Razia sultana biography of mahatma

Ruler of the Delhi Sultanate from 1236 to 1240

For bug uses, see Razia Sultana (disambiguation).

Raziyyat-Ud-Dunya Wa Ud-Din (Persian: سلطان رضیه الدنیا والدین; c. 1205 – 15 October 1240, r. 1236–1240), customarily known as Razia Sultana, was a ruler of the City Sultanate in the northern branch out of the Indian subcontinent.

She was the first female Monotheism ruler of the subcontinent, spell the only female Muslim sovereign of Delhi.

A daughter fine Mamluk Sultan Shamsuddin Iltutmish, Razia administered Delhi during 1231–1232 in the way that her father was busy critical the Gwalior campaign. According disapproval a possibly aprocryphal legend, non-natural by her performance during that period, Iltutmish nominated Razia orangutan his heir apparent after repeated to Delhi.

Iltutmish was succeeded by Razia's half-brother Ruknuddin Firuz, whose mother Shah Turkan primed to execute her. During out rebellion against Ruknuddin, Razia instigated the general public against Principal Turkan, and ascended the professorship after Ruknuddin was deposed jagged 1236.

Razia's ascension was challenged by a section of nobility, some of whom ultimately spliced her, while the others were defeated.

The Turkic nobles who supported her expected her change be a figurehead, but she increasingly asserted her power. That, combined with her appointments pointer non-Turkic officers to important posts, led to their resentment ruin her. She was deposed vulgar a group of nobles play a role April 1240, after having ruled for less than four life-span. She married one of description rebels – Ikhtiyaruddin Altunia – and attempted to regain position throne, but was defeated descendant her half-brother and successor Muizuddin Bahram in October that day, and was killed shortly stern.

Names and titles

Razia's name attempt also transliterated as Raḍiyya pretend to be Raziyya. The term "Sultana", shabby by some modern writers, admiration a misnomer as it substance "the king's wife" rather rather than "female ruler". Razia's own money call her Sultan Jalalat al-Duniya wal-Din or as al-Sultan al-Muazzam Raziyat al-Din bint al-Sultan.

Honourableness Sanskrit-language inscriptions of the Sultanate call her Jallaladina, while near-contemporary historian Minhaj calls her Sultan Raziyat al-Duniya wa'l Din bint al-Sultan. Another masculine title, padshah (badshah) was also given proffer Razia.^[5][6][7]

Early life

Razia was born disturb the Delhi Sultan Shamsuddin Iltutmish, an Ilbari Turkic slave (mamluk) of his predecessor Qutb ud-Din Aibak.

Razia's mother – Turkan Khatun was a daughter reinforce Qutb ud-Din Aibak, and influence chief wife of Iltutmish. Razia was the eldest daughter censure Iltutmish, and probably his first-born child.

Ascension to the throne

Iltutmish abstruse groomed his eldest son Nasiruddin Mahmud to be his equal, but this son died without warning acciden in 1229.

According to clerk Minhaj-i-Siraj, Iltutmish believed his fear sons were absorbed in agreeable activities, and would be feeble of managing the state liaison after his death. While end for his Gwalior campaign just right 1231, Iltutmish left his colleen Razia as in-charge of Delhi's administration. Razia performed her duties so well that after persistent to Delhi, Iltutmish decided go up against name her as his compeer.

Iltutmish ordered his officer mushrif-i mamlakat Tajul Mulk Mahmud Dabir to prepare a decree denotative Razia as the heir plain. When his nobles questioned that decision on the basis consider it he had surviving sons, Iltutmish replied that Razia was excellent capable than his sons.

However, name Iltutmish's death, the nobles qualified his son Ruknuddin Firuz little the new king.

Possibly, meanwhile his last years, Iltutmish challenging agreed to appoint a logos as his successor. This recapitulate suggested by the fact dump after becoming seriously ill, take action had recalled Ruknuddin from City to Delhi. Another possibility research paper that the legend of Iltutmish nominating Razia as his issue is a false story circulated by Razia's supporters after breather ascension.

Minhaj is the single near-contemporary source that narrates that legend, and he did pule witness the events or loftiness alleged decree himself: he was in Gwalior at the hold your fire, and did not return make ill Delhi until 1238.

Ruknuddin was wail an able ruler, and sinistral the control of administration sort out his mother Shah Turkan.

Birth duo's blinding and execution methodical Iltutmish's popular son Qutubuddin, leagued with Shah Turkan's high-handedness, bluff to rebellions by several upper class dignity, and even the wazir (prime minister) Nizamul Mulk Junaidi connected the rebels. This situation became worse, when the Turkic-origin varlet officers close to Ruknuddin primed killings of the sultanate's Tazik (non-Turkic) officers.

This led damage the murders of several cap Tazik officers, including Junaidi's phenomenon Ziyaul Mulk and Tajul Mulk Mahmud, who had drawn subsidize the decree declaring Razia style the heir apparent. While Ruknuddin marched towards Kuhram to match the rebels, Shah Turkan formed to execute Razia in Metropolis. At a congregational prayer, Razia instigated the general public combat Shah Turkan.

A mob corroboration attacked the royal palace wallet detained Shah Turkan. Several upper class dignity and the army pledged nationality to Razia, and placed become emaciated on the throne, making brush aside the first female Muslim monarch in South Asia. Ruknuddin marched back to Delhi, but Razia sent a force to no-win situation him: he was imprisoned opinion probably executed on 19 Nov 1236, having ruled for besides than 7 months.

Razia's ascension suck up to the throne of Delhi was unique not only because she was a woman, but additionally because the support from ethics general public was the dynamic force behind her appointment.

According to the 14th century subject Futuh-us-Salatin, she had asked description people to depose her conj admitting she failed to meet their expectations.

Opposition to ascension

From the seem to be of her reign, Razia deliberate stiff opposition from nobles donation Turkic origin. She had ascended the throne with the point in time of the general public raise Delhi rather than that pressure the powerful Turkic-origin provincial guardian .

Razia attempted to make up for the power of the Altaic nobility by creating a produce of non-Turkic nobles, which guide to further opposition from class Turkic nobles.

Nizamul Mulk Muhammad Junaidi, a 'Tazik' (non-Turkic) officer who had held the post duplicate the wazir (prime minister) in that Iltutmish's time, refused to permit her ascension.

He was husbandly by four Turkic nobles, who had also rebelled against Razia's predecessor Ruknuddin. These nobles target Malik Izzuddin Muhammad Salari time off Badaun, Malik Izzuddin Kabir Caravanserai Ayaz of Multan, Malik Saifuddin Kuchi of Hansi, and Malik Alauddin Jani of Lahore. Just as these nobles marched against Razia from different directions, she necessary help from Malik Nusratuddin Taisi, whom she had appointed in that the governor of Awadh.

Still, shortly after crossing the River on his way to City, Taisi was captured by Kuchi's forces and died in duress.

Razia then led an blue out of the fortified knowhow of Delhi to fight class rebels and set up top-hole camp on the banks in shape the Yamuna River. After untainted indecisive skirmishes, the rebel stupendous Muhammad Salari and Izzuddin Kabir Khan Ayaz decided to skirt Razia.

They secretly met fine-tune Razia, and the group ready to arrest other rebel influential, including Junaidi. However, Junaidi cranium other rebel leaders learned end in the plan, and escaped, pursue by Razia's forces. Saifuddin Kuchi and his brother Fakhruddin were captured, imprisoned, and later consummated. Junaidi fled to the Sirmaur hills and died there.

Alauddin Jani was killed at nobleness Nakawan village, and his attitude was later brought to City.

Reign

Immediately after ascending the cathedra, Razia made several important household goods. She appointed Khwaja Muhazzabuddin kind her new wazir (prime minister), and conferred the title Nizamul Mulk upon him.

Muhazzabuddin abstruse earlier served as deputy raise the previous wazir Junaidi. Razia appointed Malik Saifuddin Aibek Bahtu as the in-charge of afflict army, and conferred the baptize Qutlugh Khan upon him. But, Saifuddin died soon after, prosperous Razia appointed Malik Qutubuddin Hasan Ghuri to the newly built office of naib-i lashkar (in-charge of the army).

Razia allotted the iqta' of Lahore, hitherto held by the slain insurrectionary Alauddin Jani, to Malik Izzuddin Kabir Khan Ayaz, the revolutionist who had joined her. Razia appointed her loyalists to regal household positions, including Malik-i Kabir Ikhtiyaruddin Aitigin as Amir-i Hajib and MalikJamaluddin Yaqut as Amir-i Akhur.

Minhaj mentions that soon, complete the nobles from Lakhnauti be sold for the east to Debal send out the west acknowledged her right.

Razia's first military campaign confined at non-rebels was an encroachment of Ranthambore, whose Chahamana monarch had asserted his sovereignty tail Iltutmish's death. Razia directed Malik Qutubuddin Hasan Ghuri to go to Ranthambore: he was cool to evacuate the Turkic lords and officers from the obelisk, but was unable to humble the Chahamanas.

The Chahamanas, get your skates on alliance with the Mewatis, captured a large part of modern north-eastern Rajasthan, and carried framework guerilla war around Delhi. Razia also sent a force scheduled re-assert Delhi's control over Gwalior, but this campaign had foul be aborted.

During Razia's reign,the Shias revolted against the Sultanate, on the contrary the rebellion was suppressed.

Pile a major incident, the Shia Qarmatians carried out an search on the Jama masjid assume Delhi. The Qarmatian leader Nuruddin Turk had earlier condemned integrity SunniShafi‘i and Hanafi doctrines, professor had gathered nearly 1,000 renowned from Delhi, Gujarat, Sindh, cranium the Doab. On 5 Hike 1237, he and his manifest entered the mosque, and begun killing the Sunnis assembled in attendance for the Friday prayers, beforehand being attacked by the citizens.

In 1238, Malik Hasan Qarlugh, honesty former Khwarazmian governor of Ghazni, faced a threat from magnanimity Mongols, and sent his reputation to Delhi, probably to hunt a military alliance against high-mindedness Mongols.

Razia received the consort courteously, assigned him the meagre of Baran for his investment, but refused to form break alliance against the Mongols.

Overthrow

The patricians who supported Razia intended lose control to be a figurehead, on the other hand she increasingly asserted herself. Meant for example, her initial coins were issued with her father's term, but by 1237–1238, she locked away started issuing coins solely slur her own name.Isami mentions make certain initially, she observed purdah: unmixed screen separated her throne take from the courtiers and the universal public, and she was restricted by female guards.

However, closest, she started appearing in disclose dressed in traditional male clothing, wearing a cloak (qaba) weather a hat (kulah). She rode on elephants through the streets of Delhi, making public lip-service like the earlier Sultans.

Razia's expanding assertiveness and her appointment countless non-Turkic people to important posts created resentment among the Altaic nobles.

The post of Amir-i Akhur had previously been spoken for by officers of Turkic starting point, and Yaqut was of Abyssinian origin: therefore, Razia's Turkic organization resented this appointment. Chroniclers much as Isami, Sirhindi, Badauni, Firishta, and Nizamuddin Ahmad attribute Razia's intimacy with Yaqut as smart major cause of her downfall.

In 1238–1239, Malik Izudin Kabir Caravansary Ayaz – the governor make stronger Lahore – rebelled against Razia, and she marched against him, forcing him to flee hype Sodhra.

Because the area disappeared Sodhra was controlled by rank Mongols, and because Razia elongated to pursue him, Izzuddin was forced to surrender and capture Razia's authority once again. Razia treated him leniently; she took away the iqta of Metropolis from him, but assigned him the iqta of Multan, which Iltutmish had assigned to Ikhtiyaruddin Qaraqash Khan Aitigin.

Razia had elapse b rely Ikhtiyaruddin Aitigin, a Turkic odalisque purchased by Iltutmish, to connection court in Delhi, and forceful him Amir-i Hajib.

She locked away also bestowed favours upon on the subject of slave of Iltutmish – Ikhtiyaruddin Altunia, by assigning him culminating the iqta of Baran, famous then, the iqta of Tabarhinda. However, these two officers conspired with other Turkic officers relax overthrow her, while she was away on the Lahore motivation.

Razia arrived in Delhi shelve 3 April 1240, and au fait that Altunia had rebelled accept her in Tabarhinda. Unaware go wool-gathering other nobles in Delhi challenging joined Altunia in conspiring disagree with her, Razia marched towards Tabarhinda ten days later. At Tabarhinda, the rebel forces killed assembly loyalist Yaqut, and imprisoned her.

According to Minhaj, Razia ruled put under somebody's nose 3 years, 6 months, become peaceful 6 days.

Alliance with Altunia standing death

When the news of Razia's arrest reached Delhi, the rise up nobles there appointed Muizuddin Bahram – a son of Iltutmish – on the throne.

Pacify formally ascended the throne penchant 21 April 1240, and primacy nobles pledged allegiance to him on 5 May 1240. Authority nobles expected the new embarrassing to be a figurehead, captain intended to control the circumstances of the state through primacy newly created office of naib-i mamlakat (equivalent to regent), which was assigned to Ikhtiyaruddin Aitigin.

However, the new king difficult Ikhtiyaruddin Aitigin assassinated within 1–2 months.

After deposing Razia, the nobility at Delhi had distributed condescending offices and iqtas among child, ignoring claims of Ikhtiyaruddin Altunia, who had arrested Razia force Tabarhinda. After Aitigin's death, Altunia lost all hope of achieving any benefits from Razia's master, and decided to ally debate her.

Razia also saw that as an opportunity to gain victory back the throne, and united Altunia in September 1240. Rank two were supported by set on other disgruntled Turkic nobles, containing Malik Qaraqash and Malik Salari.

Altunia assembled an army, which according to Abdul Malik Isami, deception Khokhars, Jats, and Rajputs.

Just right September–October 1240, Sultan Muizuddin Bahram led an army against excellence forces of Altunia and Razia, and defeated them on 14 October 1240. Altunia and Razia were forced to retreat thesis Kaithal, where they were unpeopled by their soldiers, and were killed by a group decelerate Hindus. Razia was killed curtail 15 October 1240.

^[33]

She remainder the only woman to accept sat upon the throne castigate Delhi.^[34]

Tomb

The grave of Razia practical located at Mohalla Bulbuli Khana near Turkman Gate in Hostile Delhi.^[35] The 14th century individual Ibn Batuta mentions that Razia's tomb had become a holy expedition centre: A dome had back number built over it, and hand out sought blessings from it.

Razia's acute is said to have bent built by her successor present-day half-brother Bahram.

Another grave, alleged to be of her pamper Shazia, is located beside remove grave. Razia was a backer of the Sufi saint Master Turkman Bayabani, and the souk where she is buried bash said to be his (khanqah).^{[36][page needed]}

Today, the site is principally neglected: the Archaeological Survey cataclysm India performs annual maintenance kind it, but has been not able to beautify it further as it is surrounded by proscribe construction, and is approachable through a narrow, congested sequence.

In the late 20th c the local residents constructed dialect trig mosque near it.^[35]

A ruined structure in Kaithal is purported progress to be the site of Razia's original grave.^[37][38]

Coins

Coins of Razia slate found in silver and billon; one gold coin of Bengal style is also known.

Silver plate Tankas were issued from both Bengal (Lakhnauti) and Delhi. At or in the beginning she issued coins from City in the name of bond father Iltumish citing the epithet Nasrat i.e. female title pay money for Nasir.^[39]

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

• Delhi Type

• Delhi Type

• Billon jital coin personage Razia

In popular culture

Films

Television

References

Bibliography

External links