ILTUTMISH
Shamsuddin Iltutmish born in a tribal community of Ilbari in Turkestan was the real founder of the Slave Dynasty of Delhi Sultanate. At the time of Qutab-ud-din’s death in 1210 AD, he was the governor of Badaun. After the death of Qutub-Ud-Din Aibak, the Chihalgani put Aram Shah as the next ruler. The relation of Aram to Qutub-Ud-Din is in the realm of debate. Aram Shah turned out to be an inept ruler. Iltutmish was invited by the nobles of delhi to replace Aram who was defeated in the plain of Jud near Delhi. An intelligent and wise person Iltutmish made Delhi the capital of Delhi Sultanate.
The first ten years of Iltutmish’s reign was devoted to consolidating his position which was challenged by his rivals-particularly Tajuddin Yalduz (successor of Muhammad of Ghor in Ghazni) and Nasiruddin Qubacha (the Governor of Uch and Multan). Iltutmish defeated both of them in 1216-17, and thus made his position secure. When Iltutmish became the ruler in 1211, he had a large number of difficulties to face. Instead of being disheartened by them, he faced them boldly and overcame them all. He took prompt action against Qutbi and Muizzi Maliks and gave them a crushing defeat in the neighbourhood of Delhi. He consolidated his position in the area around Delhi. He also secured a letter of manumission from Yalduz.
In 1227, Iltutmish once again marched against him and was successful in capturing Uch without much resistance. Qabacha escaped from Uch and took shelter in Bhakkar. When Bhakkar also was besieged by Iltutmish, Qabacha lost heart and asked for peace. He sent his son Masud Bahram to negotiate the terms but he was impirisoned. Qabacha was so much upset that he tried to escape from Bhakkar but was drowned in the River Indus. Iltutmish captured Bhakkar and appointed Vizir Muhammad Junaidi to complete the conquest for Lower Sindh.
Ghias-ud-Din was defeated and killed and Bengal was completely brought under the throne of Delhi, when Nasir-ud-Din who had conquered Bengal died in 1229.
The hauhans of Jalor conquered once again Nadol, Mandor, Bharmer, Ratnapur, Sanchor, Radhadhara, hera, Ramasin and Bhinamal. Jadon Bhattis established their sovereignty in Northern Alwar, Bayana and Thangir put an end to Turkish supremacy and became independent.
Iltutmish could not be expected to allow the Rajputs to remain independent for long. In 1226, he besieged Ranthambhor, captured it and regarrisoned it. Mandor, capital of the Parmara Rajputs, was also captured and regarrisoned. Next he besieged Jalor. Udai Singh, its ruler, offered stiff Resistance.
Ultimately, he was made to surrender. However, he was allowed to continue as ruler, on the condition of his payment of tribute. Bayana and Thangir were also recaptured. Ajmer was captured after stiff resistance. Nagair in Jodhpur was recovered. In 1231, Gwalior was besieged. Malayavarma Deva, it ruler fought bravely but ultimately surrendered.
Trilokyavarma, the ruler of Kalinjar, abandoned Kalinjar and the same was plundered. However, the Chandelas were able to trun out the Muslims once again. Iltutmish led the attack on Nagada in person. However, he was defeated by Ksetra Singh, its ruler and Iltutmish suffered heavy losses. Iltutmish tried to subdue jthe Chalukyas of Gujarat but he was unsuccessful.
In 1234-35, Iltutmish led an expedition to Malwa. He plundered Bhilsa and Ujjain. He also destroyed the temple of Mahakal at Ujjain.
The same was the case with Katehar. An expedition was sent to Bahraich and the same was captured. Avadh was also brought under Delhi after stiff resistance.
Iltutmish felt that by helping Jalal-ud-Din he would be inviting trouble from Changiz Khan. Consequently he wrote back saying that although he had no objection to giving him shelter, he was afraid that the climate of the Punjab would not suit him.
This was a very polite way of refusing the request. The result was that Jalal-ud-Din entered into an alliance with the Khokhars. He defeated Nasir-ud-Din Qabacha of Multan and plundered Sindh and Northern Gujarat. After that he went away to Persia.The Mongols also retired. Thus, the infant Muslim Empire in India was saved.
The last expedition of Iltutmish was directed against Banian. According to Raverty, this was situated in hill tracts of the Sindh Sagar Doab or in the country immediately West of the Salt Range. Iltutmish was attacked on the way by such a severe illness that he had to be carried back to Delhi in a litter. The disease proved fatal and he died on 29 April, 1236. The reign of Iltutmish saw the decline of Lahore and the rise of Delhi. Delhi gradually became the greatest centre of learning and culture in the East.
The first ten years of Iltutmish’s reign was devoted to consolidating his position which was challenged by his rivals-particularly Tajuddin Yalduz (successor of Muhammad of Ghor in Ghazni) and Nasiruddin Qubacha (the Governor of Uch and Multan). Iltutmish defeated both of them in 1216-17, and thus made his position secure. When Iltutmish became the ruler in 1211, he had a large number of difficulties to face. Instead of being disheartened by them, he faced them boldly and overcame them all. He took prompt action against Qutbi and Muizzi Maliks and gave them a crushing defeat in the neighbourhood of Delhi. He consolidated his position in the area around Delhi. He also secured a letter of manumission from Yalduz.
Yalduz
Taj-ud-Din Yalduz was a formidable foe of Iltutmish. He considered himself to be the successor of Muhammad Ghori and was not prepared to allow the Muslim Empire in India to be independent. In the Battle of Tarain near Thanesar Iltutmish defeated Yalduz in 1214. Yalduz was made a prisoner and sent to the fortress of Badaun where he was later on put to death.Qabacha
Iltutmish was also successful against Nasir-ud-din Qabacha who ruled over Uch and Multan. After the death of Qutb-ud-Din, Qabacha had occupied even a portion of the Punjab. As Qabacha refused to recognize Iltutmish as overlord, lltutmish declared war against him in 1217 and he was successful in driving him out of the Punjab.In 1227, Iltutmish once again marched against him and was successful in capturing Uch without much resistance. Qabacha escaped from Uch and took shelter in Bhakkar. When Bhakkar also was besieged by Iltutmish, Qabacha lost heart and asked for peace. He sent his son Masud Bahram to negotiate the terms but he was impirisoned. Qabacha was so much upset that he tried to escape from Bhakkar but was drowned in the River Indus. Iltutmish captured Bhakkar and appointed Vizir Muhammad Junaidi to complete the conquest for Lower Sindh.
Bengal
After the death of Qutb-ud-Din Aibak, Ali Mardan declared himself independent in Bengal and took up the title of Ala-ud-Din. He was succeeded by his son Hisam-ud-Din Iwaz. The latter took up the title of Ghias-ud-Din and struck coins in his own name. Even the Khutba was read in his name. This was too much for Iltutmish to put up with such defiance. No wonder, he sent an expedition against him in 1225 and he followed the same.Ghias-ud-Din was defeated and killed and Bengal was completely brought under the throne of Delhi, when Nasir-ud-Din who had conquered Bengal died in 1229.
The Rajputs
After the death of Aibak, the Rajputs did their best to drive away theTurks. The Chandelas covered Kalinjar and Ajaigarh. The Pratiharas drove away the Muslim Garrisons from Gwalior and reoccupied the city. They also occupied Narwar and Jhansi. The Chauhan Ruler of Ranthambhor rends out the Turkish troops and brought under his control Jodhpur and the adjacent areas.The hauhans of Jalor conquered once again Nadol, Mandor, Bharmer, Ratnapur, Sanchor, Radhadhara, hera, Ramasin and Bhinamal. Jadon Bhattis established their sovereignty in Northern Alwar, Bayana and Thangir put an end to Turkish supremacy and became independent.
Iltutmish could not be expected to allow the Rajputs to remain independent for long. In 1226, he besieged Ranthambhor, captured it and regarrisoned it. Mandor, capital of the Parmara Rajputs, was also captured and regarrisoned. Next he besieged Jalor. Udai Singh, its ruler, offered stiff Resistance.
Ultimately, he was made to surrender. However, he was allowed to continue as ruler, on the condition of his payment of tribute. Bayana and Thangir were also recaptured. Ajmer was captured after stiff resistance. Nagair in Jodhpur was recovered. In 1231, Gwalior was besieged. Malayavarma Deva, it ruler fought bravely but ultimately surrendered.
Trilokyavarma, the ruler of Kalinjar, abandoned Kalinjar and the same was plundered. However, the Chandelas were able to trun out the Muslims once again. Iltutmish led the attack on Nagada in person. However, he was defeated by Ksetra Singh, its ruler and Iltutmish suffered heavy losses. Iltutmish tried to subdue jthe Chalukyas of Gujarat but he was unsuccessful.
In 1234-35, Iltutmish led an expedition to Malwa. He plundered Bhilsa and Ujjain. He also destroyed the temple of Mahakal at Ujjain.
The Doab
Badaun Kanauj, Banaras and Katehar (Rohilkhand) etc., asserted their independence in the time of Iltutmish. However, as soon as Iltutmish was able to re-establish his authority, he took action against them. One by one, Badaun, Kanauj and Banaras were recaptured by him.The same was the case with Katehar. An expedition was sent to Bahraich and the same was captured. Avadh was also brought under Delhi after stiff resistance.
The Mongols
In the year 1221, the Mongols appeared for the first time on the banks of the river Indus under their famous leader Changiz Khan who had over run the countries of Central and Western Asia with lightning rapidity. When he attacked Jalal-ud-Din Mangabami, the last Shah Khwarizm of Khiva, the latter fled to the Punjab. He asked Iltutmish to give him shelter.Iltutmish felt that by helping Jalal-ud-Din he would be inviting trouble from Changiz Khan. Consequently he wrote back saying that although he had no objection to giving him shelter, he was afraid that the climate of the Punjab would not suit him.
This was a very polite way of refusing the request. The result was that Jalal-ud-Din entered into an alliance with the Khokhars. He defeated Nasir-ud-Din Qabacha of Multan and plundered Sindh and Northern Gujarat. After that he went away to Persia.The Mongols also retired. Thus, the infant Muslim Empire in India was saved.
The last expedition of Iltutmish was directed against Banian. According to Raverty, this was situated in hill tracts of the Sindh Sagar Doab or in the country immediately West of the Salt Range. Iltutmish was attacked on the way by such a severe illness that he had to be carried back to Delhi in a litter. The disease proved fatal and he died on 29 April, 1236. The reign of Iltutmish saw the decline of Lahore and the rise of Delhi. Delhi gradually became the greatest centre of learning and culture in the East.