Question

Give a detailed account of the expansion of delhi sultanate under the khaljis

Answer 1

Summary on the Khilji Dynasty of Delhi Sultanate

The Khiljis served under the Ilbari dynasty of Delhi. Malik Firuz was the founder of the Khilji Dynasty who was originally the Ariz-I-Mumalik appointed by Kaiqubad during the days of the decline of the Ilbari Dynasty. He took advantage of the political vacuum that was created due to the incompetence of the successors of Balban. On June 13, 1290, Malik Firuz ascended the throne of Delhi as Jalal-ud-din Firuz Khilji.

Jalal-ud-din Firuz Khilji (AD 1290-96)

1. He came to the throne at the age of seventy and ruled for six years, but did not dare to sit on the throne of Balban whom he had served earlier. He made Kilokhari as his capital.

2. He adopted a conciliatory policy towards the nobles of earlier regime and even the Mongols. So, he appointed Malik Chajju who was a Balban's nephew, as the Governor of Kara, but he rebelled later.

3. One of the most important events of his reign was the invasion of Devagiri, the capital of the Yadava king, Raja Ramachandradeva, in the Deccan, by Ali Gurshasp, the nephew and son-in-law of the sultan, and the Governor of Kara.

4. After his successful campaign, Ali Gurshasp invited the Sultan to Kara to receive the enormous wealth. Jalaluddin came to Kara in July 1296, where he was murdered by Ali Gurshasp, who proclaimed himself the Sultan with the title of Alauddin.



Alauddin Khilji (AD 1296-1316)

1. He was the greatest ruler of the Khilji Dynasty and was the first Muslim ruler to extend his empire right up to the extreme South of India. He lavishly distributed money and gold among his people, noble and ministers so that they might forget the murder of Jalal-ud-din and support him.

2. He was the first ruler of Delhi Sultanate who did not ask for manshur (letter of investiture) from the Caliph but called himself the deputy of the Caliph.

3. He concentrated all power of the state in his own hands; therefore, the period marked the zenith of despotic government as well.

4. Alauddin Khilji is said to have been poisoned by Malik Kafur. He died in January 1316.

 


Reforms and Experiments

9. The reforms of Alauddin aimed at improving the administration, strengthening the army, and gearing up the machinery of land revenue administration, expand and improve the cultivation and welfare of the people.

Administrative measures for prevention of rebellions

10. The sale and use of liquor and intoxicants was prohibited in Delhi and neighbouring areas. Sultan himself gave up drinking.

11. He forbade parties and marriage relations among the nobles without his permission.

12. He confiscated many jagirs and estates and stopped all pensions and allowances. All religious endowments and grants of lands (waqf and inam) by the state were revoked.

13. He established a network of spices all over his kingdom.

Revenue/Agrarian Reforms

14. Zabita regulation Biswa declared as the standard unit of measurement of cultivable land.

15. Land revenue (Kharaj) was fixed at half of the produce on the basis of paimash (measurement) in the Doab i.e., the territory between the Ganga and the Jamuna. Suppression of the hereditary revenue collectors-Rai, Rana, Rawat (top level) and Khut, Muqaddam, Chaudhari (village level). House tax (ghari) and pasture tax (charai) were also levied.

16.  Land revenue was calculated in kind but demanded in cash.

17. Establishment of a new revenue department, Diwan-i-Mustakharaj. Khuts were a new set of intermediaries who arose at the parganah or shiq (district) level. Amir Khusrau, for the first time, referred to them as zamindars.






Military Reforms

26. The realisation of land revenue in cash enabled Alauddin to pay his soldiers in cash. He was the first sultan to do so.

27. Direct recruitment of the soldiers by Arz-i-Mamalik.

28. Like Balban, he built several forts on North West frontier and repaired old ones.

29. Introduction of Daag (branding the horses) and Huliya or Chehra (descriptive rolls of soldiers) system.

30. Introduction of three grades of soldiers: Foot soldiers; Soldiers with one horse (ek-aspa); Soldiers with two horses (do-asps)