Medieval Indian History

Slave Dynasty

Balban (1246 – 1287)

Introduced rigorous court discipline & started new customs such as Prostration (Shijada & Paipos rule) & kissing sultan’s feet to prove his supremacy over nobles

Introduced Persian festival of Navroj to impress the nobles

Spared only the most loyal nobles (Chahalganis) & eliminated all others by one mean or other

Established a separate military department “Diwan – i –Arz” to maintain law & order

Delhi Sultanate → Khilji Dynasty (1290 – 1320)

Founder of Khilji dynasty was Jalaluddin Khilji

killed by his son – in – law Alauddin khilji to claim the throne of Delhi

Alaunddin Khilji (1296 – 1316)

Passed 4 ordinances to be free from rebellions:

Confiscated properties of Nobles

Organised intelligence system to know secret activities of nobles

Public sale of drugs & alcohol was totally stopped

Social gathering & festivities without permission of Sultan was forbidden

Maintained large standing army & paid them in cash

Introduced system of Dagh (Branding of horses) & Huliya (of soldiers)

Introduced 4 markets in Delhi viz:

For Grains

For cloths, sugar, dry fruits, oil & butter

For horses, slaves & cattle

For miscellaneous commodities:

Each market was under the control of a high officer called “Shahna – i – Mandi”

Secret agents “ Munhiyans” were appointed to report functioning of these markets to sultan

Prices were fixed for every commodity & if anyone found cheating, he was measured with harsh punishment

Alauddin Khilji was 1st sultan of Delhi who ordered measurement of land to collect land revenue in cash