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'''Qutb-ud-din Aybak''' was a ruler of Medieval [[India]], the first [[Sultanate of Delhi|Sultan of Delhi]] and founder of the [[Slave dynasty]] (also known as the ''[[Mamluk]]'' dynasty). He served as sultan for only four years, [[1206]]-[[1210]]. |
'''Qutb-ud-din Aybak''' was a ruler of Medieval [[India]], the first [[Sultanate of Delhi|Sultan of Delhi]] and founder of the [[Slave dynasty]] (also known as the ''[[Mamluk]]'' dynasty). He served as sultan for only four years, [[1206]]-[[1210]]. |
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==Early years== |
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Qutb-ud-din was an ugly [[Turk]] of the Aybak tribe, and was born in [[Central Asia]]. As a child he was captured and sold as a slave (''mamluk''). He was purchased by the chief Qazi of [[Nishapur]], who treated him like one of his own sons. Aibak received good education and was trained in archery and horsemanship. When his master died, his master's sons, who were jealous of Aibak, sold him to a slave merchant. Qutb-ud-din was a bought by Sultan [[Muhammad Ghori]], who, from the [[Ghor]] region of central [[Afghanistan]], had conquered present-day Afghanistan, [[Pakistan]], [[Turkestan]], and northern [[India]] by his death in [[1206]]. Qutb-ud-din rose through the ranks to become Muhammad's most trusted general, and was increasingly left in charge of Muhammad's Indian campaigns and the administration of his Indian possessions as Muhammad's attention turned to affairs in [[Central Asia]] after [[1192]]. Qutb-ud-din's greatest military successes occurred while still a subordinate. He was responsible for most of Muhammad's conquests in northern India, and was appointed as Muhammad's viceroy in India. Qutb-ud-din killed thousands of hindu rajput soldiers in the second battle of Tarain and raped thousands of hindu rajput women. Prithviraj Chauhan's sister Chakkori Devi was one of the beautiful rajput women who was raped by Qutb-ud-din. Chakkori's husband Chand Vardhan was killed by Qutb-ud-din in the second battle of Tarain. Chakkori committed suicide when she got a chance. Muhammad had no male heirs, and upon his death in [[1206]] Qutb-ud-din, after a brief power struggle, succeeded in establishing himself as Sultan of Muhammad's empire in Afghanistan, [[Pakistan]], and northern India; Muhammad's Central Asian possessions had been captured by the [[Mongol]] leader [[Ghengis Khan]]. |
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Qutb-ud-din was a [[Turk]] of the Aybak tribe and was born somewhere in [[Central Asia]]. When yet a child, he was captured and sold as a slave (''mamluk''). He was purchased by the chief Qazi of [[Nishapur]], a town in the province of [[Khorasan]] in northeastern [[Iran]]. The Qazi treated him like one of his own sons, and Aibak received a good education, including training in archery and horsemanship. When his master died, his master's sons, who were jealous of Aibak, sold him to a slave merchant. Qutb-ud-din was purchased by Sultan [[Muhammad Ghori]], ruler of [[Ghowr]] in central [[Afghanistan]]. |
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==Career== |
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Though his tenure as a ruler was only four years, and most of them were spend in dealing with the revolts of nobles like Taj-ud-din Ildiz, Nasir-ud-din Qubachah and a few Hindu chiefs, yet he established a firm administrative system. He restored peace and prosperity in the area under him and roads were free from thieves and robbers. Aibak was known as Lakh Baksh because of his generosity. He was also a pious [[Muslim]]. Historians have praised his evenhanded justice. He patronized Nizami and Fakh-i-Mudabbir, both of whom dedicated their works to Aibak. |
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Starting with his native [[Ghowr]], a miniscule Afghan principality, [[Muhammad Ghori]] managed, by dint of murauding excursions of surpassing barbarity, to establish control over most of present-day [[Afghanistan]], [[Pakistan]], [[Tajikistan]], [[Turkestan]], and northern [[India]]. He however seems to have had no notion of establishing an administration or creating a state, plunder being his principal motivation. |
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Qutb-ud-din rose through the ranks to become Muhammad's most trusted general; his greatest military successes occurred while he was still a subordinate of Muhammad. Qutb-ud-din was responsible for most of Muhammad's conquests in [[northern India]]. He was left in increasingly independent charge of the Indian campaigns and the exaction of levies from the areas in [[India]] that were under Muhammad's hegemony, as Muhammad concentrated on [[Central Asia]] after [[1192]]. |
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Qutb-ud-din moved the capital of the empire from [[Ghazni]] to [[Lahore]], and later moved the capital to [[Delhi]], and thus is considered as the first Muslim ruler of [[South Asia]]. He started construction of the city's earliest [[Muslim]] monuments, the [[Qutb complex#Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque|Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque]] and the [[Qutub Minar]], which was completed by his successor [[Iltutmish]]. |
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Not content with the massacres that were normative in [[Afghan]] / [[Turkic]] invasions of non-muslim areas, Qutb-ud-din caused his armies to rape thousands of hapless women. [[Prithviraj Chauhan]]'s sister ''Chakkori Devi'' was one of those who suffered such a fate, after her husband Chand Vardhan was killed at the [[Second battle of Tarain|second battle of Tarain]]. Chakkori committed suicide when she got a chance. |
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| ⚫ | Qutb-ud-din died accidentally in [[1210]] |
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===Founding of the Delhi Sultanate=== |
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[[Muhammad Ghori]] established no real state, plunder being his aim; he made no nomination or provision for his succession. Upon his death in [[1206]], Qutb-ud-din Aybak, after a brief power struggle, succeeded in establishing himself as ruler of Muhammad's empire in [[Afghanistan]], [[Pakistan]], and [[northern India]]; Muhammad's Central Asian possessions had been captured by none other than the notorious [[Mongol]] warlord, [[Ghengis Khan]]. |
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The areas over which Qutb-ud-din established his rule were those over which he already exercised coercive power as Muhammad's local receiver-general of periodic exactions and levies. Therefore, although his formal tenure as ruler was only four years, Qutb-ud-din managed to establish a defined administrative system, something never contemplated by Muhammad. This was achieved despite his having to quell rebellions by nobles like Taj-ud-din Ildiz and Nasir-ud-din Qubachah. Qutb-ud-din ruled initially from [[Lahore]] and later moved the capital to [[Delhi]]; he is hence considered the first Muslim ruler of [[South Asia]]. |
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Qutb-ud-din Aybak initiated the construction of [[Delhi]]'s earliest [[Muslim]] monuments, the [[Qutb complex#Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque|Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque]] and the [[Qutub Minar]]. These was completed by his successor, [[Iltutmish]]. Aibak, so barbaric in dealings with the non-muslims, was otherwise known as "Lakh Baksh" or "giver of hundred thousands" because of his generosity. He was thus a pious [[Muslim]], praised by contemporary muslim clerics. He also patronized Nizami and Fakh-i-Mudabbir, both of whom dedicated their works to Aibak. |
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==Death and succession== |
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| ⚫ | Qutb-ud-din died accidentally in [[1210]]. While he was playing a game on horseback, his horse fell and Qutb-ud-din was impaled on the pommel of his saddle. He was buried near the [[Anarkali Bazaar]] in [[Lahore]]. [[Iltutmish|Shams-ud-din Iltutmish]], another ex-slave of [[Turkic]] ancestry who was married to Qutb-ud-din's daughter, succeeded him as sultan of Delhi. |
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Qutb-ud-din Aibak's tomb was destroyed during the [[Mongol]] attack on [[Lahore]] in [[1241]]. In the early [[1970]]'s, during a particularly jingoistic phase in the history of the [[Islamic Republic of Pakistan]], a new [[cenotaph]] was constructed over that site. |
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== See also == |
== See also == |
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*[[Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque]] |
*[[Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque]] |
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[[Category:History of India]] |
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[[es:Qutb-ud-din Aybak]] |
[[es:Qutb-ud-din Aybak]] |
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[[fr:Qûtb ud-Dîn Aibak]] |
[[fr:Qûtb ud-Dîn Aibak]] |
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Revision as of 18:01, 29 November 2005
Qutb-ud-din Aybak was a ruler of Medieval India, the first Sultan of Delhi and founder of the Slave dynasty (also known as the Mamluk dynasty). He served as sultan for only four years, 1206-1210.
Early years
Qutb-ud-din was a Turk of the Aybak tribe and was born somewhere in Central Asia. When yet a child, he was captured and sold as a slave (mamluk). He was purchased by the chief Qazi of Nishapur, a town in the province of Khorasan in northeastern Iran. The Qazi treated him like one of his own sons, and Aibak received a good education, including training in archery and horsemanship. When his master died, his master's sons, who were jealous of Aibak, sold him to a slave merchant. Qutb-ud-din was purchased by Sultan Muhammad Ghori, ruler of Ghowr in central Afghanistan.
Career
Starting with his native Ghowr, a miniscule Afghan principality, Muhammad Ghori managed, by dint of murauding excursions of surpassing barbarity, to establish control over most of present-day Afghanistan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkestan, and northern India. He however seems to have had no notion of establishing an administration or creating a state, plunder being his principal motivation.
Qutb-ud-din rose through the ranks to become Muhammad's most trusted general; his greatest military successes occurred while he was still a subordinate of Muhammad. Qutb-ud-din was responsible for most of Muhammad's conquests in northern India. He was left in increasingly independent charge of the Indian campaigns and the exaction of levies from the areas in India that were under Muhammad's hegemony, as Muhammad concentrated on Central Asia after 1192.
Not content with the massacres that were normative in Afghan / Turkic invasions of non-muslim areas, Qutb-ud-din caused his armies to rape thousands of hapless women. Prithviraj Chauhan's sister Chakkori Devi was one of those who suffered such a fate, after her husband Chand Vardhan was killed at the second battle of Tarain. Chakkori committed suicide when she got a chance.
Founding of the Delhi Sultanate
Muhammad Ghori established no real state, plunder being his aim; he made no nomination or provision for his succession. Upon his death in 1206, Qutb-ud-din Aybak, after a brief power struggle, succeeded in establishing himself as ruler of Muhammad's empire in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and northern India; Muhammad's Central Asian possessions had been captured by none other than the notorious Mongol warlord, Ghengis Khan.
The areas over which Qutb-ud-din established his rule were those over which he already exercised coercive power as Muhammad's local receiver-general of periodic exactions and levies. Therefore, although his formal tenure as ruler was only four years, Qutb-ud-din managed to establish a defined administrative system, something never contemplated by Muhammad. This was achieved despite his having to quell rebellions by nobles like Taj-ud-din Ildiz and Nasir-ud-din Qubachah. Qutb-ud-din ruled initially from Lahore and later moved the capital to Delhi; he is hence considered the first Muslim ruler of South Asia.
Qutb-ud-din Aybak initiated the construction of Delhi's earliest Muslim monuments, the Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque and the Qutub Minar. These was completed by his successor, Iltutmish. Aibak, so barbaric in dealings with the non-muslims, was otherwise known as "Lakh Baksh" or "giver of hundred thousands" because of his generosity. He was thus a pious Muslim, praised by contemporary muslim clerics. He also patronized Nizami and Fakh-i-Mudabbir, both of whom dedicated their works to Aibak.
Death and succession
Qutb-ud-din died accidentally in 1210. While he was playing a game on horseback, his horse fell and Qutb-ud-din was impaled on the pommel of his saddle. He was buried near the Anarkali Bazaar in Lahore. Shams-ud-din Iltutmish, another ex-slave of Turkic ancestry who was married to Qutb-ud-din's daughter, succeeded him as sultan of Delhi.
Qutb-ud-din Aibak's tomb was destroyed during the Mongol attack on Lahore in 1241. In the early 1970's, during a particularly jingoistic phase in the history of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, a new cenotaph was constructed over that site.