Khilji Dynasty (1290-1320 AD) – GK

Khiljis were originally from Central Asia. In 1290 AD, Jalaluddin Khalji overthrew the Turkic Ilbari, or slave dynasty and brought the power of the Khiljis. This is known as the ‘Khalji Revolution‘ in the history of medieval India. The Khilji revolution marked the end of Turkish Supremacy in India. Jalaluddin was the first Turko-Afghan ruler of Delhi.

This article is about the Khilji Dynasty, which provides important general knowledge, key points/notes for NCERT students, UPSC prelims, and any types of competitive government job examinations.

Jalaluddin Khilji: 1290 – 1296 AD

• Sultan Jalaluddin Khilji founded the Khalji dynasty in Delhi in the year 1290 AD.
• Jalaluddin Firoz Khalji ascended the throne at the age of 70 after killing Qaiqabad and Kayumar.
• The original name of Jalal-ud-din was Malik Firoz.
• He was crowned in the Kalghiri palace built by Qaiqabad and ruled from there for 1 year.
• He was generous and devout.
• Even though he was an Afghan, he did not hesitate to appoint Turkish nobles to high royal positions.
• He showed kindness to the bandits and allowed them to live freely in Bangladesh.
• Balban’s nephew Malik Chajju was appointed ruler of Kara-Manikpur.
• Later, when Malik Chajju rebelled, Jalaluddin entertained him at a banquet.
• During his time Tajuddin Kuchi rebelled against him but failed.
• Meanwhile, the conspirators killed Sidi Maula, a Fakir of Delhi (coming from Persia) on suspicion.
• When the Mongols attacked during this time, Jalaluddin defeated them. As a result, the Mongols converted to Islam. These Mongols were known as the ‘New Muslims¹.
• Jalaluddin tried to win the nobility’s goodwill by adopting a tolerance policy².
• In 1290 AD, Abdullah, grandson of the Mongol leader Hulegu Khan, invaded India. But Jalaluddin defeated him and made a treaty.
• His campaign against Rana Hammir Dev of Ranthambore in 1290 AD failed. But in 1292 he conquered Mandashore. During this time Ali Gursamp (Alauddin Khalji), governor of Kara-Manikpur, made a Deccan expedition and captured Dilsa and Devagiri, the capital of Malwa.
• Alauddin Khalji raided Devagiri without Jalaluddin’s permission and looted the wealth.
• Alauddin declared himself Sultan on 19 July 1296 AD after the death of Jalaluddin.

Jalaluddin’s Death Jalaluddin congratulated his son-in-law and nephew Alauddin out of blind affection. That time he ignored the warnings of his nobles. There, Alauddin’s attendant Muhammad Salim hit Jalaluddin with a sword when he tried to hug Alauddin. Therefore the Sultan fell to the ground while escaping, and Ikhtiyar Uddin severed the Sultan’s head.

¹ New Muslims: During the reign of Jalaluddin Khilji, one and a half lakh Mongols invaded India and advanced to the frontier. The grandson of the Mongol leader Holagur led this campaign. Jalaluddin defeated him. Some Mongols sought forgiveness from the Sultan. Jalaluddin forgave and converted them to Islam. They were settled in Delhi. These converted Mongol Muslims are known as ‘New Muslims‘. Later, when they became harmful to the Sultanate, Alauddin Khalji brutally killed the ‘Naw Muslims’.

² Extra Info: Besides being kind, Jalaluddin was the first sultan of the Delhi Sultanate to treat Hindus with kindness. He explicitly stated that the state should be based on the willing support of the governed. And that because Hindus made up the vast majority of the population in India, the state could not be completely Islamic. He avoided harsh punishments, even to those who revolted against him.

Alauddin Khilji (1296-1316 AD):

• Jalaluddin’s ambitious nephew and son-in-law was Alauddin Khalji.
• His early name was Ali Gurushap.
• He proclaimed that ‘kingship knows no kinship‘.
• In addition, he was named Arrizi-i-Mumalik, or Minister of War.
• He was also named Amir-i-Tuzuk (Master of Ceremonies) because he had supported his uncle in his quest for dominance.
• He called himself the Deputy of the Caliph as a sultan Instead of a ‘Manshur’ (letter of inauguration).
• He made two successful expeditions during Jalaluddin’s rule.
• Kara, Bhilsa (Vidisa) was granted the iqta during his initial expedition around 1292.
• Alauddin was the first Muslim ruler to attack South India with the help of Malik Kafur, his commander.
• He attack Chittor the capital of Mewar.
• He was Delhi’s first Muslim ruler to implement a land measurement system to calculate taxes.
• He brought farmers into direct relationships and curbed middlemen.
• He created three different markets in Delhi for food grains, expensive clothing, animals, horses, and slaves.
• Alauddin Khilji created two posts, Shahna-i-Mandi as a market overseer and Mustakaraj as a tax collector.
• He set up the foundation for a permanent standing army.
• He introduced three grades of soldiers – (i) Foot Soldiers, (ii) Soldiers with one horse (ek-aspa) and (iii) Soldiers with two horses (do-aspa).
• He built a new city called ‘Siri’.
• He constructed ‘Alai Darwara‘ (Alai Darwaza) near Qutub Minar.
• Amir Khusru was the court poet of Alauddin.
• Alauddin Khilji introduced a postal system in medieval India.
• Alauddin Khalji destroyed Jalaluddin’s philosophy of tolerance by punishing those who dared to disagree with him brutally.
• He decided to bring back Balban’s brutal political practices.
• Along with the ancient Balbani and Jalali nobles, he massacred the New Musalmans.
• He restructured the intelligence/spy network, and the Sultan was promptly informed of every noble’s secret act.
• Alcohol and other intoxicating substances were prohibited during Alauddin Khilji.
• Some historians claim Alauddin Khilji was the last ruler of Khilji dynasty.

Qutbuddin Mubarak Shah (1316-1320 AD)

• Alauddin’s death resulted in chaos for Delhi’s Sultanate­. Malik Kafur seized the throne­ temporarily before Qutbuddin Mubarak Shah displace­d him.
• Qutbuddin ascended the throne after killing the infant Sultan Shihabuddin Omar (19 April 1316).
• He withdrew the Price Control Act and adopted liberal policies.
• Declared himself ‘Khalifa’ and assumed the title ‘Al Wasiq Billah‘.
• He was killed (on 13 April 1320 AD) in a conspiracy by Khusru Shah.
• Although he was able to put down multiple revolts during his rule, he was unable to govern the administration effectively. For instance, during this period, rebellions broke out in Devagiri (Deogir) but were harshly suppressed.

Nasiruddin Khusrau Shah (1320 AD)

• He was a Hindu and later converted to Islam.
• He destroyed many mosques and introduced idolatry in the royal court.
• The Punjab ruler Ghazi Malik defeated and killed him at Tilpat in a battle (1320) and started the Tughluq dynasty in Delhi.
• Mubarak Shah was assassinated.
• Nasiruddin’s re­ign didn’t last long (from 13 April to 6th September 1320).
• Some disloyal officers, directed by Ghazi Malik, gove­rnor of Dipalpur, murdered Khusru Shah.
• Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq gained the throne of Delhi in around 1320 CE.

The Khalji dynasty ended four years afte­r Alauddin’s death and the power shifted to the­ Tughlaqs.

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