The Khilji Dynasty : 1290-1320 AD

The Khilji Dynasty : 1290-1320 AD

Jaluddin Khilji: 1290-96

• Jalaluddin Khilji founded the Khilji dynasty.

Alauddin Khilji: 1296-1316

• He was a nephew and son-in-law of Jalaluddin Khilji. Alauddin Khilji killed him and succeeded to the throne in 1296.

• He was the first Turkish Sultan of Delhi who separated religion from politics. He proclaimed, "Kingship knows no Kinship".

Alauddin's Imperialism

• Alauddin annexed Gujarat (1298), Ranthambhor (1301), Mewar (1303), Malwa (1305), and  Jalor (1311).

• In Deccan, Aluddin's army, led by Malik Kafur, defeated RamChandra (Yadava ruler of Devagiri), Pratap Rudradeva (Kakatiya ruler of Warangal), Vir Ballal III (Hoyasala ruler of Dwarsamudra), and VirPandya (Pandya ruler of Madurai).

Administrative Reforms

• In order to avoid the problems created by the nobles, Alauddin issued 4 ordinances.

• The 1st ordinance aimed at the confiscation of religious endowments and free grants of lands. By the second ordinance, Alauddin reorganised the spy system.

• The Third ordinance prohibited the use of wine. The IVth ordinance issued by Alauddin laid down that nobles should not have social gatherings and they should not inter-marry without his permission.

• He introduced the system of Dagh (the branding of horses) and Chehra (descriptive roll of soldiers).

• Alauddin ordered that all land was to be measured, and then the share of the state was to be fixed.

• The post of special officer called Mustakharaj was created for the collection of revenue.

• The peasants had to pay the produce as land revenue.

• Alauddin sought to fix the cost of all commodities.

• For this purpose, he set up three markets at Delhi is a market for food grains, a second for costly cloth, and a third for horses, slaves, and cattle.

• Each market was under the control of a high officer called Shahna, who maintained a register of the merchants and strictly controlled the shopkeepers and the prices.

• The check on the market was kept by two officers- Diwan-i-Riyasat and Shahna-i-Mandi.

• All goods for sale were brought to an open market called Sara-i-Adal

• Many forts were built by him, and the most important of them was the Alai fort. He also constructed the Alai Darwaja, the entrance gate of Qutub Minar.

• He also built the Palace of a Thousand Pillars called HazarSutun,

• He was a patron of art and learning. Amir Khusrau, the poet-musician, was his favourite court poet.

• In 1316, after the death of Alauddin, Malik Kafur, called Hajardinari, seized the throne.

• Before Kafur died, he nominated Shihabuddin (Alauddin's 6-year-old prince) as King but imprisoned the eldest prince, Mubarak Khan. Kafur was killed by the loyalists of the royal family of Alauddin.

Mubarak Khan: 1316-20

• After the death of Kafur, Mubarak Khan was freed from prison and worked as regent for Shihabuddin.

• He captured the throne at the first opportunity he got, but could rule only for a year as he sank into debauchery and could not give up his dissipated lifestyle.

• He awarded his lover, Mubarak Hassan, authority over the army and palace guards, who soon obtained full control over the Sultan's palace.

• Mabarak Hassan was given the title Khusrau Khan by the Sultan, and within a month, Khusrau killed Mubarak Khan and assumed the title of Nasirudin in mid-1320.

Khusrau Khan: 1320

• Khusrau Khan was killed by Ghazi Malik, governor of Dipalpur, when he tried to oppose a rebellion by Ghazi Malik and his son Fakhruddin Jauna.

• This brought the end of the Khilji dynasty and established the Tughlaq dynasty on the throne of Delhi.

Final Thoughts

The Khilji Dynasty (1290–1320 AD) was a significant phase in the history of the Delhi Sultanate, marked by military expansion and administrative reforms.

Founded by Jalaluddin Khilji, it reached its height under Alauddin Khilji, who strengthened the administration of the Delhi Sultanate through centralized control, market regulation, and land revenue reforms. He also separated religion from politics and curbed the power of the nobles.

His successful Deccan campaigns expanded the empire's boundaries. After his death, instability and weak rulers led to the decline of the dynasty. In 1320, Khusrau Khan was overthrown by Ghazi Malik, who founded the Tughlaq Dynasty, marking a new chapter in the governance of the Delhi Sultanate.