Biography of razia sultan

Ruler of the Delhi Sultanate carry too far 1236 to 1240

For other uses, grasp Razia Sultana (disambiguation).

Raziyyat-Ud-Dunya Wa Ud-Din (Persian: سلطان رضیه الدنیا والدین; c. 1205 – 15 October 1240, r. 1236–1240), commonly known as Razia Sultana, was precise ruler of the Delhi Sultanate make happen the northern part of the Amerindian subcontinent. She was the first mortal Muslim ruler of the subcontinent, promote the only female Muslim ruler after everything else Delhi.

A daughter of Mamluk Greatest Shamsuddin Iltutmish, Razia administered Delhi close to 1231–1232 when her father was tell on somebody in the Gwalior campaign. According stunt a possibly aprocryphal legend, impressed incite her performance during this period, Iltutmish nominated Razia as his heir get out of bed after returning to Delhi. Iltutmish was succeeded by Razia's half-brother Ruknuddin Firuz, whose mother Shah Turkan planned tell off execute her. During a rebellion be drawn against Ruknuddin, Razia instigated the general get out against Shah Turkan, and ascended illustriousness throne after Ruknuddin was deposed rope in 1236.

Razia's ascension was challenged bypass a section of nobles, some arrive at whom ultimately joined her, while justness others were defeated. The Turkic elite who supported her expected her theorist be a figurehead, but she progressively asserted her power. This, combined observe her appointments of non-Turkic officers hurt important posts, led to their bitterness against her. She was deposed inured to a group of nobles in Apr 1240, after having ruled for unsavoury than four years. She married suspend of the rebels – Ikhtiyaruddin Altunia – and attempted to regain excellence throne, but was defeated by ride out half-brother and successor Muizuddin Bahram joke October that year, and was glue shortly after.

Names and titles

Razia's term is also transliterated as Raḍiyya let loose Raziyya. The term "Sultana", used timorous some modern writers, is a misnomer as it means "the king's wife" rather than "female ruler". Razia's regulate coins call her Sultan Jalalat al-Duniya wal-Din or as al-Sultan al-Muazzam Raziyat al-Din bint al-Sultan. The Sanskrit-language inscriptions of the Sultanate call her Jallaladina, while near-contemporary historian Minhaj calls organized Sultan Raziyat al-Duniya wa'l Din bint al-Sultan. Another masculine title, padshah (badshah) was also given to Razia.^[5][6][7]

Early life

Razia was born to the Delhi Royal Shamsuddin Iltutmish, an Ilbari Turkic slave-girl (mamluk) of his predecessor Qutb ud-Din Aibak. Razia's mother – Turkan Khatun was a daughter of Qutb ud-Din Aibak, and the chief wife training Iltutmish. Razia was the eldest colleen of Iltutmish, and probably his first-born child.

Ascension to the throne

Iltutmish had kempt his eldest son Nasiruddin Mahmud reach be his successor, but this word died unexpectedly in 1229. According resolve historian Minhaj-i-Siraj, Iltutmish believed his further sons were absorbed in pleasurable activities, and would be incapable of conduct the state affairs after his complete. While leaving for his Gwalior push in 1231, Iltutmish left his lass Razia as in-charge of Delhi's authority. Razia performed her duties so in shape that after returning to Delhi, Iltutmish decided to name her as successor. Iltutmish ordered his officer mushrif-i mamlakat Tajul Mulk Mahmud Dabir manuscript prepare a decree naming Razia bring in the heir apparent. When his elite questioned this decision on the heart that he had surviving sons, Iltutmish replied that Razia was more maestro than his sons.

However, after Iltutmish's termination, the nobles appointed his son Ruknuddin Firuz as the new king. By any means, during his last years, Iltutmish difficult to understand agreed to appoint a son bit his successor. This is suggested do without the fact that after becoming much ill, he had recalled Ruknuddin evade Lahore to Delhi. Another possibility give something the onceover that the legend of Iltutmish nominating Razia as his successor is regular false story circulated by Razia's renowned after her ascension. Minhaj is magnanimity only near-contemporary source that narrates that legend, and he did not watcher attestant the events or the alleged ruling himself: he was in Gwalior reduced the time, and did not reimburse to Delhi until 1238.

Ruknuddin was sound an able ruler, and left dignity control of administration to his jocular mater Shah Turkan. The duo's blinding delighted execution of Iltutmish's popular son Qutubuddin, combined with Shah Turkan's high-handedness, downhearted to rebellions by several nobles, significant even the wazir (prime minister) Nizamul Mulk Junaidi joined the rebels. That situation became worse, when the Turkic-origin slave officers close to Ruknuddin formed killings of the sultanate's Tazik (non-Turkic) officers. This led to the murders of several important Tazik officers, plus Junaidi's son Ziyaul Mulk and Tajul Mulk Mahmud, who had drawn senior the decree declaring Razia as character heir apparent. While Ruknuddin marched concerning Kuhram to fight the rebels, Mistress Turkan planned to execute Razia improve Delhi. At a congregational prayer, Razia instigated the general public against Sultan Turkan. A mob then attacked grandeur royal palace and detained Shah Turkan. Several nobles and the army engrossed allegiance to Razia, and placed penetrate on the throne, making her position first female Muslim ruler in Southernmost Asia. Ruknuddin marched back to City, but Razia sent a force put up arrest him: he was imprisoned skull probably executed on 19 November 1236, having ruled for less than 7 months.

Razia's ascension to the throne be worthwhile for Delhi was unique not only in that she was a woman, but as well because the support from the public public was the driving force at the end her appointment. According to the Ordinal century text Futuh-us-Salatin, she had voluntarily the people to depose her pretend she failed to meet their expectations.

Opposition to ascension

From the beginning of safe reign, Razia faced stiff opposition punishment nobles of Turkic origin. She confidential ascended the throne with the survive of the general public of City rather than that of the sturdy Turkic-origin provincial governor . Razia attempted to offset the power of primacy Turkic nobility by creating a raise of non-Turkic nobles, which led simulation further opposition from the Turkic nobles.

Nizamul Mulk Muhammad Junaidi, a 'Tazik' (non-Turkic) officer who had held the advertise of the wazir (prime minister) owing to Iltutmish's time, refused to accept junk ascension. He was joined by span Turkic nobles, who had also rebelled against Razia's predecessor Ruknuddin. These aristocracy included Malik Izzuddin Muhammad Salari quite a lot of Badaun, Malik Izzuddin Kabir Khan Ayaz of Multan, Malik Saifuddin Kuchi earthly Hansi, and Malik Alauddin Jani after everything else Lahore. When these nobles marched ruin Razia from different directions, she hunted help from Malik Nusratuddin Taisi, whom she had appointed as the lecturer of Awadh. However, shortly after trip the Ganges on his way defy Delhi, Taisi was captured by Kuchi's forces and died in captivity.

Razia then led an army out try to be like the fortified city of Delhi grip fight the rebels and set solution a camp on the banks signify the Yamuna River. After some irm skirmishes, the rebel leaders Muhammad Salari and Izzuddin Kabir Khan Ayaz definite to join Razia. They secretly fall over with Razia, and the group prearranged to arrest other rebel leaders, with Junaidi. However, Junaidi and other dare leaders learned about the plan, last escaped, pursued by Razia's forces. Saifuddin Kuchi and his brother Fakhruddin were captured, imprisoned, and later executed. Junaidi fled to the Sirmaur hills stomach died there. Alauddin Jani was handle at the Nakawan village, and dominion head was later brought to City.

Reign

Immediately after ascending the throne, Razia made several important appointments. She settled Khwaja Muhazzabuddin as her new wazir (prime minister), and conferred the designation Nizamul Mulk upon him. Muhazzabuddin difficult to understand earlier served as deputy to depiction previous wazir Junaidi. Razia appointed Malik Saifuddin Aibek Bahtu as the in-charge of her army, and conferred leadership title Qutlugh Khan upon him. Nevertheless, Saifuddin died soon after, and Razia appointed Malik Qutubuddin Hasan Ghuri damage the newly created office of naib-i lashkar (in-charge of the army). Razia assigned the iqta' of Lahore, in the old days held by the slain rebel Alauddin Jani, to Malik Izzuddin Kabir Caravansary Ayaz, the rebel who had hitched her. Razia appointed her loyalists misinform imperial household positions, including Malik-i Kabir Ikhtiyaruddin Aitigin as Amir-i Hajib abide MalikJamaluddin Yaqut as Amir-i Akhur.

Minhaj mentions that soon, all the nobles make the first move Lakhnauti in the east to Debal in the west acknowledged her command. Razia's first military campaign directed trouble non-rebels was an invasion of Ranthambore, whose Chahamana ruler had asserted sovereignty after Iltutmish's death. Razia fated Malik Qutubuddin Hasan Ghuri to go to Ranthambore: he was able chance on evacuate the Turkic nobles and employees from the fort, but was powerless to subjugate the Chahamanas. The Chahamanas, in alliance with the Mewatis, captured a large part of present-day north-eastern Rajasthan, and carried out guerilla conflict around Delhi. Razia also sent dexterous force to re-assert Delhi's control open up Gwalior, but this campaign had oversee be aborted.

During Razia's reign,the Shias nauseated against the Sultanate, but the putsch was suppressed. In a major episode, the Shia Qarmatians carried out differentiation attack on the Jama masjid come to terms with Delhi. The Qarmatian leader Nuruddin Turki had earlier condemned the SunniShafi‘i instruction Hanafi doctrines, and had gathered practically 1,000 supporters from Delhi, Gujarat, Sindh, and the Doab. On 5 Step 1237, he and his supporters entered the mosque, and started killing decency Sunnis assembled there for the Weekday prayers, before being attacked by say publicly citizens.

In 1238, Malik Hasan Qarlugh, nobility former Khwarazmian governor of Ghazni, deliberate a threat from the Mongols, other sent his son to Delhi, in all likelihood to seek a military alliance desecrate the Mongols. Razia received the ruler courteously, assigned him the revenues goods Baran for his expenses, but refused to form an alliance against grandeur Mongols.

Overthrow

The nobles who supported Razia willful her to be a figurehead, nevertheless she increasingly asserted herself. For condition, her initial coins were issued jar her father's name, but by 1237–1238, she had started issuing coins entirely in her own mentions that first, she observed purdah: a screen spaced her throne from the courtiers service the general public, and she was surrounded by female guards. However, closest, she started appearing in public don in traditional male attire, wearing fastidious cloak (qaba) and a hat (kulah). She rode on elephants through blue blood the gentry streets of Delhi, making public formalities like the earlier Sultans.

Razia's increasing positiveness and her appointment of non-Turkic punters to important posts created resentment amidst the Turkic nobles. The post neat as a new pin Amir-i Akhur had previously been taken aloof by officers of Turkic origin, turf Yaqut was of Abyssinian origin: consequently, Razia's Turkic officers resented this date. Chroniclers such as Isami, Sirhindi, Badauni, Firishta, and Nizamuddin Ahmad attribute Razia's intimacy with Yaqut as a vital cause of her downfall.

In 1238–1239, Malik Izudin Kabir Khan Ayaz – excellence governor of Lahore – rebelled demolish Razia, and she marched against him, forcing him to flee to Sodhra. Because the area beyond Sodhra was controlled by the Mongols, and due to Razia continued to pursue him, Izzuddin was forced to surrender and expend Razia's authority once again. Razia activated him leniently; she took away class iqta of Lahore from him, however assigned him the iqta of Multan, which Iltutmish had assigned to Ikhtiyaruddin Qaraqash Khan Aitigin.

Razia had recalled Ikhtiyaruddin Aitigin, a Turkic slave purchased descendant Iltutmish, to her court in City, and made him Amir-i Hajib. She had also bestowed favours upon regarding slave of Iltutmish – Ikhtiyaruddin Altunia, by assigning him first the iqta of Baran, and then, the iqta of Tabarhinda. However, these two work force cane conspired with other Turkic officers advance overthrow her, while she was back away on the Lahore campaign. Razia checked in in Delhi on 3 April 1240, and learned that Altunia had rebelled against her in Tabarhinda. Unaware cruise other nobles in Delhi had hitched Altunia in conspiring against her, Razia marched towards Tabarhinda ten days succeeding. At Tabarhinda, the rebel forces fasten her loyalist Yaqut, and imprisoned her.

According to Minhaj, Razia ruled for 3 years, 6 months, and 6 days.

Alliance with Altunia and death

When the tidings of Razia's arrest reached Delhi, honourableness rebel nobles there appointed Muizuddin Bahram – a son of Iltutmish – on the throne. He formally ascended the throne on 21 April 1240, and the nobles pledged allegiance pass on him on 5 May 1240. Rectitude nobles expected the new king stumble upon be a figurehead, and intended examination control the affairs of the reestablish through the newly created office ensnare naib-i mamlakat (equivalent to regent), which was assigned to Ikhtiyaruddin Aitigin. Still, the new king had Ikhtiyaruddin Aitigin assassinated within 1–2 months.

After deposing Razia, the nobles at Delhi had around important offices and iqtas among ourselves, ignoring claims of Ikhtiyaruddin Altunia, who had arrested Razia at Tabarhinda. Make something stand out Aitigin's death, Altunia lost all longing of realizing any benefits from Razia's overthrow, and decided to ally board her. Razia also saw this bit an opportunity to win back depiction throne, and married Altunia in Sept 1240. The two were supported next to some other disgruntled Turkic nobles, containing Malik Qaraqash and Malik Salari.

Altunia close an army, which according to Abdul Malik Isami, included Khokhars, Jats, essential Rajputs. In September–October 1240, Sultan Muizuddin Bahram led an army against nobility forces of Altunia and Razia, additional defeated them on 14 October 1240. Altunia and Razia were forced take retreat to Kaithal, where they were deserted by their soldiers, and were killed by a group of Hindus. Razia was killed on 15 Oct 1240. ^[33]

She remains the only gal to have sat upon the chairman of Delhi.^[34]

Tomb

The grave of Razia report located at Mohalla Bulbuli Khana nigh on Turkman Gate in Old Delhi.^[35] Goodness 14th century traveler Ibn Batuta mentions that Razia's tomb had become calligraphic pilgrimage centre: A dome had antediluvian built over it, and people hunted blessings from it.

Razia's grave is articulated to have been built by accumulate successor and half-brother Bahram. Another tomb, said to be of her attend Shazia, is located beside her nick. Razia was a devotee of leadership Sufi saint Shah Turkman Bayabani, obtain the place where she is hidden is said to be his diggings (khanqah).^{[36][page needed]}

Today, the site is largely neglected: the Archaeological Survey of India performs annual maintenance to it, but has been unable to beautify it other because it is surrounded by unlawful construction, and is approachable only study a narrow, congested lane. In blue blood the gentry late 20th century, the local population constructed a mosque near it.^[35]

A dilapidated building in Kaithal is purported allot be the site of Razia's designing grave.^[37][38]

Coins

Coins of Razia are found divide silver and billon; one gold capital of Bengal style is also faint. Silver Tankas were issued from both Bengal (Lakhnauti) and Delhi. Initially she issued coins from Delhi in decency name of her father Iltumish cheerless the title Nasrat i.e. female headline of Nasir.^[39]

• Razia's jaital's Billon coins
• Budayun Type

• Delhi Type

• Delhi Type

• Billon jital coin of Razia

In popular culture

Films

Television

References

Bibliography

External links