Khilji Dynasty

 

Jalal-ud-din Khalji (c. 1290 – 1296 CE)

• Jalal-ud-din Khalji was the founder of the Khalji dynasty. He was 70 years old

when he assumed power. He had been the warden of the marches in the

northwest and had fought many successful battles against the Mongols during

Balban’s reign. The Khaljis were of mixed Turkish-Afghan descent, they did not

exclude the Turks from high offices but the rise of the Khaljis to power ended the

Turkish monopoly of high offices.

• He tried to mitigate some of the harsh aspects of Balban’s rule. He was the first

ruler of the Delhi Sultanate who clearly put forth his view that the state should

be based on the willing support of the governed and that since the large majority

of the population in India were Hindus, the state in India could not be an Islamic

state.

• He adopted the policy of tolerance and avoided harsh punishments. For instance,

Malik Chhajju, nephew of Balban was allowed to remain the governor of Kara.

When Chhajju revolted, it was suppressed but he was pardoned. When the thugs

(robbers) looted the country, they were allowed to go after a severe warning. In

c. 1292 CE, when Malik Chhaju revolted again, he was replaced by his nephew

and son-in-law, Alauddin Khalji.

• During the reign of Jalal-ud-din Khalji, Alauddin invaded Devagiri and

accumulated enormous wealth. During the reception in c. 1296 CE, he

treacherously murdered his father-in-law near Kara and usurped the throne of

Delhi. He made generous gifts to the nobles and soldiers to win over them.

Alauddin Khalji (c. 1296 – 1316 CE)

• Alauddin Khalji was the nephew and son-in-law of Jalal-ud-din Khalji. He was

appointed as the Amir-i-Tuzuk (Master of ceremonies) and also Arizi-i-

Mumalik (minister of war) during the reign of Jalaluddin Khalji.

• He followed Balban’s policy of governance that was quite contrary to Jalaluddin’s

policy of tolerance. He was convinced that the general prosperity of the nobles,

intermarriage between noble families, inefficient spy system and drinking liquor

were the basic reasons for rebellions. Therefore, he passed four laws:

• The public sale of liquor and drugs was totally banned.

• The intelligence system was reorganised and all the secret activities of the

nobles were immediately reported to the Sultan.

• He confiscated the property of the nobles.

• Social gatherings and festivities without the permission of the Sultan

were not allowed. By such stringent rules, his reign was free from

rebellions.

Military Campaigns of Alauddin Khalji

• Alauddin maintained a huge permanent standing army. He sent his army six

times against the Mongols. The first two were successful but the third Mongol

invader, Khwaja came up to Delhi but was stopped from entering the capital city.

The next three Mongol invasions were also dealt with severely and thousands of

Mongols were killed. The northwestern frontier was fortified and Ghazi Malik

(Ghayasuddin Tughlaq) was appointed as the Warden of Marches to protect the

frontier.

• Conquest of Gujarat – Alauddin Khalji sent an army under two of his

generals, Nusrat Khan and Ulugh Khan to capture Gujarat in c. 1299 CE. The ruler

Rai Karan and his daughter escaped while the queen was caught and sent to

Delhi. Malik Kafur, a eunuch was also taken to Delhi and later he was made the

military commander.

• Conquest of Rajputana – After capturing Gujarat, Alauddin’s attention turned

towards Rajputana.

• Ranthambore – It was considered to be the strongest fort of Rajasthan.

Initially, the Khalji army suffered losses and Nusrat Khan even lost his life.

In c.1301 CE, the fort fell to Alauddin. The Rajput women committed

Jauhar or self-immolation.

• Chittor – Alauddin next turned against Chittor. It was another powerful

state of Rajputana. In c. 1303 CE, Alauddin stormed the Chittor fort.

According to some scholars, Alauddin attacked Chittor because he coveted

Padmini, the beautiful queen of Raja Ratan Singh. Raja Ratan Singh and his

army fought bravely but were defeated. The Rajput women including Rani

Padmini performed Jauhar. This Padmini episode was graphically

mentioned in the book Padmavat written by Jayasi.

• Malwa and others – In c. 1305 CE, under the able leadership of Ain-ul-

Mulk, the Khalji army captured Malwa. Ujjain, Mandu, Chanderi and Dhar

were also annexed. After this, Alauddin Khalji sent Malik Kafur to the

south and himself attacked Siwana. Raja Shital Deva, the ruler of Siwana

fought valiantly but was defeated. In c. 1311 CE, Jalore – another Rajput

kingdom was annexed. Thus, by c.1311 CE, Alauddin Khalji became the

master of north India and captured large parts of Rajputana.

• Conquest of Deccan and the far South – Alauddin’s greatest achievement was

the conquest of Deccan and the far south. This region was ruled by four

important dynasties – Yadavas of Devagiri, Kakatiyas of Warangal, Hoysalas of

Dwarasamudra and the Pandyas of Madurai. Alauddin sent Malik Kafur to lead

the Khalji dynasty invasions to south India.

In c. 1306 – 1307 CE, Malik Kafur attacked Devagiri. The ruler of Devagiri, Rai

Ramachandra surrendered and was treated honourably. He was given a district

of Gujarat and one of his daughters was married to Alauddin. In c. 1309 CE, Malik

Kafur launched his campaign against Warangal. Its ruler Prataparudra Deva was

defeated and an enormous booty was collected from him. Malik Kafur’s next

target was the Hoysala ruler Vira Ballala III. He was defeated and a huge booty

was seized and sent to Delhi. Kafur then marched against the Pandyas. Vira

Pandya fled the capital Madurai and Kafur seized enormous wealth from the

Pandya kingdom. According to Amir Khusrau, Malik Kafur reached as far as

Rameshwaram, built a mosque there and returned to Delhi with huge wealth.

Alauddin honoured Malik Kafur by appointing him Naib Malik of the empire.

• Alauddin Khalji died in c. 1316 CE. Although the Sultan was illiterate, he

patronized poets like Amir Hasan and Amir Khusrau. He built a famous gateway

known as Alai Darwaza and constructed a new capital at Siri. Alauddin assumed

the title of Sikander-i-Azam and gave the title of Tuti-i-Hind to Amir Khusrau.

Administration of Alauddin Khalji

• Military Reforms – Alauddin Khalji maintained a large permanent standing

army and paid them in cash from the royal treasury. According to historian

Ferishta, he recruited 4,75,000 cavalrymen. He introduced the system of dagh

(branding of horses) and prepared huliya (descriptive list of soldiers). In order

to have maximum efficiency, a strict review of the army from time to time was

carried out.

• Market Reforms – Alauddin established four separate markets in Delhi, one for

grain (mandi); another for cloth, sugar, dried fruits, oil and butter; third for

horses, cattle and slaves and the fourth market for miscellaneous commodities.

Each market was under the control of a high officer called Shahna-i-Mandi. The

supply of grain was ensured by holding stocks in government storehouses. There

were regulations in place to fix the price of all commodities. A separate

department called Diwan-i-Riyasat was created under an officer called Naib-i-

Riyasat. Every merchant was registered under the market department. There

were secret agents called munhiyans who sent reports to the Sultan regarding

the functioning of these markets. The Sultan also sent slave boys to buy various

commodities to check prices. Any violation of the Sultan’s orders resulted in

severe punishment. No hoarding was permissible and even during famines, the

same price was maintained.

• Land Revenue Administration – Alauddin took important steps in the land

revenue administration. He was the first sultan of Delhi who ordered

measurement of land. Land revenue was collected in cash which enabled the

Sultan to pay the soldiers in cash. His land revenue reforms provided a basis for

the future reforms of Sher Shah and Akbar. The state officer measured the land

and fixed land revenue accordingly.

Qutbuddin Mubarak Shah (c. 1316 – 1320 CE)

• After the death of Alauddin Khalji, Qutbuddin Mubarak Shah (one of the sons of

Alauddin) ascended the throne. He abolished all the harsh regulations of his

father. He was not able to run the administration efficiently and was murdered.

Nasiruddin Khusrau Shah (c. 1320 CE)

• He killed Mubarak Shah. His reign did not last long. The governor of Dipalpur,

Ghazi Malik killed Khusrau Shah and ascended the throne of Delhi under the title

of Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq in c. 1320 CE.

• He was the only Hindu convert to sit on the throne of Delhi.