Successors of Ala-ud-din Khilji - Medieval India History Notes
Ala-ud-Din Khilji, the greatest khilji ruler, died in 1316 AD, leaving an empire free of external threats and internal strife due to his magnificent administrative and economic policies. When Malik Kafur learned of Ala-ud-din’s death, he took the empire into his own hands and installed Shahab-ud-Din Umar, the immature son of Ala-ud-Din Khilji on the throne, and began controlling the land. He blinded other potential heirs and blocked their path to the throne in his goal to become the sole monarch but Mubarak Shah managed to flee and became the monarch of the Khilji Dynasty after Malik Kafur was assassinated in his bed. In this article, we will discuss the Successors of Ala-ud-din Khilji which will be helpful for UPSC exam preparation.
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Successors of Ala-ud-din Khilji - Background
- Jalaluddin Firoz Khilji was the first Sultan of the Khilji dynasty, 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 Ali Gurshasp, who became 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. But Malik Kafur was 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.
Successors of Ala-ud-din Khilji
Qutb-ud-Din Mubarak Shah Khilji (1316-1319 AD)
- After the murder of Malik Kafur, Mubarak ascended the throne as Qutb-ud-Din Mubarak Shah, the next Khilji ruler.
- Mubarak Shah was the son of Alauddin, became acting regent over his younger brother.
- He soon blinded that youngster and imprisoned him. Nobody knows what happened to the unfortunate child.
- 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.
- Mubarak, a 17-year-old boy, was a slave to his own passions and orgies.
- 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.
- The markets went haywire, and commodities became prohibitively expensive.
- 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.
- It is said that he got the whole Khilji dynasty murdered.
- He took revenge for his forceful conversion by eliminating the whole of the Khalji dynasty.
- He divided the prominent offices among the nobles of the past who had been demoted during Sultan Qutb-ud-din reign.
- Hindus from his own class were given significant positions, making Muslims illegal.
- He was opposed by Ain-ul-Mulk and the other Muslim nobility.
- Jona Khan informed his father, Ghazi Malik, about the Sultan's misdeeds in forming an army to end Khusrau Shah and meet him near Delhi.
- Khusrau Shah was defeated and beheaded after being arrested in the war, and Ghazi Malik was crowned Sultan Ghiyath-ud-Din Tughlaq in 1310 AD.
- His 4-month rule came to an end and the Khilji Dynasty's sun sank in four years after Ala-ud-Din Khilji died and the Tughlaqs took power.
Conclusion
Khalji Dynasty (1290-1320 AD) was established by Jalaluddin Firuz Khilji. He was the first Sultan of the Khilji dynasty, ruling for six years. He killed the last descendant of the Slave Dynasty and crowned himself Sultan of the Delhi Sultanate at the age of 70. His nephew Alauddin Khalji ascended the throne. Following the death of Alauddin Khilji, Malik Kafur crowned his 6-year-old son as Sultan of Delhi. The nobles, however, killed Malik Kafur. Mubarak Shah presided over and claimed the throne for himself whereas the Nasir-ud-Din Khusrau Shah was the last ruler of the khiljis.
FAQs
Question: Who were the successors of Ala-ud-Din Khilji?
Answer: After the death of Ala-ud-Din Khilji in 1316, his successors were his sons and other royal family members. His reign was followed by:
- Shihab-ud-Din Omar: His eldest son who succeeded him briefly but was assassinated.
- Qutb-ud-Din Mubarak Shah: His son, who ascended the throne after Omar's death and reigned from 1316 to 1320.
- Other successors: Several other Khilji princes and military commanders, but none of them were able to maintain the empire's power for long after Mubarak Shah's assassination in 1320, which led to the rise of the Tughlaq dynasty.
Question: What were the key challenges faced by the successors of Ala-ud-Din Khilji?
Answer: The successors of Ala-ud-Din Khilji faced several challenges, including:
- Succession disputes: After Ala-ud-Din's death, there was a lack of clear succession, which led to internal strife and power struggles among his sons and nobles.
- Military weakening: The military might of the Khilji dynasty weakened under his successors, leading to the loss of territories and the inability to defend against external invasions.
- Rebellions: Local rebellions and revolts from nobles and military generals further weakened the empire's control over its vast territories.
Question: What were the significant achievements of Ala-ud-Din Khilji during his reign?
Answer: Ala-ud-Din Khilji was one of the most significant rulers of the Khilji dynasty, known for several reforms and military campaigns:
- Military Expansion: He successfully expanded the Delhi Sultanate’s territories, including conquering Gujarat, Rajasthan, and parts of southern India.
- Administrative Reforms: Ala-ud-Din introduced price control mechanisms, standardized weights and measures, and reformed the military structure to create a standing army.
- Market and Economic Reforms: He organized the market and introduced measures to control the price of goods, especially food grains and luxury items, which helped stabilize the economy.
Question: How did Qutb-ud-Din Mubarak Shah rule after Ala-ud-Din Khilji's death?
Answer: Qutb-ud-Din Mubarak Shah ascended the throne after the death of his father, Ala-ud-Din Khilji, in 1316. His reign, which lasted from 1316 to 1320, was marked by political instability, internal conspiracies, and the weakening of central authority. Mubarak Shah’s reign was characterized by lavish indulgence, heavy taxation, and cruelty. His inability to maintain control over his empire and his assassination in 1320 marked the end of the Khilji dynasty and the beginning of the Tughlaq dynasty.
Question: What led to the downfall of the Khilji dynasty?
Answer: The downfall of the Khilji dynasty was due to a combination of factors:
- Weak Successors: After Ala-ud-Din Khilji’s death, his successors, including his sons and other nobles, were unable to maintain the strength of the empire.
- Internal Strife: Succession struggles and political instability weakened the empire, making it vulnerable to external threats and internal revolts.
- Military Decline: The Khilji military, once strong under Ala-ud-Din, began to deteriorate, and the empire lost control over important territories.
MCQs
1. Who succeeded Ala-ud-Din Khilji as the ruler of the Delhi Sultanate?
A) Shihab-ud-Din Omar
B) Qutb-ud-Din Mubarak Shah
C) Muhammad bin Tughlaq
D) Firoz Shah Tughlaq
Answer: (B) See the Explanation
Explanation: Qutb-ud-Din Mubarak Shah was the son of Ala-ud-Din Khilji and succeeded him to the throne in 1316, although his reign was short-lived.
2. What was the primary cause of the downfall of the Khilji dynasty?
A) Foreign invasions
B) Internal strife and weak leadership
C) Economic collapse
D) Successive military defeats
Answer: (B) See the Explanation
Explanation: The Khilji dynasty fell due to internal political struggles, weak leadership after Ala-ud-Din Khilji's death, and growing rebellions, leading to the rise of the Tughlaq dynasty.
3. Who was the last ruler of the Khilji dynasty?
A) Ala-ud-Din Khilji
B) Qutb-ud-Din Mubarak Shah
C) Shihab-ud-Din Omar
D) Sultan Mahmud
Answer: (B) See the Explanation
Explanation: Qutb-ud-Din Mubarak Shah was the last ruler of the Khilji dynasty. His assassination in 1320 led to the end of the dynasty.
4. Which major reform was introduced by Ala-ud-Din Khilji during his reign?
A) Introduction of a standing army
B) Abolition of slavery
C) Reform in land revenue system
D) Establishment of religious tolerance
Answer: (A) See the Explanation
Explanation: Ala-ud-Din Khilji introduced the reform of a standing army, which was a key military reform during his reign. He created a well-organized and loyal army to expand the empire’s territories.
5. Who succeeded Qutb-ud-Din Mubarak Shah after his assassination?
A) Sultan Mahmud
B) Muhammad bin Tughlaq
C) Firoz Shah Tughlaq
D) Tughlaq dynasty
Answer: (D) See the Explanation
Explanation: After Qutb-ud-Din Mubarak Shah's assassination, the Tughlaq dynasty rose to power, with Ghiyas-ud-Din Tughlaq becoming the first ruler of the dynasty.
GS Mains Questions and Model Answers
Q1: Discuss the significance of Ala-ud-Din Khilji’s reign in the context of medieval Indian history.
Answer: Ala-ud-Din Khilji’s reign marked a significant period in medieval Indian history. His expansionist policies extended the boundaries of the Delhi Sultanate, making it one of the largest empires of its time. His military reforms, such as the establishment of a standing army and the introduction of a system to control prices and prevent corruption, strengthened the empire’s administrative capacity. Ala-ud-Din’s policies of state control over the economy and his efforts to maintain law and order helped consolidate the Sultanate’s power. However, his successors were unable to maintain the empire’s stability, leading to its eventual decline.
Q2: Analyze the decline of the Khilji dynasty and the rise of the Tughlaq dynasty.
Answer: The decline of the Khilji dynasty was precipitated by internal instability, weak leadership, and the inability of the successors of Ala-ud-Din Khilji to maintain control over the vast empire. The lack of strong governance, succession disputes, and economic difficulties led to the dynasty’s downfall. Qutb-ud-Din Mubarak Shah, the last effective ruler, was assassinated in 1320, after which the Tughlaq dynasty, led by Ghiyas-ud-Din Tughlaq, rose to power. The Tughlaq dynasty brought in new reforms, such as the transfer of the capital to Daulatabad, which marked a shift in the political and economic landscape of the Delhi Sultanate.
Q3: Evaluate the role of internal strife and military decline in the collapse of the Khilji dynasty.
Answer: Internal strife, especially succession disputes, played a significant role in the collapse of the Khilji dynasty. After the death of Ala-ud-Din Khilji, his successors, particularly Qutb-ud-Din Mubarak Shah, failed to command the same authority or maintain the military reforms that had once made the empire strong. The lack of effective leadership, coupled with growing military weakness, allowed rebellions to take root, weakening the empire further. This internal instability, combined with external invasions, led to the ultimate downfall of the Khilji dynasty and the rise of the Tughlaq dynasty, which established a new order in the region.
Previous Year Questions on Ala-ud-Din Khilji and His Successors
1. UPSC CSE Prelims 2021:
Question: Who was the last ruler of the Khilji dynasty?
A) Qutb-ud-Din Mubarak Shah
B) Ala-ud-Din Khilji
C) Shihab-ud-Din Omar
D) Muhammad bin Tughlaq
Answer: (A)
Explanation: Qutb-ud-Din Mubarak Shah was the last effective ruler of the Khilji dynasty. His assassination led to the fall of the dynasty and the rise of the Tughlaq dynasty.
2. UPSC CSE Mains 2020 (GS Paper 1):
Question: Discuss the impact of the military reforms introduced by Ala-ud-Din Khilji on the administration of the Delhi Sultanate.
Answer: Ala-ud-Din Khilji introduced several military reforms that strengthened the Delhi Sultanate. The establishment of a standing army and the introduction of the system of intelligence gathering were critical in maintaining order and expanding the empire’s territories. His army’s efficiency and military strategy helped him defeat several enemies, including the Mongol invasions. These reforms, however, were not sustainable after his death, and the empire’s military capacity deteriorated, contributing to the fall of the Khilji dynasty.
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