1. The Khilji (Khalji) Dynasty
Problems of succession and power
transfers
Qumar Rabani
Assistant Professor (History)
Govt. PG College Rajouri

2. Death of Balban-emergence of Khalji power
Economy stabilizes, market towns increase in number—due to increased migration from Afghanistan and Persia
Mongols contained on NW border
Power of chehelgan reduced, through iqta reform and garrison towns, but they become more hostile to centralized rule
Balban’s severe punishments and killings greatly reduce the number of qualified officers and generals, independent action discouraged and sycophancy encouraged
No competent successor remains when Mohammad, the older son is dies in 1285.

3. Death of Balban-emergence of Khalji power
Economy stabilizes, market towns increase in number—due to increased migration from Afghanistan and Persia
Mongols contained on NW border
Power of chehelgan reduced, through iqta reform and garrison towns, but they become more hostile to centralized rule
Balban’s severe punishments and killings greatly reduce the number of qualified officers and generals, independent action discouraged and sycophancy encouraged
No competent successor remains when Mohammad, the older son is dies in 1285.

4. Death of Balban-emergence of Khalji power
Economy stabilizes, market towns increase in number—due to increased migration from Afghanistan and Persia
Mongols contained on NW border
Power of chehelgan reduced, through iqta reform and garrison towns, but they become more hostile to centralized rule
Balban’s severe punishments and killings greatly reduce the number of qualified officers and generals, independent action discouraged and sycophancy encouraged
No competent successor remains when Mohammad, the older son is dies in 1285.

5. Death of Balban-emergence of Khalji power
Economy stabilizes, market towns increase in number—
due to increased migration from Afghanistan and Persia
Mongols contained on NW border
Power of chahalgani reduced, through iqta reform and
garrison towns, but they become more hostile to centralized rule
Balban’s severe punishments and killings greatly reduce
the number of qualified officers and generals, independent
action discouraged and sycophancy encouraged
No competent successor remains when Mohammad, the older son died in 1285.

6. Problems of succession
Turkish custom did not favor primogeniture
The nobility had some say in the selection of the
next ruler if sultan did not appoint an heir
Balban’s attempt to create a succession failed
Younger son Bughra Khan resented and feared his father since 1275 events in Bengal
Muhammad’s son Kaykhusrau was designated heir after Mohammad’s death in 1285 but opposed by amirs
Bughar Khan’s son Kayqabad and his son Kayumars both had short reigns while the chehelgan attempted to use
them as puppet rulers, Bughra stayed far away from Delhi

7. The Khaljis A tribe of mixed Afghani/Turkish descent
Benefited from Balban’s reforms, had greater cohesion than other groups, unite and nominate their senior chief, Jalal-ud-din Khilji as ruler (r )
His generosity had won support, but is later criticized
Growing evidence of his lack of desire from confrontation makes
Khaljis nervous
His nephew Ala-ud-din Khalji demonstrates superior military and
leadership skills, particularly in the raid on Deogiri ( ), Khaljis
begin to support him instead
Jalal ud-din is assassinated on his nephew’s orders in 1296

8. Ala-ud-din Khalji’s Campaigns
Suppresses several attempts by mongols and secures NW borders b/w
1299—Gujarat (important for sea trade) and
Ranthambor annexed
1302-3—Orrisa and Bengal campaign unsuccessful
1303 Chittor and Central India
Malik Kafur’s expeditions
Campaign against the Yadavs (Devgiri)
Against the Kakatiyas of Warrangal
Against the Hoysalas of Dvarsamudra 1310
Against the Pandyas (southernmost) 1311

9. Ala-ud-Din’s addition of tribute paying areas

10. Khilji reforms-military
Treasure from raids and economic reforms funds Military improvements
Branding and registration of horses
Role calls for soldiers
Regulation of horse trade
Fixed and regular cash salaries for soldiers
reduces reliance on iqtas
Ample supplies assured through economic
reforms

11. Iqta Reforms Iqtas accessed and registered to reduce fraud and
corruption
Not hereditary, but assigned for a limited use, revert
to treasure at end of appointment period
Sizes kept small, holdings scattered to reduce
influence of iqta holders
Share of taxes from Iqtas reduced for
chahalgani, other nobility and headmen,
reducing their income, increasing the share of the
treasury

12. Market Reforms
Grain prices in cities and towns regulated to prevent excessive profits and ensure regular supply even in times of scarcity
Markets for different goods created, regulated by
officers inspecting goods for quality, weights, and
measures
Safety along trade routes increases, market towns
proliferate starting in this period
Registration of Merchants, advances made for
certain trade goods from treasury

13. Controls over Chahalgani
Reduced income from reforms, control
over army also reduced
More dependent on king for salaries and
assignments
Prohibited from forming alliances through marriages or under cover of parties
Increased surveillance of activities, audits of wealth and tax collections

14. South Asia at the time of Khilji’s death, 1316
Long period of stability, furthest extent of Sultanate empire
Power of Chahalgani greatly reduced, that of new groups
such as Afghans and some Rajputs increases—this too has
some drawbacks
Economic gains continue into the later sultanate dynasties
Royal patronage leads to greater interest in architecture,
patronage of literature, founding of schools (madrasas)
Relative prosperity of Indian Sultante leads to greater
migration of scholars, Sufis, from Iran and Afghanistan as
Mongal invasions continue (cont. next slide)

15. Cont. Greater period of Urbanization, Muslims mainly
to be found in Urban areas—both rich and poor
Urban poor, certain peasants, new migrants
favor Sultan—as do some ulema and sufis who gain patronage
The Urban rich (Nobility, some merchants)
antagonized.
Some Sufis such as the Chistis critical of
growing power of Sultan.
Reaction of Peasants mixed—due to market
reforms

16. End of Khilji rule: Problems of Succession
Ala-ud-din Khilji was bed-ridden and ill during his last year, Malik Kafur, his general, was in a much stronger position to grab the throne than his
teenage sons.
During a bloody coup, many of the Khilji princes were killed, but their body-gaurds were able to
resist Kafur and kill him.
Mubark Shah succeeded as Khilji king, however, he delegated much of his authority to his
generals.

17. The last Khilji Sultan
By the early 14th century, the Khilji army had large numbers of Hindu soldiers working for various emirs—Hindu and Muslim
Khusrau Khan, a recent convert, was the general and using his power base in the army killed Mubarak Shah in a coup in 1320.
Only the opposition of the Turkish emirs stopped Khusrau Khan from ruling—the last of the important Sultanates, the Tughlaqs, would replace him.

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