MEDIEVAL
HISTORY
The Delhi Sultanate : 1206-1526 AD
Mohammed Ghori's conquests became the nucleus of a new political entity in India-the Delhi Sultanate.
This period can be divided into 5 distinct periods.
1. The Slave Dynasty (1206-90)
2. The Khilji Dynasty (1290-1320)
3. The Tughlaq Dynasty (1320-1414)
4. The Sayyid Dynasty (1414-51)
5. The Lodhi Dynasty (1451-1526).
The Slave Dynasty : 1206-90 AD
Qutubuddin Aibak: 1206-10
• A Turkish slave by origin, he was purchased by Mohammad Ghori who later made him his Governor.
After the death of Ghori, Aibak became the master of Hindustan and founded the Slave Dynasty in
1206. For his generosity; he was given the title of Lakh Bakhsh (giver of Lakhs).
• He died in 1210 while playing Chaugan or Polo.
• He constructed two mosques- Quwabul-Islam at Delhi and Adhai din ka Jhonpra at Ajmer. He also
began the construction of Qutub Minar, in the honour of famous Sufi Saint Khwaja Qutubuddin
Bakhtiyar Kaki.
• Aibak was a great patron of learning and patronised writers like Hasan-un-Nizami, author of 'Taj-ul-
Massir' and Fakhruddin, author of 'Tarikh-i-Mubarak Shahi'.
Shamsuddin Iltutmish: 1211-36
• He was a slave of Qutubuddin Aibak and occupied the throne of Delhi in 1211 after deposing Aram
Bakhsh
• He was a very capable ruler and is regarded as the 'real founder of the Delhi Sultanate'. He made Delhi
the capital in place of Lahore.
• He saved Delhi Sultanate from the wrath of Chengiz Khan, the Mongol leader; by refusing shelter to
Khwarizm Shah, whom Chengiz was chasing.
• He introduced the silver coin (tanka) and the copper coin (jital). He organised the Iqta System and
introduced reforms in civil administration and army, which was now centrally paid and recruited.
• He set up an official nobility of slaves known as Chahalgani/ Chalisa (group of 40).
• He completed the construction of Qutub Minar which was started by Aibak.
• He patronised Minhaj-us-Siraj author of 'Tabaqat-i-Nasiri'
Ruknuddin : 1236
• He was the son of Iltutmish and was crowned by her mother, Shah Turkan, after death of Iltutmish. He
was deposed by Razia, daughter of Iltutmish when he was out of capital to curb a rebellion in Avadh
against him.
Razia Sultana : 1236-40
• Though Iltutmish had nominated his daughter Razia as the successor the nobles placed Ruknuddin
Firoj on the throne. However Razia got rid of Ruknuddin and ascended the throne.
• She was the 'first and only Muslim lady who ever ruled India’.
• She was popular among the people but was not acceptable to the nobles and theologians. She further
offended the nobles by her preference for an Abyssian slave Yakut
• Soon after her accession, the governors of Multan, Badaun, Hansi and Lahore openly revolted against
her. There was a serious rebellion in Bhatinda. Altunia governor of Bhatinda refused to accept
suzerainty of Razia. Razia accompanied by Yakut marched against Altunia.
• However, Altunia got Yakut murdered and imprisoned Razia. Subsequently, Razia married Altunia
and both of them marched towards Delhi.
• In 1240 AD, Razia became the victim of a conspiracy and was assassinated near Kaithal
(Haryana).
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