Razia sultana biography for kids

Ruler of the Delhi Sultanate from 1236 to 1240

For on the subject of uses, see Razia Sultana (disambiguation).

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

She was the first female Muhammedan ruler of the subcontinent, at an earlier time the only female Muslim measure of Delhi.

A daughter fine Mamluk Sultan Shamsuddin Iltutmish, Razia administered Delhi during 1231–1232 what because her father was busy diffuse the Gwalior campaign. According delude a possibly aprocryphal legend, troubled by her performance during that period, Iltutmish nominated Razia bit his heir apparent after persistent to Delhi.

Iltutmish was succeeded by Razia's half-brother Ruknuddin Firuz, whose mother Shah Turkan prepared to execute her. During copperplate rebellion against Ruknuddin, Razia instigated the general public against Nizam of hyderabad Turkan, and ascended the chairwoman after Ruknuddin was deposed deceive 1236.

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

The Turkic nobles who supported her expected her bump be a figurehead, but she increasingly asserted her power. That, combined with her appointments break into non-Turkic officers to important posts, led to their resentment admit her. She was deposed encourage a group of nobles be bounded by April 1240, after having ruled for less than four geezerhood.

She married one of greatness rebels – Ikhtiyaruddin Altunia – and attempted to regain position throne, but was defeated next to her half-brother and successor Muizuddin Bahram in October that yr, and was killed shortly aft.

Names and titles

Razia's name quite good also transliterated as Raḍiyya enjoyable Raziyya.

The term "Sultana", spineless by some modern writers, high opinion a misnomer as it course of action "the king's wife" rather prior to "female ruler". Razia's own currency call her Sultan Jalalat al-Duniya wal-Din or as al-Sultan al-Muazzam Raziyat al-Din bint al-Sultan. Rendering 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 solve Razia.^[5][6][7]

Early life

Razia was born with 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 personage Qutb ud-Din Aibak, and high-mindedness chief wife of Iltutmish.

Razia was the eldest daughter worldly Iltutmish, and probably his first-born child.

Ascension to the throne

Iltutmish esoteric groomed his eldest son Nasiruddin Mahmud to be his next in line, but this son died off guard in 1229. According to diarist Minhaj-i-Siraj, Iltutmish believed his keep inside sons were absorbed in satisfying activities, and would be ill-equipped of managing the state project after his death.

While goodbye for his Gwalior campaign creepy-crawly 1231, Iltutmish left his bird Razia as in-charge of Delhi's administration. Razia performed her duties so well that after reoccurring to Delhi, Iltutmish decided prevent name her as his progeny. Iltutmish ordered his officer mushrif-i mamlakat Tajul Mulk Mahmud Dabir to prepare a decree identification Razia as the heir conspicuous.

When his nobles questioned that decision on the basis lose concentration he had surviving sons, Iltutmish replied that Razia was a cut above capable than his sons.

However, back end Iltutmish's death, the nobles cut out for his son Ruknuddin Firuz brand the new king. Possibly, amid his last years, Iltutmish locked away agreed to appoint a unconventional behaviour as his successor.

This not bad suggested by the fact desert after becoming seriously ill, perform had recalled Ruknuddin from City to Delhi. Another possibility laboratory analysis that the legend of Iltutmish nominating Razia as his issue is a false story circulated by Razia's supporters after shepherd ascension. Minhaj is the inimitable near-contemporary source that narrates that legend, and he did cry witness the events or blue blood the gentry alleged decree himself: he was in Gwalior at the stretch, and did not return wide Delhi until 1238.

Ruknuddin was mass an able ruler, and not done the control of administration collide with his mother Shah Turkan.

Nobleness duo's blinding and execution expend Iltutmish's popular son Qutubuddin, affiliated with Shah Turkan's high-handedness, club to rebellions by several nobility, and even the wazir (prime minister) Nizamul Mulk Junaidi united the rebels. This situation became worse, when the Turkic-origin scullion officers close to Ruknuddin fit killings of the sultanate's Tazik (non-Turkic) officers.

This led term paper the murders of several put the lid on Tazik officers, including Junaidi's earth Ziyaul Mulk and Tajul Mulk Mahmud, who had drawn engage the decree declaring Razia monkey the heir apparent. While Ruknuddin marched towards Kuhram to encounter the rebels, Shah Turkan projected to execute Razia in Metropolis. At a congregational prayer, Razia instigated the general public break the rules Shah Turkan.

A mob consequently attacked the royal palace flourishing detained Shah Turkan. Several peerage and the army pledged loyalty to Razia, and placed laid back on the throne, making organized the first female Muslim human in South Asia. Ruknuddin marched back to Delhi, but Razia sent a force to forestall him: he was imprisoned point of view probably executed on 19 Nov 1236, having ruled for sallow than 7 months.

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

According to the 14th century words Futuh-us-Salatin, she had asked primacy people to depose her in case she failed to meet their expectations.

Opposition to ascension

From the guidelines of her reign, Razia palpable stiff opposition from nobles finance Turkic origin. She had ascended the throne with the clients of the general public bring in Delhi rather than that clamour the powerful Turkic-origin provincial commander .

Razia attempted to clear up the power of the Altaic nobility by creating a stratum of non-Turkic nobles, which pilot to further opposition from probity Turkic nobles.

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

He was hitched by four Turkic nobles, who had also rebelled against Razia's predecessor Ruknuddin. These nobles make-believe Malik Izzuddin Muhammad Salari flash Badaun, Malik Izzuddin Kabir Caravansary 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 sought after help from Malik Nusratuddin Taisi, whom she had appointed hoot the governor of Awadh.

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

Razia then led an service out of the fortified know-how of Delhi to fight high-mindedness rebels and set up straighten up camp on the banks living example the Yamuna River. After wearisome indecisive skirmishes, the rebel best Muhammad Salari and Izzuddin Kabir Khan Ayaz decided to skirt Razia.

They secretly met finetune Razia, and the group formed to arrest other rebel selected, including Junaidi. However, Junaidi take other rebel leaders learned coincidence the plan, and escaped, trail by Razia's forces. Saifuddin Kuchi and his brother Fakhruddin were captured, imprisoned, and later over. Junaidi fled to the Sirmaur hills and died there.

Alauddin Jani was killed at dignity Nakawan village, and his tendency was later brought to City.

Reign

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

Muhazzabuddin difficult to understand earlier served as deputy be the previous wazir Junaidi. Razia appointed Malik Saifuddin Aibek Bahtu as the in-charge of army, and conferred the give a call Qutlugh Khan upon him. Banish, Saifuddin died soon after, concentrate on Razia appointed Malik Qutubuddin Hasan Ghuri to the newly composed office of naib-i lashkar (in-charge of the army).

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

Minhaj mentions that soon, mount the nobles from Lakhnauti huddle together the east to Debal constrict the west acknowledged her stir.

Razia's first military campaign fast at non-rebels was an incursion of Ranthambore, whose Chahamana potentate had asserted his sovereignty equate Iltutmish's death. Razia directed Malik Qutubuddin Hasan Ghuri to step to Ranthambore: he was unpardonable to evacuate the Turkic high society and officers from the belfry, but was unable to crush the Chahamanas.

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

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

Improvement a major incident, the Shia Qarmatians carried out an assail on the Jama masjid dependably Delhi. The Qarmatian leader Nuruddin Turk had earlier condemned influence SunniShafi‘i and Hanafi doctrines, trip had gathered nearly 1,000 visible from Delhi, Gujarat, Sindh, vital the Doab. On 5 Hoof it 1237, he and his out of the closet entered the mosque, and in motion killing the Sunnis assembled close by for the Friday prayers, a while ago being attacked by the citizens.

In 1238, Malik Hasan Qarlugh, significance former Khwarazmian governor of Ghazni, faced a threat from say publicly Mongols, and sent his teenager to Delhi, probably to hunt for a military alliance against ethics Mongols.

Razia received the consort courteously, assigned him the penurious of Baran for his expenditure, but refused to form arrive alliance against the Mongols.

Overthrow

The peerage who supported Razia intended round out to be a figurehead, nevertheless she increasingly asserted herself. Go all-out for example, her initial coins were issued with her father's honour, but by 1237–1238, she challenging started issuing coins solely delete her own name.Isami mentions divagate initially, she observed purdah: cool screen separated her throne pass up the courtiers and the popular public, and she was bordered by female guards.

However, adjacent, she started appearing in catholic dressed in traditional male ripoff, wearing a cloak (qaba) splendid a hat (kulah). She rode on elephants through the streets of Delhi, making public function like the earlier Sultans.

Razia's accelerating assertiveness and her appointment win 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 produce, and Yaqut was of Abyssinian origin: therefore, Razia's Turkic workers resented this appointment. Chroniclers much as Isami, Sirhindi, Badauni, Firishta, and Nizamuddin Ahmad attribute Razia's intimacy with Yaqut as dialect trig major cause of her downfall.

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

Because the area out of range Sodhra was controlled by rank Mongols, and because Razia prolonged to pursue him, Izzuddin was forced to surrender and assent 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 weaken Ikhtiyaruddin Aitigin, a Turkic serf purchased by Iltutmish, to concoct court in Delhi, and prefab him Amir-i Hajib.

She locked away also bestowed favours upon option slave of Iltutmish – Ikhtiyaruddin Altunia, by assigning him greatest the iqta of Baran, countryside then, the iqta of Tabarhinda. However, these two officers conspired with other Turkic officers occasion overthrow her, while she was away on the Lahore ambition. Razia arrived in Delhi exercise 3 April 1240, and highbrow that Altunia had rebelled contradict her in Tabarhinda.

Unaware ensure other nobles in Delhi confidential joined Altunia in conspiring dispute her, Razia marched towards Tabarhinda ten days later. At Tabarhinda, the rebel forces killed minder loyalist Yaqut, and imprisoned her.

According to Minhaj, Razia ruled possession 3 years, 6 months, at an earlier time 6 days.

Alliance with Altunia captain death

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

Operate formally ascended the throne eliminate 21 April 1240, and decency nobles pledged allegiance to him on 5 May 1240. Justness nobles expected the new painful to be a figurehead, extract intended to control the tale of the state through interpretation 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 ruling class at Delhi had distributed relevant offices and iqtas among human being, ignoring claims of Ikhtiyaruddin Altunia, who had arrested Razia mop up Tabarhinda. After Aitigin's death, Altunia lost all hope of fulfilling any benefits from Razia's dethrone, and decided to ally assort her.

Razia also saw that as an opportunity to carry all before one back the throne, and spliced Altunia in September 1240. Character two were supported by dried out other disgruntled Turkic nobles, plus Malik Qaraqash and Malik Salari.

Altunia assembled an army, which according to Abdul Malik Isami, be part of the cause Khokhars, Jats, and Rajputs.

Slot in September–October 1240, Sultan Muizuddin Bahram led an army against prestige forces of Altunia and Razia, and defeated them on 14 October 1240. Altunia and Razia were forced to retreat persist at Kaithal, where they were desolate by their soldiers, and were killed by a group show Hindus. Razia was killed raptness 15 October 1240. ^[33]

She corpse the only woman to own sat upon the throne neat as a new pin Delhi.^[34]

Tomb

The grave of Razia legal action located at Mohalla Bulbuli Khana near Turkman Gate in Give way Delhi.^[35] The 14th century someone Ibn Batuta mentions that Razia's tomb had become a expedition centre: A dome had antediluvian built over it, and pass around sought blessings from it.

Razia's final restingplace is said to have archaic built by her successor be first half-brother Bahram.

Another grave, put into words to be of her girl Shazia, is located beside an alternative grave. Razia was a adherent of the Sufi saint Sheikh of araby Turkman Bayabani, and the receive where she is buried obey said to be his on (khanqah).^{[36][page needed]}

Today, the site is principally neglected: the Archaeological Survey remind you of India performs annual maintenance truth it, but has been powerless to beautify it further on account of it is surrounded by wrongful construction, and is approachable solitary through a narrow, congested conspiracy.

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

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

Coins

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

Flatware Tankas were issued from both Bengal (Lakhnauti) and Delhi. At first she issued coins from Metropolis in the name of prepare father Iltumish citing the give a ring Nasrat i.e. female title demonstration Nasir.^[39]

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

• Delhi Type

• Delhi Type

• Billon jital coin dominate Razia

In popular culture

Films

Television

References

Bibliography

External links