Khilji Dynasty : Delhi Sultanate

 Khilji Dynasty (1290-1320)

The founder of the Khilji Dynasty in South Asia, Malik Firuz, was originally the Ariz-i-Mumalik appointed by Kaiqubad during the days of decline of the Slave Dynasty. He took advantage of the political vacuum that was created due to the incompetence of the successors of Balban. To occupy the throne, he only had to remove the infant Sultan Kaimurs. 

The Khiljis, wrongly believed to be Afghans, were actually Turks who had for a long time settled in the region of Afghanistan, called Khalji had adopted Afghan manners and customs. The Ghazani's and Ghori's invasions, and Mongol pressure from Central Asia had pushed them into India.  

The term Khilji was their-designation, meaning in Turkic languages "swordsman". Although they had played a conspicuous role in the success of Turkic armies in India, they had always been locked down upon by the leading Turks, the dominant group during the Slave dynasty.

1.      Jalaluddin Khilji (1290-1296):-

• Jalaluddin was the founder of Khilji dynasty. 
• He was the Governor of Samana; later warden of the marches.
• Jalaluddin’s rule began outside Delhi from Kikhori.  Malik Chajju (Balban’s nephew, governor of Kara) rebelled but was pardoned and Kara was given to Allauddin Khilji. 
• A gang of thugs were banished to Bengal showing leniency. In 1291-92, mongols under Abdullah, grandson of Halaku, were defeated at Dipalpur. Ulghus (decendent of Chingez) embraced Islam, and these new Muslims settled near Delhi.

2.     Allauddin Khilji (1296-1316) :-

   Allauddin was nephew and Son-in-law of Jalaluddin. He killed Jalaluddin and became the next Sultan of Delhi. His original name was Ali gurshasp; governor of Kara. Allauddin Khiji adopted the title of Sikandar – i – Saini, the second Alexander, as inscribed in his coins. Barani states that success in his campaigns turned his head and he tried to form a new religion, but was dissuaded by Amir Khusrau. Amir Khusrau was given the title of Tuti-i-Hind (Parrot of India).  He was the first Turkish Sultan of Delhi who seperated religion from politics. He proclaimed 'Kingship knows no Kinship'. 

·       Alauddin's Imperialism: Alauddin annexed Gujarat (1298), Ranthambhor (1301), Mewar (1303), Malwa (1305), Jalor (1311). In Deccan, Allauddin's army led by Malik Kafur defeated Ram Chandra, Pratap Rudradeva, Vir ballal III and Vir Pandya.

·        The most important experiment undertaken by the Allauddin was the attempt to control the markets. Allauddin sought to control the prices of all commodities, from food grains to horse, and from cattle and slaves to costly imported cloth.

•   Market Reforms :-

Ø Mandi (grain market): Shahana-i-Mandi (SIM), Malik Qabul looked after the grain market. Banjaras (carrier) brought the grains and were organized into a single corporation under charge of the SIM. Their families were forced to settle near the Yamuna. Punishments ensured regular supply: prices of grains fixed. No hoarding allowed.

Ø Cloth and groceries market near the Badaun gate under charge of Rais Parwana. Merchants had to register themselves. Nayaks were grain merchants. Multanis traded mainly in cloth. Coarse cloth sold at normal rates. Prices of expensive cloth (silk and woolens) fixed, some being subsidized loans were advanced and profits fixed.

Ø Mark for horses, cattle and slaves: No middlemen allowed. Permit needed for sale and purchase of horses.  

•    Administrative Reforms Ordinances :-

Zamindari abolished in the Khalisa (crown lands) and direct collection of revenue began. Estates and Jagirs were confiscated with payments in cash instead of grants. Previous pension and endowments were abolished. No Iqtas were allotted in the Doab where land revenue was paid directly to the state.  Land revenue based on measurement of land and estimation of yield was fixed at half the produce. Ghari (house tax), charai (grazing tax) levied.  Barani says charai was levied on all cattle head, but Ferishta states exemption of 2 pairs of oxen, 2 buffaloes, 2 cows and 10 goats, Kismat-i-Khuti (headmen’s cess) was abolished so that the wives of headmen had to work for wages. All patwari accounts were audited. Centralized all pensions and endowments were appropriated. All Milk, Inam and waqf villages were confiscated, Jalai nobles weeded out; a spy system started with Bands (news reporters) and Munhis (spies). Wine (later limited use allowed) and gambling prohibited. Social gathering of nobles prohibited without special permission.

•    Military Reforms :-

In the military sphere, dagh or branding of horses was introduced so that there would be no substitution by poor horses; regular muster of troops; paid in cash salaries; recruitment directly by the king; Chehra or descriptive images of each soldier maintained; in peace time

Hunting was used to keep the army fit; Diwan-i-Ariz was the military department. Ariz-i- Mumalik was the commander-in-chief.

 

• Buildings built by Alauddin Khilji :-  Alai Minar (incomplete) Alai Darwaza, Siri the second city of Delhi, Jamaat Khana mosque.

• Rebellions against Allauddin Khalji :-  (i) Akat Khan (ii) Amir Umar and Mangu Khan (iii) Conspiracy of Haji Maula (iv) Plots of the New Mussalmans.

3.     Successors of Alauddin Khilji :-

•  The most powerful man among the nobles was 'Malik Kafur', who enjoyed the title of Taj-ul- mulk and the office of the wazir. Khizr Khan was decided the heir apparently, but was fond of luxury and pleasure only.

• " Malik Kafur " brushed aside the claims of about a dozen grown-up children of Alauddin and placed  " Shihabuddin Umar (1316) " – a 6 year old son of the deceased sultan from his Maratha wife. i.e., daughter of Ram Chandra Deva of Deogiri). He was the first sultan of Delhi born of a Hindu mother. Kafur then became the regent. He also married his mother (Shihabuddin Umar’s) to add insult to the injury as he was a eunuch.

 Thus kafur alienated the Alai nobles through his acts. When he sent a few slaves to kill Mubarak Khan in prison, these slaves only were turned against Kafur and he was killed in his sleep. All this happened within 3 days of Alauddin’s death. 

4.     Qutubuddin Mubarak Shah (Only 17-18 Year Old):-

• He became sultan after 2 months of regency for shishabuddin umar. Then shihabuddin was placed in confinement in Gwalior. 
• 'Mubarak shah' ruled for only 4 years (1317-20). He was the first sultan of Delhi to declare himself caliph. The severe penal code of Allauddin was relaxed and his economic regulations were scrapped. 
• Finally, he turned out to be a weak ruler. Sometimes he used to come to court dressed as a woman. 
• The sultan showed favours on one of his slave boys, Khusrau Khan, a Hindu convert; with him he developed personal relations. Finally, the sultan was killed treacherously by Khusrau Khan April, 1320.
• Now, he ascended the throne with the title of 'Nasiruddin Khusrau Shah' (1320- for 4 months). He put all the surviving members of Alauddin’s family to death. 
• Barani accuses him of introducing idolatory, but Nizamuddin Auliya received gifts from him. Imadudin Raihan was the first Indian Muslim who rose to become Prime Minister.
• Khusrau Khan was the 2nd Indian muslim who tried to become sovereign straight away.
• He was the first Indian muslim to become sultan of Delhi. Ghazi Malik (Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq), founder of the Tughlaq dynasty and the governor of Dipalpur (Punjab), refused to recognize him as sultan and rallied everyone around him. Khusrau Khan was later killed by him.

Thus, after 5 years of Allauddin’s death, all his descendants, kinsmen and associates were wiped out.