The first dynasty of the Sultanate has been designated by various scholars as the Slave dynasty or the Mamluk dynasty or the Ilbari dynasty. They were known as slaves because many of them were either slaves or were the sons of slaves who had become sultans. Only three of them i.e. Qutb-ud-din-Aibak, Iltutmish and Balban were slaves during their early life. The term ‘Mamluk’ signifies a “slave born of free parents.”
QUTB-UD-DIN AIBAK (1206-10 AD)
Qutb-ud-din-Aibak (1206-1210 AD) was a favourite slave of Mohammed Ghori. He was a Turk of the Aibak tribe, which means in Turkish language, Lord of the Moon. He had played an important role in the Battle of Tarain and in the subsequent Turkish conquests in North India.
He was enthroned at Lahore in 1206 AD. In a sense, he may be regarded as the First Sultan of Delhi even though, he did not assumed the title of Sultan. His capital remained at Lahore. He laid the foundation of Qutub Minar and the Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque in Delhi, after the name of the famous Sufi Saint Khwaja Qutb-ub-din Bakhtiyar Kaki. He strengthened his position by matrimonial alliances with the influential rival Turkish chiefs. For his generosity, he was given the title of Lakh Baksh (meaning, giver of lakhs).
He was a great patron of learning and patronised writers like Hassan-Nizami, author of Taj-ul-Maasir. In 1210 AD, while playing Chaugan (Polo) at Lahore, he fell down from his horse and died.
ILTUTMISH (1210-36 AD)
Aram Shah, the son of Aibak became the ruler, but soon he was overthrown and Shamsuddin Iltutmish was enthroned as the Sultan. He was son-in-law of Aibak. Iltutmish acquired a certificate of legitimacy from the Caliph at Baghdad. He belonged to Ilbari clan, so his dynasty is known as Ilbari dynasty.
Iltutmish was the real founder of Delhi Sultanate. He made Delhi as his capital, in place of Lahore. He saved Delhi Sultanate from the wrath of Chengiz Khan, the Mongol leader by refusing shelter to Khwarizm Shah, whom Chengiz Khan was chasing. Iltutmish defeated Tajuddin Yildoz in the Third Battle of Tarain (1217) and killed him.
During eight years between 1226 and 1234 AD, he conquered Ranthambore (1226), Mandawar (1227), Bayana, Jalor, Gwalior, Malwa, Bhilsa, Ujjain and Bengal (1231).
Iltutmish organised the Iqta system. He introduced reforms in civil administration and army. Iltutmish was the first Turkish ruler of Delhi who organised the army of the Sultanate as the king’s army i.e. an army centrally recruited, centrally paid, and centrally administered. He maintained a large standing army on a permanent basis.
He was the one who gave the country a capital, a sovereign state, a monarchial form of government and a governing class or nobility, known as Turkan-i-Chahalgani or Chalisa (a group of forty or the Chalisa group). He set up an official nobility of slaves known as Chahalgani.
Iltutmish issued the Tanka (silver) and the Jital (copper) coins for the first time. He patronised Minhaj-ul-Siraj, author of Tabaqat-i-Nasiri. He died in 1236.
RUKN-UD-DIN FIROZ SHAH (1236 AD)
Though Iltutmish had nominated his daughter Raziya Sultan as the successor, the nobles placed Rukn-ud-din Firoz Shah on the throne. However, Raziya got rid of Rukn-ud-din and his powerful mother, Shah Turkan and ascended the throne.
Raziya Sultan (1236-40 AD)
Raziya was the first and the last female Sultan of Delhi of medieval India. When she rose to the throne, the prestige of Sultanate had sunk very low. The capital was under attack from the four Governors of Lahore, Multan, Hansi and Badaun
She discarded the Purdah, adorned the male attire and held the open court. The proud Turkish nobles thought it beneath their dignity to be governed by a women. Thus in 1240 AD, Raziya became a victim of a conspiracy and was assassinated near kaithal. The contemporary historian Minhaj described her as “a great sovereign endowed with all the admirable attributes and qualifications necessary for kings.”
BAHRAM SHAH (1240-42 AD)
Under him, the new post of Naib-i-Mamaligat (deputy king) was created.
ALA-UD-DIN MASUD SHAH (1242-46 AD)
He was a puppet in the hands of the nobles and did not actually have much power in government. He was the son of Rukn-ud-din Firoz Shah. He was famous for his fondness of entertainment and wine.
NASIR-UD-DIN MAHMUD SHAH (1246-66 AD)
Nasir-ud-din Mahmud was put on throne by Turkan-i-Chahalgani. Tabaqat-i- Nasiri, by Minhaj, is dedicated to him. He was quiet gentle and studious in nature. Imad-ud-din Raihan, a convert, who was his wazir Ariz-i-Mun was replaced by Balban, who was the most powerful noble of (Amirs). 1 the time. Balban married his daughter to the Sultan, thus, strengthening his own position.
GHIYAS-UD-DIN BALBAN (1265-87 AD)
Balban ascended the throne in 1266 AD. He was the consolidator of the Sultanate of Delhi as he broke the power (1290- of Chahalgani (Chalisa groups).
He was conferred the title of Ulugh Khan (Premier Khan) by Sultan Nasir-ud-din Mahmud Shah, after repelling Mongal Invasion in 1246 AD
He took many measures to establish good governance in the state for which he adopted the famous policy of Blood and Iron. He was the first sultan to put forward his Divine – Theory of Kingship.
The army establishment was separated from the rest of the civil department. A separate military department known as Diwan-i-Wizarat and Diwan-i-Arz was established, which looked after the forts and other defences of the state and deployed the royal forces at strategic places. He impressed the people that kingship was vice-regency of God on Earth (Niyabat-i-Khudai the king was the shadow of God Zil-i-Ilahi)
He also set up a network of news writers and spies throughout his dominion. They reported to the sultan all the important developments in their respective areas of posting. Amir Khusrow, the Parrot of India (Tuti-e-Hind) adorned his court.
Fall of the Slave Dynasty
On Balban’s death, his grandson Kaiqubad, succeeded him to the throne at the age of 17 or 18. Although, Balban nominated Kai Khusrow as his successor, but the nobles raised Kaiqubad to the throne. During his short reign of 3 years, he became paralysed. Jalal-ud-din Khilji, the Ariz-i-Mumalik (Minister of War), routed the Turkish nobles (Amirs). Kaiqubad was murdered in his palace and Jalal-ud-din ascended to the throne. The rule of Ilbari Turks came to an end in 1290 AD.