Raziya Sultan was the daughter of Iltutmish and the first and only female ruler of the Delhi Sultanate. Her accession was unique as it was supported by the people of Delhi, marking a rare instance of popular will influencing the succession in the Mamluk (Slave) dynasty.
Nature of Nobility and Conflict
The Mamluk nobility, particularly the Chahalgani (The Corps of Forty), was a powerful group of Turkish slave-officers created by Iltutmish to consolidate power. The conflict between Raziya and these nobles was multifaceted:
- Gender Prejudice: The primary resistance stemmed from the traditionalist Turkish nobility who viewed a woman ruling as a violation of Islamic norms.
- Political Autonomy: Raziya sought to centralize power and reduce the influence of the Chahalgani. She replaced old, obstructive officials with her own loyalists.
- Meritocracy vs. Ethnicity: By promoting non-Turkish officials, such as the Abyssinian Jamal-ud-din Yaqut to the post of Amir-i-Akhur (Master of the Horse), she challenged the monopoly of the Turkish ruling elite.
Key Nobles and Internal Dynamics
The relationship between Raziya and the nobles was defined by shifting alliances:
- Jamal-ud-din Yaqut: An Abyssinian official who enjoyed Raziya’s confidence. His promotion became a rallying point for Turkish nobles who felt marginalized.
- Altunia: The Governor of Bhatinda who led the rebellion against Raziya. He eventually joined forces with her after she was imprisoned, but both were killed in 1240 while attempting to reclaim the throne.
- Balban: Initially a minor noble, Balban rose through the ranks of the Chahalgani during this period. His experience with the power struggle under Raziya convinced him that a strong, centralized monarchy was necessary to curb the insubordinate nobility.
Factors Leading to the Downfall
| Factor | Description |
| Turkish Monopoly | The Chahalgani refused to accept a monarch who bypassed their collective authority. |
| Provincial Rebellions | Governors in Lahore, Multan, and Budaun frequently revolted to assert local control. |
| Gender Norms | The public discarding of the veil (purdah) and adopting masculine attire (tunic and headdress) was used as propaganda by conservative clergy and nobles to alienate her from the orthodox sections. |
Administrative Legacy
Despite her short reign, Raziya’s administration reflected a clear vision:
- Public Justice: She maintained an open court and was accessible to her subjects, reinforcing the Sultan’s role as the final arbiter of justice.
- Military Reform: She personally led military expeditions, projecting the image of a warrior-king, which was essential for the legitimacy of the Sultanate at that time.
- Centralization: Her efforts to curb the power of the Iqtadars (land grant holders) laid the ideological groundwork for the later policies of Ghiyas-ud-din Balban, who eventually systematically destroyed the Chahalgani.
Historical Significance for UPSC Prelims
- Raziya’s Succession: Unlike previous Sultans, she was nominated by Iltutmish after his son Rukn-ud-din Firuz proved incompetent.
- The Chahalgani: Also known as the ‘Turkan-i-Chahalgani’, these forty elite slaves were the “kingmakers” of the early Mamluk period.
- End of an Era: Raziya’s death signaled the beginning of a period of political instability, which only ended with the accession of Balban, who transformed the Sultanate into an absolute autocracy.