Alauddin Khilji Khilji Dynasty

Important Rulers of the Khilji Dynasty

The important rulers of the Khilji dynasty are stated below:

Jalal-ud-din Firoz Khilji (1290-1296 A.D.)

• He was the founder of Khilji Dynasty.
• He was also called as “Clemency Jalal-uddin” as he followed peace and wanted to rule without violence. 

Domestic Policies of Jalal-ud-din Firoz Khilji

• He suppressed Malik Chhajju’s revolt at Kara
• He appointed Ala-ud-din Khilji as the Governor of Kara. Alauddin was his son-in-law and also nephew.

Mongol Invasion

• In 1292 A.D. Jalal-ud-din defeated the Mongols who had come up to Sunam.

 End of Jalal-ud-din

• Jalal-ud-din was treacherously murdered by Ala-ud-din Khilji his son-in-law.
• Jalal-ud-din’s policy of peace was not liked by many.

Ala-ud-din Khilji (1296-1316 A.D.)

• In 1296 A.D. Ala-ud-din Khilji succeeded Jalal-ud-din Firoz Khilji and ascended the throne.

Ala-ud-din Khilji Invasions in the North

• Ala-ud-din Khiliji’s generals namely, Ulugh Khan and Nusrat Khan conquered Gujarat.
• He captured Ranthambore and killed Hamir Deva its ruler.
• He also captured Malwa, Chittor, Dhar, Mandu, Ujjain, Marwar, Chanderi and Jalor.

Ala-ud-din Khilji Invasions in the South

• He was the first Sultan who attacked South India.
• He sent his confidante and general Malik Kafur against the rulers of the south.
• Prataprudra-II of Warangal, Ramachandra Deva, the Yadava king of Devagiri, and Vira Ballala-III the Hoysala king were defeated.
• He constructed a mosque in Rameswaram.
• The kingdoms of the south acknowledged the power of Alauddin Khilji and paid his monetary tributes.

The Mongol Invasion

• Ala-ud-din successfully resisted the Mongol invasion more than 12 times. 

Domestic Policies of Alauddin Khilji

• Ala-ud-din followed the Divine Right Theory of Kingship.
• He introduced four ordinances to prevent repeated revolts.
• He impounded pious grants and free grants of lands
• He restructured the spy system.
• He banned social parties and wine.
• He introduced a permanent standing army.
• He started the system of branding of horses and descriptive roster of individual soldiers to inhibit corruption.
• He fixed the prices of necessary commodities which were below the normal market rates.
• He strictly prohibited black marketing.
• Revenue was collected in cash and not in kind.
• He followed discriminatory policies towards the Hindus and imposed the Jizya, a grazing tax and a house tax on the Hindu community. 

Marketing System

• Officers called Diwan-i-riyasat were appointed in the offices called Shahana-i-mandi to standardize the market.
• Merchants should have to register themselves in the office (Shahana-i-mandi) before selling their goods at the fixed rates.

Ala-ud-din-Khilji’s Estimate

• He was the first to bring the standing army system.
• He constructed Alai Darwaza, the Palace of a thousand pillars and the Fort of Siri.

Successors after Ala-ud-din-Khilji

• Qutb-ud-din Mubarak Shah (1316-1320 A.D.)
• Nasir-ud-din Khusrav Shah (1320A.D.)

His successors were weak. 

End of the Dynasty

• Ala-ud-din Khilji died in 1316 A.D.
• Successors of Ala-ud-din-Khilji were weak rulers.
• Eventually, in 1320 A.D. the Governor of Punjab Ghazi Malik led a group of nobles, conquered Delhi and captured the throne.
• Ghazi Malik assumed the name ‘Ghiyas-ud-din Tughluq’ at Delhi and founded the Tughluq Dynasty, a dynasty of rulers.