Slave (Ghulam) or Mamluk Dynasty

The Slave dynasty ruled from c. 1206 – 1290 CE. It was also named the

‘Mamluk’ dynasty; the word Mamluk is an Arabic word that means “slave/owned”. In

fact, three dynasties were established during this period. They were –

1. Qutbi dynasty (c. 1206 – 1211 CE) – Its founder was Qutub-ud-din Aibak.

2. First Ilbari dynasty (c. 1211- 1266 CE) – Its founder was Iltumish.

3. Second Ilbari dynasty (c. 1266 – 1290 CE) – Its founder was Balban.

Qutub-ud-din Aibak (c. 1206 – 1210 CE)

• Qutub-ud-din Aibak founded the Slave dynasty. He was a Turkish slave of

Muhammad Ghori who played an important part in the expansion of the Turkish

Sultanate in India after the Battle of Tarain. Muhammad Ghori made him the

governor of his Indian possessions. He raised a standing army and established

his hold over north India even during the lifetime of Ghori.

• After the death of Muhammad Ghori (c. 1206 CE), Tajuddin Yaldauz, the ruler of

Ghazni claimed his rule over Delhi and the governor of Multan and Uchch,

Nasiruddin Qabacha wanted independence. He also had to face many revolts

from Rajputs and other Indian rulers. However, Aibak, by displaying his mighty

power as well as other conciliatory measures, was able to win over his enemies.

He defeated Yaldauz and severed all connections with Ghazni and thus founded

the Slave dynasty as well as the Delhi Sultanate.

• Muslim writers called Aibak “Lakh Baksh” or giver of lakhs because he donated

liberally.

• He was titled “Sultan” and he made Lahore his capital.

• He also started the construction of the Qutub Minar (first storey only) after the

name of the famous Sufi saint Khwaja Qutubuddin Bakhtiyar. It was later

completed by Iltumish.

• Aibak died suddenly while playing Chaugan (horse polo) in c. 1210 CE.

Aram Shah (c. 1210 CE)

• Qutub-ud-din was succeeded by his son Aram Shah who was incapable as a ruler.

He was opposed by the Turkish armies and his rule lasted for only eight months.

Iltutmish (c. 1210 – 1236 CE)

• Iltutmish belonged to the Ilbari tribe and therefore, his dynasty was named the

Ilbari dynasty. His half brothers sold him as a slave to Aibak who made him his

son-in-law by giving his daughter to him. Later Aibak appointed him as Iqtadar of

Gwalior. In c.1211 CE, Iltutmish dethroned Aram Shah and became the Sultan

with the name of Shamsuddin. He is regarded as the real consolidator of Turkish

rule in India.

• During the first ten years of his reign, he mostly concentrated on securing his

throne from his rivals. The commanders of Muhammad Ghori like Yaldauz,

Qabacha of Multan and Ali Mardan of Bengal and Bihar rose against him.

Iltutmish defeated Yaldauz in the battle of Tarain (c. 1215 CE) and also drove

away Qabacha from Punjab.

• In c. 1220 CE, the leader of the Mongols, Temujin, popularly known as Chengiz

Khan, started his march towards Central Asia. He defeated Jalal-ud-din

Mangabarni, the ruler of Khwarizm. Mangabarni escaped from the Mongols and

sought asylum from Iltutmish. Iltutmish refused to provide him shelter in order

to save his empire from the onslaught of the Mongols. This diplomatic policy of

Iltutmish helped him to save his empire from the wrath of Chengiz Khan.

• Iltutmish brought Bengal and Bihar back into the Delhi Sultanate. He also

suppressed the Rajput revolts and recovered Ranthambore in c. 1226 CE and by

c. 1231 CE, Iltutmish established his control over Bayana, Mandor, Jalore and

Gwalior. He led an expedition against the Chalukyas of Gujarat but that remained

unsuccessful.

• Iltutmish was a great statesman. In c. 1229 CE, he received ‘mansur’, the letter of

recognition from the Abbasid Caliph by which he became the legal sovereign

ruler of India.

• He completed the construction of Qutub Minar at Delhi, the tallest stone tower in

India (238 ft).

• He also introduced the Arabic coinage in India and the silver tanka weighing 175

grams became a standard coin in medieval India. The silver tanka remained the

basis of the modern rupee.

• Iltutmish organised Turkan-i-Chahalgani, a new class of the ruling elite of forty

powerful military leaders, the Forty.

• He patronised many scholars and a number of Sufi saints came to India during

his reign. Minhaj-us-Siraj (author of Tahaqqat-i-Nasuri), Taj-ud-din, Muhammad

Junaidi, Fakhrul-Mulk-Isami, Malik Qutub-ud-din Hasan were his contemporary

scholars who added grandeur to his court.

• He nominated his daughter as his successor.

Ruknuddin Feruz Shah (c. 1236 CE)

• He was the eldest son of Iltutmish who ascended the throne with the help of

nobles. When the governor of Multan revolted, Ruknuddin Feroz Shah marched

to suppress the revolt. Using this opportunity, Iltutmish’s daughter Raziya with

the help of the Amirs of Delhi seized the throne of the Delhi Sultanate.

Raziya Sultan (c. 1236 – 1239 CE)

• Raziya Sultan was the first and only female ruler of medieval India’s Sultanate

period.

• Raziya appointed an Abyssinian slave, Malik Jamal-ud-din Yaqut as master of the

Royal horses (Amir-i-akhur). The recruitment of a few other non-Turks to

important positions aroused resentment among the Turkish nobles. Raziya

Sultan discarded the female apparel and held the court with her face uncovered

which further created resentment. She even went hunting and led the army.

• In c. 1240 CE, Altunia, the governor of Bhatinda (Sirhaind) revolted against her.

Raziya alongside Yaqut marched against Altunia, but on the way, Turkish

followers of Altunia murdered Yaqut 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 on the way by Bahram Shah.

Bahram Shah (c. 1240 – 1242 CE)

• The fall of Raziya Sultan paved the way for the ascendancy of ‘the Forty’. During

the reign of Bahram Shah, there continued the struggle for supremacy between

Sultan and the nobles. The Turkish nobles supported Bahram Shah in the

beginning but later became disordered and during this unrest, Bahram Shah was

killed by his own army.

Alauddin Masud Shah (c. 1242 – 1246 CE)

• He was the son of Ruknuddin Feroz Shah and nephew of Raziya Sultan. After the

death of Bahram Shah, he was chosen as the next ruler. However, he was

incompetent and incapable of handling the affairs in the government and was

replaced by Nasiruddin Mahmud.

Nasiruddin Mahmud (c. 1246 – 1265 CE)

• He was the grandson of Iltutmish who was young and inexperienced. He had

ascended the throne with the help of Balban/Ulugh Khan, a member of

Chahalgani (the Forty) who himself assumed the position of regent. He married

his daughter to Nasirruddin and therefore, the real power lay in the hands of

Balban. Balban was powerful in the administration but he had to face the

intrigues of his rivals in the royal court. He overcame all the difficulties. In c.

1265 CE, Nasirruddin Mahmud died and according to some historians like Ibn

Batuta and Isami, Balban poisoned him and ascended the throne.

Balban (c. 1266 – 1286 CE)

• Balban’s experience as a regent made him understand the problems of the Delhi

Sultanate. He knew that the real threat to the monarchy was from the nobles

called “The Forty”. He, therefore, was sure that by enhancing the power and

authority of the monarchy, he could solve the problem.

• According to Balban, the Sultan was God’s shadow on earth, Zil-e-Ilahi and the

recipient of divine grace, Nibyabat-e- Khudai.

• Balban enhanced the power of the monarchy. He introduced rigorous court

discipline and new customs like prostration (sajida) and kissing the Sultan’s feet

(paibos) to prove his superiority over the nobles. He introduced the Persian

festival of Nauroz to impress the nobles and people with his wealth and power.

• He stood forth as the champion of Turkish nobility. He excluded non-Turks from

administration and Indian Muslims were not given important positions in the

government. To monitor the activities of the nobles he appointed spies and

developed an efficient spy system.

• Balban was determined to break the power of ‘The Forty’. He spared only the

loyal nobles and eliminated all others by fair or foul means. Malik Baqbaq, the

governor of Bedaun, was publicly flogged for his cruelty towards his servants.

Haybat Khan, the governor of Oudh was punished for killing a man who was

drunk. The governor of Bhatinda, Sher Khan was poisoned.

• Balban had to deal with internal as well as external problems. The Mongols were

looking for an opportunity to attack the Sultanate, the Indian rulers were ready

to revolt at the smallest opportunity, distant provincial governors wanted to gain

independence and the outskirts of Delhi were often plundered by the Mewatis.

To handle all these problems, he adopted a stern policy and organised a strong

central army to deal with internal issues and also to repel the Mongols.

• He established a separate military department, Diwan-e-arz and reorganised the

army. He deployed the army in different parts of his country to suppress the

rebellious elements. Balban paid more attention to restore law and order instead

of expanding his kingdom. Balban took stern action against the Mewatis and

prevented such robberies. Robbers were mercilessly pursued and sentenced to

death, as a result of which the roads became safe for travel.

• In c. 1279 CE, Tughril Khan, the governor of Bengal revolted against Balban.

Balban sent his forces to Bengal and Tughril Khan was beheaded. Balban

appointed his son Bughra Khan as the governor of Bengal.

• In the northwest, the Mongols reappeared and Balban sent his son Prince

Mahmud against them. But the prince was killed in the battle and it was a moral

blow to Balban. Balban died in c. 1287 CE. He was one of the main architects of

the Delhi Sultanate. However, he could not fully safeguard India from the Mongol

invasion.

Kaiqubad (c. 1287 – 1290 CE)

• Kaiqubad was the grandson of Balban and was made the Sultan of Delhi by the

nobles. He was soon replaced by his son, Kaimur. In c. 1290 CE, Feroz, the Ariz-e-

Mumalik (the minister of war) murdered Kaimur and captured the throne. He

took the title of Jalal-ud-din Khalji and established the Khalji dynasty.