Delhi Sultanate | History for UPSC 2024 (Pre & Mains) PDF Download

 Page 1


Delhi Sultanate
Page 2


Delhi Sultanate
The Dynasties
The Muslim invasions into India had ultimately resulted in the establishment of Delhi Sultanate 
which existed from C.E. 1206 to 1526. 
Five different dynasties –
1. Mamluks: 1206 – 1290 C.E.
2. Khaljis: 1290 – 1320 C.E.
3. Tughlaq: 1320 – 1414 C.E.
4. Sayyids: 1414 – 1451 C.E.
5. Lodhis: 1451 – 1526 C.E.
Page 3


Delhi Sultanate
The Dynasties
The Muslim invasions into India had ultimately resulted in the establishment of Delhi Sultanate 
which existed from C.E. 1206 to 1526. 
Five different dynasties –
1. Mamluks: 1206 – 1290 C.E.
2. Khaljis: 1290 – 1320 C.E.
3. Tughlaq: 1320 – 1414 C.E.
4. Sayyids: 1414 – 1451 C.E.
5. Lodhis: 1451 – 1526 C.E.
The Slave Dynasty (1206 – 1290 C.E.) 
The Slave dynasty was also called Mamluk dynasty. Mamluk was the Quranic term for slave. The 
Slave dynasty ruled Delhi from C.E. 1206 to 1290.
Qutbuddin Aibak (1206-1210)
? Qutbuddin Aibak was a slave of Muhammad Ghori, who made him the Governor of his Indian 
possessions. 
? He set up his military headquarters at Indraprastha, near Delhi.  
? After the death of Ghori in 1206, Aibak declared his independence. He severed all connections with the 
kingdom of Ghori and thus founded the Slave dynasty as well as the Delhi Sultanate. 
? He assumed the title Sultan and made Lahore his capital. 
? His rule lasted for a short period of four years. 
? Muslim writers call Aibak Lakh Baksh or giver of lakhs because he gave liberal donations to them. 
? Aibak patronized the great scholar Hasan Nizami. 
? He also started the construction of Qutub Minar after the name of a famous Sufi saint Khwaja
Qutbuddin Bakthiyar Kaki. It was later completed by Iltutmish. 
? Aibak died suddenly while playing chaugan (horse polo) in 1210. 
? He was succeeded by his son Aram Baksh, who was replaced by Iltutmish after eight months. 
Page 4


Delhi Sultanate
The Dynasties
The Muslim invasions into India had ultimately resulted in the establishment of Delhi Sultanate 
which existed from C.E. 1206 to 1526. 
Five different dynasties –
1. Mamluks: 1206 – 1290 C.E.
2. Khaljis: 1290 – 1320 C.E.
3. Tughlaq: 1320 – 1414 C.E.
4. Sayyids: 1414 – 1451 C.E.
5. Lodhis: 1451 – 1526 C.E.
The Slave Dynasty (1206 – 1290 C.E.) 
The Slave dynasty was also called Mamluk dynasty. Mamluk was the Quranic term for slave. The 
Slave dynasty ruled Delhi from C.E. 1206 to 1290.
Qutbuddin Aibak (1206-1210)
? Qutbuddin Aibak was a slave of Muhammad Ghori, who made him the Governor of his Indian 
possessions. 
? He set up his military headquarters at Indraprastha, near Delhi.  
? After the death of Ghori in 1206, Aibak declared his independence. He severed all connections with the 
kingdom of Ghori and thus founded the Slave dynasty as well as the Delhi Sultanate. 
? He assumed the title Sultan and made Lahore his capital. 
? His rule lasted for a short period of four years. 
? Muslim writers call Aibak Lakh Baksh or giver of lakhs because he gave liberal donations to them. 
? Aibak patronized the great scholar Hasan Nizami. 
? He also started the construction of Qutub Minar after the name of a famous Sufi saint Khwaja
Qutbuddin Bakthiyar Kaki. It was later completed by Iltutmish. 
? Aibak died suddenly while playing chaugan (horse polo) in 1210. 
? He was succeeded by his son Aram Baksh, who was replaced by Iltutmish after eight months. 
Iltutmish (1211 – 1236)
He belonged to the Ilbari tribe and was Aibak’s slave as well as his-son-in law.  He is regarded as the real consolidator of the Turkish 
conquest in India. 
In 1211 Iltutmish defeated Aram Baksh and became Sultan. He shifted his capital from Lahore to Delhi.
During the first ten years of his reign he concentrated on securing his throne from his Turkish rivals – Qabacha (based in Multan) and 
Yilduz (based in Ghazni) 
In the meantime, the Mongols ruler Chengiz Khan started invading Central Asia. He defeated Jalaluddin Mangabarni, the ruler of 
Kwarizam, who sought asylum from Iltutmish. Iltutmish refused to give him shelter in order to save his empire from the onslaught of the 
Mongols. Fortunately for Iltutmish, Chengiz Khan returned home without entering into India. 
He received the mansur, the letter of recognition, from the Abbasid Caliph in 1229 by which he became the legal sovereign ruler of India. 
He divided his empire into Iqtas, an assignment of land in lieu of salary, which he distributed to his officers. 
? Every iqtadar had to maintain law and order and collect revenue. 
? After deducting his salary and the expenses of the government, he sent the surplus revenue to the Central Government. 
? Iqtas were transferable.
He introduced the silver tanka and the copper jital: 2 basic coins of the Sultanate.
He patronized many scholars including Minhaj-ul-Siraj, the author of Tabaqqat-i-Nasiri.
He is called the Father of Tomb Building (built Sultan Garhi in Delhi).
Iltutmish had also created a new class of ruling elite of forty powerful military leaders, Chalisa or Chihalgani (the Forty).
Page 5


Delhi Sultanate
The Dynasties
The Muslim invasions into India had ultimately resulted in the establishment of Delhi Sultanate 
which existed from C.E. 1206 to 1526. 
Five different dynasties –
1. Mamluks: 1206 – 1290 C.E.
2. Khaljis: 1290 – 1320 C.E.
3. Tughlaq: 1320 – 1414 C.E.
4. Sayyids: 1414 – 1451 C.E.
5. Lodhis: 1451 – 1526 C.E.
The Slave Dynasty (1206 – 1290 C.E.) 
The Slave dynasty was also called Mamluk dynasty. Mamluk was the Quranic term for slave. The 
Slave dynasty ruled Delhi from C.E. 1206 to 1290.
Qutbuddin Aibak (1206-1210)
? Qutbuddin Aibak was a slave of Muhammad Ghori, who made him the Governor of his Indian 
possessions. 
? He set up his military headquarters at Indraprastha, near Delhi.  
? After the death of Ghori in 1206, Aibak declared his independence. He severed all connections with the 
kingdom of Ghori and thus founded the Slave dynasty as well as the Delhi Sultanate. 
? He assumed the title Sultan and made Lahore his capital. 
? His rule lasted for a short period of four years. 
? Muslim writers call Aibak Lakh Baksh or giver of lakhs because he gave liberal donations to them. 
? Aibak patronized the great scholar Hasan Nizami. 
? He also started the construction of Qutub Minar after the name of a famous Sufi saint Khwaja
Qutbuddin Bakthiyar Kaki. It was later completed by Iltutmish. 
? Aibak died suddenly while playing chaugan (horse polo) in 1210. 
? He was succeeded by his son Aram Baksh, who was replaced by Iltutmish after eight months. 
Iltutmish (1211 – 1236)
He belonged to the Ilbari tribe and was Aibak’s slave as well as his-son-in law.  He is regarded as the real consolidator of the Turkish 
conquest in India. 
In 1211 Iltutmish defeated Aram Baksh and became Sultan. He shifted his capital from Lahore to Delhi.
During the first ten years of his reign he concentrated on securing his throne from his Turkish rivals – Qabacha (based in Multan) and 
Yilduz (based in Ghazni) 
In the meantime, the Mongols ruler Chengiz Khan started invading Central Asia. He defeated Jalaluddin Mangabarni, the ruler of 
Kwarizam, who sought asylum from Iltutmish. Iltutmish refused to give him shelter in order to save his empire from the onslaught of the 
Mongols. Fortunately for Iltutmish, Chengiz Khan returned home without entering into India. 
He received the mansur, the letter of recognition, from the Abbasid Caliph in 1229 by which he became the legal sovereign ruler of India. 
He divided his empire into Iqtas, an assignment of land in lieu of salary, which he distributed to his officers. 
? Every iqtadar had to maintain law and order and collect revenue. 
? After deducting his salary and the expenses of the government, he sent the surplus revenue to the Central Government. 
? Iqtas were transferable.
He introduced the silver tanka and the copper jital: 2 basic coins of the Sultanate.
He patronized many scholars including Minhaj-ul-Siraj, the author of Tabaqqat-i-Nasiri.
He is called the Father of Tomb Building (built Sultan Garhi in Delhi).
Iltutmish had also created a new class of ruling elite of forty powerful military leaders, Chalisa or Chihalgani (the Forty).
Raziya (1236 – 1240)
Iltutmish nominated his daughter Raziya as his successor. And, thus the hereditary succession to Delhi Sultanate 
was initiated.
The Qazi of Delhi and Wazir put Ruknuddin Feroz on the throne. But, Raziya with the support of Amirs of Delhi 
seized the throne of Delhi Sultanate. 
She was the first and the last Muslim woman ruler of medieval India. She succeeded her brother in 1236 and 
ruled for 3 ½ years.
She disregarded purdah, began to adorn male attire and rode out in public on elephant back. She even went for 
hunting and led the army.
She appointed an Abyssinian slave Yakut as Master of the Royal Horses. This aroused resentment among the 
Turkish nobles. Altunia, the governor of Bhatinda revolted. She personally suppressed the revolt but Altunia killed 
Yakut and took Raziya prisoner. 
In the meantime, the Turkish nobles put Bahram, another son of Iltutmish on the throne. However, Raziya won 
over her captor, Altunia, and after marrying him proceeded to Delhi. But she was defeated and killed.
The fall of Raziya paved the way for the ascendancy of the Chahalgani, The Forty. 
There ensued a struggle for supremacy between the Sultans and the nobles. 
In 1246 Balban, a member of the Forty, succeeded in putting Nasiruddin Mahmud, a younger son of Iltutmish, as 
Sultan.