Medieval History : Slave Dynasty (1206-1290)

Medieval History : Slave Dynasty (1206-1290)

The Slave Dynasty is also called the Mamluk Dynasty or Ilbari Turks. After the death of Muhammad Ghori , his two slave succeeded him :-

Yalduz – At Ghazni
Qutb – ud- din Aibak :- In India

👉Qutb-ud-din Aibak (1206-1210):-

He was the founder of the Slave Dynasty in India.
He was also known as Lakh Baksh because of his generosity .
During his time the capital of Delhi Sultanate was at Lahore
He introduced Jizya Tax on non muslim
Died in 1210 while playing Polo or Chaugan.
Construction:- (1) Qutub minar (2) Quwwat – Ul- Islam Mosque, Delhi , Originally it was a Vishnu Temple (3) Adhayi din ka jhopra :- Originally it was a Buddhist Monastery in Ajmer

👉Iltutmish( 1211-1236) :-

He was the Successor and Son in law of Qutb-ud-din Aibak.
He defeated Aram Shah ( the son of Qutb-ud-din Aibak) . Thus at its very early stage of Delhi Sultanate it became evident that Successon to it could not necessarily be followed through sons of the ruler.
In Delhi Sultanate any one can become king who enjoys the support of nobility and army.
He shifted his capital from Lahore to Delhi.
He is considered as the real consolidator of Turkish rule in North India.
He issued two coins:-
Jittal :- Copper Coins
Tanka :- Silver Coins
Introduce Iqta System.

Issues During Iltutmish:-

Qabacha:- He was the Slave of Aibak and declared himself an independent ruler of Multan and ceased Lahore.
Ali mardan khan:- He claimed Bengal and Bihar after murdering Bakhtiar Khilji.
Rajputs:- were always ready to throw Turkish rule from India.

Iltutmish Action:-

He first attended the problem of the North West because of its strategic location. The Khwarezmid Empire was becoming powerful and also there was a heavy presence of Mangol in the North Western part. He secured first his North West Frontier and ousted Qabacha , thus recapturing Lahore. Thus the frontier of Delhi Sultanate again strengthened to the Indus River.
Eastern Part( Bengal and Bihar) :- at the time , Iltutmish was busy in Qabacha, Ali Khan died and was succeeded by Sultan Gyasuddin Iwaj who assumed independence. He was an able ruler who restored peace in Bengal. Iltutmish led an expedition against him in 1224-25 known as the Battle of Teligarhi.
In this battle Iwaj was defeated and forced to pay war indemnity and struck coins in the Iltutmish name. But as soon as Iltutmish moved back to Delhi, Iwaj again turned rebellious.In 1226 Iltutmish again led an expedition against him where Gyasuddin Iwaj was defeated and killed. Thus Iltutmish became the first emperor of Delhi Sultanate who made Bengal and Bihar a part of Delhi Sultanate.
After conquering Bengal and Bihar Iltutmish appointed Governors and thus Allauddin Malik Jani became first Governor of Bengal and Bihar in Delhi Sultanate.
Rajputs :- Iltutmish took steps to recover Gwalior and Bayna. Ajmer and Nagore remained under his control. He also attacked Nagda ( The capital of Mewar) but had to retreat at the arrival of Gujarat armies which came to help Rana.

Note:- Iltutmish also introduced the Chalisa system. Chalisa or chahalgani Turks were the powerful slave nobles.

👉Raziya Sultan (1236-1239) :-

Issues:-

Razia v/s Son of Iltutmish Turkish nobles(chahalgani or group of 40).
This period marks the beginning of struggle between monarchy and Turkish nobles.
Iltutmish wajir Nizam-ul-mulk zunaidi rebels against Razia but was defeated and killed.
In the meantime, Razia also appointed Yakut khan as superintendent of the royal stable which again created tension and hostility between Razia and Chahalgani as the strategic post of the Sultanate during that time was a monopoly of Turks.
The nobles then started fermenting rebellion in different parts of Sultanate to make Raziya’s reign unstable
Two important rebellions during the time were of Lahore and Sirhind. Razia personally went to suppress these rebellions. She suppressed the rebels of Lahore and while on her way back to Sirhind, she was imprisoned by Altuniya at Tabarhinda( Bhatinda). However Raziya went with her captor and married him .
Raziya tried to come to Delhi but was defeated and killed by bandits in the outskirts of Delhi in 1239.

👉Balban (1246-86)

Full name:- Gyasuddin Balban
Originally known as Ulugh khan.
Earlier career:-

Balban held the position of Naiv(deputy) to Nasiruddin Mahmud (younger son of Iltutmish). Whom Balban helped in securing the throne in 1246.
In 1253, Balban was outside from his position and was replaced by Immad- Ud-din Rehan.
Within one and half years, Balban managed to win over some of his opponents and also managed to establish contact with Mongols.
Balban defeated and killed Rehan and restored the position of Naiv.
In 1265, Nasiruddin Mahmud died and Balban claimed the throne.

Balban as Sultan:- (1266-1286):–

The reign of Balban marks the beginning of a strong centralised government.

Balban tried to increase the prestige and power of Empire by:-

Individual Superiority:- Balwant claimed his descent from legendary Iranian war Hero Afra Siyab .Thus Balban tried to portray his noble descent and thus legitimised his position as Sultan.
Checking the power of Turkish nobility:- Balban abolished the chahalgani system and introduced the system of sijda and paibos. Sijda refers to bowing down before the emperor and Paibos refers to kissing the emperor’s feet.
Defender of high borns:- Balban also posed himself as defender of interest of Nobles that are high borns. For example:- Balwan refused to provide government posts to those who were not high born; this led to the exclusion of Indian Muslims from all positions of power and authority. Balban also refused to grant ordinance to an important trader because he was not a high born.
Ruthlessness :- Balban also poisoned his cousin Sher Khan.
Winning over public support:- Balban practice administering justice with great impartiality. He awarded Harsh punishment even to the father of the governor of Avadh for cruelty towards his slave. Thus message was cleared that even nobles are not spared in Balban ‘s reign.
Army:- Balban organised a strong centralised army to deal with internal disturbances, Mongols threat . He re-organised his Diwan – i- Arj (Military Department) by pensioning off unfeat soldiers and troopers.
Law and order:- At the time when Balban became Sultan the Law and order condition in North India had declined as:-

Important roads were infested with bandits and dacoits.
Rajputamindars established their force in nearby areas and have defied the Government.
Mewatis have started plundering people to the outskirts of Delhi.

In these situation Balban adopted the policy of blood and iron and controlled the situation Which was basically his policy of ruthlessness. For example:-

Mewatis were ruthlessly hunted down and killed.
Forest around Delhi where cleared
Mainy thanas were established in these areas.
Rebellious villages were destroyed and their wives and children were enslaved.
Colonies of Afghan soldiers were settled to save guard roads and to deal with Rajput Zamindars.

To impress People:-

Balban maintain magnificent court
He surrounded himself by large number of bodyguards
He refused to laugh and joke in court.
He gave up drinking wine.
He started the ceremony of Sijda and Paibos.

Military Expedition:- Balban had a large army but he didn’t lead any distant expeditions except the one to Bengal. But he exercised his army by arranging elaborate hunting expeditions.

The death of Balban in 1286 led to a period of confusion and political instability. Balban had two Son:-

Prince Mahmood:- The chosen Successor of Balban died by fighting Mangol during the lifetime of Balban.
Bughra Khan :- Another son of Balban decided to rule Bengal and refused to go to Delhi to assume the throne.

As a result a grandson of Balban was installed as Sultan but he was too young and inexperienced.

Last ruler of Slave dynasty:- Maiz-ud-din Muhammad Qaiqabad.