KHALJI’S IN THE LIGHT OF HISTORY:
The Khalji’s are first mentioned in the histories of Sistan in the second half of the 3rd century Hijra. That was the period of Yaqoob bin Lais Safar, the ruler of Sijistan. He brought Kabul and the surrounding territories under his area and laid the foundation of world-famous town of Ghaznin. Subkari, one of the Khalji war-prisoners of Yaqoob, rose to power and became Sipah-Salar of the Safaride army, under the rule of Yaqoob’s successors.
After the Safarides Ghazni came under the rule of Samanides, but this rule also came to an end with rise of Alaptagin and after Subuktigin to power. Subuktigin was the slave and son-in-law of the Governor Alaptagin who himself was once the slave of Samanides. Subuktigin laid the foundation of an independent Kingdom of Ghazni in 977 A.D. the throne successfully determined to the Hindi rule in the valley of Peshawar and Kabul. Subuktigin was died in 997 A.D. and was succeeded by his son, Ismail to the throne. But after the year he had to pass the throne to his more energetic brother, Mahmud. Mahmud was a king with determination unparalleled and a faith unshakeable. On his accession he made a pledge that he would not only push Hindu rulers out of the whole Qandhar valley, but also aim at extending the ‘Holy War’ to the areas lying beyond the great river Sind.
It is from the Ghazni’s that the Muslim power was established in India and Muhammad Ghori was its Founder with Armies largely if not wholly made up of Khalaj and Afghans. The time when Ghori launched his first attack on India in 1190. Muhammad Ghori was defeated badly and wounded seriously in this battle. He was just saved through the timely help of Khalji’s sawar, who happened to watch him as a falling mountain. This division of Rajputs brought defeat and proved the end of Prithvi Raj and consequently of Hindu Raj in India. Apart from the allusion in the sources, the ubiquity of these people right through the Muslim Annals of the Delhi Crown makes it clear that this was so.
“We find too that the Khalaj, or Khalji’s are frequently coupled with Afghans, and that latter form of the word is adopted by when Persian replaces the order Arabic Compilation.
Since the days of Muhammad Ghori, the Turk Slaves are on one side and Khalaj people on the other side. This rule continued during the rule of Slave Kings. The wealth and the kingdom occupied by the Khalji’s and Afghan soldiers went mostly to the advantage of this small group of Turk Slaves. The last of the slave kings was Sultan Balban, who wielded a great power. He relied on Khalji’s and Afghan’s garrisons, and appointed one Jalal-ud-din Khalji as the Master-General of his forces. Balban died in 1287 and was succeeded by his grandson Kaikubad, an uncapable ruler.
The central idea of the different opinions that have mentioned so far can be summed up as follows:
a). Khalj and Khaljis are one and the same.
b). Khaljis are in fact are Turks by blood.
c). Khalji’s through the Turk by origin, settled in an area of Pathan dominance and adopted their customs and rites and thus became absorbed in them.
d). Ghilzais or Ghaljis and Khaljis are the Same.
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE DYNASTY:
This dynasty is Turco-Afghan dynasty, the second dynasty of the Delhi sultanate. The reign if this dynasty is from 1290 to 1320 C.E. The main occupied state of this dynasty was Delhi.it was founded by Jalal-ud-din Firuz Khalji, and was expanded by Alau-ud-din Khalji. It was known dynasty due to the invasion in South India and opposed off the Mongol Invasion of India. This dynasty was preceded by Mamluk Dynasty and succeeded by Tughlaq Dynasty.
IMPORTANT RULERS:
Jalal-ud-din took the title of Firuz Shah and reigned only for seven years. After his murder he was succeeded by his nephew and son-in-law, Ala-ud-din Khalji—one of the most powerful sovereigns that ever-ruled India. The Khalji dynasty was brought to an end in 1320, when Sultan Ala-ud-din’s son and successor, Moobarik Shah, was murdered by his favorite, Hindu converted to Islam named Khurau Khan.
The Khalji dynasty of Malwa did not rise until 1435, more than hundred years after the fall of the Khaljis of Delhi. Life of this Dynasty was about ninety-five years (1435-1531).
- JALAL-UD-DIN KHALJI (1290-1296 C.E.)
- ALA-UD-DIN KHALJI (1296-1316 C.E.)
- SHAHAB-UD-DIN OMAR (1316 C.E.)
- QUTB-UD-DIN MOOBARIK (1316-1320 C.E.)
- JALAL-UD-DIN FIRUZ KHALJI:
Jalal-ud-din Khalji was the 1st ruler in Khalji dynasty. His relation period was about six years from (1290-1296). His actual name was Malik Firuz before of his relation. He was a Turk of Khalji tribe. His Parents belongs from Afghanistan. He started his career as an officer of Mamluk dynasty. He & his brother Shahab-ud-din (father of Aladdin Khilji) served Delhi Sultan Balban who died 1287 for many years. He rose an important position as a Commander under Sultan Muzz Uddin Qaiqabad who died in 1920. He sits on Throne at the age of (4 years), but he also died by a murderer. After that Jalal-ud-din sat on the throne at the date of 13th June 1290. At that position his age was about round about 70. He was very old when he was at the age of 70, so he was very kind, polite to allowed Mongol to settle in India after conversion of Islam.
In August 1920 Malik Chihuahua was the nephew of Balban revoted against Jalal-ud-din, he was defeated by Argali Khan (who was the son of Jalal-ud-din) Aladdin was now appointed governor on Kara and Manipur. He conquered castle of Medawar and Jain. Ala-ud-din dreams to becomes Sultan of Delhi and those who were unsatisfied by the weak policies of Jalal-ud-din, they gathered around by him and decided to kill Jalal-ud-din. At that time Jalal-ud-din was at Gwalior when Aladdin was returned after his successful campaign of Devagiri (kingdom of Ramchandra). At that time Aladdin took his 800 thousand best horse riders to capture Devagiri . He pretended that he came here for conversation by he attacks suddenly and capture that area. After that he has so power to defeat Jalal-ud-din, Jalal-ud-din was so anger at this thing, but he forgives him. Almer beg who was the brother of Aladdin convince Jalal-ud-din to meet with Ala-ud-din at Manipur alone, he wants to give you all the money that he collected from successive victory. Jalal-ud-din went to there and killed by Aladdin on 20th July 1296.
- ALA-UD-DIN KHALJI:
Introduction: –
The second and the most prominent ruler of Khilji Dynasty is Ala-ud-din Khalji. He was the nephew and son-in-law of his predecessor Jalal-ud-din Khalji. Ala-ud-din was awarded the title of Amir-a-Tuzuk after he defeated the Mamluks and became Sultan of Delhi. In 1291, he was appointed the governor of Kara after he suppressed a revolt against Jalal-ud-din. Afterwards, he also became the governor of Awadh in 1296. In the same year, he attacked Devagiri and looted enough to do a successful revolt against Jalal-ud-din. After the death of Firoz Khilji in 1296, Ali Gurshap declared himself sultan of Manipur under the name Ala-ud-din Khalji.
Reign of Ala-ud-din Khalji: –
Ala-ud-din Khilji ascended to the throne by killing Jalal-ud-din Firoz Khilji in 1296. He was the most successful ruler of Khilji Dynasty as his reign remained over 20 years. Ala-ud-din implemented a number of key administrative reforms in the areas of revenue, price controls, and society. After becoming Sultan, he assassinated Firoz Khilji’s entire family to empower himself. His main focus was to improve the administration and to expand his empire. During his reign, he conquered many areas. The following are some of the initiatives taken by Ala-ud-din Khilji during his rule.
Expeditions:
1- In 1299 AD, Ala-ud-din sent his two commanders-in-chief, Ulugh Khan and Nusrat Khan, to invade Gujarat. During this campaign, Khilji acquired Malik Kafur, a transsexual.
2. In 1301 AD, Ulugh Khan and Nusrat Khan were sent to a conquest against the King of Ranthambore, Hamer Deva. During this conquest, Nusrat Khan died.
3. In 1303 AD, Ala-ud-din Khilji led a conquest against Chittoor’s monarch Rana Ratan Singh. This battle went on for seven months. However, Rana Ratan Singh was finally defeated in the end.
4. In 1309-10 AD, another expedition was led by Malik Kafur in order to defeat King Pratap Rudra Deva.
5. Ala-ud-din successfully resisted the Mongol invasion more than 12 times.
Domestic policies:
1. Ala-ud-din believed and followed the Divine Right Theory of Kingship.
2. To prevent repeated revolts, he introduced four ordinances
3. He banned wine and social parties.
4. He was the first to introduce a permanent standing army for a strong security.
5. He impounded pious grants and free grants of lands.
6. He also banned black marketing.
7. He constructed Alai Darwaja, the Palace of a thousand pillars and the Fort of Siri.
Death of Ala-ud-din Khalji: –
During the latter half of his reign, Ala-ud-din was free of Mongol challenges but he was stuck in some domestic issues. He grew old and became mentally unstable. He was confined to bed as a result of his hard labor and excessive indulgence and died on January 2, 1316.
- THE LAST KHALJI SULTANS:
- Qutub-ud-din Moobarik Shah:
Qutub-ud-din k shah (1316–1320) was a ruler of the Delhi sultanate. branch of the Khalji dynasty, he was a son of Ala-ud-din Khalji. Qutub-ud-din was the weakest leader of the administration. In 1320, he was killed by one of his trustworthy person Khusrau khan.
Substitute of Qutub-ud-din Moobarik shah:
- After Moobarik shah’s passing, Khusrau khan accepted the title of Nasir-ud-din Khusrau khan. He staggers his power in the uncomeliest way. Khusrau was dispirited and overthrown by Ghiyas-ud-din Tughluq, in 1320
- In the time of ala-ud-din itself, malik Kafur put this child on the theology and he transformed into the authority. Khizr khan and Shady khan were make blind.
- Moobarik khan, the third offspring of ala-ud-din, who was then around seventeen or eighteen years of age, was retain and malik Kafur sent his people to take out his eyes. Moobarik defeated these people and killed malik Kafur. After the death of Kafur, Moobarik was given authority for Shahab-ud-din Omar.
- After around two months, Moobarik disengaged and blinded Shahab-ud-din Omar and put himself on the throne. This happened on 1st April, 1316. Moobarik the title of Qutub-ud-din Moobarik shah
His death:
Under Moobarik, the management of Delhi was very unconfident. The sultan sinistral the fortune of the state in the hands of Khusrau khan who in 1320, killed Moobarik shah and seize the throne.
- Shahab-ud-din Omar:
Shahab-ud-din Omar (r. 1316) was the third sultan of the Khalji dynasty and fourteenth sultan of Delhi sultanate in India. After the death of his father Ala-ud-din Khalji in 1316, he supports the throne as a paltry slaughter, with the carry of Ala-ud-din’s slave-general Malik Kafur. His brother Qutub-ud-din Moobarik became the regent after the termination of Kafur and eventually banish him to become the sultan.
Reign:
· During Kafur’s short regency, Shahab-ud-din’s participation in governance was limited to his aspect in a short court protocol that was held daily by Kafur.
· Kafur had Ala-ud-din’s sons Khizr khan and Shady khan blinded.
· Becoming the new sultan’s step-father was doubtless
· Kafur’s way of permit his power.
· Khusrau khan:
· Khusrau khan was the sultan of Delhi for around two months in 1320.
· Originally from the Gujarat region, he was clutch by the Delhi army during Ala-ud-din Khalji’s defeat of Malwa in 1305
· He was converted to Islam, and became a homosexual friend of Ala-ud-din’s son Moobarik shah. After mount the throne in 1316,
· Khusrau khan led a successful campaign to argue Delhi’s control over Devagiri in 1317.
Military career under Moobarik shah:
· The Yadavas of devagiri, who had become branch to Delhi during Ala-ud-din’s reign, asserted their independence after malik Kafur’s death.
· After connotation his rule in Delhi, Moobarik shah directed a struggle to devagiri in 1317.
· Another branch, the Kakatiya ruler Pratap Rudra, stopped making tribute discharge to Delhi after Ala-ud-din’s death
POLICIES AND ADMINISTRATION OF KHALJI DYNASTY
As we know time period of Khalji dynasty is so short and many of polices were only made by Ala-ud-din Khalji. This polices are all are given below:
1.Provincial Administration:
- He banned noble marriages/parties/secret meetings.
- He appointed spy in provinces to keep an eye on nobles.
- He also banned wine and gambling.
- He restricted Ulmas to never interfere in administration works.
2.Military Reforms:
- He’s the one who made standing army and also made it strong.
- Form, Ariz-i-Mumalik for the appointment of soldiers.
- He starts register soldiers.
- He’s the one who give salaries to the soldiers in cash form.
- One soldier take 234 tankas, but if at the same time he’s taking care of two horses, then he will receive 78 tankas more which means (234+78).
3.Economic Polices:
- He changed taxation polices.
- He increased agricultural taxes 20℅-50%.
- He cut salaries of officials/poets/scholars, to all people equal.
- He implements 4 taxes on non-Muslims:
(Poll tax, land tax, house tax, pasture tax)
- He made a rule of forcefully seized of crop from cultivators in the form of tax and add it to the sultanate granaries.
- These polices reduced output of agriculture and cause massive inclination.
- Allaudin demand to his states to send “wise men” for making rules and regulation for empire. Those rule for which a fear of rebellion was dashed and no one can speak out in front of him.
- He confiscated land of officers.
4.Economic Reforms:
- He made markets (for soldiers and civilians to meet their needs easily)
- He also made Shahana-a-Mandi.
- In this mandi merchants should have to register themselves first and then have to make license.
- No one other than these merchants could buy from farmers and sell in cities.
- Officers from department called Diwan-i-Riyasat were appointed in the Shahana-i-Mandi to Standardized the market prices.
- There should be a punishment for cheaters if someone sell something of 800g which is actually of 600g, then because of this 200g of profit, they will cut flesh meat from body (thigh), equal to a profit weight and hand it in center of mandi.
- Sultan banned private storage of food. Food should only be stored in government stores, if and only of needed then it will be divided equally between civilians by government.
COINAGE OF THE DYNASTY:
- Khusrau khan;
He introduced billion 2-gani of Nasir-ud-din Khusrau khan, with his name.
- Allaudin-Khalji;
He introduced silver tanka, billion 6-gani and billion 2-gani.
- Jalal-ud-din Firuz;
He introduced silver tanka and 2 copper Paikka.
- Qutub-ud-din Moobarik;
He introduced gold tanka and 3 billion 4-gani.
SLAVERY
- During Ala-ud-din Khalji’s reign, at least half of the population were slaves working.
- Slavery in India during the Khalji dynasty, and later Islamic dynasties, included two groups of people.
- The institution of slavery and bondage labor became pervasive during the Khalji dynasty; male slaves were referred to as Banda, qaid, Ghulam.
while female slaves were called bandi, kaniz or laundi.
ARCHITECTURE
- The Qutub Minar, the Taj Mahal, the Jama Masjid, and the Alai Darwaja are great examples of Khilji architecture.
- Alai Darwaja, is considered a unique piece of Delhi Sultanate monument.
- Architectural achievements can be found in the Siri Fort.
- Inside the Siri Fort, one can find the living quarters of the Khaljis as well as many other buildings.
- These buildings include the 1,000-pillar palace.
| Fig. ALAI DARWAZA |
TERMINATION OF KHALJI DYANSTY
The Khalji dynasty of Malwa did not arise until 1435, more than hundred years after the fall of Khaljis of Delhi. Life of this dynasty was about ninety-five years. (1435-1531).
DURING THE REIGN:
- Alau-ud-din Khalji died in 1316 CE.
- After the death of Alau-ud-din, successors are:
1- Qutub-ud-din Moobarik (1316-1320 CE).
2- Nasir-ud-din Khusrau (1320 CE).
- His successors are weak and Lewd.
- In the End, the Governor of the Punjab ascended the throne.
- Ghazi Malik assumed the name “GHIYAS-UD-DIN TUGHLAQ” established the “Tughlaq Dynasty”.
Khaljis have immense importance in the history of Muslim India. According to some historians, the prominent among whom are Utbi and Sir Caroe, the establishment of Muslim rule in India was due to the manpower supplied by the Khaljis. Whether it was Turks who ruled here or the Pathans or even the Mughals, the mainstay of their power was always the Khaljis. To whatever race the Khaljis or Ghaljis may belong the fact remains, that for more than a thousand years they have been a very important part of the Afghan confederacy. They call themselves Afghans and other Afghans regard them as such and feel proud of their achievements.