The Khilji Dynasty

 The Khilji Dynasty – 1290-1320 AD

image sources : mapofindia.com/khiljidynasty

Jalal-ud-din Firoz Khilji (1290-1296 A.D.)

  • He was the founder of Khilji Dynasty.
  • He was also called as “Clemency Jalal-uddin” as he followed peace and wanted to rule without violence. 
  • In 1292 A.D. Jalal-ud-din defeated the Mongols who had come up to Sunam.
  • Jalal-ud-din was treacherously murdered by Ala-ud-din Khilji his son-in-law.
  • Jalal-ud-din’s policy of peace was not liked by many.

Ala-ud-din Khilji (1296-1316 A.D.)

In 1296 A.D. Ala-ud-din Khilji succeeded Jalal-ud-din Firoz Khilji and ascended the throne.

Invasions in the North

  • Ala-ud-din Khiliji’s generals namely, Ulugh Khan and Nusrat Khan conquered Gujarat.
  • He captured Ranthambore and killed Hamir Deva its ruler.
  • He also captured Malwa, Chittor, Dhar, Mandu, Ujjain, Marwar, Chanderi and Jalor.

Invasions in the South

  • He was the first Sultan who attacked South India.
  • He sent his confidante and general Malik Kafur against the rulers of the south.
  • Prataprudra-II of Warangal, Ramachandra Deva, the Yadava king of Devagiri, and Vira Ballala-III the Hoysala king were defeated.
  • He constructed a mosque in Rameswaram.
  • The kingdoms of the south acknowledged the power of Alauddin Khilji and paid his monetary tributes.

The Mongol Invasion

  • Ala-ud-din successfully resisted the Mongol invasion more than 12 times. 
  • Domestic Policies of Alauddin Khilji
  • Ala-ud-din followed the Divine Right Theory of Kingship.
  • He introduced four ordinances to prevent repeated revolts.
  • He impounded pious grants and free grants of lands
  • He restructured the spy system.
  • He banned social parties and wine.
  • He introduced a permanent standing army.
  • He started the system of branding of horses and descriptive roster of individual soldiers to inhibit corruption.
  • He fixed the prices of necessary commodities which were below the normal market rates.
  • He strictly prohibited black marketing.
  • Revenue was collected in cash and not in kind.
  • He followed discriminatory policies towards the Hindus and imposed the Jizya, a grazing tax and a house tax on the Hindu community. 

Marketing System

Officers called Diwan-i-riyasat were appointed in the offices called Shahana-i-mandi to standardize the market.

Merchants should have to register themselves in the office (Shahana-i-mandi) before selling their goods at the fixed rates.

Ala-ud-din-Khilji’s Estimate

He was the first to bring the standing army system.

He constructed Alai Darwaza, the Palace of a thousand pillars and the Fort of Siri.

Successors after Ala-ud-din-Khilji

  • Qutb-ud-din Mubarak Shah (1316-1320 A.D.)
  • Nasir-ud-din Khusrav Shah (1320A.D.)

His successors were weak. 

Mubarak Khan – 1316-20AD

  • After the death of kafur Mubarak khan was free from prison and worked as regent for Shihabuddin. 
  • He captured the throne at the first opportunity he got but could rule only for a years.
  • Mubarak Hassan was given the title Khusrau Khan by the Sultan and within months Khusrau killed Mubarak Khan and assumed the title of Nasirudin in mid-1320

Khusrau Khan – 1320 AD

  • Khusrau khan was killed by ghazi Malik governor of Dipalpur 
  • When he tried to oppose a revellion by Ghazi Malik and his son Fakhruddin Jauna 
  • This brought the end of Khilji dynasty and established the Tughlaq dynasty on the throne of Delhi 

End of the Dynasty

  • Ala-ud-din Khilji died in 1316 A.D.
  • Successors of Ala-ud-din-Khilji were weak rulers.
  • Eventually, in 1320 A.D. the Governor of Punjab Ghazi Malik led a group of nobles, conquered Delhi and captured the throne.
  • Ghazi Malik assumed the name ‘Ghiyas-ud-din Tughluq’ at Delhi and founded the Tughluq Dynasty, a dynasty of rulers.