Delhi Sultanate: Tughlaq Dynasty, Sayyids Dynasty, Lodi Dynasty

Delhi Sultanate → Tughlaq Dynasty, Sayyids Dynasty, Lodi Dynasty

Tughlaq Dynasty (1320 – 1414)

• Founded by Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq
• Laid foundation of Tughlaqabad near Delhi
• Killed by his own son “Ulugh khan” who ascended throne under the name of Muhammad – bin – tughlaq in 1325.

Muhammad – Bin – Tughlaq (ill-starred Idealist)

• Known for his tolerant nature in religious matters & novel experiments.
• Only sultan who had received a literary, religious & philosophical education.
• Formed 2^nd capital at Devagiri to control south India under the name of Daultabad
• He forced royals, people & Sufis to move to Daultabad, but many of them died in rigorous journey (1500 Km)
• After 2 years Sultan abandoned Daultabad & asked them to return to Delhi
• Introduced copper coins at par value of silver Tanka but couldn’t prevent forgery, hence stopped the circulation of token money.
• Exchanged silver coins for all copper coins circulated in the market which led to vanish of royal treasury.
• To overcome financial difficulties, he imposed heavy tax revenue on land, which led to strong revolt from peasants (as at the same time a strong famine was also ravaging)
• Later, Sultan launched a scheme by which “Takkavi loans” (Loan for cultivation) were given to farmers to buy seeds & to extend cultivation.
• A separate department for agriculture “Diwan – i – Kolhi” was established. This experiment was further continued by Firoz Tughlaq
• On Muhammad Bin Tughlaq’s Death, Barani quoted “Finally sultan was freed from people & people from sultan”. He also called sultan as mixture of opposites.

Firoz Tughlaq

• Appointed Khan – i – Jahan Maqbal, a telegu brahmin convert as Wazir of his kingdom to help him in day-to-day administration.
• Collected 1300 Sanskrit manuscripts from Jwalamukhi temple’s library (Himachal Pradesh) & got them converted into Persian
• Revived Iqta system & made it hereditary (Nobles hereditary succession to their properties)
• Had largest slaves in his period (Diwan-e-Bandagani)

Industries & Taxes

• Levied various taxes > Jiziya on Non-Muslims
• Abolished taxes on 28 items as was against the Islamic law
• 1^st sultan to impose irrigation tax
• Developed irrigation network by means of canals & highly encouraged horticulture
• Developed royal factories “Karkhanas”, in which thousands of slaves were employed
• Introduced a department called Diwan – i – Khairat to take care of Orphans & Widows
• Developed free hospitals & Marriage bureaus for poor Muslims

Art & Culture

• Formed 300 new towns as Firozabad near Red fort (Delhi), Now known as Firozshah Kotla
• Patronized scholars like Barani & Afif
• As he was guided by Ulemas, he was intolerant towards Shia Muslims & Sufis
• Treated Hindus as 2^nd grade citizen.

After his death Taimur (Timur) entered Delhi & looted enormous wealth, murdered thousands & left India in 1399 blowing a death blow to Tughlaq dynasty.

Sayyids (1414 – 1451)

• Before departure, Timur appointed Khirz khan as governor of Multan
• Khirz Khan captured Delhi & founded Sayyids Dynasty
• Last prince of sayyid dynasty, Alam Shah (Weakest Sayyid Prince) handed over throne to Bahlol lodi & retired to Badaun

Lodis (1451 – 1526)

• Lodis who succeeded Sayyids were Afgans with Bahlol lodi as 1^st Afgan ruler, while his predeccessors were all Turks.
• Succeeded by his Son Sikandar lodi (Greatest of all Lodis) > He destroyed many Hindu temples & imposed many restrictions on Hindus
• Succeeded by Ibrahim Lodi (His son), who was highly arrogant in nature & insulted his nobles openly. Nobles who ever revolted were put to death.
• Greatly displeased by arrogance of Ibrahim Lodi, Daulat khan Lodi invited Babur to invade India, who marched Delhi & killed Ibrahim Lodi in 1^st battle of Panipat.

🔶 Tughlaq Dynasty (1320 – 1414)

• Founder: Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq

• Most notable ruler: Muhammad bin Tughlaq (1325–1351)

  • Known for ambitious but failed reforms:

    • Shifted capital to Daulatabad (and back)

    • Issued token currency (bronze coins), which failed due to counterfeiting

  • Faced widespread rebellions

• Firoz Shah Tughlaq (1351–1388):

  • Promoted infrastructure, irrigation, and supported Islamic institutions

  • Dealt with weakening central authority

• Dynasty ended after Timur’s invasion (1398), which devastated Delhi

🔷 Sayyid Dynasty (1414 – 1451)

• Established by Khizr Khan, a former governor under Timur

• Considered a weak dynasty, mostly ruling over a shrinking Delhi territory

• Dependent on local chieftains and Afghan nobles

• Last ruler: Ala-ud-din Alam Shah voluntarily abdicated in favor of Bahlul Lodi

🔷 Lodi Dynasty (1451 – 1526)

• First Afghan dynasty to rule Delhi

• Founder: Bahlul Lodi

• Sikandar Lodi (1489–1517):

  • Expanded territory, improved administration and agriculture

  • Founded the city of Agra

• Ibrahim Lodi (1517–1526):

  • Faced internal rebellions and nobility dissatisfaction

  • Defeated by Babur in the First Battle of Panipat (1526), marking the end of the Delhi Sultanate and rise of the Mughal Empire

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

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