UPSC GS Paper I: Medieval History, Delhi Sultanate, Slave, Khalji, Tughlaq, Sayyid, Lodi

Must?Know

• Qutb-ud-din Aibak (r. 1206–1210) founded the Slave Dynasty; initiated construction of Qutub Minar in Delhi, completed by Iltutmish.
• Iltutmish (r. 1211–1236) established the Iqta system, organized the Chahalgani (40 nobles), and received formal recognition from the Abbasid Caliph in 1229.
• Razia Sultan (r. 1236–1240) was the first and only female ruler of the Delhi Sultanate; deposed by the Chahalgani after challenging their authority.
• Balban (r. 1266–1287) crushed the power of the Chahalgani, introduced Persian court rituals (Sijda, Paibos), and emphasized the concept of Kingship as divine right.
• Mongol invasions began during the reign of Iltutmish; he refused asylum to the Khwarizm Shah, preventing immediate conflict, but later invasions plagued Balban’s rule.
• Alauddin Khalji (r. 1296–1316) captured Devagiri in 1296, used its wealth to fund his military campaigns and market reforms.
• Alauddin established a permanent standing army, paid in cash, and introduced strict market control (Dagh and Chehra system) to curb inflation during wartime.
• The Siege of Chittor (1303) by Alauddin Khalji led to the first recorded Jauhar in Chittor; Rani Padmini (legendary figure) associated with this event.
• Malik Kafur, a eunuch general of Alauddin, led southern expeditions (1309–1311) to Warangal, Dwarasamudra, and Madurai, looting vast wealth.
• The Khalji dynasty ended with the assassination of Qutb-ud-din Mubarak Shah in 1320; Khusrau Khan, a Hindu convert, briefly ruled before being overthrown by Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq.
• Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq (r. 1320–1325) founded the Tughlaq dynasty; built Tughlaqabad Fort in Delhi; died when a wooden pavilion collapsed during his triumphal entry to Delhi.
• Muhammad bin Tughlaq (r. 1325–1351) shifted the capital from Delhi to Daulatabad (1327) to centralize control over the Deccan; reversed decision due to public hardship.
• Muhammad bin Tughlaq introduced token currency (bronze coins) in 1329, which failed due to lack of state control over minting, leading to widespread forgery.
• Ibn Battuta, Moroccan traveler, visited India during Muhammad bin Tughlaq’s reign (1333–1341) and served as a qazi in Delhi; documented court life in Rihla.
• Firoz Shah Tughlaq (r. 1351–1388) established the Diwan-i-Khairat (charity department) and Diwan-i-Bandagan (slave department); banned extra taxes not sanctioned by Sharia.
• Firoz Shah founded the cities of Firozabad, Jaunpur, Hissar, and Fatehabad; brought two Ashokan pillars to Delhi from Topra and Meerut.
• The Tughlaq dynasty declined rapidly after Firoz Shah; Timur’s invasion in 1398 devastated Delhi, leading to the collapse of central authority.
• The Sayyid dynasty (1414–1451) was established by Khizr Khan, a former governor under Timur, who ruled as a viceroy of Timurid authority.
• Khizr Khan did not assume the title of Sultan; his successors Mubarak Shah, Muhammad Shah, and Alam Shah used the title but exercised limited control beyond Delhi.
• Bahlul Lodi (r. 1451–1489) founded the Lodi dynasty; annexed Jaunpur after defeating Hussain Shah Sharqi in 1479.
• Sikandar Lodi (r. 1489–1517) shifted the capital from Delhi to Agra in 1504; enforced strict Sunni orthodoxy and persecuted Shia practices.
• Ibrahim Lodi (r. 1517–1526) faced rebellion from Afghan nobles; defeated by Babur at the First Battle of Panipat in 1526, marking the end of the Delhi Sultanate.
• The Delhi Sultanate introduced Persian administrative practices, including the use of Persian as the court language and the Iqta system for revenue and military organization.
• The Zat and Sawar ranks were not formalized under the Delhi Sultanate; they were part of the later Mughal Mansabdari system.
• The Diwan-i-Ariz managed the military department, while Diwan-i-Risalat handled religious affairs and charity under the Delhi Sultanate.

Difficulty Level

Intermediate – requires precise recall of dynastic transitions, administrative reforms, and chronology, often tested through indirect linkages in UPSC.

Common UPSC Traps

Trap: Razia Sultan was the daughter of Alauddin Khalji – Fact: Razia was daughter of Iltutmish of the Slave Dynasty; Alauddin Khalji ruled over a century later (1296–1316).
Trap: Muhammad bin Tughlaq’s capital shift to Daulatabad was successful and long-lasting – Fact: The shift (1327) was reversed due to public resistance, water scarcity, and administrative failure.
Trap: Firoz Shah Tughlaq built the Hauz Khas complex – Fact: While Firoz Shah developed Hauz Khas as a water reservoir and educational center, the complex was initiated earlier; he expanded it.
Trap: The Lodi dynasty was the last of the five Sultanate dynasties and ruled until 1526 – Fact: Correct; Lodi was the fifth and last, ending with Ibrahim Lodi’s defeat at Panipat in 1526.
Trap: The term “Slave Dynasty” implies rulers were slaves – Fact: “Slave” refers to bandagan (military slaves or mamluks) trained for administration and war; Qutb-ud-din Aibak was a freed slave of Muhammad Ghori.

Practice MCQs

Question: Consider the following statements about Muhammad bin Tughlaq:

1. He shifted the capital from Delhi to Devagiri and renamed it Daulatabad.

2. He introduced token currency made of silver to facilitate trade.

3. He established diplomatic relations with the Mongol Khanate to prevent invasions.
Which of the statements given above is. 1 and 2 only
B) 1 and 3 only
C) 1 only
D) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: C
Explanation: Statement 1 is correct – capital shifted to Daulatabad (formerly Devagiri) in 1327. Statement 2 is incorrect – token currency was made of bronze, not silver. Statement 3 is false – he faced Mongol threats but did not establish formal diplomacy.
Why others fail: Option A is tempting because token currency is correctly attributed to him, but the material (silver) is wrong.

Question: The introduction of Dagh and Chehra system is associated with which ruler of the Delhi Sultanate?
A) Iltutmish
B) Balban
C) Alauddin Khalji
D) Firoz Shah Tughlaq
Answer: C
Explanation: Alauddin Khalji introduced Dagh (branding of horses) and Chehra (descriptive roll of soldiers) to prevent fraud in the army.
Why others fail: Balban strengthened the army but did not institutionalize Dagh-Chehra; Alauddin did for market and military control.

Question: Which of the following cities was founded by Sikandar Lodi?
A) Firozabad
B) Agra
C) Jaunpur
D) Hissar
Answer: B
Explanation: Sikandar Lodi founded Agra in 1504 and made it the capital of the Delhi Sultanate.
Why others fail: Firozabad, Hissar, and Jaunpur were founded by Firoz Shah Tughlaq.

Question: Who among the following was a contemporary of Ibn Battuta in India?
A) Qutb-ud-din Aibak
B) Iltutmish
C) Muhammad bin Tughlaq
D) Alauddin Khalji
Answer: C
Explanation: Ibn Battuta arrived in India in 1333 during the reign of Muhammad bin Tughlaq and served in his court.
Why others fail: Alauddin Khalji died in 1316, before Ibn Battuta’s arrival; Muhammad bin Tughlaq ruled 1325–1351.

Question: The Diwan-i-Bandagan was established by:
A) Alauddin Khalji
B) Firoz Shah Tughlaq
C) Muhammad bin Tughlaq
D) Balban
Answer: B
Explanation: Firoz Shah Tughlaq created Diwan-i-Bandagan (Department of Slaves) to manage state slaves and their employment.
Why others fail: Balban relied on slaves but did not create a formal department; Firoz institutionalized it.

Question: Which of the following rulers did NOT assume the title of Sultan?
A) Khizr Khan
B) Mubarak Shah (Sayyid)
C) Bahlul Lodi
D) Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq
Answer: A
Explanation: Khizr Khan, founder of the Sayyid dynasty, ruled as deputy (Rayat-i-Ala) of Timur and did not take the title Sultan.
Why others fail: Mubarak Shah, though first of the Sayyids to assume title, succeeded Khizr Khan; others were full Sultans.

Question: The first Battle of Panipat (1526) was fought between:
A) Ibrahim Lodi and Rana Sanga
B) Babur and Ibrahim Lodi
C) Humayun and Sher Shah Suri
D) Babur and Bahadur Shah of Gujarat
Answer: B
Explanation: First Battle of Panipat (1526) was fought between Babur and Ibrahim Lodi, resulting in Lodi’s defeat and end of Delhi Sultanate.
Why others fail: Rana Sanga fought Babur later at Battle of Khanwa (1527).

Last?Minute Revision

• 1206: Start of Delhi Sultanate with Qutb-ud-din Aibak.
• 1211: Iltutmish ascends throne.
• 1236: Razia Sultan becomes ruler.
• 1296: Alauddin Khalji sacks Devagiri.
• 1303: Alauddin besieges Chittor.
• 1320: Tughlaq dynasty begins.
• 1327: Capital shifted to Daulatabad by Muhammad bin Tughlaq.
• 1329: Token currency introduced.
• 1333: Ibn Battuta arrives in India.
• 1351: Firoz Shah Tughlaq ascends.
• 1398: Timur invades Delhi.
• 1414: Sayyid dynasty begins with Khizr Khan.
• 1451: Lodi dynasty founded by Bahlul Lodi.
• 1479: Bahlul Lodi annexes Jaunpur.
• 1504: Sikandar Lodi founds Agra.
• 1526: First Battle of Panipat – Babur vs Ibrahim Lodi.
• Qutub Minar started by Qutb-ud-din Aibak, completed by Iltutmish.
• Iqta system: revenue assignment for military service.
• Chahalgani: group of 40 nobles under Iltutmish.
• Muhammad bin Tughlaq’s token currency was bronze, not silver.
• Diwan-i-Khairat and Diwan-i-Bandagan: established by Firoz Shah Tughlaq.
• Dagh and Chehra: Alauddin Khalji’s military reforms.
• Khizr Khan did not take title of Sultan.
• Sayyid dynasty ruled 1414–1451.
• Firoz Shah brought Ashokan pillars to Delhi.