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{{Short description|Ruler of the Delhi Sultanate from 1236 to 1240}}
{{refimprove|date=September 2007}}
{{other uses}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2018}}
{{Infobox royalty
| title = [[Sultana (title)|Sultana]], [[Padshah]]
| full name = Raziyyat-Ud-Dunya Wa Ud-Din
| image = Equestrian miniature painting of Razia Sultana, circa 18th century.jpg
| caption = Equestrian miniature painting of Razia Sultana, {{circa|18th century}}
| succession = 5th [[Sultan of Delhi]]
| reign = 19 November 1236 − 20 April 1240
| predecessor = [[Ruknuddin Firuz]]
| successor = [[Muizuddin Bahram]]
| house = [[Mamluk dynasty (Delhi)|Mamluk dynasty]]
| father = [[Iltutmish]]
| mother = Turkan Khatun
| spouse = {{marriage|[[Malik Altunia|Ikhtiyaruddin Altunia]]|September 1240}}
| birth_date = c. 1205<ref>{{Cite book |title=Smithsonian "TIMELINES OF EVERYONE" |publisher=DK |year=2020 |isbn=9781465499967 |edition=1st |location=U.S. U.K. |publication-date=2020 |pages=63 |language=English}}</ref>
| birth_place = [[Budaun]], [[Ghurid Empire]]
| death_date = 15 October 1240
| death_place = [[Kaithal]], [[Delhi Sultanate]]
| place of burial = Bulbuli Khana near [[Turkman Gate]], Delhi
| religion = [[Sunni Islam]]
| regnal name = Jalâlat-ud-Dîn Razia
}}


'''Raziyyat-Ud-Dunya Wa Ud-Din''' ({{langx|fa|{{nq|سلطان رضیه الدنیا والدین}}}}; {{circa}} 1205 – 15 October 1240, {{reign|1236|1240}}), popularly known as '''Razia Sultana''', was a ruler of the [[Delhi Sultanate]] in the northern part of the [[Indian subcontinent]]. She was the first female Muslim ruler of the subcontinent, and the only female Muslim ruler of Delhi.
{{Otheruses}}


A daughter of [[Mamluk dynasty (Delhi)|Mamluk]] Sultan [[Shamsuddin Iltutmish]], Razia administered Delhi during 1231–1232 when her father was busy in the [[Gwalior]] campaign. According to a possibly [[Apocrypha|aprocryphal]] legend, impressed by her performance during this period, Iltutmish nominated Razia as his [[heir apparent]] after returning to Delhi. Iltutmish was succeeded by Razia's half-brother [[Ruknuddin Firuz]], whose mother [[Shah Turkan]] planned to execute her. During a rebellion against Ruknuddin, Razia instigated the general public against Shah Turkan, and ascended the throne after Ruknuddin was deposed in 1236.
'''Razia al-Din''' (1205-1240) ([[Persian language|Persian]]/[[Urdu language|Urdu]]: '''رضیہ سلطانہ''', [[Hindi]]: रज़िया सुल्ताना), throne name ''Jalâlat ud-Dîn Raziyâ'' (Persian/Urdu: '''جلالۃ الدین رضیہ''', Hindi: जलालत उद-दीन रज़िया), usually referred to in history as ''Razia Sultan'' or ''Razia Sultana'', was the [[Sultana (title)|Sultana]] of [[Delhi]] in [[India]] from 1236 to 1240. She was of [[Turkic peoples|Turkish]] [[Seljuq dynasty|Seljuks]] ancestry and like some other [[Muslim]] princesses of the time, she was trained to lead armies and administer kingdoms if necessary.<ref name="herstory">[http://www.crescentlife.com/thisthat/feminist%20muslims/razia.htm Gloria Steinem (Introduction), ''Herstory: Women Who Changed the World,'' eds. Deborah G. Ohrn and Ruth Ashby, Viking, (1995) p. 34-36. ISBN 978-0sex670854349]</ref> Razia Sultana, the fifth [[Mamluk Sultanate (Delhi)|Mamluk Sultan]], was the very first woman ruler in the Muslim and [[History of the Turkish people|Turkish history]].


Razia's ascension was challenged by a section of nobles, some of whom ultimately joined her, while the others were defeated. The [[Turkic people|Turkic]] nobles who supported her expected her to be a figurehead, but she increasingly asserted her power. This, combined with her appointments of non-Turkic officers to important posts, led to their resentment against her. She was deposed by a group of nobles in April 1240, after having ruled for less than four years. She married one of the rebels – [[Malik Altunia|Ikhtiyaruddin Altunia]] – and attempted to regain the throne, but was defeated by her half-brother and successor [[Muizuddin Bahram]] in October that year, and was killed shortly after.
==Razia as Sultan==
Razia succeeded her father [[Iltutmish|Shams-ud-din Iltutmish]] to the [[Delhi Sultanate|Sultanate of Delhi]] in 1236. Iltutmish became the first [[sultan]] to appoint a woman as his successor when he designated his daughter Razia as his [[heir apparent]]. (According to one source, Iltumish's eldest son had initially been groomed as his successor, but had died prematurely.) But the Muslim nobility had no intention of acceding to Iltutmish's appointment of a woman as heir, and after the sultan died on April 29, 1236, Razia's brother, [[Rukn ud din Firuz|Ruknuddin Feroze Shah]], was elevated to the throne instead.


== Names and titles ==
Ruknuddin's reign was short. With Iltutmish's widow Shah Turkaan for all practical purposes running the government, Ruknuddin abandoned himself to the pursuit of personal pleasure and debauchery, to the considerable outrage of the citizenry. On November 9, 1236, both Ruknuddin and his mother Shah Turkaan were assassinated<ref>Satish Chandra, ''History of Medieval India(800-1700),'' New Delhi, Orient Longman, (2007), p.100. ISBN 81-250-3226-6</ref> after only six months in power.


Razia's name is also transliterated as Raḍiyya{{sfn|Peter Jackson|2003|p=46}} or Raziyya.{{sfn|Guida M. Jackson|1999|p=341}} The term "Sultana", used by some modern writers, is a misnomer as it means "the king's wife" rather than "female ruler". Razia's own coins call her ''Sultan Jalalat al-Duniya wal-Din'' or as ''al-Sultan al-Muazzam Raziyat al-Din bint al-Sultan''. The [[Sanskrit]]-language inscriptions of the Sultanate call her ''Jallaladina'', while near-contemporary historian [[Minhaj-i-Siraj|Minhaj]] calls her ''Sultan Raziyat al-Duniya wa'l Din bint al-Sultan''{{sfn|K. A. Nizami|1992|p=237}}. Another masculine title ''[[padshah]](badshah)'' was also given to Razia.<ref>{{Cite journal |editor-last=Harwood |editor-first=Philip |editor-link=Philip Harwood |title=The Queen's Indian Title |journal=[[Saturday Review (London newspaper)|Saturday Review: Politics, Literature, Science and Art]] |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.95006/page/n395/mode/2up |date=25 March 1876 |volume=41 |issue=1,065 |pages=397 |publisher=Published at the Office, Southampton Street, Strand |language=en |quote=In the thirteenth century a woman, the celebrated Queen Raziya, ascended the throne of Delhi and reigned for the brief space of four years. She bore the title of ''Sultan'' and was sometimes called ''Badshah''. |via=the Internet Archive}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |editor=[[A. V. Williams Jackson]] |url=https://www.ibiblio.org/britishraj/Jackson5/chapter05.html |title=History of India|chapter=Raziya, The Mohammedan Empress of India |date=1907 |publisher=Grolier Society |language=en|volume=5|pages=104|quote=It will be noted that Minhaj always speaks of the queen as “Sultan,” since this title, or that of Padshah, “king,” was given to her,}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |author=[[Henry Miers Elliot]] |editor=[[John Dowson]] |title=[[The History of India, as Told by Its Own Historians]]|volume=2|page=[https://archive.org/details/cu31924073036729/page/332/mode/1up 332]|quote=The queen is always called "Sultán" and "Bádsháh," not Sultána, as by Briggs and Elphinstone. }}</ref>
With reluctance, the nobility agreed to allow Razia to reign as Sultan of Delhi. As a child and adolescent, Razia had had little contact with the women of the [[harem]], so she had not learnt the customary behavior of women in the Muslim society that she was born into. Even before she became Sultan, she was reportedly preoccupied with the affairs of state during her father's reign. As Sultan, Razia preferred a man's tunic and headdress; and contrary to custom, she would later show her face when she rode an elephant into battle at the head of her army.


== Early life ==
A shrewd politician, Razia managed to keep the nobles in check, while enlisting the support of the army and the populace. Her greatest accomplishment on the political front was to manipulate rebel factions into opposing each other. At that point, Razia seemed destined to become one of the most powerful rulers of the Delhi Sultanate.


Razia was born to the Delhi Sultan [[Iltutmish|Shamsuddin Iltutmish]], an Ilbari [[Turkic people|Turkic]] slave (''mamluk'') of his predecessor [[Qutb ud-Din Aibak]]. Razia's mother – Turkan Khatun was a daughter of Qutb ud-Din Aibak,{{sfn|Guida M. Jackson|1999|p=341}}{{sfn|Sudha Sharma|2016|p=141 quote|ps=:"But as per Abu-Umar-i-Usman Minhaj-ud-din Siraj (Tabaqat-iNasiri), Turkan Khatun was the name of Razia's mother and not of this lady [Shah Turkan]."}} and the chief wife of Iltutmish.{{sfn|Peter Jackson|2003|p=46}} Razia was the eldest daughter of Iltutmish, and probably his first-born child.{{sfn|Peter Jackson|2003|p=46}}
But Razia miscounted the consequences that a relationship with one of her advisers, [[Jamal-ud-Din Yaqut]], an [[Habesha people|Abyssinian]] [[Siddi]] (Habshi) slave<ref>[http://www.civicwebs.com/cwvlib/africa/ethiopia/pankhurst/ethiopia_across_red_sea_&_indian_ocean.htm#3 Dr. Richard Pankhurst, "Ethiopia Across the Red Sea and Indian Ocean", Addis Ababa, ''Addis Tribune,'' (21 May 1999)]</ref>, would have for her reign. According to some accounts, Razia and Yaqut were lovers (which is unlikely since Yaqut cared for the stables all day and Raziya is only known to have riden elephants); other sources simply identify them as close confidants. In any case, before long she had aroused the jealousy of the Turkish nobility by the favoritism she displayed toward Yaqut, who was not a Turk, when she appointed him to be Superintendent of the Stables. Eventually, a childhood friend named [[Malik Altunia]], the governor of [[Bhatinda]], joined a rebellion by other provincial governors who refused to accept Razia's authority.


== Ascension to the throne ==
A battle between Razia and Altunia ensued, with the result that Yaqut was killed and Razia taken prisoner. To escape death, Razia agreed to marry Altunia. In some accounts, as demonstrated in Anant Pai's famous comic 'Sultana Razia,' Altunia and Razia are made out to be lovers. Meanwhile, Razia's brother, Muizuddin Bahram Shah, had usurped the throne. After Altunia and Razia undertook to take back the [[sultanate]] from Bahram through battle, both Razia and her husband defeated on 24th of [[Rabi' al-awwal]] [[Islamic calendar|A.H.]] 638 (Oct. 1240), and fled Delhi and reached [[Kaithal]] the next day, where their remaining forces abandoned them, and they both fell into the hands of the enemy and were killed on 25th of [[Rabi' al-awwal]] [[Islamic calendar|A.H.]] 638<ref>[http://persian.packhum.org/persian/main?url=pf%3Ffile%3D80201012%26ct%3D83%26rqs%3D78 Razia Sultan] [[The History of India, as Told by Its Own Historians. The Muhammadan Period]], 1867-1877.</ref>, this date corresponds to October 14, 1240 <ref>[http://www.oriold.uzh.ch/enwiki/static/hegira.html Conversion of Islamic and Christian dates]</ref>. Bahram, for his part, would later be dethroned for incompetence.


Iltutmish had groomed his eldest son [[Nasiruddin Mahmud (eldest son of Iltutmish)|Nasiruddin Mahmud]] to be his successor, but this son died unexpectedly in 1229.{{sfn|K. A. Nizami|1992|p=230}} According to historian [[Minhaj-i-Siraj]], Iltutmish believed his other sons were absorbed in pleasurable activities, and would be incapable of managing the state affairs after his death. While leaving for his [[Gwalior]] campaign in 1231, Iltutmish left his daughter Razia as in-charge of Delhi's administration. Razia performed her duties so well that after returning to Delhi, Iltutmish decided to name her as his successor.{{sfn|K. A. Nizami|1992|pp=230–231}} Iltutmish ordered his officer ''mushrif-i mamlakat'' Tajul Mulk Mahmud Dabir to prepare a decree naming Razia as the [[heir apparent]].{{sfn|K. A. Nizami|1992|p=230}} When his nobles questioned this decision on the basis that he had surviving sons, Iltutmish replied that Razia was more capable than his sons.{{sfn|K. A. Nizami|1992|p=231}}
== Razia's Legacy ==
[[Image:Razia Jital.JPG|thumb|Billon Jital of Razia]]
As sultan, Razia reportedly sought to abolish the tax on non-Muslims but met opposition from the nobility. By way of response, Razia is said to have pointed out that the spirit of religion was more important than its parts, and that even the [[Prophets of Islam|Islamic prophet]] [[Muhammad]] spoke against overburdening the non-Muslims. On another occasion, Razia reportedly tried to appoint an Indian Muslim convert from [[Hinduism]] to an official position but again ran into opposition from the nobles.


However, after Iltutmish's death, the nobles appointed his son [[Ruknuddin Firuz]] as the new king. Possibly, during his last years, Iltutmish had agreed to appoint a son as his successor. This is suggested by the fact that after becoming seriously ill, he had recalled Ruknuddin from Lahore to Delhi.{{sfn|K. A. Nizami|1992|p=231}} Another possibility is that the legend of Iltutmish nominating Razia as his successor is a false story circulated by Razia's supporters after her ascension. Minhaj is the only near-contemporary source that narrates this legend, and he did not witness the events or the alleged decree himself: he was in Gwalior at the time, and did not return to Delhi until 1238.{{sfn|Peter Jackson|2003|p=46}}
Razia was reportedly devoted to the cause of her empire and to her subjects. There is no record that she made any attempt to remain aloof from her subjects, rather it appears she preferred to mingle among them. Her tolerance of Hinduism would later bring her criticism from Muslim historians.


Ruknuddin was not an able ruler, and left the control of administration to his mother [[Shah Turkan]]. The duo's blinding and execution of Iltutmish's popular son Qutubuddin, combined with Shah Turkan's high-handedness, led to rebellions by several nobles, and even the ''[[vizier|wazir]]'' (prime minister) ''Nizamul Mulk'' Junaidi joined the rebels.{{sfn|K. A. Nizami|1992|p=235}} This situation became worse, when the Turkic-origin slave officers close to Ruknuddin planned killings of the sultanate's ''Tazik'' (non-Turkic) officers. This led to the murders of several important Tazik officers, including Junaidi's son Ziyaul Mulk and Tajul Mulk Mahmud, who had drawn up the decree declaring Razia as the heir apparent.{{sfn|K. A. Nizami|1992|pp=235–236}} While Ruknuddin marched towards [[Kuhram]] to fight the rebels, Shah Turkan planned to execute Razia in Delhi. At a [[jumu'ah|congregational prayer]], Razia instigated the general public against Shah Turkan. A mob then attacked the royal palace and detained Shah Turkan. Several nobles and the army pledged allegiance to Razia, and placed her on the throne,{{sfn|K. A. Nizami|1992|p=236}} making her the first female Muslim ruler in South Asia.{{sfn|Muzaffar Husain Syed|2011|p=231}} Ruknuddin marched back to Delhi, but Razia sent a force to arrest him: he was imprisoned and probably executed on 19 November 1236, having ruled for less than 7 months.{{sfn|K. A. Nizami|1992|p=236}}
Razia established schools, academies, centers for research, and public libraries that included the works of ancient philosophers along with the [[Qur'an]] and the [[Sunnah|traditions of Muhammad]]. Hindu works in the sciences, philosophy, astronomy, and literature were reportedly studied in schools and colleges.


Razia's ascension to the throne of Delhi was unique not only because she was a woman, but also because the support from the general public was the driving force behind her appointment. According to the 14th century text ''Futuh-us-Salatin'', she had asked the people to depose her if she failed to meet their expectations.{{sfn|K. A. Nizami|1992|p=237}}
Razia refused to be addressed as Sultana because it meant "wife or mistress of a sultan". She would answer only to the title "Sultan".


== Razia's Grave ==
== Opposition to ascension ==
[[Image:Delhi_Razia_001.JPG|thumb|Grave of Razia Sultana in Bulbul-i-Khan near Turkoman Gate, Delhi]]


From the beginning of her reign, Razia faced stiff opposition from nobles of [[Turkic people|Turkic]] origin. She had ascended the throne with the support of the general public of Delhi rather than that of the powerful Turkic-origin provincial governor
Razia's grave lies among the narrow lanes of [[Old Delhi]], in a courtyard in Bulbul-i-khana, Shahjahanabad, near the Turkman Gate entrance. Crumbling and covered by dust and grime, the grave has clearly suffered the ravages of time. The grave is surrounded on all sides by unattractive residential buildings.
. Razia attempted to offset the power of the Turkic nobility by creating a class of non-Turkic nobles, which led to further opposition from the Turkic nobles.{{sfn|K. A. Nizami|1992|p=238}}


''Nizamul Mulk'' Muhammad Junaidi, a 'Tazik' (non-Turkic) officer who had held the post of the ''[[vizier|wazir]]'' (prime minister) since Iltutmish's time,{{sfn|K. A. Nizami|1992|p=225}} refused to accept her ascension. He was joined by four Turkic nobles, who had also rebelled against Razia's predecessor Ruknuddin. These nobles included ''Malik'' Izzuddin Muhammad Salari of [[Badaun]], ''Malik'' Izzuddin Kabir Khan Ayaz of [[Multan]], ''Malik'' Saifuddin Kuchi of [[Hansi]], and ''Malik'' Alauddin Jani of [[Lahore]].{{sfn|K. A. Nizami|1992|p=235, 238}} When these nobles marched against Razia from different directions, she sought help from ''Malik'' Nusratuddin Taisi, whom she had appointed as the governor of [[Awadh]]. However, shortly after crossing the Ganges on his way to Delhi, Taisi was captured by Kuchi's forces and died in captivity. {{sfn|K. A. Nizami|1992|p=238}}
In the 13th century, the site of the tomb was a jungle, and no one knows how Razia's body ended up where it lies today. A second grave, believed to be that of her sister, Shazia, accompanies Razia's. Some of the Muslim residents of the neighborhood have turned a part of the tomb into a [[mosque]], where prayers are conducted five times each day.


Razia then led an army out of the [[fortified]] city of Delhi to fight the rebels and set up a camp on the banks of the [[Yamuna River]]. After some indecisive skirmishes, the rebel leaders Muhammad Salari and Izzuddin Kabir Khan Ayaz decided to join Razia. They secretly met with Razia, and the group planned to arrest other rebel leaders, including Junaidi. {{sfn|K. A. Nizami|1992|p=238}} However, Junaidi and other rebel leaders learned about the plan, and escaped, pursued by Razia's forces. Saifuddin Kuchi and his brother Fakhruddin were captured, imprisoned, and later executed. Junaidi fled to the [[Sirmaur district|Sirmaur hills]] and died there. Alauddin Jani was killed at the Nakawan village, and his head was later brought to Delhi. {{sfn|K. A. Nizami|1992|p=239}}
However, there's also a claim that the tomb of Razia is situated in [[Kaithal]] city, [[Haryana]] state<ref>[http://www.delhilive.com/razia-sultan-s-tomb Razia Sultan’s Tomb - Delhi live]</ref>. The tomb lies in the north-western suburbs of the city where, a few years back, a jail was erected by the present administration.


== Reign ==
In addition there is a lot of controversy over her death. According to the historian Satish Chandra, Razia died in the year 1239 in raids by bandits in a forest upon returning from battle on her elephant with a halted unit of her army. Popular legend tells of the queen's death to be an arrow shot into her heart when on the battlefield crying over her husband, Altunia's death - this account however is very unlikely because of her mobility on the horse during the war and because her brother on the throne wouldn't have decided to kill her right away.
[[File:Miniature painting of Razia Sultana holding court ("durbar") with identifying inscriptions, by Gulam Ali Khan, circa 19th century.jpg|thumb|Miniature painting of Razia Sultana holding ''[[Durbar (court)|durbar]]'' with identifying inscriptions, by Gulam Ali Khan, circa 19th century.]]
Immediately after ascending the throne, Razia made several important appointments.{{sfn|K. A. Nizami|1992|pp=239–240}} She appointed Khwaja Muhazzabuddin as her new ''[[vizier|wazir]]'' (prime minister), and conferred the title ''Nizamul Mulk'' upon him. Muhazzabuddin had earlier served as deputy to the previous ''wazir'' Junaidi. Razia appointed ''Malik'' Saifuddin Aibek Bahtu as the in-charge of her army, and conferred the title ''Qutlugh Khan'' upon him. However, Saifuddin died soon after, and Razia appointed ''Malik'' Qutubuddin Hasan Ghuri to the newly created office of ''naib-i lashkar'' (in-charge of the army). Razia assigned the [[iqta']] of Lahore, formerly held by the slain rebel Alauddin Jani, to ''Malik'' Izzuddin Kabir Khan Ayaz, the rebel who had joined her.{{sfn|K. A. Nizami|1992|p=239}} Razia appointed her loyalists to imperial household positions, including ''Malik-i Kabir'' Ikhtiyaruddin Aitigin as ''Amir-i Hajib'' and ''Malik'' [[Jamal-ud-Din Yaqut|Jamaluddin Yaqut]] as ''Amir-i Akhur''.{{sfn|K. A. Nizami|1992|p=240}}


Minhaj mentions that soon, all the nobles from [[Gauḍa (city)|Lakhnauti]] in the east to [[Debal]] in the west acknowledged her authority.{{sfn|K. A. Nizami|1992|p=239}} Razia's first military campaign directed at non-rebels was an invasion of [[Ranthambore Fort|Ranthambore]], whose [[Chahamanas of Ranastambhapura|Chahamana]] ruler had asserted his sovereignty after Iltutmish's death. Razia directed ''Malik'' Qutubuddin Hasan Ghuri to march to Ranthambore: he was able to evacuate the Turkic nobles and officers from the fort, but was unable to subjugate the Chahamanas. The Chahamanas, in alliance with the [[Mewat]]is, captured a large part of present-day north-eastern [[Rajasthan]], and carried out guerilla war around Delhi. Razia also sent a force to re-assert Delhi's control over [[Gwalior]], but this campaign had to be aborted.{{sfn|K. A. Nizami|1992|p=239}}
==In popular culture==
Being the first female monarch of the Delhi Sultanate, Razia Sultan has been the subject of many legends. A piece of historical fiction entitled 'Razia: Queen of India' based on the Sultana's life written by Rafiq Zakaria in 2000. The Sultana also has her own title in the Indian comic book series, Amar Chitra Katha. More recently, she was the subject of ''[[Razia Sultan (film)|Razia Sultan]]'', a 1983 [[Hindi]] film, written and directed by [[Kamal Amrohi]], starring [[Hema Malini]] as Razia and [[Dharmendra]] as [[Jamal-ud-Din Yaqut]].


During Razia's reign,the [[Shia Islam|Shias]] revolted against the [[Sultanate]], but the rebellion was suppressed.{{sfn|Guida M. Jackson|1999|p=342}} In a major incident, the Shia [[Qarmatians]] carried out an attack on the [[Jama masjid]] in [[Delhi]]. The Qarmatian leader Nuruddin Turk had earlier condemned the [[Sunni Islam|Sunni]] [[Shafi‘i]] and [[Hanafi]] doctrines, and had gathered nearly 1,000 supporters from Delhi, [[Gujarat]], [[Sindh]], and [[Ganga-Yamuna Doab|the Doab]]. On 5 March 1237, he and his supporters entered the mosque, and started killing the Sunnis assembled there for the [[Jumu'ah|Friday prayers]], before being attacked by the citizens.{{sfn|K. A. Nizami|1992|p=243}}
Razia Sultana also features in an online comic strip entitled "Razia Sultan" by [[Halima Voyles]]. In the comic, Razia features as a female sultan dealing with the disgruntled Turkish nobility and courts, the disapprobation of her brothers Rukn and Muiz, her sister Shazia and her love struck childhood friend Altunia.


In 1238, Malik Hasan [[Qarlughids|Qarlugh]], the former [[Khwarazmian dynasty|Khwarazmian]] governor of [[Ghazni]], faced a threat from the [[Mongol Empire|Mongol]]s, and sent his son to Delhi, probably to seek a military alliance against the Mongols. Razia received the prince courteously, assigned him the revenues of [[Bulandshahr|Baran]] for his expenses, but refused to form an alliance against the Mongols.{{sfn|K. A. Nizami|1992|pp=243–244}}
==See also==
*[[List of Indian monarchs]]


==References==
== Overthrow ==

The nobles who supported Razia intended her to be a figurehead, but she increasingly asserted herself. For example, her initial coins were issued with her father's name, but by 1237–1238, she had started issuing coins solely in her own name.{{sfn|Peter Jackson|2003|p=47}} [[Isami (historian)|Isami]] mentions that initially, she observed [[purdah]]: a screen separated her throne from the courtiers and the general public, and she was surrounded by female guards. However, later, she started appearing in public dressed in traditional male attire, wearing a cloak (''qaba'') and a hat (''kulah''). She rode on elephants through the streets of Delhi, making public appearances like the earlier Sultans.{{sfn|K. A. Nizami|1992|p=240}}

Razia's increasing assertiveness and her appointment of non-Turkic people to important posts created resentment among the Turkic nobles.{{sfn|K. A. Nizami|1992|p=240}} The post of ''Amir-i Akhur'' had previously been held by officers of Turkic origin, and Yaqut was of [[Abyssinia]]n origin: therefore, Razia's Turkic officers resented this appointment.{{sfn|K. A. Nizami|1992|p=240}} Chroniclers such as Isami, [[Yahya bin Ahmad Sirhindi|Sirhindi]], [[`Abd al-Qadir Bada'uni|Badauni]], [[Firishta]], and [[Nizamuddin Ahmad]] attribute Razia's intimacy with Yaqut as a major cause of her downfall.{{sfn|Sudha Sharma|2016|p=141}}

In 1238–1239, ''Malik'' Izudin Kabir Khan Ayaz – the governor of [[Lahore]] – rebelled against Razia, and she marched against him, forcing him to flee to [[Sodhra]]. Because the area beyond Sodhra was controlled by the [[Mongol Empire|Mongols]], and because Razia continued to pursue him, Izzuddin was forced to surrender and accept Razia's authority once again. Razia treated him leniently; she took away the [[iqta'|iqta]] of Lahore from him, but assigned him the iqta of [[Multan]], which Iltutmish had assigned to Ikhtiyaruddin Qaraqash Khan Aitigin.{{sfn|K. A. Nizami|1992|pp=240–241}}

Razia had recalled Ikhtiyaruddin Aitigin, a Turkic slave purchased by Iltutmish, to her court in Delhi, and made him ''Amir-i Hajib''. She had also bestowed favours upon another slave of Iltutmish – Ikhtiyaruddin Altunia, by assigning him first the iqta of [[Bulandshahr|Baran]], and then, the iqta of [[Bhatinda|Tabarhinda]]. However, these two officers conspired with other Turkic officers to overthrow her, while she was away on the Lahore campaign.{{sfn|K. A. Nizami|1992|p=241}} Razia arrived in Delhi on 3 April 1240, and learned that Altunia had rebelled against her in Tabarhinda. Unaware that other nobles in Delhi had joined Altunia in conspiring against her, Razia marched towards Tabarhinda ten days later. At Tabarhinda, the rebel forces killed her loyalist Yaqut, and imprisoned her.{{sfn|K. A. Nizami|1992|p=242}}

According to Minhaj, Razia ruled for 3 years, 6 months, and 6 days.{{sfn|K. A. Nizami|1992|p=243}}

== Alliance with Altunia and death ==

When the news of Razia's arrest reached Delhi, the rebel nobles there appointed Muizuddin Bahram – a son of Iltutmish – on the throne.{{sfn|K. A. Nizami|1992|p=242}} He formally ascended the throne on 21 April 1240, and the nobles pledged allegiance to him on 5 May 1240.{{sfn|K. A. Nizami|1992|p=244}} The nobles expected the new king to be a figurehead, and intended to control the affairs of the state through the newly created office of ''naib-i mamlakat'' (equivalent to regent), which was assigned to Ikhtiyaruddin Aitigin. However, the new king had Ikhtiyaruddin Aitigin assassinated within 1–2 months.{{sfn|K. A. Nizami|1992|pp=242–244}}

After deposing Razia, the nobles at Delhi had distributed important offices and iqtas among themselves, ignoring claims of Ikhtiyaruddin Altunia, who had arrested Razia at Tabarhinda. After Aitigin's death, Altunia lost all hope of realizing any benefits from Razia's overthrow, and decided to ally with her. Razia also saw this as an opportunity to win back the throne, and married Altunia in September 1240. The two were supported by some other disgruntled Turkic nobles, including ''Malik'' Qaraqash and ''Malik'' Salari.{{sfn|K. A. Nizami|1992|p=242}}

Altunia assembled an army, which according to [[Abdul Malik Isami]], included [[Khokhars]], [[Jats]], and [[Rajput|Rajputs]]. In September–October 1240, Sultan Muizuddin Bahram led an army against the forces of Altunia and Razia, and defeated them on 14 October 1240. Altunia and Razia were forced to retreat to [[Kaithal]], where they were deserted by their soldiers, and were killed by a group of Hindus. Razia was killed on 15 October 1240. {{sfn|Lyons|2022}}{{sfn|K. A. Nizami|1992|p=242}}<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Gabbay|first=Alyssa|date=1 January 2011|title=In Reality a Man: Sultan Iltutmish, His Daughter, Raziya, and Gender Ambiguity in Thirteenth Century Northern India|url=http://libres.uncg.edu/ir/uncg/f/a_gabbay_reality_2011.pdf#page4|journal=[[Journal of Persianate Studies]]|publisher=[[Brill Publishers]]|volume=4|issue=1|page=48|doi=10.1163/187471611X568285|issn=1874-7094|eissn=1874-7167|lccn=2008236337|access-date=11 July 2021|via=[[UNCG University Libraries]]|quote=The troops accompanying the couple abandoned them, and both Raziya and her husband were killed near Kaithal on 25 Rabiʿ I 638/14 October 1240.}}</ref>

She remains the only woman to have sat upon the throne of Delhi.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Srivastava|first=Ashirbadi Lal|title=The Sultanate of Delhi (711-1526 A.D.) 4th edition|publisher=Shiva Lal Agarwala & Co. (P.) Ltd.|year=1964|location=Agra|pages=105–106}}</ref>

== Tomb ==
[[File:Tomb of Rajia Sultana3.jpg|thumb|Graves of Razia and her sister]]
The grave of Razia is located at Mohalla Bulbuli Khana near [[Turkman Gate]] in [[Old Delhi]].<ref name="TH_tomb"/> The 14th century traveler [[Ibn Batuta]] mentions that Razia's tomb had become a pilgrimage centre:{{sfn|Peter Jackson|2003|p=46}} A dome had been built over it, and people sought blessings from it.{{sfn|Guida M. Jackson|1999|p=341}}

Razia's grave is said to have been built by her successor and half-brother Bahram. Another grave, said to be of her sister Shazia, is located beside her grave. Razia was a devotee of the [[Sufi]] saint Shah Turkman Bayabani, and the place where she is buried is said to be his hospice ([[khanqah]]).<ref>Rana Safvi, ''The Forgotten Cities of Delhi''. Quote: "The lanes leading to her tomb are very confusing and one has to ask for directions at Bhojala Pahari. There is an ASI board which leads into Bulbuli Khana. At the end of some narrow, dingy lanes is another stone sign by ASI, which announces the last resting place of South Asia's first female monarch."</ref>{{page needed|date=January 2020}}

Today, the site is largely neglected: the [[Archaeological Survey of India]] performs annual maintenance to it, but has been unable to beautify it further because it is surrounded by illegal construction, and is approachable only through a narrow, congested lane. In the late 20th century, the local residents constructed a mosque near it.<ref name="TH_tomb">{{cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/history-and-culture/a-forgotten-tomb/article5007006.ece |title=A forgotten tomb |author=Syed Abdullah Zaini |date=9 August 2013 }}</ref>

A ruined building in [[Kaithal]] is purported to be the site of Razia's original grave.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://haryanatourism.gov.in/Destination/tomb-of-razia-sultan |title=Tomb of Razia Sultan |publisher=Haryana Tourism |access-date=10 January 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |author=Sukhbir Siwach|date=13 June 2014 |title=Kaithal farmer stands in way of Razia Sultan memorial {{!}} Chandigarh News - Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/kaithal-farmer-stands-in-way-of-razia-sultan-memorial/articleshow/36458964.cms |access-date=26 April 2022 |website=The Times of India |language=en}}</ref>

==Coins==
Coins of Razia are found in silver and [[billon (alloy)|billon]]; one gold coin of Bengal style is also known. Silver Tankas were issued from both Bengal (Lakhnauti) and Delhi. Initially she issued coins from Delhi in the name of her father Iltumish citing the title ''Nasrat'' i.e. female title of ''Nasir''.<ref>{{cite book |author1=Stan Goron |author2=J. P. Goenka |title=The Coins of the Indian Sultanates |year=2001 |publisher=Munshiram Manoharlal |isbn=9788121510103 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kE8aAAAAYAAJ |page=26 }}</ref>

<gallery style="text-align:center" caption="Razia's jaital's Billon coins" mode="packed">
Razia Budayun D104.jpg|Budayun Type
Razia Budayun D105.jpg|Delhi Type
Razia Budayun D106.jpg|Delhi Type
Razia Jital.JPG|Billon ''jital'' coin of Razia
</gallery>

== In popular culture ==
'''Films'''

* ''Razia Begum'' (1924) was an [[Cinema of India#Silent films (1890s–1920s)|Indian silent film]] by Nanubhai B. Desai and Bhagwati Prasad Mishra.
* [[Devendra Goel]] directed ''Razia Sultana'', a 1961 Indian [[Hindi]]-language film which starred [[Nirupa Roy]] in the titular role.
* A notable portrayal was by [[Hema Malini]] in the 1983 biopic ''[[Razia Sultan (film)|Razia Sultan]]'' by [[Kamal Amrohi]].<ref name="RajadhyakshaWillemen1999">{{cite book|last1=Rajadhyaksha|first1=Ashish|last2=Willemen|first2=Paul|title=Encyclopaedia of Indian cinema|url=https://archive.org/details/encyclopaediaofi0000raja|url-access=registration|accessdate=12 August 2012|year=1999|publisher=British Film Institute|isbn=9780851706696 }}</ref>

'''Television'''

* In 2015, [[& TV]] aired ''[[Razia Sultan (TV series)|Razia Sultan]]'', a TV series on the life of Razia, starring [[Pankhuri Awasthy]] as Razia and [[Rohit Purohit]] as Altunia.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/television/tv-show-about-women-emperor-razia-sultan-launched/|title=TV show about women emperor Razia Sultan launched|last=PTI|publisher=Indian Express|date=4 February 2015|access-date=18 January 2020}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


=== Bibliography ===
==Literature==
{{refbegin}}
* Jamila Brijbhushan, ''Sultan Raziya, Her Life and Times: A Reappraisal,'' South Asia Books (1990) ISBN 8185425094
* {{cite book |editor=Guida M. Jackson |title=Women Rulers Throughout the Ages: An Illustrated Guide |url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9791576070917 |url-access=registration |page=[https://archive.org/details/isbn_9791576070917/page/341 341] |year=1999 |publisher=ABC-Clio |isbn=978-1-57607-091-8 }}
* Rafiq Zakaria, ''Razia, Queen of India,'' Oxford University Press (1966)
* {{cite book |author=Peter Jackson |author-link=Peter Jackson (historian) |title=The Delhi Sultanate: A Political and Military History |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lt2tqOpVRKgC&pg=PA29 |year=2003 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-0-521-54329-3 }}
* {{cite journal|last=Lyons|first=Mathew|year=2022|title=Death of Sultan Razia|journal=[[History Today]]|volume=72|issue=10|page=26|url=https://www.historytoday.com/archive/months-past/death-sultan-razia|url-access=subscription}}
* {{cite book |author=K. A. Nizami |author-link=K. A. Nizami |chapter=The Early Turkish Sultans of Delhi |editor1=Mohammad Habib |editor2=Khaliq Ahmad Nizami |title=A Comprehensive History of India: The Delhi Sultanat (A.D. 1206-1526) |volume=5 |edition=Second |year=1992 |publisher=The Indian History Congress / People's Publishing House |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_9cmAQAAMAAJ |oclc=31870180 }}
* {{cite book |author=Sudha Sharma |title=The Status of Muslim Women in Medieval India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yF4lDAAAQBAJ&pg=PT141 |year=2016 |publisher=Sage |isbn=978-93-5150-565-5 }}
* {{cite book |editor=Muzaffar Husain Syed |title=Concise History of Islam |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eACqCQAAQBAJ&pg=PA231 |year=2011 |publisher=Vij Books |isbn=978-93-82573-47-0 }}
{{refend}}


==External links==
{{start box}}
{{commons category}}
{{succession box|
* [http://www.projectcontinua.org/sultan-raziyya-bint-iltutmish/ Project Continua: Biography of Sultan Raziyya bint Iltutmish]
before=[[Rukn ud din Firuz]]|
title=[[Mamluk dynasty of Delhi|Mamluk Dynasty]]|
years=1206&ndash;1290|
after=[[Muiz ud din Bahram]]
}}
{{succession box|
before=[[Rukn ud din Firuz]]|
title=[[Delhi Sultanate|Sultan of Delhi]]|
years=1236&ndash;1240|
after=[[Muiz ud din Bahram]]
}}
{{end box}}


{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT: Sultan of Delhi, Razia}}
[[Category:1205 births]]
[[Category:1240 deaths]]
[[Category:Turkic rulers]]
[[Category:Indian monarchs]]
[[Category:Slave Dynasty]]
[[Category:Women in Medieval warfare]]
[[Category:Queens]]
[[Category:Indian women in war]]
[[Category:Indian female royalty]]
[[Category:Indians of Turkish descent]]


[[Category:Sultans of the Mamluk dynasty (Delhi)]]
[[az:Sultan Raziyə bəyim]]
[[Category:13th-century queens regnant]]
[[bn:রাজিয়া সুলতানা]]
[[Category:Year of birth unknown]]
[[de:Raziah]]
[[fr:Sultanine Razia]]
[[Category:1240 deaths]]
[[Category:Indian Sunni Muslims]]
[[hi:रजिया सुल्तान]]
[[Category:13th-century Indian monarchs]]
[[ml:സുൽത്താന റസിയ]]
[[Category:13th-century Indian women]]
[[ja:ラズィーヤ]]
[[Category:13th-century Indian people]]
[[simple:Razia Sultan]]
[[Category:Islam and women]]
[[sv:Radiyya Begum]]
[[Category:Women monarchs in Asia]]
[[te:రజియా సుల్తానా]]
[[Category:Indian queens regnant]]
[[ur:رضیہ سلطانہ]]
[[Category:13th-century murdered monarchs]]

Latest revision as of 14:16, 9 December 2024

For other uses, see Razia Sultana (disambiguation).

Razia Sultana
Sultana, Padshah
Equestrian miniature painting of Razia Sultana, c. 18th century
5th Sultan of Delhi
Reign19 November 1236 − 20 April 1240
PredecessorRuknuddin Firuz
SuccessorMuizuddin Bahram
Bornc. 1205[1]
Budaun, Ghurid Empire
Died15 October 1240
Kaithal, Delhi Sultanate
Burial
Bulbuli Khana near Turkman Gate, Delhi
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1240)​
Names
Raziyyat-Ud-Dunya Wa Ud-Din
Regnal name
Jalâlat-ud-Dîn Razia
HouseMamluk dynasty
FatherIltutmish
MotherTurkan Khatun
ReligionSunni Islam

Raziyyat-Ud-Dunya Wa Ud-Din (Persian: سلطان رضیه الدنیا والدین; c. 1205 – 15 October 1240, r. 1236–1240), popularly known as Razia Sultana, was a ruler of the Delhi Sultanate in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent. She was the first female Muslim ruler of the subcontinent, and the only female Muslim ruler of Delhi.

A daughter of Mamluk Sultan Shamsuddin Iltutmish, Razia administered Delhi during 1231–1232 when her father was busy in the Gwalior campaign. According to a possibly aprocryphal legend, impressed by her performance during this period, Iltutmish nominated Razia as his heir apparent after returning to Delhi. Iltutmish was succeeded by Razia's half-brother Ruknuddin Firuz, whose mother Shah Turkan planned to execute her. During a rebellion against Ruknuddin, Razia instigated the general public against Shah Turkan, and ascended the throne after Ruknuddin was deposed in 1236.

Razia's ascension was challenged by a section of nobles, some of whom ultimately joined her, while the others were defeated. The Turkic nobles who supported her expected her to be a figurehead, but she increasingly asserted her power. This, combined with her appointments of non-Turkic officers to important posts, led to their resentment against her. She was deposed by a group of nobles in April 1240, after having ruled for less than four years. She married one of the rebels – Ikhtiyaruddin Altunia – and attempted to regain the throne, but was defeated by her half-brother and successor Muizuddin Bahram in October that year, and was killed shortly after.

Names and titles

[edit]

Razia's name is also transliterated as Raḍiyya[2] or Raziyya.[3] The term "Sultana", used by some modern writers, is a misnomer as it means "the king's wife" rather than "female ruler". Razia's own coins call her Sultan Jalalat al-Duniya wal-Din or as al-Sultan al-Muazzam Raziyat al-Din bint al-Sultan. The Sanskrit-language inscriptions of the Sultanate call her Jallaladina, while near-contemporary historian Minhaj calls her Sultan Raziyat al-Duniya wa'l Din bint al-Sultan[4]. Another masculine title padshah(badshah) was also given to Razia.[5][6][7]

Early life

[edit]

Razia was born to the Delhi Sultan Shamsuddin Iltutmish, an Ilbari Turkic slave (mamluk) of his predecessor Qutb ud-Din Aibak. Razia's mother – Turkan Khatun was a daughter of Qutb ud-Din Aibak,[3][8] and the chief wife of Iltutmish.[2] Razia was the eldest daughter of Iltutmish, and probably his first-born child.[2]

Ascension to the throne

[edit]

Iltutmish had groomed his eldest son Nasiruddin Mahmud to be his successor, but this son died unexpectedly in 1229.[9] According to historian Minhaj-i-Siraj, Iltutmish believed his other sons were absorbed in pleasurable activities, and would be incapable of managing the state affairs after his death. While leaving for his Gwalior campaign in 1231, Iltutmish left his daughter Razia as in-charge of Delhi's administration. Razia performed her duties so well that after returning to Delhi, Iltutmish decided to name her as his successor.[10] Iltutmish ordered his officer mushrif-i mamlakat Tajul Mulk Mahmud Dabir to prepare a decree naming Razia as the heir apparent.[9] When his nobles questioned this decision on the basis that he had surviving sons, Iltutmish replied that Razia was more capable than his sons.[11]

However, after Iltutmish's death, the nobles appointed his son Ruknuddin Firuz as the new king. Possibly, during his last years, Iltutmish had agreed to appoint a son as his successor. This is suggested by the fact that after becoming seriously ill, he had recalled Ruknuddin from Lahore to Delhi.[11] Another possibility is that the legend of Iltutmish nominating Razia as his successor is a false story circulated by Razia's supporters after her ascension. Minhaj is the only near-contemporary source that narrates this legend, and he did not witness the events or the alleged decree himself: he was in Gwalior at the time, and did not return to Delhi until 1238.[2]

Ruknuddin was not an able ruler, and left the control of administration to his mother Shah Turkan. The duo's blinding and execution of Iltutmish's popular son Qutubuddin, combined with Shah Turkan's high-handedness, led to rebellions by several nobles, and even the wazir (prime minister) Nizamul Mulk Junaidi joined the rebels.[12] This situation became worse, when the Turkic-origin slave officers close to Ruknuddin planned killings of the sultanate's Tazik (non-Turkic) officers. This led to the murders of several important Tazik officers, including Junaidi's son Ziyaul Mulk and Tajul Mulk Mahmud, who had drawn up the decree declaring Razia as the heir apparent.[13] While Ruknuddin marched towards Kuhram to fight the rebels, Shah Turkan planned to execute Razia in Delhi. At a congregational prayer, Razia instigated the general public against Shah Turkan. A mob then attacked the royal palace and detained Shah Turkan. Several nobles and the army pledged allegiance to Razia, and placed her on the throne,[14] making her the first female Muslim ruler in South Asia.[15] Ruknuddin marched back to Delhi, but Razia sent a force to arrest him: he was imprisoned and probably executed on 19 November 1236, having ruled for less than 7 months.[14]

Razia's ascension to the throne of Delhi was unique not only because she was a woman, but also because the support from the general public was the driving force behind her appointment. According to the 14th century text Futuh-us-Salatin, she had asked the people to depose her if she failed to meet their expectations.[4]

Opposition to ascension

[edit]

From the beginning of her reign, Razia faced stiff opposition from nobles of Turkic origin. She had ascended the throne with the support of the general public of Delhi rather than that of the powerful Turkic-origin provincial governor . Razia attempted to offset the power of the Turkic nobility by creating a class of non-Turkic nobles, which led to further opposition from the Turkic nobles.[16]

Nizamul Mulk Muhammad Junaidi, a 'Tazik' (non-Turkic) officer who had held the post of the wazir (prime minister) since Iltutmish's time,[17] refused to accept her ascension. He was joined by four Turkic nobles, who had also rebelled against Razia's predecessor Ruknuddin. These nobles included Malik Izzuddin Muhammad Salari of Badaun, Malik Izzuddin Kabir Khan Ayaz of Multan, Malik Saifuddin Kuchi of Hansi, and Malik Alauddin Jani of Lahore.[18] When these nobles marched against Razia from different directions, she sought help from Malik Nusratuddin Taisi, whom she had appointed as the governor of Awadh. However, shortly after crossing the Ganges on his way to Delhi, Taisi was captured by Kuchi's forces and died in captivity. [16]

Razia then led an army out of the fortified city of Delhi to fight the rebels and set up a camp on the banks of the Yamuna River. After some indecisive skirmishes, the rebel leaders Muhammad Salari and Izzuddin Kabir Khan Ayaz decided to join Razia. They secretly met with Razia, and the group planned to arrest other rebel leaders, including Junaidi. [16] However, Junaidi and other rebel leaders learned about the plan, and escaped, pursued by Razia's forces. Saifuddin Kuchi and his brother Fakhruddin were captured, imprisoned, and later executed. Junaidi fled to the Sirmaur hills and died there. Alauddin Jani was killed at the Nakawan village, and his head was later brought to Delhi. [19]

Reign

[edit]
Miniature painting of Razia Sultana holding durbar with identifying inscriptions, by Gulam Ali Khan, circa 19th century.

Immediately after ascending the throne, Razia made several important appointments.[20] She appointed Khwaja Muhazzabuddin as her new wazir (prime minister), and conferred the title Nizamul Mulk upon him. Muhazzabuddin had earlier served as deputy to the previous wazir Junaidi. Razia appointed Malik Saifuddin Aibek Bahtu as the in-charge of her army, and conferred the title Qutlugh Khan upon him. However, Saifuddin died soon after, and Razia appointed Malik Qutubuddin Hasan Ghuri to the newly created office of naib-i lashkar (in-charge of the army). Razia assigned the iqta' of Lahore, formerly held by the slain rebel Alauddin Jani, to Malik Izzuddin Kabir Khan Ayaz, the rebel who had joined her.[19] Razia appointed her loyalists to imperial household positions, including Malik-i Kabir Ikhtiyaruddin Aitigin as Amir-i Hajib and Malik Jamaluddin Yaqut as Amir-i Akhur.[21]

Minhaj mentions that soon, all the nobles from Lakhnauti in the east to Debal in the west acknowledged her authority.[19] Razia's first military campaign directed at non-rebels was an invasion of Ranthambore, whose Chahamana ruler had asserted his sovereignty after Iltutmish's death. Razia directed Malik Qutubuddin Hasan Ghuri to march to Ranthambore: he was able to evacuate the Turkic nobles and officers from the fort, but was unable to subjugate the Chahamanas. The Chahamanas, in alliance with the Mewatis, captured a large part of present-day north-eastern Rajasthan, and carried out guerilla war around Delhi. Razia also sent a force to re-assert Delhi's control over Gwalior, but this campaign had to be aborted.[19]

During Razia's reign,the Shias revolted against the Sultanate, but the rebellion was suppressed.[22] In a major incident, the Shia Qarmatians carried out an attack on the Jama masjid in Delhi. The Qarmatian leader Nuruddin Turk had earlier condemned the Sunni Shafi‘i and Hanafi doctrines, and had gathered nearly 1,000 supporters from Delhi, Gujarat, Sindh, and the Doab. On 5 March 1237, he and his supporters entered the mosque, and started killing the Sunnis assembled there for the Friday prayers, before being attacked by the citizens.[23]

In 1238, Malik Hasan Qarlugh, the former Khwarazmian governor of Ghazni, faced a threat from the Mongols, and sent his son to Delhi, probably to seek a military alliance against the Mongols. Razia received the prince courteously, assigned him the revenues of Baran for his expenses, but refused to form an alliance against the Mongols.[24]

Overthrow

[edit]

The nobles who supported Razia intended her to be a figurehead, but she increasingly asserted herself. For example, her initial coins were issued with her father's name, but by 1237–1238, she had started issuing coins solely in her own name.[25] Isami mentions that initially, she observed purdah: a screen separated her throne from the courtiers and the general public, and she was surrounded by female guards. However, later, she started appearing in public dressed in traditional male attire, wearing a cloak (qaba) and a hat (kulah). She rode on elephants through the streets of Delhi, making public appearances like the earlier Sultans.[21]

Razia's increasing assertiveness and her appointment of non-Turkic people to important posts created resentment among the Turkic nobles.[21] The post of Amir-i Akhur had previously been held by officers of Turkic origin, and Yaqut was of Abyssinian origin: therefore, Razia's Turkic officers resented this appointment.[21] Chroniclers such as Isami, Sirhindi, Badauni, Firishta, and Nizamuddin Ahmad attribute Razia's intimacy with Yaqut as a major cause of her downfall.[26]

In 1238–1239, Malik Izudin Kabir Khan Ayaz – the governor of Lahore – rebelled against Razia, and she marched against him, forcing him to flee to Sodhra. Because the area beyond Sodhra was controlled by the Mongols, and because Razia continued to pursue him, Izzuddin was forced to surrender and accept Razia's authority once again. Razia treated him leniently; she took away the iqta of Lahore from him, but assigned him the iqta of Multan, which Iltutmish had assigned to Ikhtiyaruddin Qaraqash Khan Aitigin.[27]

Razia had recalled Ikhtiyaruddin Aitigin, a Turkic slave purchased by Iltutmish, to her court in Delhi, and made him Amir-i Hajib. She had also bestowed favours upon another slave of Iltutmish – Ikhtiyaruddin Altunia, by assigning him first the iqta of Baran, and then, the iqta of Tabarhinda. However, these two officers conspired with other Turkic officers to overthrow her, while she was away on the Lahore campaign.[28] Razia arrived in Delhi on 3 April 1240, and learned that Altunia had rebelled against her in Tabarhinda. Unaware that other nobles in Delhi had joined Altunia in conspiring against her, Razia marched towards Tabarhinda ten days later. At Tabarhinda, the rebel forces killed her loyalist Yaqut, and imprisoned her.[29]

According to Minhaj, Razia ruled for 3 years, 6 months, and 6 days.[23]

Alliance with Altunia and death

[edit]

When the news of Razia's arrest reached Delhi, the rebel nobles there appointed Muizuddin Bahram – a son of Iltutmish – on the throne.[29] He formally ascended the throne on 21 April 1240, and the nobles pledged allegiance to him on 5 May 1240.[30] The nobles expected the new king to be a figurehead, and intended to control the affairs of the state through the newly created office of naib-i mamlakat (equivalent to regent), which was assigned to Ikhtiyaruddin Aitigin. However, the new king had Ikhtiyaruddin Aitigin assassinated within 1–2 months.[31]

After deposing Razia, the nobles at Delhi had distributed important offices and iqtas among themselves, ignoring claims of Ikhtiyaruddin Altunia, who had arrested Razia at Tabarhinda. After Aitigin's death, Altunia lost all hope of realizing any benefits from Razia's overthrow, and decided to ally with her. Razia also saw this as an opportunity to win back the throne, and married Altunia in September 1240. The two were supported by some other disgruntled Turkic nobles, including Malik Qaraqash and Malik Salari.[29]

Altunia assembled an army, which according to Abdul Malik Isami, included Khokhars, Jats, and Rajputs. In September–October 1240, Sultan Muizuddin Bahram led an army against the forces of Altunia and Razia, and defeated them on 14 October 1240. Altunia and Razia were forced to retreat to Kaithal, where they were deserted by their soldiers, and were killed by a group of Hindus. Razia was killed on 15 October 1240. [32][29][33]

She remains the only woman to have sat upon the throne of Delhi.[34]

Tomb

[edit]
Graves of Razia and her sister

The grave of Razia is located at Mohalla Bulbuli Khana near Turkman Gate in Old Delhi.[35] The 14th century traveler Ibn Batuta mentions that Razia's tomb had become a pilgrimage centre:[2] A dome had been built over it, and people sought blessings from it.[3]

Razia's grave is said to have been built by her successor and half-brother Bahram. Another grave, said to be of her sister Shazia, is located beside her grave. Razia was a devotee of the Sufi saint Shah Turkman Bayabani, and the place where she is buried is said to be his hospice (khanqah).[36][page needed]

Today, the site is largely neglected: the Archaeological Survey of India performs annual maintenance to it, but has been unable to beautify it further because it is surrounded by illegal construction, and is approachable only through a narrow, congested lane. In the late 20th century, the local residents constructed a mosque near it.[35]

A ruined building in Kaithal is purported to be the site of Razia's original grave.[37][38]

Coins

[edit]

Coins of Razia are found in silver and billon; one gold coin of Bengal style is also known. Silver Tankas were issued from both Bengal (Lakhnauti) and Delhi. Initially she issued coins from Delhi in the name of her father Iltumish citing the title Nasrat i.e. female title of Nasir.[39]

  • Razia's jaital's Billon coins
  • Budayun Type
    Budayun Type
  • Delhi Type
    Delhi Type
  • Delhi Type
    Delhi Type
  • Billon jital coin of Razia
    Billon jital coin of Razia
[edit]

Films

Television

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Smithsonian "TIMELINES OF EVERYONE" (1st ed.). U.S. U.K.: DK. 2020. p. 63. ISBN 9781465499967.
  2. ^ a b c d e Peter Jackson 2003, p. 46.
  3. ^ a b c Guida M. Jackson 1999, p. 341.
  4. ^ a b K. A. Nizami 1992, p. 237.
  5. ^ Harwood, Philip, ed. (25 March 1876). "The Queen's Indian Title". Saturday Review: Politics, Literature, Science and Art. 41 (1, 065). Published at the Office, Southampton Street, Strand: 397 – via the Internet Archive. In the thirteenth century a woman, the celebrated Queen Raziya, ascended the throne of Delhi and reigned for the brief space of four years. She bore the title of Sultan and was sometimes called Badshah.
  6. ^ A. V. Williams Jackson, ed. (1907). "Raziya, The Mohammedan Empress of India". History of India. Vol. 5. Grolier Society. p. 104. It will be noted that Minhaj always speaks of the queen as "Sultan," since this title, or that of Padshah, "king," was given to her,
  7. ^ Henry Miers Elliot. John Dowson (ed.). The History of India, as Told by Its Own Historians. Vol. 2. p. 332. The queen is always called "Sultán" and "Bádsháh," not Sultána, as by Briggs and Elphinstone.
  8. ^ Sudha Sharma 2016, p. 141 quote:"But as per Abu-Umar-i-Usman Minhaj-ud-din Siraj (Tabaqat-iNasiri), Turkan Khatun was the name of Razia's mother and not of this lady [Shah Turkan]."
  9. ^ a b K. A. Nizami 1992, p. 230.
  10. ^ K. A. Nizami 1992, pp. 230–231.
  11. ^ a b K. A. Nizami 1992, p. 231.
  12. ^ K. A. Nizami 1992, p. 235.
  13. ^ K. A. Nizami 1992, pp. 235–236.
  14. ^ a b K. A. Nizami 1992, p. 236.
  15. ^ Muzaffar Husain Syed 2011, p. 231.
  16. ^ a b c K. A. Nizami 1992, p. 238.
  17. ^ K. A. Nizami 1992, p. 225.
  18. ^ K. A. Nizami 1992, p. 235, 238.
  19. ^ a b c d K. A. Nizami 1992, p. 239.
  20. ^ K. A. Nizami 1992, pp. 239–240.
  21. ^ a b c d K. A. Nizami 1992, p. 240.
  22. ^ Guida M. Jackson 1999, p. 342.
  23. ^ a b K. A. Nizami 1992, p. 243.
  24. ^ K. A. Nizami 1992, pp. 243–244.
  25. ^ Peter Jackson 2003, p. 47.
  26. ^ Sudha Sharma 2016, p. 141.
  27. ^ K. A. Nizami 1992, pp. 240–241.
  28. ^ K. A. Nizami 1992, p. 241.
  29. ^ a b c d K. A. Nizami 1992, p. 242.
  30. ^ K. A. Nizami 1992, p. 244.
  31. ^ K. A. Nizami 1992, pp. 242–244.
  32. ^ Lyons 2022.
  33. ^ Gabbay, Alyssa (1 January 2011). "In Reality a Man: Sultan Iltutmish, His Daughter, Raziya, and Gender Ambiguity in Thirteenth Century Northern India" (PDF). Journal of Persianate Studies. 4 (1). Brill Publishers: 48. doi:10.1163/187471611X568285. eISSN 1874-7167. ISSN 1874-7094. LCCN 2008236337. Retrieved 11 July 2021 – via UNCG University Libraries. The troops accompanying the couple abandoned them, and both Raziya and her husband were killed near Kaithal on 25 Rabiʿ I 638/14 October 1240.
  34. ^ Srivastava, Ashirbadi Lal (1964). The Sultanate of Delhi (711-1526 A.D.) 4th edition. Agra: Shiva Lal Agarwala & Co. (P.) Ltd. pp. 105–106.
  35. ^ a b Syed Abdullah Zaini (9 August 2013). "A forgotten tomb".
  36. ^ Rana Safvi, The Forgotten Cities of Delhi. Quote: "The lanes leading to her tomb are very confusing and one has to ask for directions at Bhojala Pahari. There is an ASI board which leads into Bulbuli Khana. At the end of some narrow, dingy lanes is another stone sign by ASI, which announces the last resting place of South Asia's first female monarch."
  37. ^ "Tomb of Razia Sultan". Haryana Tourism. Retrieved 10 January 2020.
  38. ^ Sukhbir Siwach (13 June 2014). "Kaithal farmer stands in way of Razia Sultan memorial | Chandigarh News - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  39. ^ Stan Goron; J. P. Goenka (2001). The Coins of the Indian Sultanates. Munshiram Manoharlal. p. 26. ISBN 9788121510103.
  40. ^ Rajadhyaksha, Ashish; Willemen, Paul (1999). Encyclopaedia of Indian cinema. British Film Institute. ISBN 9780851706696. Retrieved 12 August 2012.
  41. ^ PTI (4 February 2015). "TV show about women emperor Razia Sultan launched". Indian Express. Retrieved 18 January 2020.

Bibliography

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