The Decline of Delhi Sultanate

The Delhi Sultanate was an Islamic empire based in Delhi that stretched over large parts of South Asia for 320 years (1206-1526). A total of five dynasties ruled over the Delhi Sultanate sequentially: the Mamluk dynasty (1206-1290), the Khilji dynasty (1290-1320), the Tughlaq dynasty (1320-1414), the Sayyid dynasty (1414-1451), and the Lodi dynasty (1451-1526). It encompassed vast areas of the present-day territories of India, Pakistan as well as Bangladesh and Bangladesh as in some areas in southern Nepal. The sultanate is renowned for integration and disintegration of the Indian subcontinent within a multicultural society and for being an elite group of nations to withstand attacks from Mongols. The Mongols and to appoint as one of only a few women rulers throughout Islamic time.

The Disintegration of the Delhi Sultanate

The demise of the Delhi Sultanate marked the obvious finalisation of the decline, which was beginning to set in during the final days of Muhammad bin Tughluq.

The incident by Muhammad bin Tughluq brought disintegration, which was accelerated by the weaknesses and careless acts of his direct successor, Firuz Shah Tughluq. These included an enlargement of the jagir system and the overt expansion of the number of enslaved people, the imposing of jizya upon non-Muslims, and the persecution of the heretical Muslim sects.

The decline process could not stop with the ineffective Sayyids and the shrewd Lodis. The Lodis achieved some victories in war to their credit, but they did not have the energy in the government nor stop the government-sponsored repression of the population. The Delhi Sultanate, lacking the force and vitality, was on the verge of its inevitable decline.

It was believed that the Delhi Sultanate depended on the character, capability and performance that the Sultan had. The rules of war, in the main, were not based on the tradition of loyalty to those whose subjects the Sultan ruled. Naturally, the foundations of the sultanate were not strong enough.

When the Sultan was strong and effective, For instance, under an Iltutmish, Balban or an Ala-uddin, the administration was efficient, and Sultan’s commands were followed. However, when it was the case that Sultans were weak or unfit for the nobility of court, governors of the province and nobles would be busy seeking to gain self-interest.

The fundamental flaw in the sultanate, which adhered to the rule of granting jagirs, except Ala-ud-din specifically, made the central authorities active in suppressing revolts. When the central authority was weak, the tendency to centrifugal forces arose.

Who was Sikandar Lodi?

Sikandar lodi was the son second to Sultan Bahlul Lodi, a Pashtun ruler of the Lodi Sultanate.

Sikandar was a mighty ruler who encouraged trade throughout his area. He extended the Lodi territory to encompass the regions that are Gwalior and Bihar. He signed a treaty with Alauddin Shah and his kingdom of Bengal. In 1503, he authorised the construction of the current Agra city. The founder of the city established Agra.

Sikandar Lodi attempted to take on the Gwalior fort five times but was unsuccessful because the fort lost to Man Singh I every time.

• Sikandar Lodi was given the title as Sikandar Shah. Sikandar Lodi was the one who created Agra, the city of 1504 in 1504
• He also moved the capital to Delhi in 1504 to Agra
• Sikandar Lodi also eliminated the duties on corn and patronised trade and commerce in his kingdom

Jagirdari System

The jagirdari system was developed in India during the period of Muslim administration (beginning in the middle of the 13th century). The collection of the income of an estate and the power to manage it was entrusted to the state officials. The term is derived from the combination of two Persian words that mean jagir (“holding land”) and dar (“official”). The grant of a jagir to the jagirdar system can be contingent or unconditional. A conditional jagir was a requirement for exchange from the person who received it, a kind of public service, for example, the levying and maintaining troops to benefit the entire realm. An iqta (assignment of land) was generally granted to last for a lifetime, and the jagir was reverted to the state upon the owner’s death. Still, it was also possible for the successor to renew it with the payment of a fee.

Conclusion

In a country with a hugely Hindu populace, the establishment of a theocratic government and the destruction of temples, the imposing of jizya, jagirdari system and other laws prevented those Delhi Sultans from being monarchs of the nation.

Amid internal corruption, conflict, selfishness, and battle to regain the throne made the situation very serious, Timur the lame invaded India and Delhi and plundered them. He took many captives and dealt a fatal blow to the Delhi Sultanate.

Other Lodi and Alam Khan were rivals to Ibrahim Lodi. The result was the first battle of Panipat in 1526 and the beginning of Mughal ruling in India instead of the Delhi Sultanate and slowly rising with the disintegration of the sultanate.