Establishment of the Delhi Sultanate Empire by Iltutmish

Iltutmish was a Turk of the Albary tribe. He was a slave of a Bukhara (a city in present-day Uzbekistan) Merchant. He was beautiful to look at and impressive in his abilities and intelligence. Qutubu-din Aibak was attracted to his abilities and looks and bought him from the Bokhara merchant. Soon, Iltutmish rose in Aibak's esteem and was promoted to a higher post. A historian has observed that he was unequalled in beauty, virtue, intelligence, and nobleness of character.

Iltutmish had won Muhammad Gauri's and Qutubu-din Aibak's appreciation as he proved his loyalty to both. Qutubu-din Aibak married his daughter to him. Aibak appointed Iltutmish as the Governor of Guwahati. On the death of Qutubu-din Aibak, his son, Azam Shah, sat on the throne. However, the ministers and nobles replaced Azam Shah on the throne with Iltutmish in 1211.

 

Conquests and main events of the reign of Iltutmish.

The accession of Iltutmish to the throne with the full support of the leading nobles and ministers did not secure his position. He faced some significant difficulties.

Firstly, the leading nobles, referred to as Maliks, also in the good books of Qutubu-din Aibak, aspired to acquire the throne.

Secondly, according to Muslim law, Iltutmish was declared an enslaved person and, as a result, was unqualified to become a king.

Thirdly, some more influential Turkish nobles like Tajuddin Yuldoz in Ghazni, Nasiruddin Qabacha in Sindh and Khiljis of Bengal revolted against him. They were strong contenders for the throne. It was the achievement of Iltutmish that he faced all the opposition with courage.

With courage and boldness, he finally established his claim on the throne. To achieve it, he adopted the following policy.

1.   Suppression of Maliks.

It was a significant achievement that Iltutmish suppressed the revolts of the principal chiefs of Qutbudin Aibbak. They were addressed as Maliks, and Iltutmish gradually removed them from the court and his territory.

2.   Defeat of Yaldoz of Gazni.

Tajudin Yaldoz in Gazni was a strong contender and opponent of Iltutmish at Delhi. Tajudin Yaldoz was a slave of Muhammad Gauri, just like Qutubu-din Aibak. After the death of Muhammad Gauri in 1206, Yaldoz became more successful than others and established his rule at Ghazni. After that, he gave Qutub-din Aibak, who ruled from Lahore, a tough time. Yaldoz was a brave and able ruler. In short, he had the upper hand over Qutubu-din Aibbak and Iltutmish. In 1214, Yaldoz defeated Qabacha of Sindh and acquired control over Punjab. Iltutmish courageously faced the army of Yaldoz in Punjab. In 1215, on the battlegrounds of Terrain, Iltutmish was able to give a crushing defeat to Yaldoz. Iltutmish captured Yaldoz and killed him. It was a significant success for Iltutmish as it laid the grounds for consolidating his Empire.

3.   Nasurudin Qabacha of Sindh was defeated.

Nusiruddin Qabacha in Sindh, another leading power since the times of Gauri, ruled as an independent power on Multan and Uch. He had not accepted Iltutmish as a ruler of Punjab. Iltutmish also feared the existence of Nasiruddin Qabacha because the Muslim population could revolt against him under the leadership of Qabacha of Sindh. Iltutmish declared war against Qabacha in 1217. Iltutmish succeeded in removing Qabacha from Punjab, But Naseeruddin Qabacha continued to rule as an independent ruler in Sindh. In 1227, Iltutmish marched against him for the second time and conquered Uch. Qabacha fled to the safety of Bhakkar. Iltutmish besieged Qabacha at his place of shelter, from where Qabacha escaped but drowned in the River Indus. The danger of Qabacha ended for Iltutmish.

4.   Established rule of Delhi over Bengal

On the death of Qutubudin Aibak, the Khilji family in Bengal declared its independence from Lahore. Gradually, Ali Mardan became the ruler of Bengal. Ali Mardan died in 1212 and was succeeded by Abbas, who acquired the title of Gyasudin and declared himself independent in Bengal. It created another danger for the prestige of Iltutmish as a ruler of Muslim rule in India. In 1220, Gyasudin accepted the recognition of Iltutmish as the king of Delhi when Iltutmish sent an army against him. However, soon after, Gyasudin ended his allegiance to Delhi, and it became a challenge to the existence of Iltutmish. Iltutmish deputed his son, Nasiruddin, to punish Gyasudhin in Bengal. Gyasudhin was killed in battle, and the rule over Bengal was brought under the control of Delhi. Iltutmish's strategy was to remain camped in Delhi to consolidate his rule. Iltutmish avoided marching outside Delhi during the period. After some years, another revolt took place again. Iltutmish marched in command of an army this time and reoccupied Bengal. Thus, his rule was consolidated in Delhi.

5.   Other Conquests of Iltutmish - Malwa

After suppressing the Muslim opponents, Iltutmish directed his attention to the Indian rulers, which he had intentionally avoided earlier. His strategy was to consolidate his rule over Delhi and protect the frontiers of Punjab. Iltutmish occupied Gwalior in 1231. The ruler was Mangal Dev. He had established his independence during the short tenure of Shah Azam Shah. The ruler of Gwalior, Mangal Deva, gave tough resistance to Iltutmish. It took 11 months for Iltutmish to end the rule of Mangal Dev and occupy the territory of Gwalior. The second significant victory was in Malwa. The capital of Malwa, since the Guptan rule, was Ujjain. He attacked Malwa and destroyed Mahakali Temple after conquering Ujjain. He directed his attention to Ranthambore and Mandu. He occupied Ranthambore and Mandu before he died in 1235.

6.   Invasion of Changiz Khan in 1221. A crucial danger that Iltutmish managed with diplomacy:

In 1212, Changaz Khan, whose original name was Tamuzin, arrived on the frontiers of India for the first time. Changaz Khan was a Mongol who had won Mongolia, North China and Turkistan. He also occupied Khawarizm. In Khawarizm, which Jalaluddin ruled over. Jalaluddin escaped his country and reached Afghanistan. Changaz Khan followed Jalaluddin of Khawazarizm and conquered Afghanistan, Herat and Peshawar at this juncture. Jalaluddin of Khawarizm sought help from Iltatmush. Itutmish politely refused help and asked him not to enter the territory beyond the Indus as the climate was unfit for his contingent. In the meantime, Changaz Khan defeated Jalaluddin of Khawarizm on the banks of the river Indus. However, Changez Khan did not cross the river Indus to enter India because of the climate, which was not conducive for his contingent and moved towards the western part, leading him to the Middle East. In this manner, Iltutmish was able to save his territory from the invasion of Changez Khan. Lanepoole, a European historian who wrote Islamic history while living in the Middle East, remarked Changez Khan was a new incalculable danger that threatened all of Asia. The tumult was tremendous, but the storm passed away as quietly as it came.

7.   Investiture by the Khalifa of Baghdad in 1228

Khalifa of Baghdad recognised the Iltutmish as the Muslim ruler in India. It was crucial and politically important for Iltutmish to receive recognition from Khalifa of Baghdad. It helped Iltutmish to end the Muslim revolt against his dominion in India. He became an authorised ruler of Muslim dominion in India.

8. Iltutmish introduced a new currency

Iltutmish introduced new gold and silver coins. It differed from the famous silver and gold coins that Hindu rulers issued. The gold and silver coins had inscriptions in Arabic on them. Iltutmish was the first to introduce purely Arabic coins.

9.   Delhi, the capital of the Empire and naming of Delhi Sultanate

Before the death of Qutbudin-Aibak, Lahore was the capital of new Muslim rule in India. To safeguard his territory, Iltutmish shifted his capital from Lahore to Delhi to seek better protection for his territory. While so, Iltutmish made Delhi the center of new Muslim rule in India. Therefore, he is also called the founder of the Delhi Sultanate.

 

Before his death, Iltutmish appointed his daughter Razia Begum as his successor. It was a revolutionary step from Muslim political arrangements. Iltutmish is credited with establishing the Delhi Sultanate and consolidating the rule of Muslims in India.