.
• This was Balban's greatest contribution towards the stability of the Sultanate.
• Balban appointed spies to stay well-informed.
• He formed a strong centralized army to deal with internal disturbances and to check the Mongols.
• He established the military department Diwan-i-Arz.
• Balban's conception of kingship was influenced by the Persian court model.
• He took the title of Zil-i-Ilahi (Shadow of God).
• Balban introduced Sijda (prostration before the monarch) and Paibos (kissing the feet of the monarch) as normal forms of salutation.
• He destroyed the Mewati Rajputa brigandage in the doab, where forests were cut and forts built.
• In his last days, he overlooked the Sultanate affairs because of the death of his eldest and most loving son, Muhammad, and a rebellion by his closest and most loved slave, Tughril.
• Muhammad died fighting the Mongolians in 1285, while Tughril was captured and beheaded.

Kaiqubad: 1287-1290

• Kaiqubad, a grandson of Balban, was placed on the throne by Fakruddin.
• Fakruddin, the Kotwal of Delhi, assumed high political authority during the last days of Balban.
• Kaiqubad was killed by the Khiliji family, which ended the Slave dynasty and began the Khiliji dynasty at the Delhi throne.