The first female Sultan of the Delhi Sultanate, Raziyya Sultana, was the daughter of ________.
Shamsuddin Iltutmish
Raziyya Sultana, the first female ruler of the Delhi Sultanate, was the daughter of Shamsuddin Iltutmish.
Here's a little more context:
- Shamsuddin Iltutmish:
- He was a prominent ruler of the Delhi Sultanate.
- He recognized Raziyya's capabilities and, unusually for the time, designated her as his heir.
- Raziyya Sultana:
- She ruled the Delhi Sultanate from 1236 to 1240.
- She was a capable administrator and ruler.
- It is important to understand that her rise to the throne was very uncommon for that time period.
Therefore, the correct answer is Shamsuddin Iltutmish.
Shamsuddin Iltutmish
✅ Correct Answer: Shamsuddin Iltutmish
📘 Detailed Explanation:
Raziyya Sultana (ruled 1236–1240 CE) holds the distinction of being the first and only female ruler of the Delhi Sultanate.
🔹 Parentage:
- Raziyya was the daughter of Shamsuddin Iltutmish, the third ruler of the Mamluk (Slave) Dynasty.
- Iltutmish considered her more capable than his sons and nominated her as his successor, breaking the prevailing tradition of male-only rulers.
🔹 Key Achievements:
- Raziyya defied norms by dressing like a male ruler, holding court, and leading armies.
- She tried to reduce the power of the Turkish nobles (Chalisa or Chahalgani) which led to conflicts.
- Despite being a competent and just ruler, her reign was short-lived due to internal conspiracies and political instability.
❌ Why Other Options Are Incorrect:
| Option | Who They Were | Why Incorrect |
|---|---|---|
| Muhammad Ghori | Founder of Muslim rule in India after defeating Prithviraj Chauhan | Not related to Raziyya |
| Qutbuddin Aibak | First Sultan of Delhi; founder of the Mamluk Dynasty | Predecessor to Iltutmish, not Raziyya’s father |
| Muhammad Tughluq | Ruler from Tughlaq Dynasty, 14th century | Came nearly a century later |
Shamsuddin Iltutmish
The correct answer is:
✅ Shamsuddin Iltutmish
Detailed Explanation:
1. Raziyya Sultan's Background
- Full Name: Raziyyat-ud-Din (popularly known as Raziyya Sultan or Razia Sultana).
- Reign: 1236–1240 CE (First and only female ruler of the Delhi Sultanate).
- Father: Shamsuddin Iltutmish (3rd Sultan of the Mamluk dynasty).
2. Key Facts About Her Rule
Appointment: Iltutmish nominated her as his successor, bypassing her incompetent brothers.
Challenges Faced:
- Opposition from Turkish nobles (Chahalgani) who resisted a female ruler.
- Revolts by provincial governors.
Reforms:
- Adopted male attire and ruled openly (not from behind a veil).
- Promoted meritocracy, appointing non-Turkish officers like Jamal-ud-Din Yaqut (an Ethiopian slave).
3. Why Not Other Options?
| Ruler | Relation to Raziyya |
|---|---|
| Muhammad Ghori | Founder of Muslim rule in India (died 1206); no relation. |
| Qutbuddin Aibak | Iltutmish’s predecessor (slave & general of Ghori); not her father. |
| Muhammad Tughluq | Ruled 150 years later (1325–1351); unrelated. |
4. Her Tragic End
- Deposed in 1240 due to noble opposition.
- Married her captor, Altunia (Governor of Bhatinda), to secure power but was later killed by her half-brother Muizuddin Bahram.
5. Legacy
- Symbol of women’s empowerment in medieval India.
- Mentioned in Minhaj-i-Siraj’s Tabaqat-i-Nasiri (13th-century chronicle).
Final Answer:
✅ Shamsuddin Iltutmish (Raziyya Sultan was the daughter of Iltutmish.)
Did You Know?
She issued coins in her name with the title "Sultan" (not "Sultana"), asserting equal authority to male rulers!
Important Questions from Delhi Sultanate
________ organised his trusted nobles into a group of forty known as Turkan-i-Chahalgani.
Who was the first and last woman ruler of Delhi Sultanate?
Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq was the governor of ______ during the reign of Ala-ud-din Khilji.
Who among the following was a slave of Muhammad Ghori? He became the ruler after the death of his master and founded the Slave Dynasty.
In which of the following forts was Razia Sultan imprisoned by Malik Ikhtiyar-ud-din Altunia?
