Muhammad bin Tughlaq, the son of Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq, ascended to the throne of the
Delhi Sultanate in 1325 AD. His reign from 1325 to 1351 was marked by ambitious yet
controversial policies
Tughlaq Dynasty (1320-1414 AD)
Struggles faced by Muhammad Bin Tughlaq ( 1325-1351 AD)
- According to Ziauddin Berni, he was Known for his experiments and his experiments failed and he was regarded as a Mad ruler.
- Economic Crisis, Revolte prevailing in his Reign, and Sultanate declined
Theory of Kingship
He upheld a conception of kingship that stressed the supreme power of the sultan while also having the utmost regard for Sufis and scholars. Despite his affection for the Khalifa, he argued in favor of the separation of Church and State. He was unwilling to act against Islamic ideals, even while he was reluctant to accept meddling in Islamic affairs. His inclination towards meritocracy and those who are tolerant of others distinguished him from Balban’s racial policies.
Experiments of Tughlaq
According to Berni, the Tughlaq emperor was well-known for his daring endeavors, which he accomplished through five noteworthy enterprises. The first of them was the Doab region’s attempt to raise taxes, which sadly failed as a result of a rebellion brought on by a catastrophic famine brought on by the area’s fertile soil.
The bold move to move the capital from Delhi to Devagiri, motivated by the sultan’s desire for consolidation in the South, was another noteworthy experiment. However, there were difficulties with this shift as the Delhi population voiced their displeasure, condemning the sultan and pointing out problems such a shortage of water. As a result, the sultan went back to Delhi, and the criticism of him intensified. However, this incident encouraged stronger cultural ties amongst Sufi Saints.
One of his audacious actions was the introduction of token money, which was a break from traditional modes of payment. The king also took part in military missions, such as the Khurasan and Karchil expeditions, which demonstrated his daring and astute nature.
Berni emphasizes how Tughlaq’s reign was characterized by a number of audacious projects, all of which were known for their audaciousness. In one of these endeavors, high taxes were imposed in the bountiful Doab region, which resulted in a generalized famine and a failed uprising.
Tughlaq made the decision to relocate the capital from Delhi to Devagiri in an effort to strengthen his hold on power in the South. But in the face of fierce opposition—particularly given Delhi’s water shortage—he ultimately made his way back to the old capital. This action promoted cross-cultural exchanges despite opposition, especially among Sufi Saints.
Tughlaq sought to replace silver coins with token currency, treating them equally to the Tanka, in reaction to the world’s silver crisis. Despite good intentions, a lack of sufficient protections resulted in widespread counterfeiting. Some even started minting coins at home, significantly depleting the treasury.
In an attempt to confront the Mongol menace, Tughlaq organized an expedition to the Khurasan, but he eventually shelved the bold plan, even though he had made preliminary arrangements. Similar to this, his ambitions to conquer China gave rise to the Karchil Expedition, which encountered strong local resistance and suffered serious failures.
Considered an Agrarian Innovator, Tughlaq implemented agriculture reforms by
establishing a separate department, Diwan-i-Kohi, and dividing agricultural land into
blocks, providing Takawi (agricultural loans). He also promoted a heterogeneous
nobility, allowing individuals to enter state services on merit, leading to a more diverse
ruling class. However, Berni criticized these changes, attributing them to the decline of
the Delhi Sultanate.
These reforms and ambitious projects triggered rebellions and revolts in the region.
Challenges faced by Firoz shah Tughlaq (1351-1388)
- Controlling Nobility, Ulemas and Manage revolts, Political instability were major
challenges. - Threat of independent regions was another political challenge. Example: Vijayangar,
Bahmani Empire.
Policies and approaches adopted by Firoz Shah
- Firoz Shah, who was well-known for developing a novel conception of benevolent kingship, attempted to resurrect the kingdom by utilizing Khilaji’s notion of kingship. In his book Futuh-i-Firozshahi, he advocated for a welfare state and adopted a conciliationist stance. Under his leadership, the Caliphate was highly respected, Islamic customs were upheld, rent-free land was reinstated, and illegal Islamic levies were eliminated. He famously established the Iqtadari system as hereditary.
- As Farishta pointed out, Firoz Shah’s accomplishments went beyond governance to include civil engineering and public works. He created a special department for public works and built 59 dams, 40 mosques, 30 colleges, 20 palaces, 100 Sarais, 100 hospitals, and public baths. The canals built from Sultantuj to Ghaghar, Yamuna to Hisar, and Sutlej to Jhansi are notable examples.
- A defining feature of Firoz Shah’s rule was his humanitarian policies. He founded the orphan department, Diwani-Khairat, and the departments of work, marriage, and enslavement (Diwan-iBandgaon). He established Royal Karkhanas, which furthered his legacy.
- According to sources from the time, Firoz Shah’s reign was characterized by agricultural success and reasonably priced goods. Notwithstanding these successes, the monarch was criticized by authors such as Afif for failing to accomplish great military triumph, which led to differing views of his efficacy as a ruler.
Limitations of Firoz Shah Tughlq’s reign
- Appeasement of the nobles and the development of hereditary customs were two of the constraints that defined Firoz Shah Tughlaq’s reign. The financial burden was increased by the significant sums of money allocated to commodities and reforms, such as the cost of keeping 180,000 slaves employed.
- His strict religious policies and discriminatory actions drew criticism. Majumdaar observed that Firoz Shah took a constrained and exclusive stance in his attempt to appease the ulema.
- In addition, his foreign policy suffered defeats, and his military might was seen as lacking. He was chastised by Ishwari Prasad, who said that Firoz Shah was not a good administrator, warrior, or strict leader. Despite these criticisms, Firoz Shah Tughlaq has received commendation from several modern historians.
A power struggle broke out after Tughlaq’s death, with the nobles creating breakaway states as a result of the lenient policy that had strengthened their position and undermined Tughlaq’s authority. Tughlaq’s successor, Ghiyas-ud-Din Tughlaq II, struggled to maintain authority over both slaves and aristocrats, which led to a reduced army and a smaller realm.
Ten years later, during the reign of Nasir ud Din Mahmud, Timur’s invasion devastated Delhi; the Taimur dynasty was represented by the Sayyid Dynasty (1414–1451), who famously declined to use the title Sultan in their governance. However, the Sayyid dynasty’s decline was signaled by feeble successors such as Khijr Khan, Alam Shah, and Mohammad Shah.
The Lodhi dynasty was established by Bahlol Lodhi with the intention of reviving the sultanate.
Bahlol Lodhi, who gained notoriety as the empire’s consolidator, placed a strong emphasis on restoring customs and encouraging fraternity and peace. He put down uprisings in Mewat and the Doar region in addition to conquering Jaunpur.
Known as Ghazi-i-Sikandar, Sikandar Lodhi extended his dominance over Bihar, Gwalior, and Nagaur and is regarded as the greatest monarch of the dynasty.
Although he moved the capital to Agra, he adhered to a strict religious code. The harsh king Ibrahim Lodhi (1451–1526) was eventually responsible for the Lodhi dynasty’s downfall.
Decline of Sultanate
“Disintegration of empires in the Mediaeval ages had more or less set patterns of causes.
Absence of well-established and universally accepted law of succession, weak successors,
rebellions of the provincial governor (Example: Rajputs), the decline in the efficiency of the
army, foreign invasions, and the incompetence of the ruling Monarch”
Example: Failure of Mohamad Bin Tughlaq and continued under Firoz Shah Tughlaq and
accelerated by Timur invasion in 1398.
Conclusion
The dynasty’s legacy serves as a reminder of the complexities of governance, the impact
of economic policies on the masses, and the enduring consequences of political decisions
on the stability of a realm. The Tughlaq era, with its triumphs and tribulations, remains
a crucial chapter in understanding the evolution of the Delhi Sultanate and its broader
historical context.
Questions
1.Do you agree that the schemes of Mohammad Bin Tughlaq were correctly conceived ,
badly executed and disastrously abandoned? Discuss
Hints:
Berni viewpoints: reforms, Positive impacts of Tughlq experiments
2.Explain Lodhi theory of Kingship
Hints:
Opposite to Sultan/Turkish:
theory of Equality (Bahlol Lodhi),
the Ruler has some power (Sikandar Lodhi),
Most powerful ruler( Ibrahim Lodhi)
During Ibrahim Lodhi: Changes in Kingship similar to Turkish rule
3.Explain the Administration of Sultanate
Hints:
- Administration evolved gradually from Balban to Firoz Shah.
- Theory of Kingship (Islamic, Central as per the historian viewpoint)
- Central administration but Provincial and local administration are not well
developed. - In a theoretical or formal sense, Delhi Sultan adopted Islamic recognition and title.
But in practice the Turkish State was not Theortic but evolved State. - Sultans were Autocrats. Example: Balban
- Wazir, Naib, Departments but Iqta system not well developed
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