Khilji dynasty Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Khalji Sultanate

1290–1320

Territory controlled by the Khaljis (dark green) and their tributaries (light green)

Capital

Delhi

Common languages

Persian (official)

Religion

Sunni Islam

Government

Sultanate

Sultan

• 1290–1296

Jalal ud din Firuz Khalji

• 1296–1316

Alauddin Khalji

• 1316

Shihab ad-Din Umar

History

• Established

1290

• Disestablished

1320

Preceded by

Succeeded by

	Mamluk dynasty of Delhi
	Vaghela dynasty

Tughlaq dynasty

Today part of

India

Pakistan

The Khalji or Khilji dynasty was a Muslim dynasty which ruled large parts of the Indian subcontinent between 1290 and 1320. It was founded by Jalal ud din Firuz Khalji and became the second dynasty to rule the Delhi Sultanate of India. The dynasty is known for their faithlessness and ferocity, conquests into the Hindu south, and for successfully fending off the repeated Mongol invasions of India.

Alauddin Khalji changed the tax policies to strengthen his treasury to help pay the keep of his growing army and fund his wars of expansion. He raised agriculture taxes from 20% to 50%. During his reign, at least half of the population were slaves working as servants and guards for the Muslim nobles, amirs, court officials and commanders. The tax system introduced during the Khalji dynasty had a long term influence on Indian taxation system and state administration.

Slavery in India during Khalji, and later Islamic dynasties, included two groups of people - persons seized during military campaigns, and people who failed to pay tax on time. The first group were people captured during military campaigns. The second group of people were revenue defaulters, if a family failed to pay the annual tax in full on time, their property was seized and even some cases all their family members seized then sold as slaves.

The accounts describing the Khaljis' rise to power in India indicate that they were regarded as a race quite distinct from the Turks in late 13th century Delhi. Over the centuries, the Khaljis had married with the local Afghans and adopted their manners, culture, customs, and practices.

Images for kids

Coin of Tegin Shah, described as "Iltäbar (sub-King) of the Khalaj", dated to the year 728 CE.
Gold coinage of ‘Ala al-Din Muhammad (AH 695-715 / AD 1296-1316). Dar al-Islam mint. Dated AH 709 (AD 1309-10).
The Koh-i-Noor diamond was seized by Alauddin Khalji's army in 1310, from the Kakatiya dynasty in Warangal.
Alauddin Khalji's Madrasa, Qutb complex, Mehrauli, which also has his tomb to the south.
Coinage of Khusrau Khan.
The Alai Darwaza, completed in 1311 during the Khalji dynasty.
Courts to the east of Quwwat ul-Islam mosque, in Qutb complex added by Khalji in 1300 CE.
The unfinished Alai Minar

Khilji dynasty facts for kids

Images for kids

See also