Delhi Sultanate — TNPSC Group II/IIA History
Overview
The Delhi Sultanate (1206–1526 CE) was the first major Islamic empire in India, lasting over 300 years under five successive dynasties. For TNPSC Group 2/2A candidates, this topic is high-yield — questions frequently cover founders of each dynasty, Alauddin Khilji's economic reforms, Tughlaq experiments, and administrative innovations. The Sultanate ended when Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodi at the First Battle of Panipat in 1526.
The Five Dynasties at a Glance
| Dynasty | Period | Founder | Notable Ruler |
|---|---|---|---|
| Slave (Mamluk) | 1206–1290 | Qutb-ud-din Aibak | Iltutmish, Raziya Sultan, Balban |
| Khilji | 1290–1320 | Jalal-ud-din Khilji | Alauddin Khilji |
| Tughlaq | 1320–1414 | Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq | Muhammad bin Tughlaq, Firoz Shah |
| Sayyid | 1414–1451 | Khizr Khan | Mubarak Shah |
| Lodi | 1451–1526 | Bahlul Lodi | Sikandar Lodi, Ibrahim Lodi |
Slave (Mamluk) Dynasty (1206–1290)
Qutb-ud-din Aibak (1206–1210)
- Founded Delhi Sultanate after Muhammad Ghori's death
- Built Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque — first mosque built in India
- Began construction of Qutb Minar (completed by Iltutmish)
- Nicknamed "Lakh Baksh" (giver of lakhs) for his generosity
- Died in a polo accident in Lahore
Iltutmish (1211–1236)
- Real consolidator of the Sultanate
- Completed Qutb Minar
- Introduced silver tanka and copper jital — standardised currency
- Received investiture from the Caliph of Baghdad — gave legitimacy
- Saved India from Mongol invasions by refusing shelter to Jalal-ud-din Mangburni
Raziya Sultan (1236–1240)
- First and only female ruler of Delhi Sultanate
- Discarded veil; rode elephants; held open court
- Overthrown by Turkish nobles due to gender bias and favouritism
Balban (1266–1287)
- Established theory of Divine Right of Kingship (Zil-i-Ilahi — Shadow of God)
- Crushed power of the Chahalgani (Group of Forty nobles)
- Built a strong intelligence network (Barids)
- Introduced Persian court ceremonials (Sijda — prostration; Paibos — kissing feet)
Khilji Dynasty (1290–1320)
Alauddin Khilji (1296–1316) — Highest Weightage for TNPSC
Military Conquests:
- First Muslim ruler to conquer the Deccan
- Defeated Yadavas (Devagiri, 1296), Kakatiyas (Warangal), Hoysalas, and Pandyas (Madurai)
- Commander Malik Kafur led south Indian campaigns
- Repelled multiple Mongol invasions (1297–1308)
Market Reforms (Most Frequently Tested):
Alauddin established four separate markets in Delhi:
| Market | Goods Sold |
|---|---|
| Shahana-i-Mandi | Grain and foodgrains |
| Sarai Adl | Cloth and textiles |
| Horse/Cattle Market | Animals for army |
| General Market | Everyday commodities |
- Shahana-i-Mandi: Market Controller
- Diwan-i-Riyasat: Superintendent of Markets
- Munhiyan: Secret agents checking violations
- Severe punishments — adulteration punished by cutting off hands
- Purpose: Maintain a large standing army at low cost to fight Mongols
Administrative Reforms:
- Centralised authority; reduced power of nobles
- Prohibited nobles from social gatherings and intermarriage without permission
- Confiscated wealth of nobles through Diwan-i-Mustakhraj
Tughlaq Dynasty (1320–1414)
Muhammad bin Tughlaq (1325–1351) — Famous for Failed Experiments
| Experiment | Description | Why It Failed |
|---|---|---|
| Transfer of Capital | Delhi to Devagiri (Daulatabad) | Logistics failure; people suffered; returned to Delhi |
| Token Currency | Copper coins replacing silver | Counterfeiting; people hoarded silver |
| Taxation in Doab | Heavy taxes in fertile Ganga-Yamuna region | Famine; peasant revolts |
| Khorasan Expedition | Planned invasion of Central Asia | Abandoned after years of preparation |
- Ibn Battuta (Moroccan traveller) visited India during his reign; wrote Rihla
- Despite failures, he was the most educated Delhi Sultan — knew Arabic, Persian, Greek
Firoz Shah Tughlaq (1351–1388)
- Known as a welfare-oriented ruler
- Built canals — irrigation infrastructure connecting Yamuna to Hissar
- Established four cities: Firozabad, Fatehabad, Jaunpur, Hisar
- Prohibited torture as punishment; built hospitals (Dar-ul-Shafa)
- Timur's Invasion (1398): Timur Lang sacked Delhi; effectively destroyed Tughlaq power
Sayyid Dynasty (1414–1451)
- Khizr Khan: Founder; claimed descent from Prophet Muhammad
- Ruled as nominal vassals of Timur's successors
- Four weak rulers; no major achievements
- Ended when Bahlul Lodi overthrew Alam Shah
Lodi Dynasty (1451–1526)
| Ruler | Period | Key Fact |
|---|---|---|
| Bahlul Lodi | 1451–1489 | First Afghan ruler; annexed Jaunpur Sultanate |
| Sikandar Lodi | 1489–1517 | Founded Agra (1504); able administrator |
| Ibrahim Lodi | 1517–1526 | Last ruler; defeated at Panipat by Babur |
- Sikandar Lodi founded Agra as a new capital in 1504
- Ibrahim Lodi was killed at the First Battle of Panipat (April 21, 1526)
- Daulat Khan Lodi invited Babur — paved way for Mughal era
Administrative System
Central Government Departments
- Diwan-i-Wizarat: Revenue and finance (headed by Wazir)
- Diwan-i-Ariz: Military (headed by Ariz-i-Mumalik)
- Diwan-i-Insha: Royal correspondence
- Diwan-i-Rasalat: Foreign affairs and religious grants
- Qazi-ul-Quzat: Chief Justice under Sharia law
The Iqta System
- Revenue assignment to military officers instead of salary
- Iqtadar (holder): Collected revenue, maintained troops
- Iqtas were transferable (not hereditary in principle)
- Alauddin Khilji made it strictly non-hereditary and audited
Architecture
| Monument | Builder | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Qutb Minar (73m) | Aibak/Iltutmish | UNESCO World Heritage; tallest brick minaret |
| Alai Darwaza | Alauddin Khilji | First true arch and dome in India |
| Tughlaqabad Fort | Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq | Third city of Delhi |
| Firoz Shah Kotla | Firoz Shah Tughlaq | Contains Ashokan pillar |
| Lodi Gardens | Lodi Dynasty | Delhi |
Key Facts for TNPSC Group II/IIA
- Delhi Sultanate lasted 1206–1526 CE — 320 years across five dynasties
- Raziya Sultan was the only woman to sit on the Delhi throne
- Iltutmish introduced the silver tanka and received Caliph's investiture — gives legitimacy to Sultanate
- Alauddin Khilji introduced four market controls with price fixing — tested heavily in TNPSC
- Muhammad bin Tughlaq shifted capital to Daulatabad and introduced token currency — both failed
- Firoz Shah Tughlaq is remembered as a welfare king for canals and hospitals
- Timur's invasion (1398) destroyed Tughlaq power and triggered Sultanate's decline
- Sikandar Lodi founded Agra in 1504
- First Battle of Panipat (1526) ended Delhi Sultanate — Babur defeated and killed Ibrahim Lodi
- Ibn Battuta visited India during Muhammad bin Tughlaq's reign and wrote Rihla
Previous Year MCQ Patterns
Q: Who among the following was the first ruler of the Delhi Sultanate? a) Iltutmish b) Balban c) Qutb-ud-din Aibak d) Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq
Q: Alauddin Khilji's market reform system was mainly introduced to: a) Reduce corruption among nobles b) Maintain a large army at low cost c) Promote trade with Arabia d) Control the grain shortage
Q: Which of the following Delhi Sultans shifted the capital from Delhi to Daulatabad? a) Alauddin Khilji b) Firoz Shah Tughlaq c) Muhammad bin Tughlaq d) Sikandar Lodi
Frequently Asked Questions
Five dynasties ruled the Delhi Sultanate: Slave (Mamluk) Dynasty (1206–1290), Khilji Dynasty (1290–1320), Tughlaq Dynasty (1320–1414), Sayyid Dynasty (1414–1451), and Lodi Dynasty (1451–1526).