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Ghiyath al-Din Tughluq

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Ghiyath al-Din Tughluq
Sultan of Delhi
Ghazi Malik
Sultan-e-Dilli
Narpati-e-Dilli[citation needed]
AJalayiridcopy of aDelhi Sultanatemanuscript, depicting ruler Ghiyath al-Din Tughluq leading his troops in the capture of the city ofTirhut,based on theBasātin al-unsbyMuhammad Sadr Ala-i,a member of the Tughluq court and an ambassador toIlkhanid Iran.Ca.1410 copy of 1326 original. Istanbul, Topkapi Palace Museum Library, Ms. R.1032.[1][2][3]
17thSultan of Delhi
Reign8 September 1320 – 1 February 1325
Coronation8 September 1320
PredecessorKhusro Khan
SuccessorMuhammad bin Tughluq
Bornunknown
Died1 February 1325
Kara-Manikpur,India
Burial
Delhi, India
IssueMuhammad bin Tughluq
HouseTughluq dynasty
ReligionSunni Islam

Ghiyath al-Din Tughluq(Persian:غیاث الدین تغلق), orGhazi Malik(غازی ملک;Ghazi meansfighter forIslam;[4]died 1 February 1325[5]) was the Sultan of Delhi from 1320 to 1325. He was the first sultan of theTughluq dynastyof theDelhi Sultanate.During his reign, Ghiyath al-Din Tughluq founded the city ofTughluqabad.His reign ending upon his death in 1325 when a pavilion built in his honour collapsed. The 14th century historianIbn Battutaclaimed that the death of the sultan was the result of a conspiracy against him.[4]

Ghiyath al-Din Tughluq was succeeded by his eldest son,Muhammad bin Tughluq.[6]

Early life

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Literary, numismatic and epigraphic evidence makes it clear that Tughluq was the Sultan's personal name, and not an ancestral designation.[7]His ancestry is debated among modern historians, because the earlier sources differ widely regarding it.[7]Tughluq's court poet Badr-i Chach attempted to find aSassanidgenealogy for his family fromBahram Gor,which seems to be the official position of the Delhi Sultanate. However this can be dismissed as flattery.[8]This is clear from the fact that another courtierAmir Khusrau,in hisTughluq Nama,states that Tughluq described himself as an unimportant man ( "awara mard") in his early career.[9]Tughlaq Nama declares Tughlaq to have been a minor chief of humble origins.[10][11]

There are numerous views on the ancestry of Tughluq. Ranging fromTurko-Mongol,[12]toTurkicorigins,[13]mentioned by Ibn Battuta and Shams-i Siraj Afi


Tughlaq began his career as a menial servant in the service of a merchant where he served as a keeper of horses before entering Khalji service.[14]

In Khalji service

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Silver Tanka of Ghiyath al-Din Tughluq Dated AH 724

According to Khusrau'sTughluq Nama,Tughluq spent a considerable time searching for a job in Delhi, before he joined the imperial guard ofJalaluddin Khalji.[9]Khusrau states that Tughluq first distinguished himself in the early 1290s, during theSiege of Ranthambore,in which the Khalji forces were led by Ulugh Khan.[9]Khusrau suggests that Tughluq was reduced to obscurity for a brief period after Jalaluddin was killed by his nephewAlauddin Khalji.This probably happened because, unlike many other nobles, Tughluq did not quickly change his loyalty to Alauddin.[15]

Nevertheless, it was during Alauddin's reign that Tughluq rose to prominence.[16]He entered the Khalji service as a personal attendant of Alauddin's brotherUlugh Khan.At theBattle of Amroha(1305), in which the Khalji army defeated a Mongol force from theChagatai Khanate,Tughluq was among the chief subordinates of the Khalji general Malik Nayak.[15]During the1306 Mongol invasion,Tughluq led the vanguard of the Khalji army, which was commanded by generalMalik Kafur,and defeated the invaders.[17]

Alauddin appointed Tughluq as the governor ofMultan,and then that ofDipalpur,both in present-day Pakistan. Ghazi Malik's armies mainly consisted of Jat tribesmen recruited from Dipalpur, who fought for him in all his battles.[18]These provinces were located in the frontier region of the Delhi Sultanate, and included the routes used by theMongol invaders.The fact that Alauddin trusted Tughluq with such challenging assignments suggests that Tughluq must have gained reputation for his martial skills by this time.[15]

Khusrau states that Tughluq defeated the Mongols 18 times;Ziauddin Barani,in hisTarikh-i Firuz Shahi,states this number as 20.Ibn Battuta'sRihlamentions an inscription at theJama masjidof Multan, which recorded Tughluq's 29 victories over theTatars(Turko-Mongols). None of the authors provide a list of Tughluq's victories against the Mongols, but these victories probably included successes in border skirmishes.[15]

After Alauddin's death in 1316, Malik Kafur controlled the Sultanate's administration for a brief period with Alauddin's minor sonShihabuddin Omaras a puppet ruler. There is no record of Tughluq opposing Kafur during this period.[15]Kafur dispatchedAyn al-Mulk Multanito crush a rebellion inGujarat,but was killed soon after, while Multani was inChittoron his way to Gujarat.[19]Alauddin's elder sonQutbuddin Mubarak Shahthen took control of the administration, and sent Tughluq to Chittor with a message asking Multani to continue his march to Gujarat. Multani welcomed Tughluq at Chittor, but refused to continue the march, as his officers had not seen the new Sultan in person. Tughluq then returned to Delhi, and advised Mubarak Shah to sendfirmans(royal mandates) confirming his position to Multani's officers. The new Sultan agreed, and as a result, Multani's force resumed its march to Gujarat. Tughluq accompanied this force, although Multani retained its supreme command.[19]

Rise to power

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Ghiyath al-Din Tughluq leading his troops in the capture of the city ofTirhut(1324), then ruled by theKarnats of Mithila.A 1410 Jalayrid Mongol illustration of theBasātin al-uns,a book written byAkhsatan Dehlavi al-Hindi,a member of the Tughluq court and an ambassador to Iran. Ca.1410 copy of 1326 lost original. Istanbul, Topkapi Palace Museum Library, Ms. R.1032.[20]

In July 1320, Mubarak Shah was murdered as a result of a conspiracy by his generalKhusrau Khan,who became the ruler of Delhi.[21]Tughluq was one of the governors who refused to recognize Khusrau Khan as the new Sultan. However, he did not take any action against Khusrau Khan because the force commanded by him at Dipalpur was not strong enough to take on the imperial army at Delhi.[22]

Tughluq's sonFakhruddin Jauna(who later ascended the throne as Muhammad bin Tughluq), who was a high-ranking officer in Delhi, took the initiative to dethrone Khusrau Khan. He convened a secret meeting of his friends in Delhi, and then sent his messenger Ali Yaghdi to Dipalpur, asking his father for assistance in the matter.[22]In response, Tughluq asked him to come to Dipalpur with the son of theUchchgovernor Bahram Aiba, who was also opposed to Khusrau Khan. Accordingly, Fakhruddin and his companions - which included some slaves and servants - left Delhi for Dipalpur on horses one afternoon. Tughluq sent his officer Muhammad Sartiah to take control of theSirsafort on the Delhi-Dipalpur route to secure a safe passageway for his son. When Khusrau Khan learned of the conspiracy, he dispatched his minister of war Shaista Khan in pursuit of Fakhruddin, but Shaista Khan could not catch the rebels.[23]

At Dipalpur, Tughluq and his son discussed the situation, and decided to put up a fight against Khusrau Khan.[23]Tughluq declared that he wanted to dethrone Khusrau Khan for "the glory of Islam", because he was loyal to Alauddin's family, and because he wanted to punish the criminals in Delhi.[24]

At Dipalpur, Tughluq and his son discussed the situation, and decided to put up a fight against Khusrau Khan.[23]Tughluq declareidentical letters to five neighbouring governors, seeking their support:[23]

  • Bahram, the governor of Uchch, joined Tughluq's cause and provided military support.[23]
  • Mughlati, the governor of Multan, refused to rebel against the new Sultan. Tughluq's friend Bahram Siraj incited Mughlati's army against him. Facing a rebellion himself, Mughlati tried to flee but fell into a canal built during Tughluq's governorship of Multan. He was beheaded by a son of Bahram Siraj, but the Multan army did not join Tughluq's forces against the Sultan.[23]
  • Malik Yak Lakkhi, the governor ofSamana,not only refused to join Tughluq, but also sent his letter to Khusrau Khan and himself marched to Dipalpur against him. Yak Lakkhi was originally a Hindu slave, and may have been favoured by Khusrau Khan, which may explain his actions. After Tughluq's forces repelled his invasion of Dipalpur, he retreated to Samana. He was planning to join the Sultan at Delhi, but was killed by the angry citizens before he could do that.[23]
  • Muhammad Shah Lur, the governor ofSindh,was facing a rebellion by his officers when he received Tughluq's letter. He later came to terms with his officers, and agreed to support Tughluq, but reached Delhi only after Tughluq ascended the throne.[23]Tughluq later appointed him as the governor ofAjmer.[24]
  • Hushang Shah, the governor ofJalorand a son ofKamal al-Din Gurg,also promised to support Tughluq. However, he deliberately reached Delhi only after the battle between the forces of Tughluq and Khusrau Khan was over. Tughluq retained him as the governor of Jalor.[24]

Tughluq sent another letter toAyn al-Mulk Multani,who had become thewazirby this time.[24]Multani was surrounded by Khusrau Khan's men when he received the letter, so he took the letter to the Sultan and expressed his loyalty. However, when Tughluq sent a second message to him, he expressed sympathy with Tughluq's cause. Multani stated that he was surrounded by Khusrau's allies, and therefore, would not take sides in the upcoming battle.[25]He told Tughluq that he would withdraw on the approach of Tughluq's forces to Delhi, and that Tughluq could choose to retain him or kill him upon becoming the Sultan.[24]

Mughal painting(c. 17th century) with imaginery depiction of the court of Ghiyath al-Din Tughlaq.[26]

According to Amir Khusrau, Tughluq's relatively small army consisted of warriors from a variety of ethnicities, including "Ghizz,Turks,Mongols,Rumis(Greeks),Rusi(Rus'),Tajiks,andKhurasainis."According to Khusrau, these soldiers were" people of pure birth and not racial mixtures ". However, with the exception of a Mongol officer, Khusrau does not mention any soldiers from these ethnicities. According to historianBanarsi Prasad Saksena,Khusrau's enumeration of these ethnicities is "an official disguise" for the Hindu communities that fought for Tughluq, who claimed to be fighting for the "glory of Islam". TheKhokharswere one of these communities: their ruler was Sahij Rai, and their chiefs included Gul Chandra and Niju. TheMewatis,also known as Meos, were another community of Hindu origin that supported Tughluq.[24]

Tughluq's officers captured acaravancarrying tribute fromSindhto Delhi, along with a number of horses.[24]Tughuq distributed the seized treasure among his soldiers.[27]

Meanwhile, in Delhi, to discourage any further conspiracies, Khusrau Khan consulted his counsellors, and ordered killings of Alauddin's three sons - Bahauddin, Ali, and Usman - who had earlier been blinded and imprisoned.[27]

Tughluq's army defeated Khusrau Khan's forces at theBattle of Saraswatiand theBattle of Lahrawat.[28]Khusrau Khan fled from the battlefield, but was captured and killed a few days later.[29]Tughluq was proclaimed the new ruler on 6 September 1320.[21]

Reign

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Tughluq founded theTughluq dynastyand reigned over theSultanate of Delhifrom 1320 to 1325.[30]Tughluq's policy was harsh againstMongols.He had killed envoys of theIlkhanAbu Sa'id Bahadur Khanand punished Mongol prisoners harshly. He had fought various campaigns against the Mongols defeating them in 1305 at theBattle of Amroha.When Tughluq proceeded fromMultantoDelhi,the tribe ofSoomrorevolted and took possession ofThatta.Tughluq appointed Tajuddin Malik as governor of Multan and Khwájah Khatír as governor ofBhakkarand he left Malik Ali Sher in charge ofSehwan.

In 1323, Tughluq sent his son Fakhruddin Jauna (later Muhammad bin Tughluq) on an expedition to theKakatiyacapitalWarangal.The ensuingSiege of Warangalresulted in the annexation of Warangal, and the end of the Kakatiya dynasty.[31]

In 1323 he appointed his sonMuhammad bin Tughluqas his heir and successor and took a written promise or agreement to the arrangement from the ministers and nobles of the state.

He also started construction ofTughlaqabad Fort.[4]

Death

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Mausoleum of Ghiyasuddin Tughluq inTughluqabad.
See also:Ghiyath al-Din Tughluq's Tomb

In 1324, Tughluq turned his attention towardsBengal,then in the midst of a civil war. After victory, he placed Nasiruddin on the throne ofWest Bengalas a vassal state, andEast Bengalwas annexed. On his way back toDelhi,he fought and defeated theRaja of Tirhut(northBihar) and annexed his territory. AtKara-Manikpurin February 1325, the wooden pavilion used for his reception collapsed, killing him and his second son Prince Mahmud Khan.Ibn Battutaclaimed it was a conspiracy, hatched by hisvizier,Jauna Khan (Khwajah Jahan).[4][32]

References

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  1. ^ÇAĞMAN, FİLİZ; TANINDI, ZEREN (2011)."Selections from Jalayirid Books in the Libraries of Istanbul"(PDF).Muqarnas.28:230, 258 Fig.56.ISSN0732-2992.JSTOR23350289.
  2. ^ÇAĞMAN, FİLİZ; TANINDI, ZEREN (2011)."Selections from Jalayirid Books in the Libraries of Istanbul"(PDF).Muqarnas.28:230, 258 Fig.56.ISSN0732-2992.JSTOR23350289.Another illustrated manuscript that is most probably from the time of Ahmad Jalayir. It is an unfinished copy of a work in Persian entitled Basatin al-Uns. The written sources emphasize the artistic patronage of Sultan Ahmad Jalayir.
  3. ^William Charles Brice (1981).An Historical Atlas of Islam.Brill. p. 409.
  4. ^abcdSen, Sailendra (2013).A Textbook of Medieval Indian History.Primus Books. pp. 89–92.ISBN978-9-38060-734-4.
  5. ^Jackson, Peter (16 October 2003).The Delhi Sultanate: A Political and Military History.Cambridge University Press. p. 330.ISBN978-0-521-54329-3.
  6. ^Tughlaq Shahi Kings of Delhi: ChartThe Imperial Gazetteer of India,1909, v. 2,p. 369.
  7. ^abB. P. Saksena 1992,p. 460.
  8. ^Khaliq Ahmad Nizami (1997).Royalty in Medieval India.Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers. p. 8.
  9. ^abcB. P. Saksena 1992,p. 461.
  10. ^Husain, Mahdi (1976).Tughluq dynasty.Chand. p. 31.OCLC918427946.
  11. ^Habib, Mohammad (2004).Hazrat Amir Khusrau of Delhi.New Delhi: Cosmo Publications. p. 67.ISBN978-81-7755-901-9.OCLC265982257.
  12. ^ÇAĞMAN, FİLİZ; TANINDI, ZEREN (2011)."Selections from Jalayirid Books in the Libraries of Istanbul"(PDF).Muqarnas.28:231.ISSN0732-2992.JSTOR23350289.Muhammad Tughluqand his successors were contemporaries of theJalayiridsultans; both dynasties were Turco-Mongol
  13. ^Jamal Malik(2008).Islam in South Asia: A Short History.Brill Publishers.p. 104.ISBN978-9004168596.The founder of this new Turkish dynasty...
  14. ^Host Kruger (1966).Kunwar Mohammad Ashraf An Indian Scholar And Revolutionary.Akademie-Verlag. p. 77.
  15. ^abcdeB. P. Saksena 1992,p. 462.
  16. ^B. P. Saksena 1992,pp. 461–462.
  17. ^Kishori Saran Lal 1950,p. 171.
  18. ^Ashiq Muhammad Khān Durrani (1991).History of Multan:From the Early Period to 1849 A.D.p. 34.
  19. ^abB. P. Saksena 1992,p. 463.
  20. ^ÇAĞMAN, FİLİZ; TANINDI, ZEREN (2011)."Selections from Jalayirid Books in the Libraries of Istanbul"(PDF).Muqarnas.28:230, 258 Fig.56.ISSN0732-2992.JSTOR23350289.
  21. ^abMohammad Habib 1992,p. 447.
  22. ^abMohammad Habib 1992,p. 450.
  23. ^abcdefghMohammad Habib 1992,p. 451.
  24. ^abcdefgMohammad Habib 1992,p. 452.
  25. ^I. H. Siddiqui 1980,p. 105.
  26. ^See translation of the Persian title of the painting
  27. ^abMohammad Habib 1992,p. 453.
  28. ^B. P. Saksena 1992,pp. 453–456.
  29. ^B. P. Saksena 1992,pp. 456–459.
  30. ^"The COININDIA Coin Galleries: Delhi Sultanate: Tughluqs".
  31. ^Richard M. Eaton (2005).A Social History of the Deccan, 1300-1761.Cambridge University Press. p. 21.ISBN9780521254847.
  32. ^Battutah, Ibn (2002).The Travels of Ibn Battutah.London: Picador. pp. 165–166.ISBN9780330418799.

Bibliography

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Further reading

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  • Atlas of World History,General Editor Prof. Jeremy Black,Dorling Kindersley
  • Futuh-us-Salatinby Isami, edited by Agha Mahdi Husain and was also published from Aligarh in three volumes (1967–77 CE)
  • A Critical Study of Futuh-us-Salatinby Aziz Bano, Head of the Persian Department, Moulana Azad National Urdu University, Hyderabad, India
  • Lucy Peck.Delhi – A thousand years of building,Roli Books,ISBN81-7436-354-8
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Preceded by Sultan of Delhi
1320–1325 		Succeeded by
New dynasty Tughluq dynasty
1320–1325
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