- Sify.com

>> Fullstory

Timur invades India

Khalji Dynasty

1290			Accession of Jalaluddin Firuz Khalji
1292			Alauddin Khalji captures Bhilsa
1301			Capture of Ranthambhor by Alauddin Khalji
1302-1303			Capture of Chitor
1316			Death of Alauddin Khalji

With the accession of Jalaluddin Firoze Shah, the rule of a new dynasty -- the Khaljis -- was established in Delhi.

Jalaluddin was first not liked by the nobles. However as Barni writes, the "excellence of his character, his justice, generosity and devotion gradually removed the aversion of the people, and hopes of grants of land assisted in conciliating, though grudgingly and unwillingly, the affections of his nobles".

- An Advanced History of India

1296: Alauddin Khalji introduces controversial policies

The New Emperor of Delhi, Alauddin Khalji, murdered his uncle Jalaluddin Firoze to gain the throne. It was his ambition to establish a vast empire. He introduced more controversial policies. All religious lands were confiscated and marriages between noble families were sanctioned by the King. The Emperor also introduced market and price control for foodgrains, cloth and other essentials. The land revenue was raised and made more efficient. Thus the Emperor enforced a highly centralised system of government.

He extended the boundaries of the Delhi Sultanate and brought almost the whole of India under his sway. Alauddin conquered Gujarat, Ranthambhor, Chitor, Warangal, the Hosala & Pandaya kingdoms. He also took effective measures to keep the Mongols out of his Indian empire, and so followed the policy of strengthening the defense force. Alauddin died in 1316.

After Alauddin died, Malik Kafur tried to establish control but was murdered and then two others from the Khalji dynasty came to the throne until 1320.

Do You Know

Alauddin Khalji introduced the first permanent standing army in India. The emperor was the commander-in-chief of the army, followed by the Ariz-i-mamalik (war minister). Khaljis' army also introduced the huliya whereby a description was recorded of each soldier and the cavalry used the "dagh" (branding of the horses) with the royal insignia. These became permanent features in medieval Indian armies.

According to legend, Rani Padmini, the queen of Chittor, was renowned for her beauty. When Khalji defeated Rana Ratna Singh of Chittor, he demanded to see Padmini. He was thus shown her face in a hall of mirror as custom prevented him from seeing her face-to-face. Later, Padmini and all the royal women of Chittor committed "Jauhar" (self-immolation) to prevent their capture, as that was the Rajput custom.

Tughlaq Dynasty

1320			Usurpation of Nasiruddin Khusrav; His Overthrow by Ghiyasuddin Tughluq
1325			Accession of Muhammad bin Tughluq
1328			Mongols invade India
1334			Capture of Anegundi by Muhammad bin Tughluq
1336			Traditional date of the foundation of Vijayanagar
1351			Death of Muhammad bin Tughluq
1388			Accession of Ghiyasuddin Tughluq II
1389			Death of Tughluq II

1325-1351: Muhammad bin Tughlaq

In 1320, Ghazi Tughlaq, the governor of the north-western provinces took the throne under the title Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq. In 1325 the Sultan met an accidental death and was succeeded by his son Jauna under the title Muhammad bin Tughlaq. During his reign, the territorial expansion of Delhi Sultanate reached its farthest limits. His empire covered the regions from Peshawar in the north and Madurai in the South, and from Sindh in the west to Assam in the east.

The capital was transfered from Delhi to Devagiri. However, it had to be shifted back within two years as there were no adequate arrangements in the new capital. Muhammad also introduced copper and brass coins as "token coins" and ordered that these coins should be considered at par with the silver and gold coins in value. This resulted in forged coins and as a result token currency was withdrawn. He died in 1351.

1351-1388: Firoz Shah Tughlaq
Firoz Shah, cousin of Muhammad came to throne in 1351. He was not successful and could not control the rebellions which broke out in the different parts of the empire. What he did was to increase the numbers of schools and hospitals. He established new towns like Ferozabad, Fatehbad, Jaunpur, Hissar, Firoza and Firozpur.

Timur's invasion and End of the Sultanate of Delhi

After the death of Firoze Tughlaq, there were civil wars. Nasiruddin Muhammad (1394-1412) was the last of the Tughlaq Sultans. During his reign, in 1398, the Mongol ruler Timur invaded India. Muhammad fled and Timur captured the city. Thousands of people were killed. After fifteen days, Timur returned to Samarkhand carrying away a large booty with him. Muhammad Tughlaq re-occupied Delhi.

After his death in 1414, Khizi Khan Sayyid occupied the throne. Sayyid was succeeded by the Lodis. Ibrahim Lodi was the last Sultan of Delhi. Finally Babar, the ruler of Kabul-Kandhahar, invaded India in 1526, defeated Ibrahim at the first battle of Panipat and established the rule of Mughals in India. And thus ended the Sultanate of Delhi.

Do you Know?

The reign of Muhammad Bin Tughlaq as Sultan of Delhi from 1325-1351 was dogged by constant controversy. Tughlaq was suspected of having murdered his father to gain the throne and though a deeply learned man, Tughlaq lacked practical knowledge. His experiments with taxation and issue of token currency ended in total failure and his decree to force a migration from Delhi to Daulatabad left hundreds dead. His plans to extend the Empire were unsuccessful and as rebellions grew, Tughlaq ordered indiscriminate assassinations. Much of the good he effected was overshadowed by these controversies and speculation exists that by the end of his rule, Tughlaq was insane.

Courtesy --- N.L.GUPTA

Search for

in Sify

>> MoreNews

Print | Mail | Post your comments | Rate this Feature