HISTORY
DELHI: 12TH TO 15TH CENTURY
Important Notes:
The defeat of Prithviraj Chauhan by Muhammad Ghori in the Second Battle of
Tarain in 1192 was a turning point in the history of Medieval India. It enabled
the foundation of Delhi Sultanate. The successors of Muhammad Ghori ruled
the subcontinent from 1206 till 1526. These rulers called themselves, Sultans.
Therefore, this period is called the Sultanate Period. Most of the rulers were of
Turkish origin and came from Central Asia.
The Slave Dynasty (1206-1290)
The first dynasty of Delhi Sultanate was called the Slave or Mamluk dynasty.
The word ‘Mamluk’ means ‘slave warriors’.
When Muhammad Ghori defeated Prithiviraj Chauhan, he allowed his successor
Govind Rai to rule in Delhi and Ajmer for some time. However, many
rebellions started being against Govind Rai for accepting the Turkish authority.
So, Muhammed Ghori sent his trusted slave, Qutub-ud-din Aibak to occupy
Delhi in 1192. Muhammed Ghori died in 1206. He had no sons so after him,
Qutub-ud-din Aibak, laid the foundation of the Slave Dynasty. The Slave
Dynasty ruled for 84 years.
Qutub-ud-din Aibak (1206-1210)
Qutub-ud-din Aibak’s rule was more or less an army rule. The local
administration was left in the hands of native officers. He did not change the old
rules and regulations. The people were happy and the roads were free from
robbers. In 1210, he died of horse fall while playing Polo. Qutub-ud-din was a
, lover and patron of arts. In Delhi, he built the Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque. He
started the construction of Qutub Minar but could not complete it because of his
accidental death. Qutub-ud-din Aibak was the first Sultan of Delhi. He was a
great general who won many victories. He started his career as a slave and rose
to the position of a Sultan.
Iltutmish (1210-1236)
After the death of Qutub-ud-din Aibak, his son Aram Shah succeeded on the
throne. But he was weak, so he was deposed by Iltutmish in 1211. He was
Aibak’s slave and son-in-law. He was the governor of Badaun at that time.
When Iltutmish succeeded to the throne, there were revolts all around. The
Rajputs challenged the new ruler. Yaldoz of Iran had his eyes on Delhi. Many
nobles at Delhi were against him. Iltutmish faced many problems but dealt with
them very strongly. Iltutmish died in 1236.He completed the construction of
Qutub Minar. It was built using red sandstone and marble. Iltutmish has many
sons, but none were capable of being his successor, so his daughter Razia
became the successor.
Razia Sultan (1236- 1240)
Razia fell in love with an African slave Yakut. She made him a general. The
nobles rose against her. Her rule was short and full of problems. The nobles did
not like her because they thought it was below their dignity to take orders from
a woman. So, they plotted and made plans to kill her. Soon afterwards she died
in 1240.
In 1246, Nasir-ud-din Mahmud, the youngest son of Iltutmish, became Sultan.
He reigned for 20 years. He was a pious man. He left the task of his government
in the hands of his father-in-law. His name was Ghiyas-ud-din Balban. After the
death of Nasir-ud-din, Balban became the Sultan.
Ghiyas-ud-din Balban (1266-1287)
Ghiyas-ud-din Balban succeeded to the throne of Delhi in 1266 He was a very
powerful ruler and had been an important nobel since the time of Iltutmish. He
reorganized the army, he repaired old fortresses and also constructed new
forts. Balban died in 1286. He introduced the Persian custom of Sijdah and
Paibos. The people were against this as they felt these customs were for God
alone.
DELHI: 12TH TO 15TH CENTURY
Important Notes:
The defeat of Prithviraj Chauhan by Muhammad Ghori in the Second Battle of
Tarain in 1192 was a turning point in the history of Medieval India. It enabled
the foundation of Delhi Sultanate. The successors of Muhammad Ghori ruled
the subcontinent from 1206 till 1526. These rulers called themselves, Sultans.
Therefore, this period is called the Sultanate Period. Most of the rulers were of
Turkish origin and came from Central Asia.
The Slave Dynasty (1206-1290)
The first dynasty of Delhi Sultanate was called the Slave or Mamluk dynasty.
The word ‘Mamluk’ means ‘slave warriors’.
When Muhammad Ghori defeated Prithiviraj Chauhan, he allowed his successor
Govind Rai to rule in Delhi and Ajmer for some time. However, many
rebellions started being against Govind Rai for accepting the Turkish authority.
So, Muhammed Ghori sent his trusted slave, Qutub-ud-din Aibak to occupy
Delhi in 1192. Muhammed Ghori died in 1206. He had no sons so after him,
Qutub-ud-din Aibak, laid the foundation of the Slave Dynasty. The Slave
Dynasty ruled for 84 years.
Qutub-ud-din Aibak (1206-1210)
Qutub-ud-din Aibak’s rule was more or less an army rule. The local
administration was left in the hands of native officers. He did not change the old
rules and regulations. The people were happy and the roads were free from
robbers. In 1210, he died of horse fall while playing Polo. Qutub-ud-din was a
, lover and patron of arts. In Delhi, he built the Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque. He
started the construction of Qutub Minar but could not complete it because of his
accidental death. Qutub-ud-din Aibak was the first Sultan of Delhi. He was a
great general who won many victories. He started his career as a slave and rose
to the position of a Sultan.
Iltutmish (1210-1236)
After the death of Qutub-ud-din Aibak, his son Aram Shah succeeded on the
throne. But he was weak, so he was deposed by Iltutmish in 1211. He was
Aibak’s slave and son-in-law. He was the governor of Badaun at that time.
When Iltutmish succeeded to the throne, there were revolts all around. The
Rajputs challenged the new ruler. Yaldoz of Iran had his eyes on Delhi. Many
nobles at Delhi were against him. Iltutmish faced many problems but dealt with
them very strongly. Iltutmish died in 1236.He completed the construction of
Qutub Minar. It was built using red sandstone and marble. Iltutmish has many
sons, but none were capable of being his successor, so his daughter Razia
became the successor.
Razia Sultan (1236- 1240)
Razia fell in love with an African slave Yakut. She made him a general. The
nobles rose against her. Her rule was short and full of problems. The nobles did
not like her because they thought it was below their dignity to take orders from
a woman. So, they plotted and made plans to kill her. Soon afterwards she died
in 1240.
In 1246, Nasir-ud-din Mahmud, the youngest son of Iltutmish, became Sultan.
He reigned for 20 years. He was a pious man. He left the task of his government
in the hands of his father-in-law. His name was Ghiyas-ud-din Balban. After the
death of Nasir-ud-din, Balban became the Sultan.
Ghiyas-ud-din Balban (1266-1287)
Ghiyas-ud-din Balban succeeded to the throne of Delhi in 1266 He was a very
powerful ruler and had been an important nobel since the time of Iltutmish. He
reorganized the army, he repaired old fortresses and also constructed new
forts. Balban died in 1286. He introduced the Persian custom of Sijdah and
Paibos. The people were against this as they felt these customs were for God
alone.
