From 1290 to 1320, the Khilji people, also known as the Khilji dynasty, dominated huge swaths of the Indian subcontinent. Jalal-ud-din Firuz Khalji was indeed the dynasty’s creator. The dynasty is the second of the rulers of Delhi Sultanate. The event commemorates the founding of the Khilji dynasty and the establishment of the Afghan Village. In 1290 AD, it succeeded the Mamluks as India’s dominant dynasty. Jalal-ud-din Khilji assassinated the final member of the Mamluk dynasty and proclaimed him as Ruler of Delhi.
Jalal-ud-din Khilji’s real name was Malik Firuz, and he was a calm guy. He showed clemency on various occasions, notably when Balban’s nephew Malik Chhajju launched attacks on Jalal-ud-din Firuz Khilji. Balban was beaten and caught alive during this conflict, yet the Sultan forgave him.
The Khilji Dynasty under Ala Ud-Din Khilji
The principal monarch of the Khilji rule seemed to be Alauddin Khilji. He expanded his dominion to India’s southernmost point. To appease the people of fresh, seized dominion and make them neglect the murder allegation against him, he lavished gold jewellery and cash on the citizens and nobles of his realm. He was the first ruler who did not authorize the Caliph’s impeachment letter (Mansour). In reality, he proclaimed himself to be the Caliph’s successor. He consolidated every one of the state’s authority in his grasp, making it the pinnacle of tyrannical rule. Malik Kafur imprisoned him afterwards, and he died in January 1316.
Khiljis vs Mongols
Under Jalal-ud-din Khilji rule, the Mongols, other major rulers of the time, raided India. By resolving the situation via diplomacy, the ruler stopped the conflict. Mongols raided India again under Ulugh Khan, so this time the ruler of Khilji brokered a truce by organizing Ulugh Khan’s wedding to their daughter at Delhi.
Sultan was a generous and forgiving man who pardoned captives and offenders. Disgusted by this deed, Allaudin Khilji, the nephew & son-in-law, assassinated him and proclaimed himself the reigning monarch of the Khilji Dynasty.
Mongols were Khiljis’ major adversary. It attempted to exert a great deal of pressure & invaded Indian soil on multiple occasions. To thwart the Mongol assault, Allaudin embraced Balban’s blood & iron programme. He commissioned the creation of defensive walls surrounding Delhi and the restoration of forts along the Mongol route. Around certain forts, Khilji stationed large armed forces.
Administration and Military
Allaudin’s main goals were to improve management, improve the army, equip the land tax administration apparatus, and enhance the people’s agriculture and comfort. He established the Zabita rule Biswa as a common measure of cultivable area. In addition, although the property tax was estimated in kind, it was requested in currency. This new revenue office was named Diwani Mustakharaj. There at the local level, new middlemen appeared, who Amir Khsrau designated as Zamindars.
Allaudin used to compensate his warriors in currency, which he could do since he had cash earnings from the land. The very first monarch to do that was Allaudin. Arz-i-Malik had chosen the warriors. He instituted the practice of Daag or marking, Huliua or Chehra, or military description records. He also identified three different levels of troops. Foot troops, soldiers who have completed one course, & soldiers who have completed two courses are among the categories available.
Art and Architecture
Alauddin was a supporter of the arts and education. He had several prominent benefactors, including Amir Khusrau & Mir Hasan Dehlvi, even though he was uneducated himself. He actively supported architecture, constructing a whole city named Siri and expanding the Qutabi mosque. He made an effort to build the Alai Darwaza. However, he was unable to finish it. He also constructed Jamiat Khana Mosque at Nizam-ud-din Auliya’s dargah.
End of his reign
Alauddin’s final days were filled with suspicion. He began to use all of the powers he possessed. He treated his family members as though they were slaves. After Alauddin died in 1316, his beloved Kufur attempted to steal the throne. He ascended to the kingdom with his baby son. Kafur was assassinated five weeks after Alauddin. Khusrau Malik is supposed to have assassinated him.
Conclusion
The Khilji dynasty was a Turco-Afghan dynasty that controlled the ancient Delhi Sultanate for around three decades, from 1290 to 1320, and reigned over huge swaths of the Indian subcontinent. They were among the rulers of Delhi Sultanate. A second dynasty to govern the Delhi Sultanate in India, it was established by Jalal-ud-din Firuz Khalji and got into power in a revolt that signified the delegation of power between Turkic nobility to Afghans. Its reign is remembered for advances into modern-day South India and for effectively repelling Mongol invasions in India.