Table of Contents
Introduction: Khalji Dynasty
The Khalji Dynasty, a significant chapter in the medieval history of India, reigned over the Indian subcontinent during the late 13th and early 14th centuries. Emerging amidst political turmoil, they brought about transformative changes in governance, culture, and society. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the Khalji Dynasty, its rise to power, notable rulers, administrative policies, socio-cultural developments, and its lasting impact.
Notable Rulers
Jalal-ud-din Khalji
- Jalal-ud-din Khalji was the founder of the Khalji dynasty. He came to power after overthrowing the last ruler of the Slave dynasty, Sultan Qaiqabad, in 1290 AD.
- He repulsed a Mongol invasion and allowed many Mongols to settle in India after converting them to Islam.
Alauddin Khalji
- Alauddin was a nephew and a son-in-law of his predecessor Jalaluddin Khalji.
- The Persian poets, Amir Khasru and Mir Hasan Dehlvi both received his patronage.
- Alauddin promoted Malik Kafur to the rank of ‘Malik Naib‘ (Sultan’s assistant or regent).
- He began to use the title ‘Sikander Sani‘ (Second Alexander) on his coins and in prayer.
Conquest of Alauddin Khalji
| Gujarat (1297) | Ulugh Khan and Nusrat Khan attacked Anhilwara, the capital of Gujarat. Vaghela king Karnadev fled from the capital. Malik Kafur was captured from Cambay. |
| Ranthambore (1299) | Hamir Dev was the Rana of Ranthambore. |
| Chittor (1303) | Alauddin captured Chittor after an eight-month-long siege. Alauddin kept his son Khizr Khan as the ruler of Chittor. In 1318 AD, Chittor regained its independence. |
| Malwa (1305) | The Paramara king Mahlak Dev was defeated and killed in battle. Alauddin appointed his private secretary Ayn-ul-Mulk to rule Malwa. |
| Devagiri (1308) | When king Ramachandra of Devagiri stopped paying the promised annual tribute, Alauddin sent Malik Kafur to attack Devagiri. Ramachandra was forced to submit to Alauddin. |
| Warangal (1309-10) | After a month-long siege, the Kakatiya king Prataparudra agreed to pay an annual tribute to Delhi. |
| Hoysala | Hoysala king Vira Ballal III became a tributary of Alauddin. |
| Pandya | At this time in the Pandya kingdom, due to a dispute between the royal family, Malik Kafur easily captured Madura, the capital of the Pandya kingdom. After conquering the Pandya kingdom, Malik Kafur advanced upto Rameswaram. |
| Jalore (1311) | The Jalore fort was captured after defeating and killing Kanhadadeva. |
Attack of Mongols
| 1297 AD | Ulugh Khan, the ruler of northwestern India, defeated the Mongols miserably near Jalandhar. |
| 1298–99 | The Mongols advanced under the leadership of their leader Saldi But this time they were defeated by Zafar Khan. |
Economic reforms
- Alauddin Khalji brought large areas of land under crown land (Khalisa) by confiscating private land.
- He imposed a 50% tax (kharaj) on agricultural produce and collected the revenue directly from the peasants by eliminating the middleman (khut, muqudaam, Choudhary).
- Establishment of a new Revenue Department Diwan-i-Mustakharaj.
- A portion of the grain produced from the “Khalisa” lands of the Ganga-Yamuna doab region was collected as revenue instead of cash.
- He controlled the prices of goods so that the soldiers could meet their living expenses, and thus lowered the cost of living in general.
Market Control
- Considering that it would be difficult to finance a large army, he employed soldiers on very low wages.
- As a result of the abundance of wealth brought from the Deccan, the value of the currency fell and the price of goods increased enormously.
- But so that the soldiers could live comfortably with a small salary, he fixed the prices of the necessities of daily life such as rice, flour, sugar, oil, cloth, etc.
- A portion of the grain produced from the “Khalisa” lands of the Doab was collected as revenue in lieu of cash. The grain collected this way was stored in the government granary at Delhi for supply in times of famine. All merchants engaged in grain trade were brought under the control of the government. Till now foodgrains trade was dominated by ‘Nayaks‘ and cloths by Multani traders. Alauddin also introduced control over them.
- There were four types of regulated markets in Delhi –
- central grain market; and grocery stores dependent on it in various parts of the city;
- market for cloth, sugar, dry fruits, butter, lamp oil, etc.;
- horse, slave, and cattle markets;
- Common market for other goods.
- A high-ranking royal official named ‘Shahna-i-Mandi‘ controlled the food grain market (Mandi) in Delhi.
- Barani says that even during famine there was no shortage of food in Delhi and its surrounding areas.
Military reforms
- After the Mongol invasion of 1303 AD, Alauddin felt the need to maintain a large army to protect the borders and the security of the capital.
- A large standing army was needed not only to resist the Mongol invasion but also to extend the boundaries of the Sultanate empire in South India and to maintain discipline in the vast empire.
- According to Firishta, his army consisted of 475,000 cavalry. This army was appointed by the Sultan himself and paid in cash.
- He fixed a salary of 234 tankas per soldier.
Qutbuddin Mubarak Shah
- Before his death, Alauddin nominated his minor son Shihabuddin Omar as his successor.
- It was done under the influence of Malik Kafur. Kafur became the de facto ruler. Alauddin’s bodyguards (‘pikes‘) killed Kafur. After that, a son of Alauddin named Mubarak became the guardian (naib-i mulk)of Shihamuddin Omar. But within a few weeks the minor was blinded and Mubarak formally ascended the throne.
- He took the title of ‘Khalifatullah‘ (Representative of God).
Khusro Khan
- Khusrau Khan was captured by the Delhi army during Alauddin Khalji’s conquest of Malwa in 1305 and taken to Delhi as a slave.
- He was granted the title “Khusrau Khan” and enjoyed significant favor from Mubarak Shah after he ascended the throne in 1316.
- Khusrau Khan led successful military campaigns to reassert Delhi’s control over Devagiri in 1317 and besieged Warangal the following year, compelling the Kakatiya ruler Prataparudra to resume tribute payments to Delhi.
- He ascended the throne with the regnal name “Nasiruddin“.
- However, his reign was short-lived as he was soon deposed by a group of rebels led by the noble Malik Tughluq. Malik Tughluq succeeded him on the throne, marking the inception of the Tughluq Dynasty.
Architecture: Khalji Dynasty
- Architecture during the Khalji Dynasty witnessed a fascinating blend of indigenous Indian styles with influences from Central Asia and Persia. The Khalji rulers, particularly Alauddin Khalji, were patrons of architecture, leading to the construction of several magnificent structures.
| Alai Darwaza | location: Qutub Minar complex in Delhi. Constructed by Alauddin Khalji in 1311. It is renowned for its striking features, including intricate calligraphic inscriptions, geometric patterns, and ornate decorations. |
| Alai Minar | Alai Minar is an unfinished monument located within the Qutub Minar complex in Delhi. It was commissioned by Alauddin Khalji. The Alai Minar was intended to surpass the Qutub Minar in height. The construction of the Alai Minar was abruptly halted following Alauddin Khalji’s death in 1316, leaving it incomplete. It was designed to be twice the height of the existing Qutub Minar. |
The Khalji Dynasty left an indelible mark on medieval Indian history. The administrative reforms introduced by Alauddin Khalji laid the groundwork for efficient governance and revenue administration. Furthermore, their patronage of Persian culture enriched the cultural milieu of medieval India, fostering a synthesis of Indian and Persian traditions.