1290–1320 AD Khilji Dynasty (Established by Jalal-ud-din Khilji). They were the would-be movers and shakers who brought the curtain down on the Slave Dynasty forever and altered the face of India. The 2nd and most powerful king of the Khilji dynasty was Alauddin Khilji. He wanted to be the next Alexander and conquer the world.
Alauddin was the first Muslim ruler to invade deep south India (being assisted by his famous general, Malik Kafur), crossing the Vindhya Mountains. The Khilji dynasty’s architectural marvel is Alai Darwaza, which is a true Dome and arc structure built using science & technology.
The dynasty concluded itself as brutally as it began following the death of Alauddin in 1316. The general Malik Kafur was killed in a betrayal; Qutb-ud-din Mubarak Shah Khalji, the last Khalji ruler, was treacherously murdered by his most trusted friend Khusrau Khan. The disorder that followed after the death of Alauddin created an opportunity for the Tughlaq dynasty to take over Delhi.
About Khilji Dynasty
The slave sultans were eventually replaced in 1290 AD, when a new dynasty of kings known as the Khaljis took over.
This rebellion was welcomed in the non-Turkish sections of nobility. The lineage of the Khalji dynasty was named after a spot in Afghanistan, while its rulers were Turkish by origin.
Kings of the Khalji Dynasty were not only godless but also ferocious.
Prominent Kings of the Khilji Dynasty
In the following section, all significant rulers of the Khalji Dynasty are discussed in detail.
Jalal-ud-din Khalji (1290-96 AD)
- Khalji dynasty: Jalal-ud-din Khalji is the founder of the Khalji dynasty. At the age of seventy, he came to the throne.
- The first ruler of the Delhi Sultanate, Jalal-ud-din Khalji believed that India couldn’t become a truly Islamic state since the overwhelming majority of Indians were Hindus, and he believed that the governed should give their support to the ruler willingly.
- Jalal-ud-din Khalji attempted to temper the threshold of tolerance among nobility.
- Jalal-ud-din Khalji kept the earlier aristocracy in place, but with the ascendance of the Khaljis came an end to the monopoly over high office held by slave nobility.
- Jalal-ud-din Khalji was a God-fearing Muslim and wanted to make himself Mujahid fi Sabilillah (fighter in the path of god).
- Kilokhri (Jalali, 1296-1300) – His capital was established by Jalal-ud-din Khalji, where he ruled for close to six years. Despite suffering multiple attacks from the Mongols, he managed to resist with firm opposition and clever diplomacy that ultimately defeated the Mongols.
- A few years later, Jalal-ud-din Khalji did not punish his own people bitterly who revolted against him. He not only forgave them but sometimes even bribed them to win their hearts.
- But people see him as the weakest sultan. Alauddin Khalji, son-in-law and nephew of Jalaluddin Khalji, was the actual winner, and he is the one who invaded Devagiri during his reign.
- Devagiri was invaded and overrun successfully by Alauddin Khalji, along with a treasure of stored surplus wealth. He later killed Jalal-ud-din Khalji and took the throne.
Alauddin Khalji (1296-1316 AD)
- Alauddin Khalji was the second and most powerful ruler of the Khalji dynasty.
- It was Ala-ud-din Khalji who desired to be another Alexander and rule the world. Under Jalaluddin’s reign, Alauddin led two successful expeditions.
- The successful campaign evidenced that Alauddin Khalji was an adept strategist and an effective administrator.
- He killed his uncle and father-in-law, Jalaluddin Khalji, in July 1296 AD and declared himself the Sultan.
- Alauddin Khalji took a decision to restore the policies of autocratic rule of Balban. His early years of rule also saw some rebellions.
- Barani, the author of Tarikh-i-Firuz Shahi, writes, Alauddin Khalji believed that four causes were acting through which these rebellions We are mainly responsible:
- The inefficiency of the spy system,
- Matthew 26:29 In this way I would be trained, you know something about wine-based use.
- Social intercourse between the nobles and intermarriage anyway
- The surplus of riches wielded by select nobles.
- His saying, ‘Kingship Knows no Kinship’. marked the first separation of religion from politics in North India under the Turkish sultanate under Alauddin Khalji, which provides for a specific mention.
- This is what Barni said about Alauddin Khalji–when he came to the throne, he got rid of all rules and orders of Shariat.
- The Palace of a Thousand Pillars, Hazar sutun, was also constructed by Alauddin Khalji.
- Alauddin Khalji, the first Sultan, was able to pay his soldiers in cash due to realising land revenue in cash.
- Alauddin Khalji took the title of Sikandar-e-Sani (Alexander the Second) and had it stamped on his coinage.
- The second Alauddin Khalji wished to establish a new faith, and later he dropped the idea on the advice of his loyal follower Alla-Ul-Mulk.
- Alauddin Khalji made a failed attempt to invade Warangal in 1303, where he was routed by an army of the Kakatiya dynasty.
- At this time, when Alauddin Khalji marched towards Devagiri, Ramchandra Dev was the lord of Deogiri.
- Devagiri was looted by Malik Kafur in 1307, and Ramchandra Dev and his family were taken as prisoners to Delhi. Alauddin treated with Ramchandra Dev and conferred the title of ‘Rai Rayan’ on him.
- Land was laid out on this large scale during the regime of Alauddin Khalji in the Khalisa.
- Alauddin Khalji determined land revenue at half of the produce.
- The public distribution system was introduced by Alauddin Khalji in the Sultanate period.
- Sindhu (Indus) River was already the border between the Delhi Sultanate and Mongol during Alauddin’s period.
Sultanate’s Expansion during Alauddin Khilji
- During Alauddin Khalji’s rule, he followed the path of blood and iron and conquered several new lands. He subjugated Malwa, Devagiri, Warangal, Chittor, Ranthambhor, Madurai and Gujarat.
- Alauddin Khalji of this state gathered Jawaab eunuch slave Malik Kafur, who appeared as Alauddin Khalji’s army general during the time in Gujarat.
- Between 1302 and 1303 AD, Alauddin Khalji led two expeditions. This was followed by Chittor after their match against Warangal.
- Alauddin Khalji also managed to capture Siwana, the chief bastion of Marwar and Jalor.
- It is to be noted that Alauddin Khalji emptied the coffers of both Madurai and Rameshwaram in southern India. He became North India’s earliest king to expand his territory south of the Narmada.
Administrative System
- It was Alauddin Khalji who started making a good system of government. He was someone who would strongly believe that nobody should intervene in state matters.
- Not even Ulemas (a body of Muslim scholars officially recognised as having specialist knowledge of Islamic sacred law and theology) could interfere.
- The reign of Alauddin Khalji saw many important structural reforms in order to rear his empire. He issued a decree forbidding nobles to hold social gatherings or intermarriages without his prior consent.
Market Reforms during Alauddin Khilji
- In that time, Alauddin Khalji had the one of the world’s seven wonders due to his efforts in price regulation in markets.
- Medieval kings were constantly concerned with regulating prices — particularly foodgrains, and for good reason: if a king supplied the towns with cheap foodgrains he could expect to have popular support from the townspeople and efficient fighting men in conditions of urban quiescence.
- But Alauddin Khalji wanted to control the market for other reasons as well. A permanent army was needed to counter the danger from the Mongols. But this would quickly run out his coffers, unless he could introduce lower standards of living and pay.
- Alauddin Khalji appointed a special revenue officer to ensure collections. The revenue was calculated on the basis of land.
- Alauddin Khalji took significant steps such as opening up new markets in the capital of Delhi. They were Mandi, the grain market, Sarai Adil, the cloth market and the sugar market as well as dried fruits and butter, horses, slaves and cattle.
- An intelligence officer used to assist an officer for each market was called Shahna-i-mandi.
- Alauddin Khalji was then given the daily market reports by two different independent setups, the Munhiyans (secret spies) and Barid (intelligence officer).
- Rules and regulations for the market were strictly enforced by Alauddin Khalji, with punishments being dealt with iron hands.
Military Reforms
- The spy system of Alauddin Khalji was very well-planned.
- Also, Alauddin Khalji was the first of the Delhi Sultanate to initiate a permanent standing army modelled on the Turkish-type of military organisation and defended India against Mongol invaders.
- The system of branding horses was introduced by Alauddin Khalji, and he also kept a list of soldiers.
- Alauddin Khalji conducted several factories, and they worked in the production of weapons and other military materials. The soldiers mounted horses and armed.
- It was Alauddin Khalji who repaired the earlier fort built by Balban in the northwest frontiers and erected other new forts, also garrisoned there. They made sure that arms, food and fodder were supplied to them regularly.
Revenue Reforms
- Alauddin Khalji controlled the cost of everything in his empire and ensured that demand had sufficient supply to sustain itself.
- Khalji was a hard task master, and he laid down very strict rules that the farmers must not hoard grains and that what is harvested must also be sold at a proper price, but not in private. It was always priced at a trivial price that everyone could afford; however
- He ordered the measurement of all the land, and then fixed to what share is assigned to the state.
Administration, Art and Architecture
- There were massive reforms during the Khilji Dynasty administration, especially at the hands of Alauddin Khilji.
- He centralised power, curbing the wealth and scope of the nobility.
- The spy network Alauddīn established was designed to closely monitor provincial governors and prevent any revolts from fuming.
- Among his more significant reforms were the introduction of a system for regulating prices on essential commodities in order to provide cheap supplies for both the army and ordinary citizens.
- He brought out Dagh (branding of horses) and the Chehra (soldier rolls) to check corruption in the military.
- He also reformed the collection of land revenues, levying exorbitant taxes on agricultural peasantry and expanded the Iqta system, an institution in which land was bestowed to nobles in exchange for military service.
- Such reforms were the consolidation of the Sultan’s power and smooth governance.
About Art and Architecture
- This was a new era of medieval architectural history, known as the Khalji dynasty.
- The majority of the monuments constructed during the Khalji Dynasty are in Arabic architecture.
- Alauddin built a very large minar adjacent to Qutab Minar, but his ambition was unrealised due to his untimely death.
- Another important example of Islamic architecture was Alai-Darwaza. It was all red stone and had a white surface. The site also features inscriptions in calligraphy and decorative patterns on the surface.
- Siri village is also known for the famous Hauz Khas built by Ala-ud-din. The famous and great mosque Jaimat Khana was built inside the enclosure of the shrine of Nizam-ud-Din Aulia.
- Amir Khusrau, or Abul Hasan Yaminuddin Khusrow. He was born in Patiyali in the district of Etah in 1253 AD. Tuti-e-Hind, Khusrau regarded himself as.
- Amir Khusraw was the first significant writer of Khari Boli.
- Father of the new Persian poetry style ‘Sabak-e- Hind’ or Hindustani style:: Amir Khusrau
- Tabla: Introduction by Amir Khusrau
Five Ruling Dynasties of Delhi Sultanate (UPSC Exams)
Conclusion on Khilji Dynasty
The Khilji Dynasty is another important chapter in Indian history as the period saw a major expansion of the Sultanate in Delhi. The dynasty founded by Alauddin Khilji achieved unprecedented military victories and introduced groundbreaking administrative and economic reforms. Though the dynasty was short-lived in history, it did have a lasting impact on Indian history. The Khilji rulers consolidated power and implemented market regulations as well as military reforms that provided a building block for succeeding dynasties, setting the course of medieval India. But more than its glory, the decline of the dynasty due to internal conflict and eventually being outdone by the Tughlaq Dynasty shows how fleeting power is and how the political history of the region is subject to change from time to time.
