Khilji Dynasty: Governance, Conquest and Legacy

The Khalji Dynasty ruled India from 1290 to 1320 AD. It began with Jalaluddin Khalji, who rose to power amid political turmoil. His nephew, Alauddin Khalji, succeeded him and implemented significant reforms.

The Khilji Dynasty: Transformative Reigns in Medieval India

• Khalji Dynasty Origins: Khaljis were of mixed Turkish-Afghan origin. They came to India at the time of the Ghurid invasion and moved to Bengal and Bihar, searching for an opportunity for advancement. Also, some were posted as soldiers in the northwest to meet the Mongol challenge.

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1. Jalaluddin Khalji (1290-1296 AD) 

• Introduction: Amid the incompetency of Balban’s heir and plotting by the nobles, army commander Malik Jalal-ud-din Khalji rose to power in 1290 and established the Khalji dynasty.
• Administration: He did not exclude the Turks from high offices but ended their monopoly of high offices.
• • He moderated Balban’s strict policies, asserting that with a Hindu majority, the state couldn’t be solely Islamic, thus, displaying a tolerant approach towards Hindus.
• Mongol Attack: Defeated Hulagu’s grandson (Mongol) in 1292.
• Conquest: Alauddin Khalji (governor of Kara Manikpur near Allahabad), successfully invaded Malwa and Devagiri, the capital of the Yadava kingdom in the Deccan.
• Death: He was killed by his nephew and son-in-law, Alauddin Khalji, who subsequently ascended the throne.

2. Alauddin Khalji (1296-1316 AD): 

• Introduction: Alauddin Khalji was an intolerant monarch (unlike his predecessor, Jalauddin).
• Title: He took the title of Sikander-i-Azam. 
• Administration: Centralised revenue collection directly from the farmers, sidelining the traditional village headmen. Tax policies primarily targeted the wealthy rather than burdening the poor. 
  • Reform of Village Officials and Taxation: Traditional village officials, khots (smaller landlords) and muqaddams (village headmen) were stripped of their customary privileges. 
    • He taxed them at the same rate as peasants and subjected them to Charai (grazing tax) and Ghari taxes (House tax).
  • Establishment of Postal System: He established a postal system to maintain communication across the empire.
  • Creation of Spy Service: He established a spy service to monitor the activities and discussions of nobles.
  • Punishment of Nobles: Executed or dismissed nobles lured by Gold. Punished his own family members who were rebellious. 
  • He famously proclaimed ‘Kingship knows no kinship’.
  • Banned wines and intoxicants; Gambling was forbidden.
• Military Campaigns: 
  • He defended against the Mongol invasion led by Targhi who marched up to Delhi and besieged the city. [UPSC 2022]
• North Indian Expeditions:
  • Ranthambore (1301), Chittor (1303), Malwa (1305)
  • Devagiri: 1307 (under Malik Kafur), 1314- looted Somnath temple.
• Deccan and South India Expeditions:(Malik Kafur’s Southward Journey)
  • Kakatiya Ruler: of Warangal defeated: 1309.
  • Hoysala Ruler: surrendered treasures: 1310.
  • Plundered the temple cities of Chidambaram, Srirangam and Madurai. 
  • The decline of the Pandya kingdom gave way to a Muslim state in Madurai, which operated as subordinate to the Delhi Sultanate.
• Reforms: He introduced the Chehra (description of soldiers) and Dagh (branding of horse) system.
  • Introduction of Cash Payments: He was the first Sultan to pay soldiers in cash instead of shares of booty.
  • Expansion of the Standing Army: Alauddin had the largest standing army of all the Delhi rulers.
• Market Reforms:
• • Establishment of Royal Granaries: He stored grains in royal granaries to mitigate famines and control prices. 
  • Implementation of Price Controls: To sustain a large army on modest pay, he ensured low prices for essential commodities by setting maximum prices for items including grains, cloth, fruits, livestock, and even slaves and horses.
  • Network for Market Surveillance: Price control was done through an extensive intelligence network to keep an eye on black-marketing and hoarding. 
    • Stringent penalties were imposed for price regulation violations.

• Separate Bazaars: The sera-i-adl for cloth, sugar, herbs, dry fruits, butter, and lamp oil; another for horses, slaves, and cattle.
• Registry of Traders: was kept, mandating them to provide written commitments to sell specified merchandise amounts in the sarai-i-adl.
• Taxation System:
  • Kharaj: agriculture tax amounting to about 50 per cent of the peasant’s produce. For collecting kharaj, a particular post of the officer was created known as Mustakharaj.
  • Biswa (1/20 of bigha): was used for cultivable land measurement and calculating its productivity.
  • Payment of Land Tax in Cash: The land tax generally had to be paid in cash, pushing peasants into the money market. While in the Doab region, the tax was collected on grain for future scarcity. 
  • Additional Taxes on Peasants: Alauddin also imposed two additional taxes on peasants: 
    • charai (for grazing) and garhi (on dwellings).
  • Abolition of Village Headman’s Cess: He abolished the village headman’s cess (Kismat-i-Khuti).
• Art and Architecture
  • Notable Poets: He supported poets of his period: Amir Khusrau and Mir Hasan Dehlvi.
    • Honored Amir Khusrau with the title of Tuti-i-Hind (Parrot of India). 
  • Khazain-ul-Futuh: by Amir Khusrau describes the conquests undertaken by Alauddin.
• Architecture: He constructed
  • Alai Darwaza (1311): the southern gateway of the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque in Qutb complex, Mehrauli, Delhi.
  • Siri Fort (1303): Situated north of the Qutub complex.
  • Mosque Jamait Khanm: Built within the enclosure of Nizam-ud-din Aulia’s shrine.
• Death: After the death of Alauddin in 1316, the reign of Khiljis came to a gradual end and Ghazi Malik usurped the throne under the title Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq.

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Conclusion

The Khalji Dynasty marked a period of military conquests, administrative reforms, and economic regulations. Despite its authoritarian rule, it left a lasting impact on India’s governance and society. After the death of Alauddin Khalji, the dynasty gradually declined, paving the way for the rise of the Tughlaq dynasty.