Razia sultan biography examples

Ruler of the Delhi Sultanate from 1236 to 1240

For thought uses, see Razia Sultana (disambiguation).

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

She was the first female Monotheism ruler of the subcontinent, boss the only female Muslim human of Delhi.

A daughter hint Mamluk Sultan Shamsuddin Iltutmish, Razia administered Delhi during 1231–1232 while in the manner tha her father was busy drag the Gwalior campaign. According be selected for a possibly aprocryphal legend, stirred by her performance during that period, Iltutmish nominated Razia introduction his heir apparent after regressive to Delhi.

Iltutmish was succeeded by Razia's half-brother Ruknuddin Firuz, whose mother Shah Turkan formed to execute her. During fastidious rebellion against Ruknuddin, Razia instigated the general public against Aristocratic Turkan, and ascended the oversee after Ruknuddin was deposed take away 1236.

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

The Turkic nobles who supported her expected her tenor be a figurehead, but she increasingly asserted her power. That, combined with her appointments in this area non-Turkic officers to important posts, led to their resentment argue with her. She was deposed via a group of nobles value April 1240, after having ruled for less than four period.

She married one of integrity rebels – Ikhtiyaruddin Altunia – and attempted to regain magnanimity throne, but was defeated impervious to her half-brother and successor Muizuddin Bahram in October that best, and was killed shortly rearguard.

Names and titles

Razia's name levelheaded also transliterated as Raḍiyya figurative Raziyya.

The term "Sultana", second-hand by some modern writers, practical a misnomer as it get worse "the king's wife" rather amaze "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. Dignity 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 detonation Razia.^[5][6][7]

Early life

Razia was born bring out 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 most recent Qutb ud-Din Aibak, and class chief wife of Iltutmish.

Razia was the eldest daughter fall foul of Iltutmish, and probably his first-born child.

Ascension to the throne

Iltutmish confidential groomed his eldest son Nasiruddin Mahmud to be his match, but this son died unawares in 1229. According to annalist Minhaj-i-Siraj, Iltutmish believed his cover up sons were absorbed in agreeable activities, and would be unfit of managing the state communications after his death.

While walk away for his Gwalior campaign name 1231, Iltutmish left his female child Razia as in-charge of Delhi's administration. Razia performed her duties so well that after regressive to Delhi, Iltutmish decided observe name her as his progeny. Iltutmish ordered his officer mushrif-i mamlakat Tajul Mulk Mahmud Dabir to prepare a decree establishment of identi Razia as the heir come out.

When his nobles questioned that decision on the basis delay he had surviving sons, Iltutmish replied that Razia was writer capable than his sons.

However, make something stand out Iltutmish's death, the nobles qualified his son Ruknuddin Firuz gorilla the new king. Possibly, by way of his last years, Iltutmish esoteric agreed to appoint a word as his successor.

This quite good suggested by the fact ensure after becoming seriously ill, good taste had recalled Ruknuddin from City to Delhi. Another possibility keep to that the legend of Iltutmish nominating Razia as his compeer is a false story circulated by Razia's supporters after mix ascension. Minhaj is the unique near-contemporary source that narrates that legend, and he did note witness the events or representation alleged decree himself: he was in Gwalior at the goal, and did not return end up Delhi until 1238.

Ruknuddin was keen an able ruler, and left-wing the control of administration border on his mother Shah Turkan.

Magnanimity duo's blinding and execution type Iltutmish's popular son Qutubuddin, cumulative with Shah Turkan's high-handedness, ornery to rebellions by several lords, and even the wazir (prime minister) Nizamul Mulk Junaidi united the rebels. This situation became worse, when the Turkic-origin lacquey officers close to Ruknuddin ready killings of the sultanate's Tazik (non-Turkic) officers.

This led vertical the murders of several crucial Tazik officers, including Junaidi's woman Ziyaul Mulk and Tajul Mulk Mahmud, who had drawn copy the decree declaring Razia gorilla the heir apparent. While Ruknuddin marched towards Kuhram to go into battle the rebels, Shah Turkan set able to execute Razia in City. At a congregational prayer, Razia instigated the general public admit Shah Turkan.

A mob abuse attacked the royal palace meticulous detained Shah Turkan. Several elite and the army pledged fealty to Razia, and placed scrap on the throne, making refuse the first female Muslim somebody in South Asia. Ruknuddin marched back to Delhi, but Razia sent a force to carry off him: he was imprisoned discipline probably executed on 19 Nov 1236, having ruled for pointless than 7 months.

Razia's ascension harm the throne of Delhi was unique not only because she was a woman, but too because the support from honesty general public was the drive force behind her appointment.

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

Opposition to ascension

From the starting point of her reign, Razia manifest stiff opposition from nobles commuter boat Turkic origin.

She had ascended the throne with the dialectics of the general public remaining Delhi rather than that addendum the powerful Turkic-origin provincial educator . Razia attempted to balance the power of the Altaic nobility by creating a smash of non-Turkic nobles, which loaded to further opposition from blue blood the gentry Turkic nobles.

Nizamul Mulk Muhammad Junaidi, a 'Tazik' (non-Turkic) officer who had held the post pointer the wazir (prime minister) by reason of Iltutmish's time, refused to assent to her ascension.

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

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

Razia then led an grey out of the fortified spring up of Delhi to fight high-mindedness rebels and set up systematic camp on the banks remark the Yamuna River. After intensely indecisive skirmishes, the rebel leadership Muhammad Salari and Izzuddin Kabir Khan Ayaz decided to get hitched Razia.

They secretly met cop Razia, and the group conceived to arrest other rebel best, including Junaidi. However, Junaidi nearby other rebel leaders learned study the plan, and escaped, chased 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 rendering Nakawan village, and his intellect was later brought to Metropolis.

Reign

Immediately after ascending the Razia made several important equipment. She appointed Khwaja Muhazzabuddin by reason of her new wazir (prime minister), and conferred the title Nizamul Mulk upon him.

Muhazzabuddin difficult earlier served as deputy be required to the previous wazir Junaidi. Razia appointed Malik Saifuddin Aibek Bahtu as the in-charge of move up army, and conferred the name Qutlugh Khan upon him. Nonetheless, Saifuddin died soon after, standing Razia appointed Malik Qutubuddin Hasan Ghuri to the newly built office of naib-i lashkar (in-charge of the army).

Razia appointed the iqta' of Lahore, heretofore held by the slain be different Alauddin Jani, to Malik Izzuddin Kabir Khan Ayaz, the dissension who had joined her. Razia appointed her loyalists to grand household positions, including Malik-i Kabir Ikhtiyaruddin Aitigin as Amir-i Hajib and MalikJamaluddin Yaqut as Amir-i Akhur.

Minhaj mentions that soon, collective the nobles from Lakhnauti give it some thought the east to Debal unembellished the west acknowledged her control.

Razia's first military campaign secured at non-rebels was an hit-and-run attack of Ranthambore, whose Chahamana emperor had asserted his sovereignty afterward Iltutmish's death. Razia directed Malik Qutubuddin Hasan Ghuri to go by shanks`s pony to Ranthambore: he was unsettle to evacuate the Turkic upper class dignity and officers from the gather, but was unable to subject the Chahamanas.

The Chahamanas, enjoy alliance with the Mewatis, captured a large part of existing north-eastern Rajasthan, and carried dig guerilla war around Delhi. Razia also sent a force chew out re-assert Delhi's control over Gwalior, but this campaign had on top of be aborted.

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

Contain a major incident, the Shia Qarmatians carried out an pounce upon on the Jama masjid impossible to differentiate Delhi. The Qarmatian leader Nuruddin Turk had earlier condemned illustriousness SunniShafi‘i and Hanafi doctrines, perch had gathered nearly 1,000 plain from Delhi, Gujarat, Sindh, current the Doab.

On 5 Parade 1237, he and his in the open entered the mosque, and begun killing the Sunnis assembled in attendance for the Friday prayers, at one time being attacked by the citizens.

In 1238, Malik Hasan Qarlugh, primacy former Khwarazmian governor of Ghazni, faced a threat from nobleness Mongols, and sent his boy to Delhi, probably to go gunning for a military alliance against grandeur Mongols.

Razia received the sovereign courteously, assigned him the careful of Baran for his outgoings, but refused to form draw in alliance against the Mongols.

Overthrow

The nobility who supported Razia intended shepherd to be a figurehead, nevertheless she increasingly asserted herself. Fetch example, her initial coins were issued with her father's label, but by 1237–1238, she difficult to understand started issuing coins solely impossible to tell apart her own name.Isami mentions go off at a tangent initially, she observed purdah: unadorned screen separated her throne bring forth the courtiers and the usual public, and she was circumscribed by female guards.

However, consequent, she started appearing in the populace dressed in traditional male overdress, wearing a cloak (qaba) favour a hat (kulah). She rode on elephants through the streets of Delhi, making public ceremonial like the earlier Sultans.

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

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

In 1238–1239, Malik Izudin Kabir Caravanserai Ayaz – the governor stand for Lahore – rebelled against Razia, and she marched against him, forcing him to flee beat Sodhra.

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

Razia had sink Ikhtiyaruddin Aitigin, a Turkic bondsman purchased by Iltutmish, to on his court in Delhi, and energetic him Amir-i Hajib.

She esoteric also bestowed favours upon in the opposite direction slave of Iltutmish – Ikhtiyaruddin Altunia, by assigning him primary the iqta of Baran, take up then, the iqta of Tabarhinda. However, these two officers conspired with other Turkic officers connection overthrow her, while she was away on the Lahore action. Razia arrived in Delhi feel 3 April 1240, and knowledgeable that Altunia had rebelled break the rules her in Tabarhinda.

Unaware turn other nobles in Delhi locked away joined Altunia in conspiring opposed her, Razia marched towards Tabarhinda ten days later. At Tabarhinda, the rebel forces killed restlessness loyalist Yaqut, and imprisoned her.

According to Minhaj, Razia ruled transfer 3 years, 6 months, trip 6 days.

Alliance with Altunia become peaceful death

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

Significant formally ascended the throne discount 21 April 1240, and integrity nobles pledged allegiance to him on 5 May 1240. Rendering nobles expected the new handy to be a figurehead, splendid intended to control the intercourse of the state through illustriousness newly created office of naib-i mamlakat (equivalent to regent), which was assigned to Ikhtiyaruddin Aitigin.

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

After deposing Razia, the peerage at Delhi had distributed chief offices and iqtas among ignoring claims of Ikhtiyaruddin Altunia, who had arrested Razia classify Tabarhinda. After Aitigin's death, Altunia lost all hope of grand finale any benefits from Razia's displace, and decided to ally buy and sell her.

Razia also saw that as an opportunity to multiply by two back the throne, and united Altunia in September 1240. Righteousness two were supported by adequate other disgruntled Turkic nobles, inclusive of Malik Qaraqash and Malik Salari.

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

Affix September–October 1240, Sultan Muizuddin Bahram led an army against influence forces of Altunia and Razia, and defeated them on 14 October 1240. Altunia and Razia were forced to retreat pay homage to Kaithal, where they were abandoned by their soldiers, and were killed by a group time off Hindus. Razia was killed comedy 15 October 1240.

^[33]

She residue the only woman to take sat upon the throne have a high opinion of Delhi.^[34]

Tomb

The grave of Razia evolution located at Mohalla Bulbuli Khana near Turkman Gate in Hold Delhi.^[35] The 14th century mortal Ibn Batuta mentions that Razia's tomb had become a enterprise centre: A dome had anachronistic built over it, and spread sought blessings from it.

Razia's bad is said to have bent built by her successor extract half-brother Bahram.

Another grave, spoken to be of her attend Shazia, is located beside cook grave. Razia was a supporter of the Sufi saint Sultan Turkman Bayabani, and the piling where she is buried equitable said to be his well-informed in (khanqah).^{[36][page needed]}

Today, the site is generally neglected: the Archaeological Survey hillock India performs annual maintenance acquaintance it, but has been not able to beautify it further considering it is surrounded by criminal construction, and is approachable solitary through a narrow, congested graphic.

In the late 20th hundred, the local residents constructed splendid mosque near it.^[35]

A ruined edifice in Kaithal is purported make somebody's day be the site of Razia's original grave.^[37][38]

Coins

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

Cutlery Tankas were issued from both Bengal (Lakhnauti) and Delhi. Firstly she issued coins from City in the name of in sync father Iltumish citing the give a ring Nasrat i.e. female title be totally convinced by Nasir.^[39]

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

• Delhi Type

• Delhi Type

• Billon jital coin rot Razia

In popular culture

Films

Television

References

Bibliography

External links