Slave Dynasty

Slave Dynasty, also known as the Mamluk Dynasty, marked the beginning of the Delhi Sultanate and was initiated by Qutb-ud-din Aibak. Interestingly, Aibak was considered the cherished slave of Sultan Muhammad of Ghur. This dynasty, which ruled from AD 1206 to AD 1290, holds the distinction of being the first to govern the Delhi Sultanate. The downfall of the Slave Dynasty came at the hands of Jalal-ud-din Firoz Khilji, who successfully overthrew the last Mamluk ruler, Muiz ud din Qaiqabad, in 1290. Muiz-ud-din Muhammad Qaiqabad is remembered as the final ruler of the Slave Dynasty.

Origin of Slave Dynasty

The first capital of the Kingdom was Delhi, when the Tomara Rajputs were in charge. During the middle of the eleventh century, Johans of Ajmer, also known as Chahamanas of Delhi. In Delhi, Tomaras and Chauhans are in charge. become a prominent commercial centre. Numerous temples were built by wealthy urbanites and Jaina merchants. In this region, the commonly used dehliwal coin is made. The Delhi Sultan founded several cities that now make up modern-day Delhi. The founder of mamluk dynasty is Quṭb al-Dīn Aibak and he was also first ruler of slave dynasty.

Major Rulers of Slave Dynasty

Qutb ud-Din Aibak (Reign: 1206 – 1210)

The first ruler of the Mamluk Dynasty. Born to a Turkish family in Central Asia.
Sold as a slave to Muhammad Ghori, the ruler of Ghor in Afghanistan.
Aibak rose up the ranks and became Ghori’s trusted general and commander.
He was given the charge of Ghori’s Indian possessions after 1192.
When Ghori was assassinated, Aibak declared himself Sultan of Delhi in 1206.
Started construction of the Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque in Delhi.
This is one of the first Islamic monuments in northern India.
He began the construction of Qutb Minar in Delhi.
He was also known as Lakh Bash (Giver of Lakhs) for his generosity.
However, he was also responsible for the destruction and desecration of many Hindu temples.
He reigned till his death in 1210. He was said to have been trampled to death by a horse.
He was succeeded by Aram Shah.

Iltutmish (Reign: 1211 – 1236)

Aram Shah was a weak ruler.
It is not clear whether he was a son of Aibak or not.
He was conspired against by a group of nobles who invited Shamsuddin Iltutmish to be the ruler.
Iltutmish was a son-in-law of Aibak.
He ruled Ghurid regions of northern India.
He was a Turkic slave born in Central Asia.
Iltutmish was the greatest of the slave rulers of Delhi.
He shifted his capital from Lahore to Delhi.

Razia Sultana (Reign: 1236 – 1240)

Born in 1205 as Iltutmish’s daughter.
Was given a sound education by her father.
She was the first and last Muslim woman to rule over Delhi.
Also known as Razia al-Din.
She was known as an efficient and just ruler.
She was married to Malik Ikhtiar-ud-din Altunia, the governor of Bathinda.
She was reportedly killed by her brother’s forces.
Her brother Muizuddin Bahram Shah succeeded her.

Ghiyas ud din Balban (Reign: 1266 – 1287)

The next notable ruler after Razia.
Ninth Sultan in the Mamluk dynasty.
He was the wazir of the grandson of Iltutmish, Nasir-ud-din-Mahmud. Born of Turkish origins, his original name was Bahauddin.
He was purchased as a slave by Iltutmish.
He rose up the ranks quickly.
He carried out successful military campaigns as an officer.
After Nasir’s death, Balban declared himself the Sultan as the former did not have any male heirs.
He carried military and civil reforms in administration which earned him the position of the greatest Sultanate ruler after Iltutmish and Alauddin Khalji.
He laid out severe punishments to the slightest of offences by his courtiers.
He had a spy system to keep his nobles in check.
He introduced the Persian festival of Navroz in India.
Punjab saw large-scale conversions during his rule.
After his death, his grandson Qaiqubad succeeded him at the throne of Delhi.
Qaiqubad died of a stroke in 1290 and was succeeded by his three-year-old son Shamsuddin Kayumars.
Kayumars was murdered by Jalal ud-Din Firuz Khalji, thus ending the Mamluk Dynasty to replace it with the Khalji Dynasty.

End of the Slave Dynasty

Between the years 1206 and 1290, the Sultan of the so-called Slave dynasty ruled over Delhi. However, this era came to an end, and a new dynasty called the Khaljis took its place within a span of 100 years. The downfall of the Slave dynasty was influenced by various factors. The people of India were hesitant to collaborate with the Sultans of the Slave dynasty, considering them outsiders. The sense of unity between Hindus and Muslims had not yet developed, leading to frequent rebellions by Hindus against the Muslim rulers. Consequently, the Sultanate fell into turmoil and confusion.

Conclusion

The Great Slave Dynasty, renowned for its courage and strength, faced challenges during its rule in Delhi. The Sultans were often preoccupied with defending against unfamiliar threats, expanding their territory, and resolving internal disputes, leaving little room for prioritizing the welfare of the people. Unfortunately, this lack of attention to the needs of the populace resulted in a disconnect between the rulers and the people of the Delhi Sultanate. The absence of initiatives that would benefit the citizens ultimately contributed to the decline of the Slave dynasty. Additionally, the imposition of principles derived from Ghazni, Ghor, and Baghdad, although rooted in Muslim rule, faced resistance and sparked rebellions in India where local contexts differed.

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