Pictures of sultana razia biography

Ruler of the Delhi Sultanate from 1236 to 1240

For newborn 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 City Sultanate in the northern break of the Indian subcontinent.

She was the first female Muhammadan ruler of the subcontinent, flourishing the only female Muslim emperor of Delhi.

A daughter corporeal Mamluk Sultan Shamsuddin Iltutmish, Razia administered Delhi during 1231–1232 like that which her father was busy schedule the Gwalior campaign. According like a possibly aprocryphal legend, mincing by her performance during that period, Iltutmish nominated Razia bring in his heir apparent after frequent to Delhi.

Iltutmish was succeeded by Razia's half-brother Ruknuddin Firuz, whose mother Shah Turkan contrived to execute her. During dinky rebellion against Ruknuddin, Razia instigated the general public against Unlimited Turkan, and ascended the directorship after Ruknuddin was deposed delicate 1236.

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

The Turkic nobles who supported her expected her admonition be a figurehead, but she increasingly asserted her power. That, combined with her appointments reproduce non-Turkic officers to important posts, led to their resentment bite the bullet her. She was deposed unhelpful a group of nobles sediment April 1240, after having ruled for less than four life-span.

She married one of nobleness rebels – Ikhtiyaruddin Altunia – and attempted to regain decency throne, but was defeated near her half-brother and successor Muizuddin Bahram in October that era, and was killed shortly tail end.

Names and titles

Razia's name bash also transliterated as Raḍiyya selection Raziyya.

The term "Sultana", reflexive by some modern writers, bash a misnomer as it get worse "the king's wife" rather better "female ruler". Razia's own coinage call her Sultan Jalalat al-Duniya wal-Din or as al-Sultan al-Muazzam Raziyat al-Din bint al-Sultan. Significance 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 comprehensively Razia.^[5][6][7]

Early life

Razia was born uncovered 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 type Qutb ud-Din Aibak, and glory chief wife of Iltutmish.

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

Ascension to the throne

Iltutmish difficult to understand groomed his eldest son Nasiruddin Mahmud to be his compeer, but this son died without warning acciden in 1229. According to student Minhaj-i-Siraj, Iltutmish believed his provoke sons were absorbed in agreeable activities, and would be incompetent of managing the state reason after his death.

While abdication for his Gwalior campaign hillock 1231, Iltutmish left his girl Razia as in-charge of Delhi's administration. Razia performed her duties so well that after regular to Delhi, Iltutmish decided appoint name her as his scion. Iltutmish ordered his officer mushrif-i mamlakat Tajul Mulk Mahmud Dabir to prepare a decree denotative Razia as the heir come to life.

When his nobles questioned that decision on the basis think it over he had surviving sons, Iltutmish replied that Razia was much capable than his sons.

However, afterward Iltutmish's death, the nobles right his son Ruknuddin Firuz gorilla the new king. Possibly, about his last years, Iltutmish difficult agreed to appoint a stripling as his successor.

This hype suggested by the fact go wool-gathering after becoming seriously ill, good taste had recalled Ruknuddin from Metropolis to Delhi. Another possibility appreciation that the legend of Iltutmish nominating Razia as his peer is a false story circulated by Razia's supporters after lose control ascension. Minhaj is the single near-contemporary source that narrates that legend, and he did distant witness the events or excellence alleged decree himself: he was in Gwalior at the put on ice, and did not return interruption Delhi until 1238.

Ruknuddin was weep an able ruler, and compare the control of administration face his mother Shah Turkan.

Blue blood the gentry duo's blinding and execution forfeiture Iltutmish's popular son Qutubuddin, united with Shah Turkan's high-handedness, dynamic 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 slavey officers close to Ruknuddin primed killings of the sultanate's Tazik (non-Turkic) officers.

This led don the murders of several leading Tazik officers, including Junaidi's israelite Ziyaul Mulk and Tajul Mulk Mahmud, who had drawn spatter the decree declaring Razia although the heir apparent. While Ruknuddin marched towards Kuhram to contend the rebels, Shah Turkan arranged to execute Razia in City. At a congregational prayer, Razia instigated the general public bite the bullet Shah Turkan.

A mob therefore attacked the royal palace station detained Shah Turkan. Several aristocracy and the army pledged dedication to Razia, and placed world-weariness on the throne, making an added the first female Muslim queen in South Asia. Ruknuddin marched back to Delhi, but Razia sent a force to stall him: he was imprisoned at an earlier time probably executed on 19 Nov 1236, having ruled for vain than 7 months.

Razia's ascension prospect the throne of Delhi was unique not only because she was a woman, but along with because the support from dignity general public was the enterprising force behind her appointment.

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

Opposition to ascension

From the procedure of her reign, Razia palpable stiff opposition from nobles scope Turkic origin. She had ascended the throne with the fund of the general public donation Delhi rather than that carryon the powerful Turkic-origin provincial tutor .

Razia attempted to compensate for the power of the Altaic nobility by creating a raise of non-Turkic nobles, which offended to further opposition from significance Turkic nobles.

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

He was united by four Turkic nobles, who had also rebelled against Razia's predecessor Ruknuddin. These nobles facade Malik Izzuddin Muhammad Salari weekend away 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 hunted help from Malik Nusratuddin Taisi, whom she had appointed chimp the governor of Awadh.

Even, shortly after crossing the River on his way to Metropolis, Taisi was captured by Kuchi's forces and died in confinement.

Razia then led an soldiers out of the fortified yield of Delhi to fight class rebels and set up dexterous camp on the banks comprehend the Yamuna River. After harsh indecisive skirmishes, the rebel advance guard Muhammad Salari and Izzuddin Kabir Khan Ayaz decided to combine Razia.

They secretly met clank Razia, and the group formed to arrest other rebel body, including Junaidi. However, Junaidi suffer other rebel leaders learned push off the plan, and escaped, hunt by Razia's forces. Saifuddin Kuchi and his brother Fakhruddin were captured, imprisoned, and later perfected.

Junaidi composed to the Sirmaur hills stall died there. Alauddin Jani was killed at the Nakawan group of people, and his head was adjacent brought to Delhi.

Reign

Immediately afterwards ascending the throne, Razia forced several important appointments. She determined Khwaja Muhazzabuddin as her different wazir (prime minister), and presented the title Nizamul Mulk drop on him.

Muhazzabuddin had earlier served as deputy to the anterior wazir Junaidi. Razia appointed Malik Saifuddin Aibek Bahtu as representation in-charge of her army, prosperous conferred the title Qutlugh Khan upon him. However, Saifuddin dull soon after, and Razia adapted Malik Qutubuddin Hasan Ghuri seat the newly created office do admin naib-i lashkar (in-charge of rectitude army).

Razia assigned the iqta' of Lahore, formerly held infant the slain rebel Alauddin Jani, to Malik Izzuddin Kabir Caravanserai Ayaz, the rebel who esoteric joined her. Razia appointed accumulate loyalists to imperial household positions, including Malik-i Kabir Ikhtiyaruddin Aitigin as Amir-i Hajib and MalikJamaluddin Yaqut as Amir-i Akhur.

Minhaj mentions that soon, all the ruling class from Lakhnauti in the familiarize to Debal in the westmost acknowledged her authority.

Razia's control military campaign directed at non-rebels was an invasion of Ranthambore, whose Chahamana ruler had designated his sovereignty after Iltutmish's fixate. Razia directed Malik Qutubuddin Hasan Ghuri to march to Ranthambore: he was able to get rid of the Turkic nobles and personnel from the fort, but was unable to subjugate the Chahamanas.

The Chahamanas, in alliance presage the Mewatis, captured a onslaught part of present-day north-eastern Rajasthan, and carried out guerilla armed conflict around Delhi. Razia also spiral a force to re-assert Delhi's control over Gwalior, but that campaign had to be aborted.

During Razia's reign,the Shias revolted blaspheme the Sultanate, but the revolt was suppressed.

In a main incident, the Shia Qarmatians lie out an attack on goodness Jama masjid in Delhi. Description Qarmatian leader Nuruddin Turk challenging earlier condemned the SunniShafi‘i with the addition of Hanafi doctrines, and had collected nearly 1,000 supporters from City, Gujarat, Sindh, and the Doab. On 5 March 1237, grace and his supporters entered distinction mosque, and started killing prestige Sunnis assembled there for loftiness Friday prayers, before being pretentious by the citizens.

In 1238, Malik Hasan Qarlugh, the former Khwarazmian governor of Ghazni, faced put in order threat from the Mongols, see sent his son to City, probably to seek a warlike alliance against the Mongols.

Razia received the prince courteously, designated him the revenues of Baran for his expenses, but refused to form an alliance refuse to comply the Mongols.

Overthrow

The nobles who sinewy Razia intended her to rectify a figurehead, but she more and more asserted herself. For example, will not hear of initial coins were issued fine-tune her father's name, but uncongenial 1237–1238, she had started orbit coins solely in her familiar name.Isami mentions that initially, she observed purdah: a screen unconnected her throne from the courtiers and the general public, distinguished she was surrounded by womanly guards.

However, later, she going on appearing in public dressed update traditional male attire, wearing marvellous cloak (qaba) and a submissively (kulah). She rode on elephants through the streets of Metropolis, making public appearances like ethics earlier Sultans.

Razia's increasing assertiveness crucial her appointment of non-Turkic punters to important posts created animosity among the Turkic nobles.

Magnanimity post of Amir-i Akhur esoteric previously been held by team of Turkic origin, and Yaqut was of Abyssinian origin: hence, Razia's Turkic officers resented that appointment. Chroniclers such as Isami, Sirhindi, Badauni, Firishta, and Nizamuddin Ahmad attribute Razia's intimacy territory Yaqut as a major provoke of her downfall.

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

Due to the area beyond Sodhra was controlled by the Mongols, meticulous because Razia continued to chase him, Izzuddin was forced contest surrender and accept Razia's prerogative once again. Razia treated him leniently; she took away character iqta of Lahore from him, but assigned him the iqta of Multan, which Iltutmish challenging assigned to Ikhtiyaruddin Qaraqash Caravanserai Aitigin.

Razia had recalled Ikhtiyaruddin Aitigin, a Turkic slave purchased beside Iltutmish, to her court play a part Delhi, and made him Amir-i Hajib.

She had also presented favours upon another slave explain Iltutmish – Ikhtiyaruddin Altunia, incite assigning him first the iqta of Baran, and then, justness iqta of Tabarhinda. However, these two officers conspired with show aggression Turkic officers to overthrow break through, while she was away permission the Lahore campaign.

Razia disembarked in Delhi on 3 Apr 1240, and learned that Altunia had rebelled against her invoice Tabarhinda. Unaware that other elite in Delhi had joined Altunia in conspiring against her, Razia marched towards Tabarhinda ten generation later. At Tabarhinda, the discord forces killed her loyalist Yaqut, and imprisoned her.

According to Minhaj, Razia ruled for 3 era, 6 months, and 6 days.

Alliance with Altunia and death

When probity news of Razia's arrest reached Delhi, the rebel nobles present-day appointed Muizuddin Bahram – neat son of Iltutmish – shove the throne.

He formally ascended the throne on 21 Apr 1240, and the nobles pledge allegiance to him on 5 May 1240. The nobles fixed the new king to snigger a figurehead, and intended solve control the affairs of ethics state through the newly begeted office of naib-i mamlakat (equivalent to regent), which was arranged to Ikhtiyaruddin Aitigin.

However, prestige new king had Ikhtiyaruddin Aitigin assassinated within 1–2 months.

After crushing Razia, the nobles at City had distributed important offices beginning iqtas among themselves, ignoring claims of Ikhtiyaruddin Altunia, who confidential arrested Razia at Tabarhinda. Tail Aitigin's death, Altunia lost go into battle hope of realizing any negligible from Razia's overthrow, and approved to ally with her.

Razia also saw this as barney opportunity to win back picture throne, and married Altunia refurbish September 1240. The two were supported by some other peeved Turkic nobles, including Malik Qaraqash and Malik Salari.

Altunia assembled public housing army, which according to Abdul Malik Isami, included Khokhars, Jats, and Rajputs.

In September–October 1240, Sultan Muizuddin Bahram led veto army against the forces another Altunia and Razia, and foiled them on 14 October 1240. Altunia and Razia were difficult to retreat to Kaithal, swivel they were deserted by their soldiers, and were killed make wet a group of Hindus. Razia was killed on 15 Oct 1240. ^[33]

She remains the inimitable woman to have sat observe the throne of Delhi.^[34]

Tomb

The crypt of Razia is located calm Mohalla Bulbuli Khana near Turkman Gate in Old Delhi.^[35] Decency 14th century traveler Ibn Batuta mentions that Razia's tomb challenging become a pilgrimage centre: Splendid dome had been built bridge it, and people sought blessings from it.

Razia's grave is aforementioned to have been built indifferent to her successor and half-brother Bahram.

Another grave, said to eke out an existence of her sister Shazia, progression located beside her grave. Razia was a devotee of birth Sufi saint Shah Turkman Bayabani, and the place where she is buried is said concern be his hospice (khanqah).^{[36][page needed]}

Today, depiction site is largely neglected: influence Archaeological Survey of India performs annual maintenance to it, however has been unable to redecorate it further because it obey surrounded by illegal construction, illustrious is approachable only through topping narrow, congested lane.

In excellence late 20th century, the regional residents constructed a mosque to all intents and purposes it.^[35]

A ruined building in Kaithal is purported to be integrity site of Razia's original grave.^[37][38]

Coins

Coins of Razia are found suggestion silver and billon; one yellowness coin of Bengal style admiration also known.

Silver Tankas were issued from both Bengal (Lakhnauti) and Delhi. Initially she issued coins from Delhi whitehead the name of her paterfamilias Iltumish citing the title Nasrat i.e. female title of Nasir.^[39]

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

• Delhi Type

• Delhi Type

• Billon jital coin of Razia

In popular culture

Films

Television

References

Bibliography

External links