New Delhi: The life of Iltutmish is nothing short of an inspiration. Sold as a slave in his childhood, he rose through ranks and hardships to become a king, or even greater. He would go on to become the first Muslim sovereign to rule from Delhi and is hailed as the Delhi Sultanate’s effective founder.
The boy who was sold into slavery
In ancient times, families struggling economically used to sell one of their offspring into slavery. However, in the case of Illtutmish, the scenario was completely different if we go by the narrative of Minhaj’s ‘Tabaqat-i Nasiri’. Iltutmish, whose name means ‘maintainer of the kingdom’ in Turkic, was born into an affluent family. As a boy, he was intelligent and handsome which evoked jealousy among his brothers. Out of spite and hatred, they sold him to a slave dealer at a horse show.
Iltutmish served multiple masters in Bukhara and Ghazni before the Qutb ud-Din Aibak, the Ghurid slave-commander purchased him in Delhi in the late 1190s. Iltutmish rose through the ranks very quickly and got the important iqta’ of Badaun. In 1205-1206, he displayed gallantry in the war against the Khokhar rebels which impressed Muhammad of Ghor.
Illtutmish, the Sultan of Delhi
In 1206, Muhammad of Ghor was assassinated and Aibak became the ruler of the Ghurid territories in India with Lahore as his capital. After his death, Aram Shah succeeded him but was dethroned by Iltutmish in 1211 and made Delhi his capital. He went to subjugate several dissidents, fought with other former Ghurid slaves like Yildiz and Qabacha, defeated former subordinates of Aibak and also gained control of Ranthambore and Mandore.
In 1228, he invaded the Indus Valley region and conquered Punjab and Sindh. Later, he suppressed a rebellion in Bengal, invaded Gwalior, raided Bhilsa and Ujjain and also attacked the Kalinjar area. His conquests helped him to become the first effective founder of the Delhi Sultanate. He laid the foundation of a powerful force which would rule Northern India before the invasion of the Mughals.
As a ruler, he introduced two basic coins of silver and copper, set up the Iqtadari system and erected many buildings, including mosques, dargahs, and khanqahs. Also, he organised a centrally recruited, centrally paid and centrally managed army. He passed away on April 30, 1236.
Iltutmish served multiple masters in Bukhara and Ghazni before the Qutb ud-Din Aibak, the Ghurid slave-commander purchased him in Delhi in the late 1190s. And that was the start of his rise. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
