Delhi Sultanate
Background
- In the Central Asia two new powers rose to prominence –
- Khwarizmi empire (based in Iran), and
- Ghurids (in North West Afghanistan)
- The Ghurids, who worked as vassals under Ghaznavids, overthrew the later and rose to the power.
- Khurasan being the bone of contention between Khwarizmi
and Ghurids was conquered by the first. Which compelled Ghurids
to look towards India.
- In 1173, Muhammad Ghori (Muizzuddin Muhammad – bin Sam or Muhammad of Ghor) (1173-1206) ascended the throne of Ghazni.
- Ghori proceeded by way of Gomal Pass and conquered Multan and Uchch.
- Ghori’s attempt to invade Gujarat was foiled by its ruler.
- Ghori, then, campaigned against the Ghaznavid possessions in the Punjab.
- He conquered Peshawar, Lahore, and Sialkot, and moved towards Delhi and the Gangetic doab.
- At the same time, the Chauhans (of Rajasthan) captured Delhi from the Tomars.
- Expansion of the Chauhan power towards the Punjab brought them into conflict with the Ghaznavid rulers of the area.
- This conflict turned into two decisive battles, known in history as the battles of Tarain (a place near present state of Haryana).
- The battles of Tarain were fought over the claims of Tabarhinda.
- First battle of Tarain (1191) was won by Prithviraj
Chauhan who captured Tabarhinda after a
twelve-month siege from the troops of Ghori.
- Prithviraj Chauhan did not make any serious attempt to oust Ghori
from Punjab which gave an ample of time to the later for regrouping and making
better war strategy against the first.
- Realizing soon the motives of Ghori, Prithviraj sought help from the local rajas of north India. Almost all rajas, except Jaichandra of Kannauj, sent some of their troops to the aid of Prithviraj.
- As per a legend, Jaichandra did not come to aid of Prithviraj because his daughter was abducted by the later as she loved him.
- Even after having fielded huge army (3,00,000) by Prithviraj, he was defeated by Ghori in the second battle of Tarain in 1192.
- Muhammad Ghori fielded much less army (1,50,000) than Prithviraj, but with better organized and strategy which resulted in his victory.
- Result of the second battle of Tarain
- Prithviraj
escaped but was captured near Saraswati (Sirsa).
- He was allowed to rule over Ajmer for sometimes.
- Later he was executed on a charge of conspiracy.
- After Tarain, Ghori returned to Ghazni
leaving the affairs in India in the hands of one of the most trusted slaves Qutbuddin
Aibak.
- In 1194, Ghori again came back to India, crossed Jamuna and moved towards Kannauj with 50,000 cavalries.
- A hotly contested battle was fought between Ghori
and Jaichandra at Chandawar (near Kannauj) in which the latter was killed.
- Thus, battle of Tarain (1191 and 1192) and Chandawar (1194) laid the foundation of the Turkish rule in north India.
- Qutubuddin Aibak was an Indian general in the Ghurid army who lived between 1150 and 1210 CE.
- Muhammad Ghori appointed Aibak as commander of his
Indian territories following the Ghurid victory in the
Second Battle of Tarain in 1192.
- Aibak increased Ghurid power in northern India by conquering and raiding several kingdoms, including Chahamana, Gahadavala, Chaulukya, Chandela, and others.
- When Muhammad Ghori died in 1206,
Aibak fought for control of Ghurid territories in northwestern India with
another former slave-general of Ghori, Yalduz (ruler of Ghazni) who was also claiming
to rule over Delhi.
- Aibak had to deal with numerous revolts by Rajputs
and other Indian chiefs.
- Aibak was able to win over his opponents through
both conciliatory measures and a show of power.
- Aibak was succeeded by Aram Shah, and then by his son-in-law Iltutmish, who transformed India's loosely held Ghurid territories into the powerful Delhi Sultanate.
- Aibak is best known for commissioning the Delhi Qutb Minar and the Ajmer Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra.
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| Adhai Din ka Jhonpra (Ajmer) |
Achievements of Qutb ud-Din Aibak
- Qutb-ud-din Aibak was
primarily responsible for northern India's conquests, which aided Ghori in
consolidating his position there.
- After 1192, Sultan Ghori was gradually given independent
command of the conquests in India as he focused on Central Asia.
- After the Ghurid victory in the Second Battle of Tarain in
1192, Mu'izz ad-Din (Ghori) appointed Aibak as commander
of his Indian territories.
- Qutb-ud-din decided to maintain his independence from
Central Asian policies.
- He started by strengthening his position in Delhi and
Lahore.
- He tried to convince some Turkish nobles to
submit to him. He won their approval by marrying his sister to Qabacha and
his daughter to Iltutmish.
- Qutb-ud-din had to deal with some internal issues as well.
Some Khalji nobles deposed and imprisoned Ali Mardan Khan,
ruler of Bengal and Bihar, and offered the throne to Muhammad Sheran,
who promised to govern Bengal independently.
- In contrast, Ali Mardan escaped from
prison and travelled to Delhi, where he requested that Qutb-ud-din
intervene in Bengali affairs.
- Qutb-ud-din granted his request and delegated the matter to
the nobleman Qaiwaz Rumi Khan.
- Rumi Khan conquered
the Bengal Khalji nobles through a combination of force and diplomacy.
- He persuaded them to appoint Ali Mardan as governor of
Bengal under the Suzerainty of Delhi.
- As a result, Ali Mardan was appointed governor of Bengal
and agreed to pay an annual tribute to Qutb-ud-din.
- In contrast, Qutb-ud-din was unable to continue his
kingdom's expansion policy. He kept himself occupied by defending his
freedom.
- His primary concerns were affairs in the northwest states
and Bengal in the east, because of this he spent more time in Lahore than
in Delhi.
Religion of Qutb ud-Din Aibak
- Aibak was a devout Muslim who "uprooted
idolatry" and "destroyed temples" in Kuhram.
- During Aibak's reign, Hindu temples in Meerut, Banaras, and
Kalinjar were converted into mosques, including "a thousand
temples" in Banaras alone.
- The architectural remains at the Qutb Minar complex
in Delhi and the Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra in Ajmer were
built using the remains of demolished Hindu temples.
- Aibak's army eventually began recruiting Hindu soldiers and
his army included Hindu soldiers during the siege of Meerut
(1192).
- Similarly, Hindu chiefs (ranas and thakurs) were among the
"forces of Hindustan" (Hasham-i Hindustan) that
accompanied him to Ghazni in 1206.
Death of Qutb ud-Din Aibak
- Qutb-ud-din Aibak died in an accident while playing polo
in 1210.
- He was severely injured when he fell from his horse. He was
laid to rest near the Anarkali bazaar in Lahore.
- He was succeeded by Aram
Shah, who ruled only for 8 months and then Iltutmish succeeded
him.
- His tomb is now located in Anarkali bazaar, Lahore.
- The tomb was built in its current form during the 1970s by
Pakistan's Department of Archaeology and Museums, which attempted to
replicate Sultanate-era architecture.
Iltutmish (1211 - 1236 AD) –
Background
- Iltutmish was
a slave of the Sultan of Delhi, Qutubuddin Aibak.
- His father was a high-ranking noble of the Turkish Ilbari tribe.
- He was eventually purchased at a phenomenal price by
Qutubuddin Aibak in Delhi.
- Iltutmish received a good education and a broad knowledge
of the Islamic world during the early days of his hardship.
- That is why, within a decade, he rose to become amir-e-shikar
and son-in-law of his master.
- Soon, he became governor of the iqtas of Gwalior
and Baran (Bulandshahar).
- In 1206, he was one of Aibak's most dependable lieutenants,
commanding Badaun.
- The Turkish nobility of Delhi did not support Aram Shah's
hereditary succession as he was an inept and unpopular ruler.
- They invited Iltutmish of Badaun to succeed them as Sultan.
- Aram Shah refused
to abdicate but was defeated and dethroned in 1211 by Iltutmish.
Achievements
and Expansion of Empire
Defeat of Yalduz
- Taj al-Din Yalduz,
a former slave who claimed to be the rightful successor to the Ghurid
emperor, ruled the Ghurid capital of Ghazni.
- Yalduz declared to Iltutmish that he was the true successor
of Mu'izz ad-Din and thus had claims to the former Ghurid
territories in India.
- Iltutmish offered to negotiate if both men arrived at the
meeting unaccompanied by warriors.
- Yalduz refused the offer, resulting in a battle at
Tarain on January 25, 1216, which Iltutmish won.
- Yalduz was later taken to Iltutmish's stronghold of Badaun and
murdered.
- The success of Iltutmish in this conflict bolstered the
Delhi Sultanate's independence.
Defeat of Qabacha
- Qabacha was
another serious threat to Iltutmish rule.
- However, his power had been reduced by the simultaneous
attacks of Yeldoz and Mangabarni.
- Taking the advantage of his situation, Iltutmish decided to
launch an all-out assault on Qabacha
- He dispatched two armies, one from Lahore to attack Multan
and the other from Delhi to invade Uch.
- During the capture of Uchch, Qabacha sought
refuge in the fort of Bhakkar, which was besieged by the Delhi Army.
- Finally, with no other options, he committed suicide
by drowning in the Indus River. As a result, Sind and Multan were absorbed
into the Delhi Sultanate's empire.
Annexation of Bihar and Bengal
- During the reign of Qutb-ud-din Aibak, province
Bengal was under the authority of the Delhi Sultan.
- However, after the death of Aibak, Bengal declared
independence.
- Iltutmish, on the other hand, was preoccupied with the
western frontier provinces and had no time to devote to Bengal.
- Soon after the death of Qabacha, he considered
invading Bengal and sent an expedition to Bengal.
- Sultan Ghiyasuddin was
the ruler of Bengal at the time.
- Sultan Ghiyasuddin submitted without a fight, acknowledged
Delhi's suzerainty, and agreed to pay the annual tribute.
- But, within a short time, Ghiyasuddin revolted
once more and declared Bengal independent.
- Iltutmish sent another expedition and killed Sultan
Ghiyasuddin and made Nasiruddin Mahmud as governor of
Bengal.
- Following Nasiruddin's departure, there was another
rebellion in Bengal led by Malik Balka Khalji.
- In 1230 AD, Iltutmish personally went to Bengal and killed
Malik Balkha Khalji, and annexed Bengal to the Delhi Empire.
Other Conquests of Iltutmish
- Iltutmish re-annexed many states which declared
independence after the death of Aibak such as Ranthambore, Gwalior,
Ajmer, Bayana, Jalor, Mander Kalinjar, Thangir.
- In 1231 AD, Kanauj and Benaras were
reoccupied.
- He annexed Malwa and Ujjain to his empire
in 1239 A.D.
- As a result, Iltutmish expanded the Turkish empire in India
to the size it was during Aibak's reign.
Architecture During Iltutmish’s
Reign
- Iltutmish was a patron of art and architecture and built
numerous mosques, waterworks and civic amenities in Delhi.
- He finished the Qutb Minar, which Qutb
al-din Aibak had begun.
- He also built the Hauz-i-Shamsi reservoir to the south of Qutub Minar, as
well as the madrasa (school) that surrounds it.
- He constructed several khanqah (monasteries) and
dargahs (graveyards) for Sufi saints.
- He began construction on Hamid ud-din’s Khanaqa and
built the Gandhak ki Baoli, a stepwell for the Sufi saint Qutbuddin
Bakhtiar Kaki, who moved to Delhi during his reign.
- In 1231, he erected the Sultan Ghari funerary
monument in memory of his eldest son Nasiruddin, who died two years
earlier
Death of Iltutmish
- As a result of continuous military operations, Iltutmish
became ill in 1235 AD.
- During his last expedition against Bayana, he became ill and was immediately
brought to Delhi for treatment.
- But he could not recover from such illness, and after a
year of struggling with life, he breathed his last in 1236.
- He was laid to rest in Mehrauli's
Qutub complex.
- With his death, the country lost a great ruler, and the
long twenty-five-year glorious reign of the Delhi Sultanate came to an
end.
Conclusion
Iltutmish established the Turks' absolute
kingship in northern India. He was a military dictator similar to Aibak,
but with the difference that all power was concentrated in his own hands. He
personally appointed all central ministers and regional military governors. He
forbade the Turkish nobility from interfering in state affairs beyond certain
limits. He completed the Qutub Minar and rejoiced in his association with the
sufi saints of the time. During his last expedition against Bayana, he became
ill and after a year of struggle with life, he breathed his last in 1236.
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