Alahuddin Khilji

Alaudin Khilji was the most prominent Sultan/ Ruler of the Khilji dynasty of Delhi Sultanate. He successfully repelled the Mongols in 1297 A.D. and again in 1299 A.D. He recognised the need for a strong army and made various military, taxation and market reforms. His price control policy was an effort to maintain price stability in the market. Being encouraged by his successes and conquests he assumed the title of “Sikander-i-Sani”. He centralised power and curbed dissent by taking power away from the nobels and instituting a spy network to curb dissent.

Alauddin belonged to the Khalji dynasty, which came to power in the Delhi Sultanate after overthrowing the Mamluks in 1290. The rise of the Khaljis represented a shift in power within the Sultanate, away from the traditional Turkish nobility and towards more Afghan and Turkic groups. Alauddin capitalized on this support to consolidate his grip on the throne.
His rise within the dynasty was marked by ambition and ruthlessness. He became the nephew and son-in-law of the reigning Sultan Jalaluddin, but ultimately seized power through a violent coup in 1296.

Ala-ud-din’s (“Allahudin Khilji”) real name was Ali Gurshap. He was born around 1266 in Afghanistan. He was a brilliant military leader who expanded the Delhi Sultanate and implemented important administrative reforms. However, his reign was also marked by violence and intolerance.

Coming to Power: Originally Alauddin's uncle, Jalaluddin Khilji, was the Sultan. Alauddin gained his favor and married his daughter. However, in 1296, Alauddin ambushed and killed Jalaluddin, seizing the throne for himself.

• Expansion: Alauddin Khilji was a brilliant military strategist. He successfully repelled several Mongol invasions, which were a major threat to the Sultanate at the time. He also expanded the Sultanate's territory significantly through conquests in South India and Gujarat. His slave-general Malik Kafur was a renowned for his military prowess.
• Military Reforms: Alahuddin was adamant to establish a robust standing army at the centre, a departure from the previous reliance on the provincial nobles for military forces. He initiated the payment of the army in cash, ending the Jagirdari system. Additionally, he implemented measures such as branding horses and maintaining registers to prevent corruption.
• Administration: He curbed the power of nobility by confiscating their lands and diminishing their economic power. This way he could secure his authority. He also had an extensive spy network which kept a watchful eye on every move of theirs ensuring loyalty. Alauddin Khilji relied on appointed military commanders, called muqtis, to govern and police smaller territories named iqtas. To prevent corruption and rebellion, Alauddin kept their tenure short, non-inheritable, and tightly monitored by state accountants.
• Market Reforms: the distinctive feature was the Price Control Policy which was acclaimed widely. Khillji was the first ruler who looked at the problem of price control in a systematic manner and was able to maintain stable prices for a considerable amount of time.
• Tax Policy: The Sultan's officials surveyed the land and maintained accurate records. Some former chiefs and landlords worked for the Sultanate as tax collectors and evaluators. Three types of taxes existed: a) one on farming (kharaj), which was around 50 percent of the farmer's yield, b) Ushr, known as the Sand tax, applied to Muslim-held lands, typically amounting to one-tenth of the entire yield c) Kharaj, a tax on Hindu-owned lands, ranged from one-tenth to one-half of the total produce
• Architecture: In 1296, Alauddin built Hauz-I-Alai, later called Hauz-I-Khas. During the 14th century, he also constructed Siri Fort as a garrison town. Alauddin oversaw the completion of the Alai Darwaza in 1311 and repaired a hundred acres of the Hauz-I-Shamsi reservoir.
• Religious Intolerance: Alauddin Khilji's reign was also marked by violence and religious intolerance. He is particularly known for the massacre at Chittor, where thousands of Hindu civilians were killed after the city's conquest.
• Social Reforms: He banned alcohol, gambling, and intoxicants to curb potential gatherings and dissent. Additionally, Alauddin addressed social issues like prostitution and adultery with harsh regulations. These measures, though severe, aimed to maintain order and stability within the Sultanate.

• Location : It is situated in the Qutb Minar complex, Mehrauli, Delhi, near the Alai Darwaza.
• Architecture : It is built according to Indo-Islamic style. It is square in shape. It is made of sandstone. The walls has decorative motifs and beautiful calligraphy.
• The Qutb Minar complex includes other significant structures like the Qutb Minar, Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque, and Iron Pillar. The complex is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In his final days, Ala-ud-din experienced misery and disappointment. Due to a lack of trust in anyone, he had dispatched all capable nobles to distant locations, leaving him unable to effectively manage even his family's affairs. Ala-ud-din faced challenges to his authority from various sources while he remained incapacitated in bed. He passed away under these circumstances in 1316 A.D.

After the death of Alauddin Khilji, his successor was his son Qutbuddin Mubarak Shah. However, the Khilji dynasty faced a decline marked by internal strife and external invasions. Mubarak Shah was assassinated and there was a power vacuum. This created an opportunity for Ghazi Malik, who later took the title of Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq, marking the end of the Khilji dynasty, and the beginning of the Tughlaq dynasty in 1320.

Allahuddin ruled from 1296 to 1316 BC. He recognised the need for a robust army following the Mongol sieges. However, maintaining a large army with regular salaries posed a significant financial strain on his treasury. To avoid costly land grants and inflation from soldier purchases, Alauddin Khilji innovated. He paid soldiers directly, ensuring a steady flow of cash into Delhi's markets. To prevent merchants from exploiting this windfall, he implemented strict price controls, surveyed by dedicated officers. This bold move stabilized the economy, guaranteed affordable goods for soldiers and citizens, and fueled Delhi's prosperity – all while Alauddin repelled the fearsome Mongol threat. His reign stands as a testament to the power of economic foresight in securing both stability and military strength. Later Sher Shah Suri would establish the Suri Dynasty which was renowned for its efficient administration which borrowed elements from Alauddin’s reign.