Mamluk dynasty (Delhi) facts for kids

The Mamluk dynasty (also known as the Slave dynasty) was a powerful group of rulers in Northern India. It was started by Qutb-ud-din Aibak in 1206. He was a Turkic man who had been a slave of Muhammad of Ghor. This dynasty ruled from 1206 to 1290. It was the very first of five different ruling families that made up the Delhi Sultanate, which was a big empire that lasted until 1526. This dynasty is also sometimes called the Yamini dynasty.

What is a Mamluk?

A Mamluk was a special kind of soldier. The word "Mamluk" means owned. These soldiers were originally slaves who became very skilled fighters. They often converted to Islam. Over time, Mamluks became a strong military group in many Muslim countries. They held important political and military power. This was especially true in Egypt, but also in places like Levant, Iraq, and India.

How the Mamluk Dynasty Began

In 1206, Muhammad of Ghor, who was the Sultan of the Ghurid dynasty, was killed. He did not have any children to take over his empire. Because of this, his large empire was split up. It was divided among his former Mamluk generals. Each general became the ruler of a smaller sultanate.

• Taj-ud-Din Yildoz became the ruler of Ghazni.
• Muhammad bin Bakhtiyar Khilji took control of Bengal.
• Nasir-ud-Din Qabacha became the sultan of Multan.

Qutb-ud-din Aibak became the sultan of Delhi. This was the start of the Slave dynasty. However, Qutb ud-Din Aibak's rule as the Sultan of Delhi was short. He died in 1210. His son, Aram Shah, took the throne. But Aram Shah was killed by Iltutmish in 1211.

Important Rulers and Events

Under Sultan Iltutmish, the Delhi Sultanate became stronger. He made friendly connections with the Abbasid Caliphate between 1228 and 1229. Iltutmish also managed to protect India from the powerful invasions of Genghis Khan and his armies. These were the Mongols, who were a big threat at the time.

After Iltutmish died in 1236, several weaker rulers followed. The throne passed from Rukn ud din Firuz to Razia Sultana. Razia Sultana was a very important female ruler. The last strong ruler of this dynasty was Ghiyas ud din Balban.

The Mamluk dynasty ended when Jalal ud din Firuz Khalji overthrew the last Mamluk ruler. This ruler was Muiz ud din Qaiqabad, who was Balban's great-grandson. After this, the Khalji dynasty began its rule.

Sultans of the Mamluk Dynasty

• Qutb-ud-din Aibak
• Aram Shah
• Shams-ud-din Iltutmish
• Rukn ud din Feroze
• Razia Sultan
• Muiz-ud-din Bahram
• Ala-ud-din Masud
• Nasir-ud-din Mahmmuad
• Ghiyath-ud-din Balban
• Muiz-ud-din Muhammad Qaiqabad

Images for kids

• 

  Coin of Ghiyath al-Din 'Iwad, Governor of Bengal, from 1217-1220. It was made in the name of Shams al-Din Iltutmish, Sultan of Delhi.

• 

  The Tomb of Iltutmish (who ruled from 1211–1236) in the Qutub Minar complex.

• 

  The Quwwat-ul-Islam ("Might of Islam") mosque in Delhi. It was started in 1193 CE by Qutb-ud-din-Aibak to celebrate his victory over the Rajputs.

• 

  Detailed stone carvings on the cloister columns at Quwwat ul-Islam Mosque, in the Qutb complex, Delhi. These pillars were originally from Hindu temples.

• 

  The Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra mosque in Ajmer. It was started in 1192 and finished in 1199 by Qutb al-Din Aibak.

• 

  Decorations inside the Marble Mehrab at Sultan Ghari.

See also

In Spanish: Mamelucos de Delhi para niños