The Sultanate (1206-1526) in Haryana | HPSC Preparation: All subjects - HPSC (Haryana) PDF Download

Battle of Tarain

• After the Chahamanas lost the second battle of Tarain in 1192, a dark era began in the history of Haryana. 
• During this time, the region's cities and temples were destroyed, and its people were subjected to murder, slavery, and subjugation. 
• The Muslim conquerors used extreme violence against the region, and the damage inflicted was very severe.

The Succession of Muizz-ud-din's Indian Possessions

• Determining who took control of Muizz-ud-din's Indian possessions after his death in 1206 is a difficult task. However, it is widely believed that Aibek, who had already proven himself at the battle of Tarain, was the most capable of Muizz-ud-din's officers. 
• According to Tarikh-TFakhruddin Mubarak Shah, Aibek was given formal authority as the malik and appointed as waliahd for the Indian possessions in 1206. 
• Additionally, Tdj~uFMaasir states that an occupation army, commanded by Qutb-ud-din Aibek, was stationed near Delhi at Inderpat to act as Muizz-ud-din's representative. Despite this, there were challenges to Aibek's authority from other contenders, including Yaldoz and Qubaicha, who were the governors of Ghazni and Punjab, respectively.

Aibek's Conquest and Administration of Punjab and Haryana

• After Muizz-ud-din's death, Yaldoz launched an attack on Punjab. The people of Lahore, fearing the threat, requested Aibek to intervene. Aibek quickly assessed the situation and took necessary measures to stop Yaldoz's progress. 
• Aibek defeated Yaldoz, who had to retreat to Kuhistan. In order to effectively govern and defend his territories, Aibek relocated his capital to Lahore and established military outposts in several locations in Haryana, including Hansi, Sirsa, Mewat, Rewari, Rohtak, Sonepat, and Thanesar. 
• Haryana was mostly under the direct rule of the Sultanate, and the crown lands in the region served as a source of personal income for the Sultans. 
• Additionally, because Haryana was situated close to the imperial capital, any developments in the region could impact the political fortunes of the Sultanate.

The Rule of Turks in Northern India

• Following the defeat of the Chahamanas, Northern India came under the control of the Turks of central Asia, who were devout followers of Islam. 
• Although their rule was intended to be a theocracy in theory, in practice it was a military despotism supported by a foreign aristocracy. 
• The new ruling class was driven by a desire for wealth, which led them to believe that prosperity would result in sedition and revolt, while poverty would ensure stability and peace. This belief underpinned their policy of tyranny and exploitation of the masses. 
• However, as history has shown, the people did not always submit to this policy quietly. In fact, they often rebelled and even succeeded in overthrowing their oppressors at times.
• Reports of revolts in Muizz-ud-din's Indian kingdom were common even during his lifetime. 
• After Aibek's death in 1210, the Jats, Ahirs, and Meos were the first to challenge central authority, followed by the deposition of Aibek's successor, Aram Shah. 
• The Amir's of Delhi, who disliked Aram Shah, invited Iltutmish, the Governor of Badaon, to take charge of the government. 
• Despite having the support of the Lahore Amirs, Aram Shah offered little resistance and was defeated and killed.

The Battle for Supremacy in Northern India

• Shortly after becoming the ruler in 1210, Iltutmish faced opposition from his rivals Yaldoz and Qubaicha, who controlled Punjab and Haryana, respectively. 
• Yaldoz was forced to flee Ghazni after being defeated by the Khwarazmians, and he took over Lahore, expelling Qubaicha and expanding his territory to include Thanesar and the region around Sirsa. This threatened Iltutmish's power in Delhi, so he led his army to the battlefield at Tarain to confront Yaldoz. 
• The battle began with Yaldoz launching a strong attack on the left wing of Iltutmish's army, but Iltutmish held his ground. 
• Yaldoz was hit by a stray arrow, which demoralized his army, and he was eventually defeated and captured at Hansi, where he was later executed. During this struggle for power, it is possible that Iltutmish received some assistance from Qubaicha, as after Yaldoz's defeat, Qubaicha's agents briefly ruled over Sirsa and other areas. 
• However, Qubaicha's independence declaration in 1227 prompted Iltutmish to challenge him. In the ensuing battle, Iltutmish defeated Qubaicha at Sirsa and chased him until he occupied Lahore, which he put under the control of his son, Nasiruddin Mahmud.

The Administrative Divisions of Haryana Under Iltutmish's Rule

• During Iltutmish's rule, the region of Haryana came under his direct control. However, due to the limited available information and the changing nature of administrative units at the time, not much can be said about the administrative setup. 
• The region was divided into various iqtas or commissions, with officers serving as muqta or wall, who had civil, judicial, and military functions. 
• The most important iqtas during Iltutmish's rule were Delhi, Hansi, Sirsa, Pipli, Sarhind, Rewari, Namaul, and Palwal. Delhi was the most significant iqta, and it was directly administered by the sultans, as it was the seat of power. 
• The iqta of Hansi was strategically and economically important and was placed under Nasiruddin Mahmud and later Nusratuddin Taisi Muizzi, a close confidant of the Sultan. The iqtas of Rewari, Pipli, Sarhind, and Sirsa were also important in their own right. 
• The small iqta of Palwal was probably merged with the Delhi iqta later on.

Rebellion and Turmoil during Firuz’s Reign

• During the reign of Firuz, who succeeded Iltutmish in 1236, real power was wielded by his mother Shah Turkan. She ruled oppressively, causing the nobles to lose faith in the administration, leading to rebellions throughout the kingdom. 
• The iqtadars of Multan, Lahore, and Hansi - Malik Izzuddin Kabir Khan Ayaz, Malik Alauddin Jani, and Malik Saifuddin Kuchi - joined forces and rebelled against Firuz, taking advantage of his weak leadership. The situation worsened when Turkish officers in the Sultan’s army murdered non-Turkish (Tazik) Muslim officers in Mansurpur and Tarain. 
• Minhaz mentions the victims of this massacre, including Tajulmulk Mahmud, Bahauddin Hasan Ashari, Karimuddin Zahidi, Ziyaulmulk (son of Nizamulmulk Junaidi), Nizamuddin Shafarqani, Khawaja Rashiduddin Malikani, and Amir Fakhruddin.

Razia Sultan

• Raziya took advantage of the rebellions and disturbances to claim the throne, receiving support from the army, nobles, and the people. However, the Jats and Rajputs in Haryana who initially supported her eventually turned against her, contributing to her downfall. 
• The Mewatis of Haryana also launched guerilla attacks on the Sultanate army, causing trouble for Raziya's commander Qutb-ud-din Hausan Ghori as he travelled to Ranathambhor. Additionally, the provincial governors, who held significant power in the Turkish ruling class, were embarrassed by the political situation in Delhi. 
• Therefore, Aitigin, the amir-i-hdjib, along with Altunia and Kabir Khan, the governors of Bhalinda and Lahore respectively, plotted to overthrow Raziya. Despite some initial success in foiling her opponents' plans, Raziya was ultimately defeated, imprisoned, and replaced by Muizz-ud-din Behram as the Delhi ruler. In an attempt to regain her throne, Raziya married Altunia, a cunning and ambitious man who saw this as a chance to increase his power. 
• He gathered an army consisting of Khokars, Jats, Rajputs, and some disgruntled members of the nobility, and marched towards Delhi. 
• However, the march ended in a complete disaster, and Minhaj describes their miserable flight.
• During the month of Rabi I 638, which corresponds to September-October 1240, Sultan Muizz-ud-din Behram led an army from Delhi to march against Raziya and Altunia. 
• They were eventually defeated and forced to retreat, but when they reached Kaithal, their soldiers deserted them and they were captured by Hindus. 
• Raziya and Altunia were martyred on 25 Rabi I 638, one day after their defeat on 24 Rabi I 638 which occurred on 14 October 1240.
• Nasiruddin Mahmud became the ruler after the weak reigns of Muizz-ud-din Beram Shah and Alauddin Masud Shah, with the assistance of Balban, who was the most influential of the 'forty'. During the reign of Alauddin, Balban was appointed amir-i-hdjib and given the iqta of Hansi and Rewari. 
• However, he faced opposition from Imad-ud-din Rihan who ordered him to leave Hansi when the Sultan was at Rohtak. As Shahzada Ruknuddin was to be given the charge of Hansi, Balban had to proceed to Nagaur.
• In the end, Balban emerged victorious and ended the rule of Rihan. However, soon after Nasiruddin became Sultan, he had to deal with rebellions by the Mewatis. 
• Malka, their leader, had become so powerful that his followers even attacked imperial caravans near Hansi. Minhaj described how they had taken camels and their handlers, scattering them among Hindus throughout the hill tracts, all the way to Ranthambor. 
• With the Sultan preoccupied with the Mongol invasion, Balban was entrusted with the task of suppressing the Mewatis in 1260. Minhaj goes into detail about Balban's expedition in Mewat.

Balban's Conquest of Kohpayah

• During Balban's rule, all those living in the mountains, deep defiles, and ravines were brought under the swords of the Musalmans. 
• Balban spent twenty days moving about Kohpayah in every direction, capturing the dwelling places and villages of the mountaineers, which were on the acclivities of rocks and as high as the stars. 
• With Ulugh Khan-i-Azam's command, Balban conquered and plundered these places, which were as solid as the wall of Sikandar. 
• The people of these places, consisting of knaves, Hindus, thieves, and highway robbers, were all put to the sword.
• Minhaj notes the severe actions taken by Balban to suppress the rebellion.
• Minhaj reports that Ulugh Khan-i-Azam, also known as Balban, issued orders stating that anyone who brought in a severed head would be given one tangah of silver, while those who brought in a captive alive would receive two tangahs of silver from his own personal treasure.
• Malka and his group of 250 people were captured and imprisoned by Balban. The Sultan was delighted with this success and held a special gathering on March 9, 1260, near Hauz-i-Rani to celebrate. 
• Balban and his colleagues were honored for their achievement, while the Mewatis were punished severely, with many of them being trampled by elephants and Malka and his followers being skinned alive. However, despite these harsh measures, the Mewatis rebelled once again in July 1260. 
• The Sultan then sent Balban to suppress them once more. Balban made an unexpected move towards Kohpayah and killed about 12,000 men, women, and children, seizing a lot of booty in the process.
• Ghiyasuddin Balban became the ruler after Nasiruddin's death in 1266. He immediately focused on ending the Mewatis' revolts, which had been causing major disruptions to the administration. Minhaj and Barani both expressed concerns over the disorder and discontent that existed at that time.
• In the region of Kohpayah, situated around the capital, there was a group of rebellious people described by Minhaj as "stubborn rebels", who engaged in constant acts of robbery and looting of Muslim property, as well as expelling the local farmers and destroying villages in Haryana, Siwaliks, and Bayana districts. 
• Barani gives a vivid account of the chaos and lawlessness in the vicinity of Delhi, and how Balban went about reestablishing law and order in the region.
• Sultan Balban's first priority after ascending the throne was to clear the forests around Delhi and suppress the Meos. He left the city, set up his army camp, and considered the elimination of the Meos as a crucial state enterprise. 
• The Meos had become powerful and numerous in the vicinity of Delhi due to the incompetence of the successors of Iltutmish and the weakness of Sultan Nasiruddin. They were entering the city at night, breaking through walls and causing trouble for the people. 
• As a result, the residents of Delhi were unable to sleep due to fear, and the Meos even looted all the inns in the area.

Disruption caused by Meos in Delhi

• The Meos in the vicinity of Delhi had become a significant problem due to the incompetence of the successors of Iltutmish and the weakness of Sultan Nasiruddin. 
• The Meos had gained power and multiplied in numbers, causing disruption and chaos. They would break into houses at night and terrorize the people of Delhi. Caravans and traders were unable to enter or leave the city due to the closure of roads on all sides. 
• Even the western gates of the city were closed after the afternoon prayer due to fear of the Meos. This prevented people from visiting sacred tombs or enjoying by the Sultani tank. The Meos even molested water-carriers and slave girls who went to fetch water from the tank, leaving them nude. 
• Sultan Balban recognized the severity of the situation and devoted the first year of his reign to cutting the forest around Delhi and suppressing the Meos, which he considered the most important state enterprise.
• Balban cleared the forests around Delhi to prepare for his attack on the Mewatis. He executed thousands of Mewatis, including Yak Lakhi, a favored slave of the Sultan who was also killed in the campaign. 
• To prevent any future uprisings, Balban built a fort at Gopalgir, stationed troops there, and granted them tax-free lands to support them.
• In addition to his other actions, the Sultan would travel to Rewari every winter with a force of 1000 horsemen and 1000 foot soldiers, ostensibly for hunting, but in reality to personally oversee the region which had caused so much trouble for the Sultanate, and to keep the army alert and active. 
• Despite these efforts, it must be acknowledged that Balban was unable to completely eradicate the Mewatis, who eventually rebelled again.
• Balban established multiple military posts, including Gopalgiri, Sohna, Rewari, Narnaul, Kanod Sonepat, Hansi, Barwala, Phatarat, and Thanesar (Pipli) to counter the Mongol invasions and frequent rebellions. 
• These military posts were assigned to the Afghans. Balban also increased the number of iqtas and added new ones such as Sonepat, Kanod, Kaithal, and Siwalik, which were divided into shiqs, similar to modern tehsils. These measures were taken to streamline the civil administration.