The Khilji dynasty was a Turco-Afghan dynasty ruled between 1290 to 1320 AD. The second dynasty to rule the Delhi Sultanate of India, founded by Jalal ud din Firuz Khalji, rose to power in a revolt that signified the transfer of authority from Turkic nobility to Afghans. Alauddin Khalji was the most powerful ruler of the Delhi Sultanate during this time. This dynasty is remembered for conquests into modern-day South India and successfully repelling Mongol invasions of India. After the death of Alauddin Khilji, the powerful Khalji Empire collapsed like a house of cards in just four years and a new dynasty called the Tughlaq Dynasty emerged. In this article, we will discuss the Khilji Dynasty (1290-1320 AD) which will be helpful for UPSC exam preparation.

Khilji Dynasty - Background

• Jalaluddin Firuz Khilji was the first Sultan of the Khilji dynasty and ruled for six years from 1290 to 1296.
• At the age of 70, he assassinated the last descendant of the Slave Dynasty and declared himself Sultan of Delhi Sultanate.
• He was slain by his nephew Alauddin Khalji and ascended the throne.
• Following Alauddin Khilji's death, Malik Kafur installed his 6-year-old son Shihabuddin on the throne of the Delhi Sultanate.
• Later on, Malik Kafur was also slain by the nobles.
• Mubarak Shah, another son of Alauddin, was the acting regent over his younger brother. He toppled the young prince and took the kingdom for himself.
• Mubarak, a 17-year-old boy, was a slave to his own passions and orgies.
• All of his father's market reforms crumbled and widespread corruption spread throughout Delhi.
• After him, Nasir-ud-Din Khusrau Shah came and he ended the Khilji dynasty

Important Rulers of Khalji Dynasty

Jalal-ud-din Firoz Khilji (1290-1296 AD)

• Jalal ud din Firuz Khilji was the founder of the Khilji Dynasty.
• He was also known by the name of Malik Firuz.
• He began his career as a Mamluk dynasty officer and rose to prominence under Sultan Muizzuddin Qaiqabad.
• He was recognised as a mild-mannered, humble, and friendly monarch by the common people.
• To avoid clashes with the old Turkic nobles of the imperial capital Delhi, he reigned from Kilokhri (near Delhi) for the first year of his reign.
• Except for a dervish Sidi Maula, who was murdered for supposedly plotting to depose him, he was generous with the rebels.
• Jalal-ud-din was slain by his nephew Ali Gurshasp, who became Alauddin Khalji and ascended the throne.

*For detailed notes of this topic, check this link Jalal-ud-din Firoz Khilji (1290-1296 A.D.)

Ala-ud-din Khilji (1296-1316 AD)

• Alauddin Khilji was the nephew and son-in-law of his predecessor Jalaluddin Khilji.
• After Jalaluddin deposed the Mamluks and became Sultan of Delhi, Alauddin was awarded the title of Amir-i-Tuzuk.
• Following Firoz Khilji's death in 1296 AD, Ali Gurshap declared himself sultan of Manikpur under the name Allaudin Khilji.
• He solidified his dominance in Delhi after executing Jalaluddin's sons in Multan.
• He defeated the Mongols near the Ravi riverbed in 1306, and thereafter ransacked the Mongol territory in modern-day Afghanistan.
• Allauddin Khilji extended the Delhi Sultanate's territory to the extreme of north and south.
• His empire stretched from the Indus to Bengal, and from the Himalayas to the Vindhyas.
• During his south expedition, he reached up to Rameshwaram and defeated most of the Southern kingdoms.
• Yamin-ul-Khilafat, Nasir-e-amir-ul-momini, and Sikander-e sani were among his many titles.

*For detailed notes of this topic, check this link Ala-ud-din Khilji (1296-1316 A.D.)

Qutb-ud-Din Mubarak Shah Khilji (1316-1319 AD)

• Mubarak ascended the throne as Qutb-ud-Din Mubarak Shah, after Alauddin Khilji.
• Mubarak Shah was the son of Alauddin, who became acting regent over his younger brother.
• To gain cheap publicity, he released 17 thousands of inmates and removed all of his father's taxes and fines as soon as he became Sultan.
• He had loose morals, immoral behaviour, and a sensuous lifestyle that made him unpopular with the people.
• He gave the soldiers a six-month pay advance and dispersed the awards randomly.
• As a result, wine began to flow in Delhi, despite his father's prohibition.
• All of his father's market reforms crumbled like a building, and widespread corruption spread throughout Delhi.

Nasir-ud-Din Khusrau Shah

• Nasir-ud-Din Khusrau Shah was raised to the status of a minister by Mubarak and became the new ruler.
• He was a Hindu converted to Islam but he took off his religious garb, and unfollowed the principles of the Quran.
• He also ignored the women in the royal court and murdered the children.
• He took revenge for his forceful conversion by eliminating the whole of the Khalji dynasty.

Reforms During Khalji Dynasty

• Various administrative, market, military and revenue reforms took place during this time and most of them were done by Alauddin Khilji.
• The sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages and intoxicants were made illegal in and around Delhi.
• Alauddin seized a large number of jagirs and estates and stopped all pensions and allowances. The state canceled all religious endowments and land grants (waqf and inam).
• He believed in the divine right theory and distinguished between religion and politics.
• He took a number of steps to avoid rebellions, including limiting matrimonial alliances among nobles, appointing spies to keep an eye on them, preventing secret gatherings and parties, and prohibiting ulemas from interfering with administration.
• Alauddin Khilji started the system of paying warriors in cash.
• He established an intricate intelligence network to collect information on black-marketing and hoarding in order to limit the cost of critical commodities.
• He kept a large and powerful standing army.
• He instituted a system of horse branding (dagh) and the keeping of a complete military registration.
• He devised a scientific method for measuring land and calculating land revenue.
• Non-muslims were forced to pay jaziya.

Art and Architecture During Khalji Dynasty

• Early Indo-Mohammedan architecture was introduced by Alauddin Khalji in India, a style and construction effort that flourished during the Tughlaq dynasty.
• The Alai Darwaza, the southern doorway of the Qutb complex enclosure, the Idgah at Rapri, and the Jamat Khana Masjid in Delhi are among the constructions completed during the Khalji era.
• The Alai Darwaza, which was finished in 1311, was added to the Qutb Minar
• Monumental inscriptions in Perso-Arabic date back to the Khalji period.
• Amir Khusrau and Mir Hasan Dehlvi both present in the court of Alauddin Khilji.

End of Khalji Dynasty

• The Khalji dynasty came to an end in 1320, when the last Khalji emperor, Qutub-ud-din Omar, was assassinated by his own general Khusraw Khan, after only four years of reign.
• The Amirs did not want Khusraw Khan to become the Sultan's successor.
• With the help of another general, Ghazi Malik, Khusraw Khan was caught and beheaded.
• Ghazi Malik became the next Sultan and changed his name to Ghiyas-ud-din Tughluq.
• The beginning of the third dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate began with the accession of power as the new sultan.

Conclusion

The Khilji Dynasty, which originated in Central Asia, was the second dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate. Alauddin Khalji was the Khalji dynasty's most powerful ruler. He ran the empire properly, but it was a one-man show. As long as he lived, he maintained adequate control over the empire, but after his death, his unworthy successors were unable to effectively administer the Sultanate due to a lack of aptitude and capability. As a result, the Khalji Empire dissolved just four years after Alauddin's death, and the Tughlaq Dynasty arose.

FAQs

Q1: Who founded the Khalji Dynasty?

Q2: What was the significance of Ala-ud-din Khalji’s reign?

Q3: How did the Khalji Dynasty end?

Q4: What were the key reforms introduced by Ala-ud-din Khalji?

Q5: What were the military achievements of Ala-ud-din Khalji?

MCQs

1. Who was the first ruler of the Khalji Dynasty?

a) Ala-ud-din Khalji

b) Ghiyas-ud-din Balban

c) Jalal-ud-din Khalji

d) Qutb-ud-din Aibak

2. Which Sultan introduced the market control policy?

a) Firoz Shah Tughlaq

b) Muhammad bin Tughlaq

c) Ala-ud-din Khalji

d) Balban

3. Which fort did Ala-ud-din Khalji conquer to subdue Rajput resistance?

a) Daulatabad

b) Ranthambore

c) Kalinjar

d) Golconda

4. Who overthrew the Khalji Dynasty in 1320 AD?

a) Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq

b) Firoz Shah Tughlaq

c) Muhammad bin Tughlaq

d) Ibrahim Lodi

5. What was the significance of the Chittor conquest under Ala-ud-din Khalji?

a) Expansion into Deccan

b) Alliance with Mongols

c) Consolidation of power over Rajputs

d) Foundation of the Tughlaq Dynasty

GS Mains Questions and Model Answers

Q1:CEvaluate the significance of Ala-ud-din Khalji's market reforms in the Delhi Sultanate.

Answer: Ala-ud-din Khalji introduced stringent market reforms to control prices and stabilize the economy. His measures included the establishment of government-regulated markets, fixed prices for essential goods, and strict enforcement of anti-hoarding laws. These reforms were effective in curbing inflation and ensuring a steady supply of food and goods during military campaigns. However, these policies were also criticized for being coercive and unsustainable in the long run, as they required constant surveillance and strict punishment for defaulters.

Q2: Discuss the expansion policy of Ala-ud-din Khalji and its impact on the Delhi Sultanate.

Answer: Ala-ud-din Khalji pursued an aggressive expansion policy, annexing regions such as Ranthambore, Chittor, Malwa, and Gujarat. His southern expeditions, led by his general Malik Kafur, extended the influence of the Sultanate into the Deccan. This expansion increased the wealth of the empire and secured trade routes. However, it also led to administrative challenges and rebellions, requiring a robust military presence to maintain control over distant territories.

Q3: Analyze the reasons for the decline of the Khalji Dynasty.

Answer: The decline of the Khalji Dynasty can be attributed to internal strife, weak successors, and administrative failures. After the death of Ala-ud-din Khalji, the absence of a capable leader led to factionalism and court intrigues. Qutb-ud-din Mubarak Shah, the last ruler, was unpopular due to his erratic behavior and lack of governance skills. In 1320 AD, Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq overthrew the dynasty, marking the beginning of the Tughlaq rule. The rapid decline highlights the importance of stable leadership and efficient administration in sustaining empires.

Previous Year Questions on  Khalji Dynasty

1. UPSC CSE 2020

Question: Discuss the significance of Ala-ud-din Khalji’s southern campaigns in the expansion of the Delhi Sultanate.

Answer: Ala-ud-din Khalji’s southern campaigns, led by his trusted general Malik Kafur, were pivotal in extending the Delhi Sultanate's influence into the Deccan region. These campaigns resulted in the capture of several wealthy kingdoms, such as Devagiri and Warangal, which contributed significantly to the Sultanate's economy through tributes and loot. The expansion also secured important trade routes. However, these campaigns stretched the administrative capacity of the Sultanate, leading to difficulties in governance. Additionally, the harsh treatment of the southern rulers created resentment, laying the foundation for future rebellions. The southern expansion showcased Khalji’s military prowess but also exposed the limitations of central control over a vast empire.

2. UPSC CSE 2019

Question: Explain the role of Ala-ud-din Khalji's administrative policies in maintaining the stability of his empire.

Answer: Ala-ud-din Khalji implemented several administrative measures that contributed to the stability of his empire. His market reforms ensured price control and availability of essential commodities, preventing economic instability during military campaigns. The establishment of a spy network helped in monitoring the activities of nobles and preventing rebellions. He also restructured the military administration, maintaining a standing army that was directly under his control. These policies helped consolidate his authority and reduced the power of feudal lords. However, his authoritarian style of governance created discontent among the nobility, and the absence of a strong successor after his death led to the decline of the Khalji Dynasty. His reign remains a significant example of the challenges of balancing power and governance in a medieval empire.