Delhi Sultanate Dynasties: Quick Answer
The Delhi Sultanate (1206-1526) was ruled by five dynasties in this order: Slave (Mamluk) 1206-1290, Khalji 1290-1320, Tughlaq 1320-1414, Sayyid 1414-1451 and Lodi 1451-1526. It began when Qutbuddin Aibak became ruler after Muhammad Ghori's death (1206) and ended when Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodi at the First Battle of Panipat (1526).
Key takeaway: Trick for the order: "S-K-T-S-L" = "Sab Khao Tasty Samosa Lekar" (Slave, Khalji, Tughlaq, Sayyid, Lodi). The Tughlaqs ruled longest (94 years); the Khaljis ruled for the shortest time (30 years). The Lodis were the first Afghan (Pashtun) dynasty to rule Delhi; the Sayyids claimed descent from the Prophet.
Delhi Sultanate Dynasties Timeline (Table)
| Dynasty | Period | Founder | Last ruler | Ended by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Slave (Mamluk / Ilbari) | 1206-1290 | Qutbuddin Aibak | Kayumars | Jalaluddin Khalji's takeover |
| Khalji | 1290-1320 | Jalaluddin Firuz Khalji | Khusrau Khan (usurper) | Ghazi Malik (Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq) |
| Tughlaq | 1320-1414 | Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq | Nasiruddin Mahmud Shah | Weakened after Timur's invasion (1398); Khizr Khan took Delhi |
| Sayyid | 1414-1451 | Khizr Khan | Alauddin Alam Shah | Gave up Delhi to Bahlul Lodi |
| Lodi | 1451-1526 | Bahlul Lodi | Ibrahim Lodi | Babur, First Battle of Panipat |
Slave Dynasty Rulers List (1206-1290)
| Ruler | Reign | Key facts for exams |
|---|---|---|
| Qutbuddin Aibak | 1206-1210 | Founder; called Lakh Bakhsh (giver of lakhs); began the Qutub Minar and built the Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque (Delhi) and Adhai Din ka Jhonpra (Ajmer); capital Lahore; died in a fall while playing chaugan (polo) |
| Iltutmish | 1211-1236 | Real consolidator; made Delhi the capital; introduced the silver tanka and copper jital; organised the iqta system; formed the Turkan-i-Chahalgani (the Forty); completed the Qutub Minar; got recognition from the Abbasid Caliph (1229) |
| Razia Sultan | 1236-1240 | First and only woman ruler of the Delhi Sultanate; daughter of Iltutmish |
| Nasiruddin Mahmud | 1246-1266 | Balban was his deputy (Naib) |
| Ghiyasuddin Balban | 1266-1287 | Theory of kingship ("shadow of God"); introduced sijda and paibos; crushed the Forty; policy of "blood and iron"; set up the military department (Diwan-i-Arz) |
Khalji Dynasty Rulers List (1290-1320)
| Ruler | Reign | Key facts for exams |
|---|---|---|
| Jalaluddin Firuz Khalji | 1290-1296 | Founder; mild policy; killed by his nephew Alauddin |
| Alauddin Khalji | 1296-1316 | Market control reforms (price control, Shahna-i-Mandi); dagh (branding of horses) and huliya/chehra (descriptive roll of soldiers); land revenue at half the produce; built the Alai Darwaza and Siri Fort; general Malik Kafur led campaigns to South India; repelled Mongol invasions; conquered Chittor (1303) |
| Qutbuddin Mubarak Shah | 1316-1320 | Murdered by Khusrau Khan |
Tughlaq Dynasty Rulers List (1320-1414)
| Ruler | Reign | Key facts for exams |
|---|---|---|
| Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq (Ghazi Malik) | 1320-1325 | Founder; built Tughlaqabad; died when a pavilion collapsed |
| Muhammad bin Tughlaq | 1325-1351 | Shifted the capital from Delhi to Daulatabad (Devagiri) and back; issued token currency of copper/bronze; raised taxes in the Doab; planned Khurasan and Qarachil expeditions; Moroccan traveller Ibn Battuta served as his qazi of Delhi |
| Firuz Shah Tughlaq | 1351-1388 | Built canals and towns (Hisar, Firozabad, Fatehabad, Jaunpur); set up Diwan-i-Khairat (charity) and Diwan-i-Bandagan (slaves); moved two Ashokan pillars (from Topra and Meerut) to Delhi; made the iqtas hereditary; wrote Futuhat-i-Firozshahi |
| Nasiruddin Mahmud Shah | 1394-1412 | Timur invaded and sacked Delhi in 1398 during his reign |
Sayyid and Lodi Dynasty Rulers List (1414-1526)
| Ruler | Reign | Key facts for exams |
|---|---|---|
| Khizr Khan | 1414-1421 | Founder of the Sayyid dynasty; ruled as Timur's deputy and never took the title of Sultan |
| Alauddin Alam Shah | 1445-1451 | Last Sayyid; handed Delhi to Bahlul Lodi |
| Bahlul Lodi | 1451-1489 | Founder of the Lodi (Afghan) dynasty; annexed Jaunpur |
| Sikandar Lodi | 1489-1517 | Founded Agra (1504) and made it his capital; introduced the Gaz-i-Sikandari (measuring yard); wrote Persian poetry under the name Gulrukhi |
| Ibrahim Lodi | 1517-1526 | Last Sultan of Delhi; killed by Babur at the First Battle of Panipat (21 April 1526) |
Delhi Sultanate Buildings and Who Built Them
| Monument | Builder |
|---|---|
| Qutub Minar | Begun by Qutbuddin Aibak, completed by Iltutmish (later repairs by Firuz Shah Tughlaq) |
| Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque, Delhi | Qutbuddin Aibak |
| Adhai Din ka Jhonpra, Ajmer | Qutbuddin Aibak |
| Alai Darwaza, Siri Fort, Hauz Khas tank | Alauddin Khalji |
| Tughlaqabad Fort | Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq |
| Firoz Shah Kotla, Hisar | Firuz Shah Tughlaq |
| Lodi Garden tombs (Sikandar Lodi's tomb) | Lodi period |
Delhi Sultanate Administration Terms (Glossary)
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Iqta | Land revenue assignment given to officers (muqtis) in place of salary |
| Tanka / Jital | Silver / copper coins introduced by Iltutmish |
| Chahalgani | The group of forty Turkish nobles under Iltutmish |
| Sijda and Paibos | Prostration and kissing the Sultan's feet (Balban) |
| Dagh and Huliya | Branding of horses and descriptive roll of soldiers (Alauddin) |
| Diwan-i-Arz | Military department (Balban) |
| Diwan-i-Khairat | Charity department (Firuz Shah) |
| Diwan-i-Kohi | Agriculture department (Muhammad bin Tughlaq) |
| Jizya | Tax on non-Muslims |
| Kharaj | Land tax |
Delhi Sultanate MCQs for SSC and RRB (with Answers)
Q1. Who was the founder of the Delhi Sultanate? (a) Iltutmish (b) Muhammad Ghori (c) Qutbuddin Aibak (d) Balban Answer: (c).
Q2. Which ruler introduced the silver tanka and copper jital? (a) Balban (b) Iltutmish (c) Alauddin Khalji (d) Muhammad bin Tughlaq Answer: (b).
Q3. The market control system was introduced by: (a) Firuz Shah Tughlaq (b) Sikandar Lodi (c) Alauddin Khalji (d) Jalaluddin Khalji Answer: (c).
Q4. Who shifted the capital from Delhi to Daulatabad? (a) Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq (b) Muhammad bin Tughlaq (c) Firuz Shah Tughlaq (d) Balban Answer: (b).
Q5. Which Sultan founded the city of Agra? (a) Bahlul Lodi (b) Ibrahim Lodi (c) Sikandar Lodi (d) Khizr Khan Answer: (c). 1504.
Q6. The only woman ruler of the Delhi Sultanate was: (a) Chand Bibi (b) Razia Sultan (c) Durgavati (d) Nur Jahan Answer: (b).
Q7. Timur invaded India in 1398 during the reign of which dynasty? (a) Khalji (b) Tughlaq (c) Sayyid (d) Lodi Answer: (b). Under Nasiruddin Mahmud Shah Tughlaq.
Q8. "Sijda" and "Paibos" were introduced by: (a) Iltutmish (b) Balban (c) Alauddin Khalji (d) Aibak Answer: (b).
Q9. Which was the last dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate? (a) Sayyid (b) Tughlaq (c) Lodi (d) Khalji Answer: (c).
Q10. Which traveller from Morocco visited India during Muhammad bin Tughlaq's reign? (a) Marco Polo (b) Al-Biruni (c) Ibn Battuta (d) Abdur Razzaq Answer: (c).
Delhi Sultanate FAQs
How many dynasties ruled the Delhi Sultanate?
Five: Slave (Mamluk), Khalji, Tughlaq, Sayyid and Lodi, from 1206 to 1526.
Why is the first dynasty called the Slave dynasty?
Its early rulers, Qutbuddin Aibak, Iltutmish and Balban, began as slaves (mamluks) before rising to power. Historians also call it the Mamluk dynasty, or the Ilbari dynasty after the Turkish tribe of Iltutmish and Balban.
Who was the greatest ruler of the Khalji dynasty?
Alauddin Khalji (1296-1316), known for market reforms, a large standing army, the Alai Darwaza and victories over the Mongols.
Which Delhi Sultan is called the "wise fool"?
Muhammad bin Tughlaq is often described that way because of ambitious schemes such as shifting the capital and token currency that failed in practice.
Who built the Qutub Minar?
Qutbuddin Aibak started it and Iltutmish completed it; Firuz Shah Tughlaq later repaired it.
Which battle ended the Delhi Sultanate?
The First Battle of Panipat (1526), in which Babur defeated and killed Ibrahim Lodi.
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