Delhi Sultanate → Slave Dynasty (1206 – 1290)

Slave dynasty (Mamluk dynasty) was mainly sum up of 3 small dynasties, namely

• Qutubi Dynasty (1206 – 1211) > by Qutubuddin Aibak
• 1^st Ilbari Dynasty (1211 – 1246) > by Iltutmish
• 2^nd Ilbari Dynasty (1246 – 1290) > by Balban

Qutubuddin Aibak (1206 -1210)

• At the death of Muhammad Ghori, Aibak declared his independence & setup his own rule at Indraprastha, near Delhi
• He severed all connections with Ghori kingdom & founded slave dynasty as well as Delhi sultanate
• Assumed the title of Sultan & made Lahore his capital
• Also known as Lakh bakhsh by Muslim writers due to his charity of 1 lakh coins to them
• Patronised great scholar “Hasan Nizami” & started construction of famous Qutub minar named after famous Sufi saint Khwaja – i – Qutubuddin- Bakthiyar (Minar was later completed by Iltutmish)
• Died Playing Chaugan (Horse polo) in 1210

Iltutmish (1211 – 1236)

• Belonged to Ilbari tribe hence his dynasty is named Ilbari dynasty. His half-brothers sold him to Aibak who made him, his son-in-law & appointed him as ‘Iqtadar of Gwalior’.
• In 1211, Iltutmish defeated Aram Bakhsh (Son of Aibak) & became sultan
• Shifted capital from Lahore to Delhi, Completed Qutub Minar at Delhi & Built Ajmer Sharif mosque
• Introduced Arabic coinage silver taka (175 gm) coin in India which became the basis of modern rupee.
• Started a new class of ruling elites of 40 powerful military leaders known as “the 40 nobles” or Chahalgani
• It was under his reign that Mongols under Changez khan raided Central Asia.

Razia Sultana (1236 – 1240)

• Appointed Abyssinian slave Yakuth as master of royal horses
• Discarded female cloths & held court with face unveiled
• Altunia, Governor of Bhatinda, revolted against her & captured her as prisoner but later married her
• Razia, proceeded to Delhi to regain her control but got defeated & killed

Balban (1246 – 1287)

• Introduced rigorous court discipline & started new customs such as Prostration (Shijada & Paipos rule) & kissing sultan’s feet to prove his supremacy over nobles
• Introduced Persian festival of Navroj to impress the nobles
• Spared only the most loyal nobles (Chahalganis) & eliminated all others by one mean or other
• Established a separate military department “Diwan – i –Arz” to maintain law & order

🔑 Key Features:

• Founder:

  • Qutb-ud-din Aibak (1206–1210), a Turkish slave and general of Muhammad Ghori

  • Built Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque and began construction of Qutub Minar in Delhi

• Important Rulers:

  • Iltutmish (1211–1236): Consolidated the empire, introduced the iqta system, and completed Qutub Minar

  • Razia Sultana (1236–1240): First and only female ruler of the Delhi Sultanate

  • Balban (1266–1287): Strengthened the central authority and introduced Zabti (law & order reforms)

• Administration:

  • Centralized power with military strength and Persian bureaucracy

  • Use of iqta system (land assignments for revenue collection and military service)

  • Promoted Islamic culture, but tolerated other faiths for political reasons

• Significance:

  • Laid the foundation for a strong Muslim kingdom in India

  • Created a stable administration that was later continued by other dynasties

For more updates, explore the Ancient India History. Feel free to share your thoughts and comments.

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