The%20First%20Sultans

1
The First Sultans

• Iltutmish, Balban, and Ala-ud-din Khilji

2
Ilbari Rule

• Long gap of almost 150 years between Mahmud and
  the Ilbaris
• Next campaign does not occur until the late 12th
  Century under Muhammad Ghori
• The renewed strength of the Rajputs and Indian
  tribes is clearly demonstrated in their strong
  opposition of Muhammad Ghoris armies

3
Comparing Campaign Routes
4
Muiz-ud-din Mohamad Ghori, 1173-1206

• Multan campaign1175-8
• Lahore1179-86, three attempts
• First Battle of Tarrain1190
• Finally, Victory at the Second Battle of Tarrain,
  1192Why?

5
After Ghuris death

• Empire divided between three rival factions led
  by Yilduz, Aibak, and Qabacha. Aibak only
  retains central portions around Delhi.
• The remaining Turkish amirs and maliks resent the
  elevation of one of their own
• Indigenous chiefs (Thakurs, Rais, Rajas) also
  rebel

6
Aibaks short Rule

• Consolidates area around Delhi, lays basics of
  administration, using Iqtas
• Builds alliances with powerful Chehelgans, but
  problems continue
• Dies prematurely in a polo accident in 1210
• Sultanate remains very unstable

7
Iltutmish (1210-1236)

• The Iron fist in the velvet glove
• Brought to power through the influence of a
  clique of Turkish nobles, spends the majority of
  his reign trying to break their grip over power
• Realizes the need to cultivate a power base
  spread through different social groups
• Also tries to create a court culture to subtly
  create obvious differences in court between the
  ruler and the nobilityRole of ruler as patron

8
Iltutmishs military strategies

• Keep buffer states in the northwest as a barrier
  against Mongols until 1227 when Chingiz Khan dies
• Avoids supporting Khwarzim Shahs or Yilduz
• 1228 Multan and Sind annexed
• Also adds Eastern and Southern fronts
• 1225-1229 direct control over Bengal
• 1226-1228 Rajasthan
• 1231-1235 Central India, inc. Gwalior, Malwa

9
Iltutmishs Conquests, c. 1236
10
Iltutmishs Strategies

• Advantages to a diplomatic approach to
  different groupschehelgan, Sufis, local
  magnates, Mongols
• Iqta reformsthose under khalisa increased
• How successful was Iltutmish in his efforts to
  reform?
• Moderate, has the first long stable rule
• Power of Chehelgan not completely diluted
• Problems with the Iqta persist
• More groups in Sultanate society, however, begin
  to have power and act as a counterbalance to the
  Chehelgan
• Razias rule (1236-1240)how to interpret it?

11
Some Problems of Ilbari rule

• Problems with the Iqta system, attempts to
  integrate local magnates (Rais)in
  administrationtoo little manpower available
  among Turks
• Factionalism between the Turkish Chehelgan,
  useful and not
• The position of the Sultan, in relation to Amirs,
  Sufi Sheikhs (Who really has authority in the
  eyes of the people?)
• The place of Islam within courtly
  circleshistorical claims of the court chronicles
  v. probable reality
• In the early period power is limited to cities
  such as Delhi and Lahore
• Power is shared among the Turkish Chehelgan
  families, but alternative types of social and
  religious influence is also exercised by
  religious figures (Hindu and Muslim), local chiefs

12
Balban

• Razias short reign and the confusion that
  follows
• Indirect rule 1246-66, Nasir ud-din Sultan
• has sultan marry his daughter, asks for title of
  Ulugh Khan
• 1253 failed attempt by N. Khan reveals division
  amongst chehelgan favored Balban
• Military strength squandered as chehelgan and
  Mongal threats grow
• 1266 Nasir ud-din Khan poisoned, Balban becomes
  Sultan
• Direct Rule 1266-87
• Longest reign of early sultanate rulers (41 years)

13
Direct Rule 1266-87

• Focus on Delhi and Doab
• Settlement of garrison towns, different ethnic
  groups, particularly Afghans recruited
• Increased incentives to cultivators, state help
  with deforestation, clearing of roads,
  encouraging trade
• Centralized regiments created to counter reliance
  on chehelgani troops
• Iqtas made non-hereditary, reduced in size

14
Balban cont.

• Intelligence networks expanded, scrutiny over
  chehelgan alliances and iqta management increases
• Authors his own book on courtly rule, creates and
  islamic veneer, but favors rules from pre-Islamic
  Persia
• Courtly protocol prioritizes rules from ancient
  Persia
• Formalized courtly etiquette treats ruler as most
  important, Gods shadow on earth
• Kissing the ground in front of the ruler, bowing,
  prohibitions of turning back to ruler
• Access to kings and princes limited
• Royal sons and grandsons given Persianized names
• Lots of pomp and ceremony, including increased
  consumption of luxury goods at court

15
Impact of Balban

• Economy stabilizes, market towns increase in
  numberdue to increased migration from
  Afghanistan and Persia
• Mongols contained
• Power of chehelgan reduced, through iqta reform
  and garrison towns, but they become more hostile
  to centralized rule
• Balbans severe punishments and killings greatly
  reduce the number of qualified officers and
  generals, independent action discouraged and
  sycophancy encouraged
• No competent successor remains when Mohammad, the
  older son is dies in 1285.

16
Balbans Family
17
Problems of succession

• Turkish custom did not favor primogeniture
• The nobility had some say in the selection of the
  next ruler if sultan did not appoint an heir
• Balbans attempt to create a succession failed
• Younger son Bughra Khan resented and feared his
  father since 1275 events in Bengal
• Muhammads son Kaykhusrau was designated heir
  after Mohammads death in 1285 but opposed by
  amirs
• Bughra Khans son Kayqabad and his son Kayumars
  both had short reigns while the chehelgan
  attempted to use them as puppet rulers, Bughra
  stayed far away from Delhi