Firuz Shah Tughlaq 1351 to 1388 CE

 

Firuz Shah Tughlaq 1351 to 1388 CE:

Firuz Shah Tughlaq was one of the most famous rulers of the Delhi Sultanate in India. He ruled from 1351 to 1388 CE, making his reign one of the longest in the Sultanate's history. He was part of the Tughlaq dynasty, which his uncle Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq started in 1320. Firuz Shah came to power after the death of his cousin Muhammad bin Tughlaq, who was known for his failed experiments. Unlike Muhammad, Firuz was kind, religious, and focused on making people happy. He is remembered as a builder king who made many canals, forts, and cities. He loved helping the poor, promoting Islam gently, and fixing the damage from previous rulers. Born around 1309 CE, Firuz lived to about 79 years old. His rule brought peace after years of chaos, but he couldn't stop the Sultanate from slowly weakening. Rebels in some areas broke away, and after his death, the dynasty ended soon. Firuz's story shows how a good-hearted king can bring stability but not always strength. In these notes, I will explain his life, reforms, buildings, and legacy in simple words. He ruled during a time when the Delhi Sultanate controlled northern India, but the south had become independent with new kingdoms like Vijayanagar and Bahmani.

Early Life and Background

Firuz Shah Tughlaq was born in Delhi around 1309 CE. His full name was Sultan Firuz Shah, but he was originally called Jalal-ud-din Firuz. He came from a Turkish family that had settled in India. His father was Rajab, the younger brother of Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq, the founder of the dynasty. Rajab died when Firuz was young, so Ghiyas-ud-din raised him like a son. Firuz grew up in the royal court, learning about ruling, fighting, and religion.

As a boy, Firuz was quiet and religious. He loved reading the Quran and listening to Sufi saints. Unlike his cousin Muhammad bin Tughlaq, who was bold and experimental, Firuz was calm and traditional. He joined the army early and fought in battles against rebels and Mongols. Under Ghiyas-ud-din (1320–1325), Firuz served as a prince and learned administration. When Muhammad became Sultan in 1325, Firuz stayed loyal as a governor. Muhammad trusted him and sent him on important tasks, like collecting taxes and leading small campaigns.

The Delhi Sultanate at that time was big but troubled. Muhammad's ideas, like moving the capital to Daulatabad and making token money, caused famines, rebellions, and empty treasury. People were unhappy, and parts of the empire like Bengal and the south broke away. Firuz saw all this and learned that harsh rules don't work. He believed in kindness and following Islamic laws properly.

In 1351, Muhammad died suddenly while on a campaign in Sindh. He had no sons, so the army and nobles chose Firuz as the new Sultan. Firuz was about 42 years old. He didn't want the throne at first and tried to give it to Muhammad's relatives, but they refused. He accepted and marched back to Delhi. On the way, he showed his style by being generous – he freed prisoners, gave money to the poor, and prayed at saints' tombs. This made people like him right away.

Firuz's early life shaped him into a pious ruler. He hated cruelty and wanted to follow the Sharia (Islamic law) in a gentle way. He also loved hunting and gardens, which influenced his later buildings.

Rise to Power and Initial Policies

Firuz became Sultan in March 1351 in Sindh, but his official coronation was in Delhi later that year. The kingdom was in a mess after Muhammad's death. Rebellions were everywhere, the army was tired, and the treasury was empty. Firuz started by fixing these problems. He forgave old taxes that people couldn't pay, which made farmers happy. He reduced punishments and stopped torture methods used before. He said, "I want to rule with mercy, not fear."

To control the nobles, Firuz gave them lands (iqtas) but watched them closely. He didn't kill rivals like previous kings; instead, he made them loyal with gifts. He also paid the army on time to keep them happy. In the first years, he faced threats from Mongols in the north, but he built forts and made peace treaties.

Firuz was very religious. He followed Sunni Islam and consulted ulema (scholars) for decisions. He banned un-Islamic things like painting living beings and made sure mosques were built. But he was tolerant – he didn't force Hindus to convert and even abolished some taxes on them. He respected Sufis and visited their shrines.

His initial policies brought peace. Trade improved, and people felt safe. But Firuz was old-fashioned; he didn't try big conquests like Muhammad. He focused on welfare and building.

Reforms in Administration and Economy

Firuz Shah made many reforms to make the government better. He wanted a fair system based on Islam.

In administration, he created new departments. The Diwan-i-Khairat helped orphans and widows with money. The Diwan-i-Bandagan managed slaves – Firuz had over 180,000 slaves whom he treated well, giving them jobs in farms and workshops. He set up a hospital (Dar-ul-Shifa) in Delhi for free treatment. He also made a job office to help unemployed people find work.

For economy, Firuz reduced taxes. Under Muhammad, taxes were high, causing rebellions. Firuz fixed land tax at 1/10 to 1/5 of the crop, based on Islamic rules. He abolished 24 unfair taxes, like on markets and houses. This helped farmers grow more. He encouraged agriculture by building canals. The most famous are the Yamuna Canal (1355) from Yamuna River to Hissar, about 150 miles long, and the Sutlej Canal. These brought water to dry lands, increasing farms and food. He planted gardens with fruits from abroad.

Firuz improved money system. He made new coins like the silver adha and copper jitals, which were stable. Trade grew because roads were safe and taxes low. He built rest houses (sarais) for travelers.

In law, Firuz followed Sharia strictly but kindly. He banned torture and made punishments fit the crime. He helped slaves become free if they converted to Islam or worked hard.

These reforms made life better for many. The kingdom became prosperous, with no big famines. But some say he favored Muslims too much, like giving them more jobs.

Military Campaigns and Defense

Firuz was not a big conqueror like Alauddin Khalji. He focused on defense and small wars. The Sultanate had lost areas under Muhammad, like Bengal and the south.

In 1353–1354, Firuz attacked Bengal, which had become independent. He defeated Sultan Shams-ud-din Ilyas Shah and made him pay tribute. But in 1359, when Bengal rebelled again, Firuz went back but couldn't fully win. He made peace and returned.

In 1360, he campaigned in Sindh against the Sumra tribe, who were rebelling. He won after hard fights in deserts. In 1362, he attacked Nagarkot (Kangra) in the hills, capturing the fort and taking tribute from Hindu kings. He also raided Odisha in 1360–1361, destroying the Jagannath temple in Puri but not occupying the land.

Firuz's biggest military work was against rebels inside. He crushed uprisings in Gujarat, Thatta, and Doab with his army. He built forts like Hissar, Firozabad (Jaunpur), and Firozpur to guard borders.

He defended against Mongols by strengthening northwest forts. His army had about 90,000 cavalry and many foot soldiers. He treated soldiers well, giving them lands and pay.

Firuz avoided big expansions because he hated war's destruction. He said, "Conquest brings suffering." His campaigns brought some wealth but didn't grow the empire much. This peace helped culture and building.

Buildings and Cultural Contributions

Firuz Shah was a great builder. He made more public works than any other Sultan. His projects helped people and showed his love for architecture.

He founded new cities: Firozabad (now Firoz Shah Kotla in Delhi), Hissar, Jaunpur, and Fatehabad. Firoz Shah Kotla had palaces, mosques, and a big pillar (Ashoka's pillar) he brought from Topra. It's now a cricket stadium site.

Firuz built over 300 villages and many gardens. He repaired old buildings like the Qutub Minar and Hauz Khas tank. He made madrasas (schools) like the one in Hauz Khas, where scholars taught for free.

His canals were engineering wonders. The longest was 150 miles from Yamuna to Sutlej, irrigating dry lands. He built over 50 dams and 150 wells.

In culture, Firuz supported arts. He wrote a book "Futuh-at-i-Firuz Shahi" about his rule. He invited poets and musicians. He translated Sanskrit books on math and medicine into Persian. He was fond of history and saved old pillars by moving them to Delhi.

Firuz promoted Islam by building 300 mosques and helping pilgrims to Mecca. But he destroyed some Hindu temples during wars, though not as much as others.

His buildings used simple style with slopes and thick walls, different from fancy Khalji designs. Many survive today, showing his legacy.

Social and Religious Policies

Firuz was kind to people. He banned slavery for war captives if they converted to Islam. He helped widows marry and gave dowry. He set up employment bureaus for jobs.

Religiously, he was orthodox Sunni. He followed ulema advice and banned un-Islamic things like music in court (but allowed private). He imposed jizya tax on Hindus strictly, but waived it for Brahmins later. He didn't force conversions but encouraged them with rewards.

For Hindus, he was mixed. He let them build temples but destroyed some in wars. He employed Hindus in government, showing tolerance.

Firuz helped during disasters. He gave food in famines and loans to farmers. His rule had no major wars inside, so people lived in peace.

But critics say he was too soft on nobles, letting them gain power. He also favored slaves, creating a big slave class.

Death and Legacy

Firuz Shah died on September 20, 1388, at age 79 in Jaunpur. He was ill for some time. His death caused fights among his family. His grandson Tughlaq Shah became Sultan but was killed soon. The dynasty weakened, leading to invasions like Timur's in 1398, which destroyed Delhi.

Firuz's legacy is positive. He brought peace after Muhammad's chaos. His buildings and canals still help people. He is called "the people's king" for his welfare work. Historians like Shams-i-Siraj Afif praised him in "Tarikh-i-Firuz Shahi."

But he couldn't stop the Sultanate's decline. He didn't conquer lost areas, and his soft policies let provinces break away. After him, the Tughlaqs ruled weakly until 1414.

Firuz Shah Tughlaq was a builder, reformer, and kind ruler who fixed a broken kingdom. His long reign shows how mercy can work better than force sometimes. Today, places like Firoz Shah Kotla remind us of him.