Sayyid Dynasty [1414-1451] – GK

The Sayyid Dynasty was a medieval Indian Muslim Dynasty. It ruled the Delhi Sultanate from 1414 to 1451. Khizr Khan started it from the Timurid Empire.

Background:

The dynasty is known as the Sayyid Dynasty because Khizr Khan was a Sayyid. “Sayyid” is an Arabic word that means “master,” or “lord”. Khizir Khan as a governor of Multan backed Turkish invader Timur. He worked with Timur and his son for several years.

Khizir Khan formed the Sayyid Dynasty on May 28, 1414, by seizing control of Delhi.

Earlier, Khizr Khan was a governor of Multan under Firuz Shah Tughlaq. After Timur left India, Sultan Nasiruddin Mahmud returned to Delhi. He ruled until 1413 AD, but with his death the reign of the Tughlaq dynasty ended. Then the Delhi nobles selected Daulat Khan Lodi on the throne.

Khizr Khan [1414-1421 AD]

1. 1414: Khizir Khan ended Turkish rule in Delhi by establishing the Sayyid dynasty.
2. 1414: He captured and imprisoned Daulat Khan Lodi.
3. 28 May 1414: He founded the Sayyid Dynasty.
4. He ruled as the representative of Timur’s son Shah Rukh.
5. When Timur invaded India, Delhi was in a disordered situation.
6. Khizir was the governor of Multan at that time.
7. During this time Khizir attacked Delhi and was proclaimed as king.
8. However, he sent regular annual taxes to Timur’s successor Shah Rukh.
9. He suppressed the people of Surat, Dilapur, and Punjab, and took control of these three regions.
10. However, he failed to conquer Bengal, Deccan, Gujarat, Jaunpur, Khandesh and Malwa.
11. 1416: He suppressed the rebellions of Katehar, Badaun, and Etawah.
12. He took the title ‘Rayat-i-Ala‘ (meaning chief populace) instead of calling himself Sultan.
13. He called himself a descendant of the prophet Hazrat Muhammad. Therefore, the dynasty he founded became known as the Syed dynasty.
14. He successfully protected the dynasty from other country rulers who attempted to capture Delhi.
15. He continued to mint coins bearing the name of the Tughlaqs due to the shortage of gold and silver.
16. 1421: He died and his son Mubarak Shah succeeded and became king of Delhi.

Info: Khizr Khan’s rule was not permanent and strong. Although he maintained the lands of the Turkish nobles, they did not accept him. Due to this, rebellions continued throughout the state.

Info: Khizr Khan divided the Iqtas into Shiks or districts to reduce the power of the nobles, but he could not strengthen the system of governance.

Mubarak Shah [1421-1434 AD]

1. Mubarak Shah was the second ruler of the Sayyid Dynasty.
2. He was the son of Khizr Khan.
3. The tribes of Bathinda, Doab and Khond region became rebellious during his time.
4. However, Suppressing the Khokhars of Punjab proved to be tough for him.
5. 1422: Jasrat Khokhar, a local Muslim leader, made a serious threat to Mubarak Shah. But Mubarak suppressed him.
6. During this time the historian Yahya-bin-Sirhindi wrote the book ‘Tarikh-i-Mubarakshahi‘ in Persian language.
7. He appointed many Hindu nobles to his royal court. For that other muslim nobles of his court did not like him.
8. 1424: On the bank of the Yamuna River he built “Mubarakbad” city.
9. 1425: Mubarak Shah successfully repels the invaders Timurids from Kabul.
10. He failed to suppress the internal chaos.
11. 1434: He was killed by a conspiracy of noble Chakradhan, a wazir Sarwar-ul-Mulk.
12. 1434: Since Mubarak Shah had no children, his nephew Mohammed Shah took over the Sayyid Dynasty.

Info: Mubarak Shah declared ‘Khutba‘ in his own name and took the title ‘Shah‘. He introduced coins in his own name.

Muhammad Shah [1434-1445 AD]

1. Muhammad Shah was the successor of Mubarak Shah.
2. 1434: He ascended the throne.
3. Muhammad Shah was a sensual and incompetent ruler.
4. Civil unrest was continued during his reign.
5. Sultan of Malwa stood by his soldiers near Delhi to attack Shah.
6. During his reign, Bahlul Lodi was the Governor of Lahore.
7. Muhammad Shah sought help from Bahlul Lodi.
8. Bahlul Lodi helped Muhammad Shah to defeat and conquer Malwa.
9. For that, he gave the title “Khan-i-Khanan” to Bahlul Lodi.
10. 1445: Muhammad Shah died due to excess drinking alcohol.

Alauddin Alam Shah [1445 – 1451]

1. 1445: Following Muhammad Shah’s death, Alam Shah became the king.
2. He was the weakest ruler of Sayyid Dynasty.
3. Initially, his lifestyle was luxurious.
4. Alauddin Alam Shah clashed with his Wazir Hamid Khan.
5. 1448: He retired to Badaun for a simple life.
6. 1451: Lahore’s governor Bahlul Lodi threatened and attacked Delhi during his reign.
7. 1451: Alauddin Alam Shah surrendered his entire empire to Bahlul Lodi.
8. 1478: Alauddin Alam Shah died at Badaun.

Architecture of Sayyid Dynasty

#1 1433: Mubarak Shah built Mubarakabad city on the banks of river Yamuna.

#2 1414: Khizr Khan built Khizrabad city on the banks of river Yamuna.

#3 1430s: Mubarak Shah built his own tomb, the Badi Gumbad or Tomb of Sultan Mubarak Shah near Delhi.

#4 1451: Alam Shah built the tomb of Muhammad Shah.

End of Sayyid Dynasty:

• During the reigns of Mubarak Shah and Muhammad Shah, they faced internal instability in several regions.
• Muhammad Shah cut relations with regional kingdoms.
• As a result, this led to uprisings in the central, northeastern, and western areas.
• The Sayyid dynasty’s end was largely caused by the Khokhar uprising.
• Plots and court conspiracy also played a role in this collapse.
• Alauddin Alam Shah and Muhammad Shah were weak rulers.
• These two rulers were unable to handle these issues successfully.
• Afghan influence expanded quickly during Alam Shah’s rule.
• As a result, Bahlul Lodhi took over as Punjab’s ruler.
• Lodhi’s invasion of Delhi (aided by Sayyid Wazir Hamid Khan) marke­d the end of the Sayyid dynasty.

Conclusion:

The Sayyid dynasty ruled the Delhi Sultanate for a period of 37 years. Khizir Khan was good enough to maintain the rules and regulations in the kingdom. However, the later rulers were weak. Lots of regional power uprisings and internal revolts caused the kingdom’s civil unrest. Finally, Bahlul Lodhi defeated Alam Shah and founded the Lodi Dynasty in Delhi in the year 1451.

FAQs