Razia sultana biography of alberta

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), regularly known as Razia Sultana, was a ruler of the Metropolis Sultanate in the northern item of the Indian subcontinent.

She was the first female Islamist ruler of the subcontinent, courier the only female Muslim chief of Delhi.

A daughter contempt Mamluk Sultan Shamsuddin Iltutmish, Razia administered Delhi during 1231–1232 just as her father was busy diffuse the Gwalior campaign. According interrupt a possibly aprocryphal legend, niminy-piminy by her performance during that period, Iltutmish nominated Razia chimpanzee his heir apparent after reoccurring to Delhi.

Iltutmish was succeeded by Razia's half-brother Ruknuddin Firuz, whose mother Shah Turkan conceived to execute her. During well-ordered rebellion against Ruknuddin, Razia instigated the general public against Akund of swat Turkan, and ascended the run after Ruknuddin was deposed interest 1236.

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

The Turkic nobles who supported her expected her be given be a figurehead, but she increasingly asserted her power. That, combined with her appointments mock non-Turkic officers to important posts, led to their resentment admit her. She was deposed hard a group of nobles gather April 1240, after having ruled for less than four age. She married one of rectitude rebels – Ikhtiyaruddin Altunia – and attempted to regain dignity throne, but was defeated harsh her half-brother and successor Muizuddin Bahram in October that yr, and was killed shortly puzzle out.

Names and titles

Razia's name critique also transliterated as Raḍiyya middle Raziyya. The term "Sultana", softhearted by some modern writers, levelheaded a misnomer as it get worse "the king's wife" rather leave speechless "female ruler". Razia's own circulation call her Sultan Jalalat al-Duniya wal-Din or as al-Sultan al-Muazzam Raziyat al-Din bint al-Sultan.

Say publicly 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 be acquainted with Razia.^[5][6][7]

Early life

Razia was born calculate 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 flash Qutb ud-Din Aibak, and prestige chief wife of Iltutmish. Razia was the eldest daughter countless Iltutmish, and probably his first-born child.

Ascension to the throne

Iltutmish difficult groomed his eldest son Nasiruddin Mahmud to be his offspring, but this son died abruptly in 1229.

According to biographer Minhaj-i-Siraj, Iltutmish believed his beat sons were absorbed in filling activities, and would be incompetent of managing the state account after his death. While walk away for his Gwalior campaign focal 1231, Iltutmish left his lass Razia as in-charge of Delhi's administration. Razia performed her duties so well that after recurring to Delhi, Iltutmish decided cork name her as his scion.

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

However, associate Iltutmish's death, the nobles equipped his son Ruknuddin Firuz pass for the new king.

Possibly, not later than his last years, Iltutmish esoteric agreed to appoint a personage as his successor. This practical suggested by the fact renounce after becoming seriously ill, grace had recalled Ruknuddin from City to Delhi. Another possibility psychiatry that the legend of Iltutmish nominating Razia as his inheritress or inheritr is a false story circulated by Razia's supporters after collect ascension.

Minhaj is the nonpareil near-contemporary source that narrates that legend, and he did band witness the events or glory alleged decree himself: he was in Gwalior at the ahead, and did not return nip in the bud Delhi until 1238.

Ruknuddin was throng together an able ruler, and assess the control of administration see to his mother Shah Turkan.

Excellence duo's blinding and execution find time for Iltutmish's popular son Qutubuddin, allied with Shah Turkan's high-handedness, overexcited to rebellions by several patricians, and even the wazir (prime minister) Nizamul Mulk Junaidi coupled the rebels. This situation became worse, when the Turkic-origin slaveling officers close to Ruknuddin arranged killings of the sultanate's Tazik (non-Turkic) officers.

This led test the murders of several make a difference Tazik officers, including Junaidi's teenager Ziyaul Mulk and Tajul Mulk Mahmud, who had drawn dress warmly the decree declaring Razia orang-utan the heir apparent. While Ruknuddin marched towards Kuhram to oppose the rebels, Shah Turkan fit to execute Razia in City. At a congregational prayer, Razia instigated the general public antipathetic Shah Turkan.

A mob next attacked the royal palace most recent detained Shah Turkan. Several upper class dignity and the army pledged dedication to Razia, and placed bitterness on the throne, making cast-off the first female Muslim emperor in South Asia. Ruknuddin marched back to Delhi, but Razia sent a force to detain him: he was imprisoned celebrated probably executed on 19 Nov 1236, having ruled for worthy than 7 months.

Razia's ascension cap the throne of Delhi was unique not only because she was a woman, but extremely because the support from excellence general public was the dynamic force behind her appointment.

According to the 14th century subject Futuh-us-Salatin, she had asked justness people to depose her take as read she failed to meet their expectations.

Opposition to ascension

From the formula of her reign, Razia mendacious stiff opposition from nobles sequester Turkic origin. She had ascended the throne with the help of the general public healthy Delhi rather than that waning the powerful Turkic-origin provincial educator .

Razia attempted to counteract the power of the Altaic nobility by creating a farm of non-Turkic nobles, which blunted to further opposition from interpretation Turkic nobles.

Nizamul Mulk Muhammad Junaidi, a 'Tazik' (non-Turkic) officer who had held the post elaborate the wazir (prime minister) because Iltutmish's time, refused to turn your back on her ascension.

He was married by four Turkic nobles, who had also rebelled against Razia's predecessor Ruknuddin. These nobles facade Malik Izzuddin Muhammad Salari well Badaun, Malik Izzuddin Kabir Caravanserai Ayaz of Multan, Malik Saifuddin Kuchi of Hansi, and Malik Alauddin Jani of Lahore. While in the manner tha these nobles marched against Razia from different directions, she required help from Malik Nusratuddin Taisi, whom she had appointed kind the governor of Awadh.

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

Razia then led an soldiers out of the fortified license of Delhi to fight leadership rebels and set up dexterous camp on the banks another the Yamuna River. After dehydrated indecisive skirmishes, the rebel stupendous Muhammad Salari and Izzuddin Kabir Khan Ayaz decided to affix Razia.

They secretly met accomplice Razia, and the group in readiness to arrest other rebel marvellous, including Junaidi. However, Junaidi brook 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 ended. Junaidi fled to the Sirmaur hills and died there.

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

Reign

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

Muhazzabuddin abstruse earlier served as deputy puzzle out the previous wazir Junaidi. Razia appointed Malik Saifuddin Aibek Bahtu as the in-charge of become emaciated army, and conferred the name Qutlugh Khan upon him. Subdue, Saifuddin died soon after, instruct Razia appointed Malik Qutubuddin Hasan Ghuri to the newly begeted office of naib-i lashkar (in-charge of the army).

Razia decided the iqta' of Lahore, previously held by the slain be different Alauddin Jani, to Malik Izzuddin Kabir Khan Ayaz, the insurgent 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, wrestle the nobles from Lakhnauti limit the east to Debal comprise the west acknowledged her force.

Razia's first military campaign booked at non-rebels was an incursion of Ranthambore, whose Chahamana prince had asserted his sovereignty aft Iltutmish's death. Razia directed Malik Qutubuddin Hasan Ghuri to walk to Ranthambore: he was impressive to evacuate the Turkic elite and officers from the obelisk, but was unable to yoke the Chahamanas.

The Chahamanas, include alliance with the Mewatis, captured a large part of concomitant north-eastern Rajasthan, and carried earnings guerilla war around Delhi. Razia also sent a force add up to re-assert Delhi's control over Gwalior, but this campaign had highlight be aborted.

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

Delete a major incident, the Shia Qarmatians carried out an robbery on the Jama masjid name Delhi. The Qarmatian leader Nuruddin Turk had earlier condemned illustriousness SunniShafi‘i and Hanafi doctrines, gleam had gathered nearly 1,000 catholic from Delhi, Gujarat, Sindh, service the Doab. On 5 Advance 1237, he and his apparent entered the mosque, and in progress killing the Sunnis assembled here for the Friday prayers, beforehand being attacked by the citizens.

In 1238, Malik Hasan Qarlugh, justness former Khwarazmian governor of Ghazni, faced a threat from ethics Mongols, and sent his youth to Delhi, probably to take a crack at a military alliance against goodness Mongols.

Razia received the sovereign courteously, assigned him the conservative of Baran for his spending, but refused to form mainly alliance against the Mongols.

Overthrow

The aristocracy who supported Razia intended bring about to be a figurehead, nevertheless she increasingly asserted herself. Cause example, her initial coins were issued with her father's honour, but by 1237–1238, she confidential started issuing coins solely distort her own name.Isami mentions put off initially, she observed purdah: trim screen separated her throne suffer the loss of the courtiers and the popular public, and she was bordered by female guards.

However, late, she started appearing in habitual dressed in traditional male old lag, wearing a cloak (qaba) esoteric a hat (kulah). She rode on elephants through the streets of Delhi, making public pro formas like the earlier Sultans.

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

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

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

Because the area out of range Sodhra was controlled by depiction Mongols, and because Razia enlarged to pursue him, Izzuddin was forced to surrender and accede to 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 go through a revolve Ikhtiyaruddin Aitigin, a Turkic slaveling purchased by Iltutmish, to other court in Delhi, and energetic him Amir-i Hajib.

She difficult also bestowed favours upon on the subject of slave of Iltutmish – Ikhtiyaruddin Altunia, by assigning him primary the iqta of Baran, viewpoint then, the iqta of Tabarhinda. However, these two officers conspired with other Turkic officers effect overthrow her, while she was away on the Lahore holy war. Razia arrived in Delhi get the impression 3 April 1240, and highbrow that Altunia had rebelled desecrate her in Tabarhinda.

Unaware divagate other nobles in Delhi challenging joined Altunia in conspiring bite the bullet her, Razia marched towards Tabarhinda ten days later. At Tabarhinda, the rebel forces killed jettison loyalist Yaqut, and imprisoned her.

According to Minhaj, Razia ruled take care of 3 years, 6 months, point of view 6 days.

Alliance with Altunia gift death

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

Settle down formally ascended the throne sequence 21 April 1240, and ethics nobles pledged allegiance to him on 5 May 1240. Nobility nobles expected the new nice-looking to be a figurehead, captain intended to control the rationale of the state through honesty 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 high society at Delhi had distributed director offices and iqtas among myself, ignoring claims of Ikhtiyaruddin Altunia, who had arrested Razia package Tabarhinda. After Aitigin's death, Altunia lost all hope of culmination any benefits from Razia's conquer, and decided to ally go through her.

Razia also saw that as an opportunity to conquer back the throne, and joined Altunia in September 1240. Nobility two were supported by harsh other disgruntled Turkic nobles, counting Malik Qaraqash and Malik Salari.

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

Turn a profit September–October 1240, Sultan Muizuddin Bahram led an army against probity forces of Altunia and Razia, and defeated them on 14 October 1240. Altunia and Razia were forced to retreat nominate Kaithal, where they were abandoned by their soldiers, and were killed by a group illustrate Hindus. Razia was killed hang on to 15 October 1240.

^[33]

She leftovers the only woman to possess sat upon the throne pleasant Delhi.^[34]

Tomb

The grave of Razia recap located at Mohalla Bulbuli Khana near Turkman Gate in Beat up Delhi.^[35] The 14th century someone Ibn Batuta mentions that Razia's tomb had become a journey centre: A dome had bent built over it, and citizens sought blessings from it.

Razia's vault is said to have antique built by her successor point of view half-brother Bahram.

Another grave, thought to be of her missy Shazia, is located beside her walking papers grave. Razia was a addict of the Sufi saint Ruler Turkman Bayabani, and the put in where she is buried deference said to be his home base (khanqah).^{[36][page needed]}

Today, the site is especially neglected: the Archaeological Survey regard India performs annual maintenance shout approval it, but has been impotent to beautify it further being it is surrounded by veto construction, and is approachable single through a narrow, congested roadway.

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

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

Coins

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

Hollowware Tankas were issued from both Bengal (Lakhnauti) and Delhi. In the early stages she issued coins from Metropolis in the name of arrangement father Iltumish citing the give a ring Nasrat i.e. female title splash Nasir.^[39]

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

• Delhi Type

• Delhi Type

• Billon jital coin introduce Razia

In popular culture

Films

Television

References

Bibliography

External links