Qutubuddin Ibak.pdf

Qutb ud-Din Aibak (1206-1210 AD) - Important Ruler of Mamluk Dynasty - Medieval India History Notes Qutbuddin Aibak was a Turkish slave who rose to a position of prominence in Muhammad Ghori's army. He took over control of Muhammad Ghori's Indian possessions after his death in AD 1206. He was the fo...

Qutb ud-Din Aibak (1206-1210 AD) - Important Ruler of Mamluk Dynasty - Medieval India History Notes Qutbuddin Aibak was a Turkish slave who rose to a position of prominence in Muhammad Ghori's army. He took over control of Muhammad Ghori's Indian possessions after his death in AD 1206. He was the founder of the Delhi Sultanate and the first independent Muslim ruler of Northern India. Qutbuddin Aibak was courageous, devoted, and generous. He was known as "Lakh Baksh'' because of his generosity. Most scholars regard Aibak as the true founder of Mulsim rule in India. In this article, we will discuss the Important Ruler of the Mamluk Dynasty Qutb ud-Din Aibak (1206-1210 AD) which will be helpful for UPSC exam preparation. Qutb ud-Din Aibak - Background Qutubuddin Aibak was an Indian general in the Ghurid army who lived between 1150 and 1210 CE. Muhammad Ghori appointed Aibak as commander of his Indian territories following the Ghurid victory in the Second Battle of Tarain in 1192. Aibak increased Ghurid power in northern India by conquering and raiding several kingdoms, including Chahamana, Gahadavala, Chaulukya, Chandela, and others. When Muhammad Ghori died in 1206, Aibak fought for control of Ghurid territories in northwestern India with another former slave-general, Taj al-Din Yildiz. Aibak had to deal with numerous revolts by Rajputs and other Indian chiefs. Aibak was able to win over his opponents through both conciliatory measures and a show of power. Aibak was succeeded by Aram Shah, and then by his son-in-law Iltutmish, who transformed India's loosely held Ghurid territories into the powerful Delhi Sultanate. Aibak is best known for commissioning the Delhi Qutb Minar and the Ajmer Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra. Other Relevant Links Mamluk Dynasty (1206-1287) Ghiyas ud din Balban (1266 – 1287 AD) Iltutmish (1211 – 1236 AD) Administration of Mamluk Dynasty Razia Sultana (1236 – 1240 AD) Decline of Mamluk Dynasty Achievements of Qutb ud-Din Aibak Qutb-ud-din Aibak was primarily responsible for northern India's conquests, which aided Ghori in consolidating his position there. After 1192, Sultan Ghori was gradually given independent command of the conquests in India as he focused on Central Asia. After the Ghurid victory in the Second Battle of Tarain in 1192, Mu'izz ad-Din (Ghori) appointed Aibak as commander of his Indian territories. Qutb-ud-din decided to maintain his independence from Central Asian policies. He started by strengthening his position in Delhi and Lahore. He tried to convince some Turkish nobles to submit to him. He won their approval by marrying his sister to Qabacha and his daughter to Iltutmish. Qutb-ud-din had to deal with some internal issues as well. Some Khalji nobles deposed and imprisoned Ali Mardan Khan, ruler of Bengal and Bihar, and offered the throne to Muhammad Sheran, who promised to govern Bengal independently. In contrast, Ali Mardan escaped from prison and travelled to Delhi, where he requested that Qutb-ud-din intervene in Bengali affairs. Qutb-ud-din granted his request and delegated the matter to the nobleman Qaiwaz Rumi Khan. Rumi Khan conquered the Bengal Khalji nobles through a combination of force and diplomacy. He persuaded them to appoint Ali Mardan as governor of Bengal under the Suzerainty of Delhi. As a result, Ali Mardan was appointed governor of Bengal and agreed to pay an annual tribute to Qutb-ud-din. In contrast, Qutb-ud-din was unable to continue his kingdom's expansion policy. He kept himself occupied by defending his freedom. His primary concerns were affairs in the northwest states and Bengal in the east, because of this he spent more time in Lahore than in Delhi. Religion of Qutb ud-Din Aibak Aibak was a devout Muslim who "uprooted idolatry" and "destroyed temples" in Kuhram. During Aibak's reign, Hindu temples in Meerut, Banaras, and Kalinjar were converted into mosques, including "a thousand temples" in Banaras alone. The architectural remains at the Qutb Minar complex in Delhi and the Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra in Ajmer were built using the remains of demolished Hindu temples. Aibak's army eventually began recruiting Hindu soldiers and his army included Hindu soldiers during the siege of Meerut (1192). Similarly, Hindu chiefs (ranas and thakurs) were among the "forces of Hindustan" (Hasham-i Hindustan) that accompanied him to Ghazni in 1206. Death of Qutb ud-Din Aibak Qutb-ud-din Aibak died in an accident while playing polo in 1210. He was severely injured when he fell from his horse. He was laid to rest near the Anarkali bazaar in Lahore. He was succeeded by Aram Shah, who ruled only for 8 months and then Iltutmish succeeded him. His tomb is now located in Anarkali bazaar, Lahore. The tomb was built in its current form during the 1970s by Pakistan's Department of Archaeology and Museums, which attempted to replicate Sultanate-era architecture. Tomb of Qutb ud-din Aibak Conclusion The first Turkish Sultan of Delhi, Qutb-ud-din became the ruler of Delhi in 1206. He is regarded as the true founder of Turkish rule in India. Aibak was completely self-sufficient by the time he became Sultan of Delhi. As a result, he is rightly known as Delhi's first Turkish Sultan. He did not, however, find Delhi's throne to be a bed of roses. He faced numerous challenges both within and outside the country. He built Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra in Ajmer and started the construction of Qutub Minar which was later completed by his successor Iltutmish. Other Relevant Links Medieval India History Notes The Delhi Sultanate (1206-1526 AD) Khilji Dynasty (1290-1320 AD) Tughlaq Dynasty (1320-1414 AD) Arab Invasion in India Early Muslim Invasion Major Dynasties (750-1200) Cholas and other South Indian Kingdoms FAQs Question: Who was Qutb ud-Din Aibak? ➕ Question: Who succeeded Qutb ud-Din Aibak to the throne? ➕ Question: How did Qutb ud-Din Aibak die? ➕ MCQs Question: Who succeeded Qutb ud-Din Aibak to the throne? (a) Iltutmish (b) Aram Shah (c) Ghiyas ud din Balban (d) Razia Sultan Answer: (b) See the Explanation Question: Tomb of Qutb ud-Din Aibak is located in which of the following cities? (a) Bijapur, Karnataka (b) Aurangabad, Maharashtra ➕