History of Ancient Pakistan Delhi Sultanate (1206–1526 CE)

Delhi Sultanate (1206–1526 CE)

The Delhi Sultanate was a medieval empire in Delhi that lasted for 320 years (1206–1526) and covered parts of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and southern Nepal. It was established by the Ghurid conqueror Muhammad Ghori after defeating the Rajput Confederacy in 1192.

The Sultanate had five ruling dynasties: Mamluk, Khalji, Tughlaq, Sayyid, and Lodi. The Ghurid territories were divided among Turkic slave-generals, leading to the formation of the Sultanate.

Under Khalji and Tughlaq rule, the Sultanate expanded into South India. It reached its peak under Muhammad bin Tughluq but faced challenges like Tamerlane’s raid in 1398 and the rise of Hindu powers like Vijayanagara.

In 1526, Babur invaded northern India, ending the Sultanate and paving the way for the Mughal Empire.

The Sultanate influenced the Indian subcontinent culturally and architecturally, fostering the development of the Hindustani language and Indo-Islamic architecture. It repelled Mongol attacks and saw the rule of Razia Sultan, one of the few female Islamic rulers.

While the treatment of Hindus was generally favorable, some rulers, like Bakhtiyar Khalji, engaged in temple desecration. Mongol raids in Central Asia led to the migration of people, enriching Islamic culture in the subcontinent.

Ruling Dynasties

1. Mamluk Dynasty (1206–1290)
2. Khalji Dynasty (1290–1320)
3. Tughlaq Dynasty (1320–1414)
4. Sayyid Dynasty (1414–1451)
5. Lodi Dynasty (1451–1526)

This list presents the Delhi Sultanate’s rulers in chronological succession.

Mamluk dynasty (1206–1290)

The Mamluk dynasty, also known as the Slave dynasty, governed the Delhi Sultanate from 1206 to 1290. It was the initial dynasty among five different ones that ruled until 1526.

Before the Mamluk dynasty, Qutb al-Din Aibak served as a Ghurid dynasty administrator from 1192 to 1206. During this time, he led military expeditions into the Gangetic plain and gained control over new territories. The Mamluk dynasty marked the beginning of a series of rulers in the Delhi Sultanate and played a crucial role in shaping its early history.

Here are the key details about the Mamluk dynasty

1. Qutb al-Din Aibak (1206–1210): He was the founder of the Mamluk dynasty and the first Sultan of Delhi. Originally a slave of Muhammad Ghori, he served as the governor of Delhi before establishing himself as the ruler after Ghori’s death.
2. Aram Shah (1210–1211): Aram Shah succeeded Qutb al-Din Aibak as the second ruler of the Mamluk dynasty. His reign was short-lived, facing challenges and ending with his death in 1211.
3. Iltutmish (1211–1236): Iltutmish, also known as Shams-ud-din Iltutmish, was a prominent ruler who strengthened and expanded the Delhi Sultanate. He introduced important administrative and military reforms during his reign.
4. Rukn ud din Firuz (1236): He succeeded Iltutmish but had a brief rule, and not much is recorded about his achievements during this short period.
5. Razia Sultana (1236-1240): Razia Sultana made history as one of the few female rulers in medieval India. Her reign faced challenges due to opposition from conservative elements, leading to her eventual overthrow.
6. Muiz ud din Bahram (1240–1242): He succeeded Razia Sultana but had a relatively short reign, facing internal strife and challenges.
7. Ala ud din Masud (1242–1246): Ala ud din Masud, the son of Iltutmish, ascended the throne but faced a turbulent reign marked by conflicts and power struggles.
8. Nasiruddin Mahmud (1246–1266): He succeeded Ala ud din Masud and ruled during a period of political instability. His reign witnessed the decline of central authority and the rise of regional powers.
9. Ghiyas ud din Balban (1266–1287): Balban was a strong and authoritarian ruler who implemented strict measures to maintain law and order. He is known for his efforts to consolidate the Delhi Sultanate.
10. Muiz ud din Qaiqabad (1287–1290): He faced challenges during his reign, including internal conflicts and external threats, leading to political unrest.
11. Shamsuddin Kayumars (1290): His reign was short-lived, marking the end of the Mamluk dynasty. Following his death, the Khalji dynasty came to power in the Delhi Sultanate.

The Mamluk dynasty, characterized by a succession of rulers with varying periods of reign, faced internal conflicts and struggles for power during its rule in the Delhi Sultanate. Top of Form

Khalji/Khilji dynasty (1290–1320)

The Khalji or Khilji dynasty was the second ruling dynasty in the Delhi Sultanate, overseeing significant portions of the Indian subcontinent for almost three decades from 1290 to 1320. Jalal ud din Firuz Khalji founded this dynasty.

Here are the key details about the Khalji dynasty:

1. Jalaluddin (1290–1296): Jalaluddin Firuz Khalji was the founder of the Khalji dynasty. He ascended to the throne in 1290 and faced various challenges, including rebellions and internal conflicts. His reign was characterized by efforts to stabilize the empire, but he was eventually assassinated by his own nephew, Alauddin.
2. Alauddin Khalji (1296–1316): Alauddin, the nephew of Jalaluddin, became the second ruler of the Khalji dynasty. His reign is notable for its military successes, including the repulsion of the Mongol invasions and successful campaigns in the Deccan. Alauddin implemented economic and administrative reforms, including the market control system known as the “market regulation” or “Diwan-i-Riyasat,” aimed at strengthening the central authority.
3. Shihabuddin Omar (1316): Shihabuddin Omar, also known as Khusrau Khan, briefly ascended to the throne in 1316 after Alauddin’s death. However, his reign was short-lived, and he faced challenges from within the nobility.
4. Qutbuddin Mubarak Shah (1316–1320): Qutbuddin Mubarak Shah succeeded Shihabuddin Omar and ruled for a brief period. His reign faced internal strife and rebellions, leading to political instability.
5. Khusrau Khan (1320): Khusrau Khan, also known as Shihabuddin, briefly took control in 1320 after overthrowing Qutbuddin Mubarak Shah. However, his reign was short-lived as he faced opposition from Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq, leading to the establishment of the Tughlaq dynasty.

The Khalji dynasty’s rule was marked by significant territorial expansion, administrative reforms, and a strong military presence. Alauddin Khalji, in particular, is renowned for his military campaigns and reforms that aimed to consolidate power and maintain control over the vast empire.

Tughluq dynasty (1320–1414)

The Tughlaq dynasty, also known as Tughluq or Tughluk dynasty, was the third ruling dynasty in medieval India under the Delhi Sultanate. Its inception occurred in 1320 in Delhi when Ghazi Malik assumed the throne with the title Ghiyath al-Din Tughluq, and it lasted until 1413.

Under the leadership of Muhammad ibn Tughluq, the dynasty expanded its territorial control through military campaigns, reaching its peak between 1330 and 1335. During this relatively brief period, the Tughlaq dynasty held sway over most of the Indian subcontinent.

Here’s an overview of the Tughlaq rulers and their reigns:

1. Ghiyath al-Din Tughluq (1320–1325): Also known as Ghazi Malik, he was the founder of the Tughlaq dynasty. Ghiyath al-Din assumed the throne in 1320 in Delhi. His reign focused on consolidating power and establishing the dynasty.
2. Muhammad bin Tughluq (1325–1351): Muhammad bin Tughluq, son of Ghiyath al-Din, succeeded his father. His rule is notable for ambitious but often impractical reforms, including the attempted shift of the capital from Delhi to Daulatabad, which led to administrative challenges and economic strain.
3. Firuz Shah Tughlaq (1351–1388): Firuz Shah, the cousin of Muhammad bin Tughluq, became the third ruler of the Tughlaq dynasty. His reign is marked by efforts to stabilize the empire after the tumultuous rule of his predecessor. Firuz Shah focused on public welfare and infrastructure development, including the construction of canals and educational institutions.
4. Tughluq Khan (1388–1389): Tughluq Khan, also known as Muhammad Shah, ascended to the throne briefly after Firuz Shah. His reign was short-lived, and he faced internal opposition, leading to his downfall.
5. Abu Bakr Shah (1389–1390): Abu Bakr Shah succeeded Tughluq Khan but had a brief reign characterized by political instability.
6. Nasir ud din Muhammad Shah III (1390–1393): His rule saw continued internal strife and conflicts within the ruling elite, contributing to the overall decline of the Tughlaq dynasty.
7. Ala ud-din Sikandar Shah (1393): He briefly held the throne, facing challenges to his authority. His reign was marked by political turmoil.
8. Nasir-ud-din Nusrat Shah Tughluq (1394–1398): Nasir-ud-din Nusrat Shah ruled during a period of declining power for the Tughlaq dynasty. Internal dissensions and external pressures further weakened the empire.
9. Nasir-ud-Din Mahmud Shah Tughluq (1394–1413): The last ruler of the Tughlaq dynasty, Nasir-ud-Din Mahmud Shah, faced considerable challenges. His reign witnessed the eventual decline and fall of the dynasty in 1413, leading to the rise of the Sayyid dynasty.

The Tughlaq dynasty’s rule was characterized by both grandeur and instability, marked by ambitious endeavors, administrative challenges, revolts, and territorial losses, ultimately leading to its decline and the rise of subsequent ruling dynasties in the Delhi Sultanate.

Sayyid dynasty (1414–1451)

The Sayyid dynasty, the fourth ruling dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate, governed for 37 years from 1414 to 1451, with a total of four rulers. Khizr Khan, the first ruler of the dynasty and a Timurid vassal of Multan, captured Delhi in 1414. The rulers declared themselves Sultans of the Delhi Sultanate under Mubarak Shah. The Sayyid dynasty succeeded the Tughlaq dynasty and continued to rule until they were eventually replaced by the Lodi dynasty in 1451.

Here are the rulers of the Sayyid dynasty:

1. Khizr Khan (1414–1421): Khizr Khan, a Timurid vassal of Multan, established the Sayyid dynasty by capturing Delhi in 1414. His rule aimed at stabilizing the region after the decline of the Tughlaq dynasty. Khizr Khan was known for his efforts to restore order and consolidate power in the Delhi Sultanate during his tenure from 1414 to 1421.
2. Mubarak Shah (1421–1434): Mubarak Shah, succeeding Khizr Khan, continued efforts to strengthen the Sayyid rule. His reign faced challenges, including internal dissensions and external pressures. Despite these challenges, he ruled from 1421 to 1434 and contributed to the administration and governance of the Delhi Sultanate during a crucial period of transition.
3. Muhammad Shah (1434–1445): Muhammad Shah, the son of Mubarak Shah, ascended to the throne after his father’s death. His reign witnessed further internal conflicts and external threats. Despite these challenges, he ruled for a significant period from 1434 to 1445.
4. Alam Shah (1445–1451): Alam Shah, the last ruler of the Sayyid dynasty, faced increasing instability and external invasions during his reign from 1445 to 1451. His rule marked the end of the Sayyid dynasty, as he was eventually displaced by Bahlul Lodi in 1451, leading to the establishment of the Lodi dynasty.

The Sayyid dynasty played a crucial role in the historical narrative of the Delhi Sultanate during the 15th century. The Sayyid dynasty, though relatively short-lived, left an indelible mark on the historical evolution of the Delhi Sultanate, influencing the trajectory of political events in the region.

Lodi dynasty (1451–1526)

The Lodi dynasty, spanning from 1451 to 1526, marked the fifth and concluding chapter of the Delhi Sultanate. Bahlul Khan Lodi established this dynasty, replacing the preceding Sayyid dynasty. Known for its military prowess, the Lodi dynasty played a pivotal role in the political landscape of medieval India. Despite facing challenges and conflicts, the Lodis left an indelible mark on the history of the Delhi Sultanate, ultimately paving the way for the rise of the Mughal Empire in 1526.

Here’s a list of the rulers from the Lodi dynasty:Top of Form

1. Bahlul Khan Lodi (1451–1489): Bahlul Khan Lodi was the founder of the Lodi dynasty and ruled the Delhi Sultanate from 1451 to 1489. A prominent military commander, he ascended to the throne after overthrowing Alam Shah of the Sayyid dynasty in 1451. Bahlul Khan focused on consolidating power and strengthening the central authority. His reign marked the establishment of the Lodi dynasty, and he was known for his military achievements and efforts to stabilize the empire.
2. Sikandar Lodi (1489–1517): Sikandar Lodi succeeded his father Bahlul Khan Lodi and ruled from 1489 to 1517. His reign witnessed administrative reforms and a focus on economic development. Sikandar Lodi is credited with improving the agricultural sector, introducing coinage reforms, and promoting trade. However, his rule also faced challenges, including conflicts with regional powers and internal dissent.
3. Ibrahim Lodi (1517–1526): Ibrahim Lodi was the last ruler of the Lodi dynasty, reigning from 1517 to 1526. His rule faced significant challenges, including territorial losses to regional powers. The most notable event of his reign was the Battle of Panipat in 1526, where he faced the invasion of Babur, the founder of the Mughal Empire. Ibrahim Lodi’s defeat in this battle marked the end of the Lodi dynasty and the beginning of the Mughal era in India. The Battle of Panipat is considered a crucial turning point in Indian history.

The Lodi dynasty’s downfall marked the end of the Delhi Sultanate and set the stage for the rise of the Mughals in India. The transition from the Lodis to the Mughals marked a significant shift in the subcontinent’s political landscape, shaping the course of Indian history in the years to come.