Who were the Sultans of Delhi?(Conquest of India, Mongol invasions!)Delhi Sultanate History

Summary

The script narrates the rise and fall of the Delhi Sultanate, a powerful empire controlling much of the Indian subcontinent for over three centuries. It details the unlikely ascent of its founder, a former slave, and the empire's struggles against the Mongols. The narrative covers the sultanate's expansion, internal strife, and eventual decline, culminating in the Mughal conquest. It also touches on the enduring legacy of Delhi as a global hub.

Takeaways

• 🏰 The Delhi Sultanate emerged as a powerful entity controlling the strategic choke point between the Ganges and Indus River Valley systems, nearly conquering the entire Indian subcontinent.
• 🛡️ The sultanate successfully defended against the Mongol Empire's attempts to annex India, becoming a refuge for those fleeing the Mongols.
• 👑 The founders of the Delhi Sultanate were not of noble birth but rose from a low social class, with the first sultan, Qutb ud-Din Aibak, starting as a slave.
• 🎁 Aibak was known for his generosity, which became a common compliment in the region for centuries after his rule.
• 🐴 The Delhi Sultanate faced initial defeats against the Rajputs but adapted and eventually conquered them using superior cavalry and tactics.
• 🔄 The empire experienced periods of internal strife and civil war, with multiple leaders rising and falling, including a female ruler, Razia Sultana.
• 🌍 The sultanate attracted refugees from Central Asia and the Near East, enriching Delhi culturally and economically.
• 🏙️ Under Iltutmish's rule, Delhi transformed from a small city into a grand imperial capital, becoming a hub of culture, intellect, and commerce.
• 🐘 The Delhi Sultanate's military strength included a large contingent of war elephants, which ultimately proved ineffective against the Mughal's firearms.
• 💥 The empire's decline was marked by internal power struggles, culminating in its defeat by the Mughal Empire at the Battle of Panipat.
• 🏛️ Despite its fall, Delhi remains a significant global center for politics, economics, and culture, with a rich historical legacy.

Q & A

What was the strategic significance of the city of Delhi during the Delhi Sultanate period?

The city of Delhi was strategically located at the choke point between the Ganges and the Indus River Valley systems, which allowed the Delhi Sultanate to control a crucial area and exert influence over a vast region.

How did the Delhi Sultanate manage to defeat the Mongol Empire's attempts to annex India?

The Delhi Sultanate was powerful and organized, successfully repelling the Mongol Empire's invasion attempts, and even becoming a refuge for those fleeing the Mongols.

What was the origin of the Delhi Sultanate's founders, and how did their background differ from typical rulers of the time?

The founders of the Delhi Sultanate were not from royal, clerical, warrior, or merchant backgrounds. Instead, they were born into a social class where they were considered less than nothing, being bought and sold multiple times, including by their own family members.

Who was the young boy from East Persian town who later changed the course of history, and what was his early life like?

The young boy was a Turkistani who was auctioned off and bought by an elderly local magistrate. He was raised kindly alongside the magistrate's sons and taught valuable skills, which later helped him rise to power.

How did the Delhi Sultanate's governance change under the rule of Iltutmish?

Iltutmish, who had a similar origin story to the founder of the sultanate, moved the capital from Lahore to Delhi, transforming it into a grand imperial capital city and expanding the sultanate's territory in the north.

What significant transformation did the city of Delhi undergo under Iltutmish's reign?

Under Iltutmish's reign, Delhi transformed into a cultural, intellectual, and economic hub, attracting refugees from Central Asia and the Near East, who brought with them knowledge and wealth.

Why was it unusual for the daughter of Iltutmish, Razia, to be named as his successor?

It was highly unorthodox for a daughter to be named as a successor in that era, as typically male heirs were chosen to inherit the throne. Razia's appointment as successor was a break from this tradition.

What was the impact of the Mongol invasions on the Delhi Sultanate?

The Mongol invasions posed a significant threat to the Delhi Sultanate, but the sultanate was able to successfully fight off these incursions, stabilizing the empire and even gaining refugees from the invaded regions.

How did the Delhi Sultanate's military strategies evolve over time, particularly in their confrontations with the Rajputs?

The Delhi Sultanate's military strategies evolved by learning from their initial defeats against the Rajputs. They adapted by using tactics such as feigned retreats, which led to a resounding victory and allowed them to conquer most of the northern Indian subcontinent.

What was the role of Balban in the Delhi Sultanate, and how did he contribute to its stability?

Balban, a former Mamluk slave who belonged to Iltutmish, assumed the throne after the last of Iltutmish's heirs died without an error. He stabilized the empire, recaptured lost territory, and successfully fought off Mongol incursions.

What were the consequences of Muhammad bin Tughlaq's eccentric policies, and how did they affect the Delhi Sultanate?

Muhammad bin Tughlaq's eccentric policies, such as forcibly moving the capital's population and raising a large army that was later disbanded, led to rampant mismanagement, widespread famine, and revolt, which significantly weakened the Delhi Sultanate.

Outlines

00:00

🏰 Rise of the Delhi Sultanate and the Origins of Its Founders

The Delhi Sultanate, a formidable power controlling the strategic choke point between the Ganges and Indus River Valleys, nearly conquered the entire Indian subcontinent in its zenith. It emerged from a socially marginalized class, with founders who were bought and sold, including a young Turkistani boy sold by his family and later purchased by Muhammad of Ghor. This boy, known for his generosity and leadership, rose through the ranks to become a logistics manager and eventually a general, instrumental in the sultanate's victories and expansion. His rise and the sultanate's military strategies, including defeating the Mongols and the Rajputs, are highlighted in this paragraph.

05:01

🔄 Turbulence and Transition in the Delhi Sultanate

After establishing internal peace and prosperity, the Delhi Sultanate faced a series of challenges following the death of its founder. His successor, Iltutmish, who had a similar humble origin, moved the capital from Lahore to Delhi, transforming it into a grand imperial capital. His reign saw the expansion of the sultanate and the influx of refugees from Central Asia, enriching Delhi's culture and economy. However, Iltutmish's successors faced rebellions, and the throne changed hands multiple times, with rulers displaying varying degrees of competence and stability, leading to periods of turmoil and civil war.

10:03

🛡️ Military Might and Political Instability in the Delhi Sultanate

The Delhi Sultanate's military prowess is underscored by its successful defense against Mongol invasions and expansion under various rulers. However, political instability persisted with palace coups, civil wars, and the rise and fall of rulers. Notable figures like Balban and Jalaluddin Firuz Shah brought periods of stability and territorial gains, but their reigns were marred by power struggles and the eventual decline into chaos. The sultanate's military campaigns, economic management, and the impact of rulers' personalities on governance are key themes in this paragraph.

15:05

🏙️ The Fall of the Delhi Sultanate and the Rise of the Mughals

The final decline of the Delhi Sultanate is marked by mismanagement, infighting, and the invasion by the Turco-Mongol warlord, Timur. His sack of Delhi and the subsequent dynastic changes led to a period of instability until the emergence of the Lodi Dynasty, which brought relative stability but was eventually overthrown by the Mughals. The Mughal conquest, utilizing advanced weaponry against the sultanate's war elephants, marked the end of the Delhi Sultanate's rule. The legacy of Delhi as a political, economic, and cultural center endures, with the city remaining a significant global hub.

Keywords

💡Delhi Sultanate

The Delhi Sultanate refers to a Muslim empire that ruled over the Indian subcontinent for over three centuries, starting from the 13th century. It was known for its strategic location and control over the Ganges and Indus River Valley systems. The sultanate's rise and fall are central to the video's narrative, illustrating the political and military power dynamics of the era.

💡Mongol Empire

The Mongol Empire was a vast empire originating from the Central Asian steppes, known for its rapid expansion and military prowess. In the context of the video, the Delhi Sultanate successfully defeated the Mongol Empire's attempts to annex India, showcasing the sultanate's strength and strategic acumen.

💡Iltutmish

Iltutmish was a slave who rose to power and became the Sultan of Delhi, establishing the stability and prosperity of the sultanate. His story exemplifies the theme of social mobility and the ability to overcome humble beginnings to achieve great power, which is a key narrative in the video.

💡Rajputs

The Rajputs were a warrior class in India, known for their martial skills and resistance to foreign invasions. In the video, they represent a formidable adversary for the Delhi Sultanate, highlighting the challenges faced by the sultanate in expanding its territories.

💡Cultural Hub

The term 'cultural hub' refers to a place where culture, arts, and intellectual life are concentrated. In the video, Delhi is described as transforming into a cultural hub under the rule of Iltutmish, attracting scholars, artisans, and wealth from various regions, which contributed to the city's development and influence.

💡Civil War

Civil war is a conflict between factions within the same country. The video mentions multiple instances of civil war within the Delhi Sultanate, particularly after the death of Muhammad of Ghor, which led to the fragmentation and eventual decline of the sultanate's power.

💡Mongol Invasions

Mongol invasions refer to the series of military campaigns launched by the Mongol Empire into other territories. In the video, the Delhi Sultanate's ability to repel Mongol invasions is highlighted as a testament to its military strength and the strategic importance of its geographical location.

💡Sultan

A sultan is a sovereign ruler in a Muslim state, typically one ruled by a caliphate or a sultanate. The video discusses various sultans of the Delhi Sultanate, their reigns, and their impact on the empire's growth, stability, and eventual decline.

💡Tughlaq Dynasty

The Tughlaq Dynasty was a line of sultans who ruled the Delhi Sultanate during a period of significant change and upheaval. The video describes the eccentricities and mismanagement of the Tughlaq rulers, which contributed to the weakening of the sultanate.

💡Mughal Empire

The Mughal Empire was a powerful empire in the Indian subcontinent, founded by Babur, a descendant of Genghis Khan and Tamerlane. In the video, the Mughal invasion and subsequent defeat of the Delhi Sultanate mark the end of the sultanate's rule and the beginning of a new era in Indian history.

💡Delhi

Delhi, the capital of modern-day India, is highlighted in the video as the center of the Delhi Sultanate and later the Mughal Empire. The city's transformation from a small fort to a grand imperial capital and its current status as a global center for politics, economics, and culture underscore its historical significance.

Highlights

The Delhi Sultanate controlled a strategic choke point between the Ganges and the Indus River Valley systems.

At its peak, the Delhi Sultanate nearly conquered the entire Indian subcontinent.

The sultanate was a refuge for those fleeing the Mongol Empire.

The founders of the Delhi Sultanate were not nobility but were born into a low social class.

The founder, a young Turkistani boy, was sold multiple times, including by his own family.

Muhammad of Ghor, an aristocratic warrior, recognized the boy's potential and promoted him.

Iltutmish, who rose from slavery to become a general, was known for his generosity.

Iltutmish's rise to power involved defeating the Rajputs, a formidable warrior class.

After initial setbacks, the Delhi Sultanate learned from their mistakes and adapted their military tactics.

Iltutmish established internal peace and stability in the empire before his death.

Iltutmish's unexpected death led to a rapid decline and civil war within the empire.

Rajput resistance initially halted the Delhi Sultanate's expansion but was eventually overcome.

The Delhi Sultanate's capital shifted from Lahore to Delhi, transforming the city into a grand imperial capital.

Iltutmish's daughter, Razia, became the first woman to rule the Delhi Sultanate, challenging gender norms.

The empire faced succession crises and internal strife, leading to multiple changes in leadership.

Balban, a former Mamluk slave, eventually stabilized the empire and expanded its territory.

The Delhi Sultanate's decline was marked by invasions, including the devastating raid by Timur.

The Lodi Dynasty marked a period of stability before being overthrown by the Mughals.

The Mughal invasion led to the end of the Delhi Sultanate, with the last Sultan dying in battle.

Despite its fall, Delhi remains a significant global center for politics, economics, and culture.

Transcripts

[Music]

the deli

sultanate the golden tiger and the

jeweled

peacock for more than three centuries a

powerful sultanate emerged from the

strategically located city of Delhi

which controlled the choke point between

the Ganges and the Indus River Valley

systems at the height of its power the

Delhi sultanate nearly conquered the

entire Indian subcontinent covering most

of the territories of modern-day India

Pakistan and Bangladesh the sultanate

defeated the massive Mongol Empire's

attempts to Annex India and it became a

refuge for those fleeing the Mongols the

origins of this fabulously wealthy and

Powerful sultanate were far different

from the heights to which it Rose to the

founders of the dynasty that established

the sultanate were neither the sons of

Kings clerics great warriors or wealthy

merchants but instead they were born

into a social class where their

Birthright was less than nothing in fact

they didn't even own themselves they

were bought and sold multiple times some

lost their freedom when they were sold

by their own family members in the

latter half of the 12th century while

Kings Emperors and Warlords determined

the course of Nations a seemingly

insignificant event was unfolding in a

East Persian town a young turkistani boy

who had later changed the course of

history was being auctioned off an

elderly local magistrate purchased the

boy luckily for the child the old man

was relatively kind he raised him

alongside his own sons and taught him

valuable skills including how to read

and write ride a horse and how to shoot

a bow and arrow after the old magistrate

died his son's need some extra cash so

they sold him to a merchant who later

resold him to Muhammad of Gore Muhammad

of Gore was from a long line of

aristocratic brutal Warriors from what

is now Afghanistan and what was

extremely unusual for the time he got

along really well with his brother galin

Muhammad instead of killing each other

like many other powerful Brothers of

that era they ruled alongside each other

as joint Sultans for 30 years

periodically The Sultans gave gifts to

those enslaved at the palace who did

well in their performance review The New

Guy coutu Den ibac's work performance

impressed the sultan consequently he

received some lavish gifts then ibac did

something unusual he distributed his

gifts among all the other servants who

had not received anything the sultan was

so impressed that he gave ibac something

he could not give away a promotion to

some sort of supervisor and then later

to the master of the Stables there being

able to read and write came in handy and

he was promoted to a logistics manager

for the Sultan's Cavalry while on

campaign while Mohammad of Gore

campaigned against corm in Central Asia

ibac was captured and placed in an iron

cage to slowly die after successfully

campaigning in the region the sultan saw

ibac rotting in the cage the pitiful

sight greatly moved the sultan after

ibac was released he was given promotion

and Gifts which he probably gave away

ibac thrived in every job he was

promoted to up to the rank of General

after Conquering the indis valley the

girds felt confident they could conquer

deeper into the Indian

subcontinent there they face the rajputs

a warrior class trained since childhood

in The Art of War for centuries the

rajputs had crushed any attempt by

Muslim states to expand to the east of

the indis valley plain the girs thought

they were different than all those that

had failed before them and then they got

whooped on beat up and humiliated by the

rajputs however the girds did not give

up easily and learned from their

mistakes the following year they

returned with a new Army that had a much

larger Cavalry contingent the girds used

hidden run feain Retreat tactics on mass

against the rajputs who were unpracticed

countering that tactic this led to a

resounding gried Victory with the

rajputs defeated little formid

resistance stood in the gird's way in

only a few years they conquered most of

the northern Indian subcontinent and

then in nearly all fell apart even

quicker Muhammad of Gore was slain under

mysterious circumstances with way too

many suspects and literally medieval

forensic investigative techniques nearly

everyone decided to blame everyone else

and the whole empire fell into civil war

with multiple factions fined for

Supremacy as the Civil War raged on many

rallied to I back's cause as he had a

reputation for being fair and generous

over the course of 3 years he defeated

numerous Rivals and Consolidated his

position in Northern India as his

capital and base of operations the

cities of lore and Delhi were used lore

was a grand old city that had been the

capital of multiple previous States and

empires in contrast Delhi had been a

relatively small inconspicuous fortified

rashood City that suddenly found it self

at the nerve center of an emerging

Empire consequently Deli began to expand

rapidly ibck finally established

internal peace prosperity and stability

in his new Empire so he decided to do

something fun and relaxing like playing

Polo then he fell off his horse and died

sold for a few coins early in life ibac

died at the age of 60 with absolute

control over a vast Empire populated by

millions of people during his life he

was so famously generous that for the

next four centuries in that region

calling somebody an ibac of that time

was a common compliment for a generous

person ibac had no apparent successor so

the generals officers and Nobles in lore

did the Democratic thing and voted for

the most popular among them to be Crown

the sultan a man named Aram Shaw won the

vote and a peaceful transition lasted

not much longer than about five minutes

the problem was almost nobody outside of

the corrupt old city of lore lik Aram

sha the governors of the S and Bengal

rebelled the rest of the Military

Officers and Nobles back dieback

son-in-law ilish iltutmish was probably

not declared his error probably because

ibac thought he still might possibly

have a newborn son IL Tut Mish defeated

the elected Sultan and then the rebel

Governors iltutmish had a very similar

origin story to ibac when he was young

his own brothers who were jealous that

he was not only very intelligent but

also very good-looking sold him to

traveling Merchants after that he was

bought and sold multiple times and ended

up being know by ibac under ibac's

tutelage elmish Rose through the ranks

in the gried and succeeding Deli

sultanat he became considered as ibac

son and later near the time of ibac's

sudden death he was freed and married

one of ibac's daughters

during iltutmish's Reign he officially

moved the sultan its capital from lore

to Delhi which began transforming into a

grand imperial capital city as elmish

expanded the sultanate's territory in

the north the Mongol horde overran the

Empire of corm as the Mongols moved

westwards an avalanche of refugees from

Central Asia and the near East poured

into the sultanate as the entry points

into the sultanate were arduous either

through formidable mountain ranges

deserts or by finding limited space on a

boat the refugees that arrived in the

Delhi sultanate were generally the

wealthier members of their collapsed

societies Nobles military Elites

bureaucrats Artisans Architects

merchants and Scholars of all kind bed

in a deli's newly built neighborhoods

with them they brought knowledge and as

much wealth as they could possibly haul

away from their destroyed homelands by

the end of Il t his 25-year Reign the

city of Delhi had transformed into a

cultural intellectual and economic Hub

but old tmh realized he had one big

problem all of his sons were a bunch of

pleasure-loving lazy losers he hadn't

been much of a father to any of his

surviving Sons as he spent all the time

he could training his eldest son to

succeed him and when his eldest son died

he didn't like the backup options on the

other hand he had a daughter named Aria

who had previously affect effectively

administered the city of Delhi for a

year while her father was campaigning

against Rebels so he made the highly

unorthodox decision by naming his

daughter resia as his successor 5 years

passed and shortly before elmish died he

summoned one of his sons to Delhi and

declared him his Heir the new Sultan

Ruck nuten was an instant disaster when

not blinding or killing family members

and Military Officers he enjoyed riding

his elephant while drunk through bazaars

while scattering gold coins on the

ground and he left most of the Empire's

Administration to his mother after 6

months of rakuten's Carnival of death

his sister Ria heard she was about to be

executed so she came up with a risky

plan she attended a large Congressional

prayer and incited the crowd of

commoners to storm the palace and

capture R nutan's mommy the plan worked

and most of the soldiers in Delhi joined

the rioting commoners hearing the news

rut who was trying to put down a Revolt

elsewhere hurried back to Delhi with his

army where he was quickly captured and

executed after putting down a few

rebellions the Empire's Nobles and

Military Officers accepted arazia as a

Sultana however they expected her to be

a puppet ruler and she was not she put

her name on coins rode about on her

elephant at public State events like her

father and appointed her loyalists to

all the top positions eventually this

was too much for the majority of the

officers and Nobles so they rebelled

deposed and replaced her with another

one of her brothers when the Mongols

raided the sultanate he was either too

scared or indecisive to attack them so

the ruling Council of 40 Chiefs deposed

him and replaced him with one of

iltutmish's grandsons eventually like

his aunt Ria he mistakenly thought he

was a real Sultan so they had him

eliminated too then they put another of

Il tash's Sons on the throne and finally

on the fth fifth try they got the puppet

they were looking for he had a long and

uneventful Reign while a former mamlock

that had belonged to elmish named balban

rolled from behind the throne after the

last of el Tut mish's heirs died without

leaving an error Balan assumed the

throne during his long Reign he

stabilized the Empire recaptured lost

territory and successfully fought off

Mongol incursions balban's grandson

succeeded him to the throne while the

Young Ruler spent his time on wine and

women Jalal Den Ki a warlord from an

Afghan tribe of turkic origin guarded

the Empire's border from the Mongols

Jalal Den Ki knew the Mongols well as he

had been a warlord in Mongol service

previously for many years and then he

was hired by the Delhi sultanate to

guard their border after successfully

fending off the Mongols and seen the

weak and decadent Court in Delhi Jalin

organized a palace coup which succeeded

loud and usurped power with shedding

relatively little blood the 70-year-old

Sultan had spent a lifetime fighting for

or against the Mongols and then he

defeated them again as Sultan despite a

lifetime spent as a warrior in the most

brutal of conditions Jala oudin had a

reputation as being mild-mannered humble

and kind towards even the lowliest of

peasants his nephew Aladin Ki did not

have this reputation he had his uncle

killed and usurped the throne although

Den was a talented military commander

and administrator during his Reign the

largest ever Mongol invasion of India

Was Defeated afterwards with the rules

reversed he ordered the regular raids of

the Mongol chagatai Kate aluin proceeded

to go on a Cavalcade of brutal conquests

in the subcontinent against the rajputs

and Southern kingdoms of the dean

because of his vast conquests he

stylized himself as the second Alexander

on his coins through through plunder and

effective economic management alud

presided over a booming and well-run

economy he also effectively used cruelty

intimidation and massacres to keep his

Empire's frightened subjects in line

after he died at about the age of 50

from either sickness or the assassin's

blade nobody was kept in line and the

Empire plunged into a series of Palace

coups and Civil War that lasted 4 years

this chaos was brought to an end by a

provincial governor gath alind UK tluk

claimed his dynasty was of assassinate

Persian descent but numerous historians

have doubted the connection he was

definitely a experienced commander who

like the founder of the Ki Dynasty had

gained his experience fighting the

Mongols like Jalal din tukak also

defeated a Mongol invasion after

becoming Sultan he then proceeded to

conquer Bengal in the East after

returning from his conquests he died

instantly and unexpectedly in a wooden

Pavilion he was standing Nan collapsed

it killed him and one of his sons some

suspected sabotage his son Muhammad bin

tuglak oversaw the heightened power of

the deli sultanate and he squandered it

the sultan fancied himself a great

intellectual and was constantly reading

and studying he also didn't take anyone

else's advice he was later known as The

Mad Sultan The Eccentric Prince were the

wisest fool he definitely thought

outside of the box in expensive and

wasteful ways he forcibly moved the

Capital City's population from Delhi far

to the South and then changed his mind

after a few years and had everyone moved

back up north he also raised a gigantic

army 375,000 men strong and paid them in

advance to do nothing and then disbanded

them later he raised another large army

and marched it into the Himalayan

mountains with the goal of conquering

China but in reality he couldn't even

contend with the local kingdoms the cold

and the starvation after 100,000 men

died he turned around and went home due

to his rampant mismanagement by the end

of his Reign widespread famine and

Revolt were endemic throughout the

Empire his successor had a long and

competent Reign where much of the damage

was undone then the empire fell into

infighting and Civil War this was when

the tur Mongol warlord tamarlane invaded

he laid waste to hundreds of thousands

and sacked the capital city of Delhi the

timid Army sacked Delhi for 15 days and

then returned with their loot to samand

the tuglak dynasty collapsed soon

afterwards the following side dynasty

was a pale shadow of the former glory of

the Delhi sultanate after a few decades

the weakside dynasty was overthrown by

the LOI dynasty of Turco Afghan origin

compared to its predecessors the LOI

dynasty was incredibly stable with only

three Sultans in 75 years they expanded

their territory in the East while losing

a little in the west and they moved the

capital South to the newly founded city

of Agra after a long period of relative

stability and generally competent rule

the Moguls who claimed descent from

gangas Khan and tamarlane invaded the

Indian subcontinent the Delhi sultanate

was able to field a larger Army which

had a massive contingent of 1,000 war

elephants the Moguls had no elephants

but the Moguls brought handheld firearms

and cannons during the battle the sound

of the cannon terrified the elephants

they became disoriented and rampaged

through the ranks of their own Army

ibraim Khan Loi the 31st and final

Sultan of the Delhi sultanate died in

battle alongside 20,000 of his troops at

panipat the Moguls went on to conquer

most of the Indian subcontinent during

the centuries of Mogul dominance and

decline

the Muslim Mogul Emperors use the city

of Delhi as their capital city for 230

years after the eventual fall of the

Moguls to this day Delhi remains an

important Global Center for politics

economics and culture and with more than

30 million people living in its urban

area it is one of the most populated

cities on the planet if you live in or

have visited Delhi what is the best

historical places to visit in the city

and what are the best local foods to eat

if you are feeling like an eyb back of

our time please leave a like and a

comment letting me know what you thought

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like to thank my Channel's patrons that

help make videos like this possible this

has been Epimetheus thank you so much

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