Question: Iltutmish:
Answer: Shams-ud-din Iltutmish (r. 1211–1236) was the third and most influential ruler of the Slave Dynasty (Mamluk Dynasty) in the Delhi Sultanate. Often regarded as the effective founder of the Sultanate, he transformed Delhi into a stable Muslim capital and consolidated power after the turbulent early years. Born around 1180 in Central Asia (Turkestan) to the Ilbari tribe, Iltutmish was captured as a child and sold into slavery. He was purchased by Qutb-ud-din Aibak, a general under Muhammad Ghori, who recognized his talents in military skills, horsemanship, and administration. Iltutmish rose quickly, serving as governor of Badaun and marrying Aibak's daughter.
Rise to Power
After Aibak's death in 1210, his son Aram Shah ascended but proved incompetent, lasting only eight months. In 1211, Turkish nobles (amirs) invited Iltutmish to Delhi, where he defeated Aram in battle and claimed the throne. He faced immediate threats: rival Ghurid generals like Taj-ud-din Yildiz (Ghazni) and Nasir-ud-din Qabacha (Multan) challenged him. Iltutmish defeated Yildiz in 1215 at Tarain and Qabacha by 1228, securing Punjab and Sindh. He also repelled Mongol invasions under Genghis Khan by refusing asylum to the Khwarizm prince Jalal-ud-din, avoiding direct conflict. Domestically, he suppressed Rajput rebellions in Ranthambore (1226), Mandor, Bayana, and Gwalior, and brought Bengal under control by defeating Ghiyas-ud-din in 1225–1227.
Achievements
Iltutmish's military successes expanded the Sultanate from Bengal to the Indus. Administratively, he organized the "Turkan-i-Chihalgani" (Group of Forty), a loyal cadre of Turkish slave-nobles who formed the core of governance but later became a power bloc. He introduced the Iqtadari system, assigning land grants (iqtas) to officers for revenue collection and military service, ensuring loyalty and efficiency. To legitimize his rule, he received investiture from the Abbasid Caliph Al-Mustansir in 1229, adopting titles like "Nasir Amir-ul-Mu'minin" (Helper of the Commander of the Faithful). Economically, he minted the silver tanka (175 grains) and copper jital, standardizing currency and boosting trade.
Architecturally, Iltutmish completed the Qutub Minar (started by Aibak) as a victory tower and added to the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque. He built the Hauz-i-Shamsi reservoir and his own tomb in Delhi, blending Persian and Indian styles. Socially, he promoted Sufism, patronizing saints like Qutb-ud-din Bakhtiyar Kaki, and maintained relative tolerance toward Hindus, employing them in administration.
Death and Legacy
Iltutmish died on April 30, 1236, after a prolonged illness, and was buried in Delhi. Lacking capable sons, he nominated his daughter Razia as successor, a bold move in a male-dominated era. His reign brought stability, averting Mongol threats and internal chaos, laying the foundation for a centralized Sultanate that lasted over three centuries. Iltutmish's policies influenced later rulers, and his emphasis on merit over birth (as a former slave) symbolized social mobility in the dynasty. However, the powerful Chihalgani later caused instability. Historians credit him with saving the nascent Muslim rule in India from collapse.
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