Rule of Razia Sultan as discussed by Harsh
The establishment of Turkish rule in India during the last decade of 12th century AD, marked the beginning of new phase in Indian history because for many centuries hereafter India was ruled by Turko-Afghan rulers. It was Muhammad Ghori who established Turkish rule in India in c. 1192 AD after the defeating Prithviraj Chauhan. He left India while appointing his slaves as administrators of different regions. Mamluk was the term used for slaves.
It was Qutub-ud-din-Aibak, the slave (mamluk) of Muhammad Ghori, who established Delhi Sultan as a separate dynasty in c. 1206 AD. It came to known as Slave Dynasty because established by Qutub-ud-din who was a slave of Muhammad Ghori. In c. 1211 AD, Iltutmish succeeded the throne who eventually died in c. 1236 AD and was succeeded by Rukn-ud-din Firozshah (son of Iltutmish) but he was replaced by Razia Sultan later in same year.
Also Read : Shams-ud-din Iltutmish – The Real Founder of Delhi Sultanate
Delhi Sultanate – Was A Theocracy or Not?
Razia Sultan
Sultana Razia or Razia Sultan was the only female ruler in the whole Medieval history of Delhi. She was the daughter of Sultan Iltutmish. It was Iltutmish’s wish that Razia should succeeded him because she having the all qualities of an efficient administrator and a military commander. Although she ruled for just fours years but his reign enjoyed a great place of significance in the history of Delhi.
After the death of Iltutmish, the nobles and Ulemas placed his son Rukn-ud-din Firozshah on the throne of Delhi. By doing this, they wanted to keep the powers of state in their hands as he was a weak person. Thus, the wish of Sultan Iltutmish was not honored by nobles and Ulemas. Rukh-ud-din was an inefficient ruler; thus, a situation of anarchy was developed in sultanate during his reign. So, by looking the situation Razia appealed to the people of Delhi and organised a successful revolt with their help.
When she captured the power; nobles and Ulemas accepted her authority with a hope that she would be a Sultan only in the name. Razia was a capable administrator, so she was not just a sultan in name but entertain all power of Sultan in a very efficient way. She abandoned female dress and put on royal clothes like her father. She was used to attend court and directed officers.
Razia appointed even non-Turks under the state on the basis of their merit. In this way, the social base of Sultanate was widened by her. She administered justice without any biasness and with impartiality. She organized successful military campaign to conquer Ranthambore. When Razia was started to behaving like a Sultan, Ulemas and nobles started feeling downgraded. Hence, they started raising question to the authority of Sultana on the basis of gender.
They emphasized that Islam does not provide rule of women. To strengthen her position, Razia married Ikhtiyaruddin Altunia who was the governor of Bhatinda. Thus, they started conspire against him. The ambitious nobles led by Malik Ichtuyar-ud-din Aeitgin defeated Razia in the Battle of Kaithal (Haryana). She was captured and executed along with his husband who supported him.
Thus, Razia Sultan’s rule was played a significant role in history of Indian medieval age as she was the only female ruler of medieval Delhi.
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