Category Kindoms of India

What were the causes of the decline of the Delhi Sultanate?

           The Delhi Sultanate expanded rapidly under Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq; constant wars soon emptied their treasury.

         The rulers of the Delhi Sultanate acquired power with sword and fire. So, there was no definite law of succession, and the raids from the Mongols were always a threat.

           The throne was sustained only by military strength and this became a source of political instability. Some of the nobles were more powerful than weak Sultans and local rulers continuously asserted their independence.

          It was the Iqtadari, Zamindari and Jagirdari systems that led to the disintegration of the Delhi Sultanate. Peasants lived in a permanent state of poverty, while kings and nobles lived in great splendour. This alienated the common people from their rulers.

          The invasion by Babur brought down a Sultanate that was already in ruins.

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Who was Sikandar Lodi? What led to the First Battle of Panipat?

           Nizam Khan was the second son of Bahlul Lodi. Bahlul Lodi nominated him as the next Sultan and when he came to power after his father’s death in 1489, he took up the title Sikandar Lodi.

           In 1504, Sikandar Lodi founded the city of Agra and soon shifted his capital there from Delhi. Apart from defeating Rajput kings and suppressing Afghan nobles, he was also known for his efficient administration.

           He abolished corn duties and patronized trade and commerce. Lodi had great interest in cultural development as well. He patronized learning and ordered for Persian translations of Sanskrit works in medicine. He was a reputed poet who wrote under the pen-name Gulruk. However, the conquest and annexation of Bihar is considered to be his greatest achievement.

           Sikandar had a son named Ibrahim Lodi who was notorious for his deeds like insulting the nobles. He was killed at Panipat in 1526, by Babur’s army in what came to be known as the First Battle of Panipat. Daulat Khan Lodi, the then governor of Punjab had invited Babur to invade India.

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Which dynasty came to power after the Sayyids?

           Bahlul Khan, who once served as the Subedar (Governor) of Lahore and Sirhind during the reign of Muhammad Shah succeeded to the throne after the Sayyids. When he founded the Lodi dynasty, he was establishing the first Afghan Pashtun dynasty in India. It also happened to be the last dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate that ruled from AD 1451 to 1526.

           Bahlul Khan Lodi’s efforts were directed in restoring the greatness of the Delhi Sultanate. He conquered territories surrounding Delhi and took necessary steps to stop rebellions and uprisings in his territories. His most successful war was against Mahmud Shah Sharqi of Jaunpur. During his reign, the Delhi Sultanate expanded territorially to include Gwalior, Mewat, Suket, Manipur and Bhongaon, and upper Uttar Pradesh, but his capital remained in Delhi.

           Bahlul Khan’s legacy continued through his son Nizam Khan. Nizam Khan ascended the throne in AD 1489.

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How many rulers were there in the Sayyid dynasty?

           With four rulers ruling from 1414 to 1451, the Sayyid dynasty is the fourth dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate. Khizr Khan succeeded the Thuglaqs; he founded the Sayyid dynasty and ruled the Sultanate before the Lodis came into the picture.

           Khizr Khan continued to be a vassal of the Timurids and did not take up the title of ‘Sultan.’ Though he tried conquering various territories, he hardly succeeded in any of his ventures.

           After his death, his son Sayyid Mubarak Shah ascended the throne. Mubarak Shah referred to himself as Muizz-ud-Din Mubarak Shah; this name was inscribed on his coins. He was succeeded by his nephew who styled himself as Sultan Muhammad Shah.

           However, he did not live up to his title; he was an inefficient ruler who misused his power and authority. As a result, he lost the support of the nobles.

           Alam Shah, the last of the Sayyids came to power in 1444. He proved to be an incapable ruler and eventually the Delhi Sultanate was taken over by Bahlul Khan Lodi, an Afghan noble.

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Why was Firuz Shah Tughlaq’s reign regarded peaceful?

           By the time Firuz Shah, cousin of Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq came to power in 1351, the empire had become too large. There were hardly any loyal nobles because of Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq’s notorious policies. Many provinces had asserted independence as well.

           Firuz wanted to keep his army, nobles and priests happy. He gave back their hereditary rights and land to the nobles and the army. He gave the ulamas – religious scholars- high offices. He also persecuted those whom they did not like.

           Firuz abstained from administering harsh punishments and focussed on building hospitals, canals, rest-houses and towns. He also worked to improve farming. As a result of all these, trade flourished. Though his reign was marked by peace and prosperity, his authority and control reduced significantly. No strong kings emerged from the Tughlaq dynasty after his death.

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Why is it said that many of Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq’s reforms were blunders?

           When Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq (Ulugh Khan) ruled, the Delhi Sultanate temporarily expanded to most of the Indian subcontinent. The regions he attacked and plundered include Malwa, Gujarat, Mahratta, Tilang, Kampila, Dhur-samundar and many more. But the expanded kingdom was difficult to retain, therefore, riots became routine.

           He was notorious for his impractical reforms. One such decision was changing his capital to Daulatabad, the Deccan city that he built. He shifted the capital in order to control the south. But this plan was not as good as it sounded. He asked his officials to move to Deccan; most of them fell sick and many died.

           The reforms he made with coins led to forgery as many started making their own coins. He had ordered to mint tanka in bronze instead of silver and fixed the value of the new bronze coins at par with the silver tanka. He also replaced the old gold and silver coins by new coins. Soon, there were too many coins that lost their value.

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