Page 20 - Journeys Through Society-7

giver of lakhs. He built two mosques, the Quwwat-ul- Ghiyasuddin Balban (1266 CE-1287 CE)
Islam in Delhi and Adhai din ka Jhopra in Ajmer. He Ghiyasuddin Balban, a Turkish slave took over the
even started the construction of the Qutub Minar but throne after the death of Razia Sultana. Balban is
could not complete it. known for his firm policies and his efficient espionage
Aibak did not add to Turkish conquests in India and system. He introduced the Persian custom of sijdah
died in 1210 CE when he fell off a horse while playing and paibos.
polo. He successfully defeated the local enemies and
defended his kingdom from all invasions. The Divine
Iltutmish (1210 CE-1236 CE)
Right of kingship was introduced by Balban. Justice
Shamsuddin Iltutmish was the son-in-law of Aibak. He
was given to all and he was very firm in it. His policy is
is regarded as the real founder of the Delhi Sultanate.
generally known as the the Blood and Iron Policy
He shifted the seat of
because he mercilessly punished the robbers and
governance from Lahore to
zamindars who did not accept him as ruler.
Delhi. Thus, Delhi came to
The Mamluk dynasty came to an end within three
occupy the position of the
years of his death. In 1290 CE, Jalaluddin Khalji, the
capital of Hindustan. Iltutmish
governor of Samana, occupied Delhi through a
had to deal with many
military coup and declared himself as the sultan.
rebellions, but he was
Iltutmish
successful in defeating the Wow Fact
rebels and executed most of them. He also
strengthened the north-western frontier to safeguard Balban died in 1287 CE. The public order of
the country was threatened with anarchy
it against Mongol invasions. To make his
after his death.
administration efficient, Iltutmish organised the
Turkish nobility into a select group of forty nobles
called Chalisa. Khalji Dynasty (1290 CE-1320 CE)

Razia Sultana (1236 CE-1240 CE) Jalaluddin Khalji (1290 CE-1296 CE)

Razia Sultana, the daughter of Iltutmish, was the only Jalaluddin Khalji usurped the throne by killing Balban’s
Muslim woman ruler of Delhi. grandson. The prominent rulers of the Khalji dynasty
were Jalaluddin Khalji and Alauddin Khalji.
She put on the tunic and head-
dress of a man’s attire for day- Alauddin Khalji (1296 CE-1316 CE)
to-day administration. She
Alauddin Khalji occupied the
even abandoned the veil. She
throne by murdering Jalaluddin
appointed a non-Turkish, an
Khalji. Alauddin Khalji did not
Abyssinian slave, Malik Yaqut, Razia Sultana believe in Jalaluddin’s theory of
as the Superintendent of the
benevolence. He adhered to
Stables. But this enraged the Turkish nobles. There was
Balban’s theory of
rebellion in Delhi and elsewhere in the kingdom. The
administration through evoking
chalisa conspired and killed her in 1240 CE.
fear. He revived the system of Alauddin Khilji
Nasiruddin Mahmud (1246 CE-1266 CE) spies introduced by Balban.
Alauddin Khalji is regarded as the greatest of the
Nasiruddin Mahmud was just a figurehead king. The
monarchs of the Delhi Sultanate. He vigorously
real power was wielded by his chief minister,
pursued an imperial policy based on the chakravartin
Ghiasuddin Balban. Upon the death of Nasiruddin
principles of ancient India.
Mahmud, Balban became the king.

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