Tughlaq Dynasty

The Tughlaq Dynasty (1320–1414 AD) was the third ruling dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate, founded by Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq. The dynasty is known for the ambitious experiments of Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq and the administrative, irrigation, and welfare measures introduced by Firoz Shah Tughlaq.

Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq (1320–1325 AD)

Foundation of the Dynasty

• • Ghazi Malik defeated and killed Khusrau Khan, the last ruler of the Khalji Dynasty.
  • After ascending the throne, he assumed the title Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq and founded the Tughlaq Dynasty in 1320 AD.

Death and Succession

• • Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq died in an accident in 1325 AD.
  • He was succeeded by his son Jauna (Ulugh Khan), who ascended the throne as Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq.

Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq (1325–1351 AD)

Accession

• • Prince Jauna, the son of Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq, became Sultan in 1325 AD.
  • He was an ambitious ruler who attempted several innovative administrative and economic reforms, many of which proved unsuccessful.

The Five Famous Projects of Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq

1. Taxation in the Doab (1326 AD)

    Increased Revenue Demand

• • Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq introduced an ill-planned taxation policy in the fertile Doab region between the Ganga and Yamuna rivers.
  • Besides increasing the rate of taxation, he imposed additional Abwabs (cesses).

    New Taxes

• • The enhanced revenue demand included:
    
    • Ghari – House Tax
    • Charahi – Pasture Tax

    Artificial Assessment

• • Unlike the system under Alauddin Khalji, taxes were fixed arbitrarily rather than on actual agricultural produce.
  • Prices were also artificially fixed for converting produce into money, making the burden on peasants extremely heavy.

    Diwan-i-Kohi

• • To improve agriculture, Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq established a new Department of Agriculture called Diwan-i-Kohi.
  • Its main objective was to bring more land under cultivation by providing financial assistance to peasants.

2. Transfer of Capital (1327 AD)

    Shift from Delhi to Devagiri

• • Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq transferred the capital from Delhi to Devagiri.
  • He renamed Devagiri as Daulatabad.

    Objective

• • The Sultan intended to:
    
    • Strengthen Turkish authority in South India
    • Exercise better control over the entire subcontinent
    • Develop Daulatabad as a second imperial capital

    Failure

• • The experiment soon failed because:
    
    • North India could not be effectively governed from Daulatabad.
    • South India also could not be permanently controlled from Delhi.
  • Consequently, the Sultan eventually shifted the capital back to Delhi.

3. Introduction of Token Currency (1329 AD)

    Monetary Experiment

• • Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq introduced bronze coins and declared that they would possess the same value as silver coins.

    Failure of the Scheme

• • The policy failed because:
    
    • The government could not effectively regulate the minting of coins.
    • People began manufacturing counterfeit bronze coins, causing severe currency devaluation.

    Withdrawal

• • The Sultan finally abolished the token currency and exchanged bronze coins for genuine silver coins, causing a substantial loss to the royal treasury.

4. Proposed Khurasan Expedition (1329 AD)

    Objective

• • Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq planned to conquer Khurasan and Iraq and therefore mobilised a large standing army.

    Reasons for Abandonment

• • The expedition was cancelled because:
    
    • The Khurasani nobles, who had encouraged the invasion, sought refuge in his court.
    • Political instability developed in Khurasan owing to the unpopular rule of Abu Said.

5. Qarachil Expedition (1330 AD)

    Purpose

• • The Sultan launched the Qarachil Expedition into the Kumaon Hills of the Himalayas.
  • Officially, it was intended to check possible Chinese incursions.
  • It also aimed to subdue rebellious tribes of the Kumaon-Garhwal region and bring them under Delhi Sultanate control.

    Outcome

• • The initial phase was successful.
  • However, with the arrival of the rainy season, the invading forces suffered severe losses, leading to the failure of the expedition.

Consequences of His Policies

• The failure of these ambitious schemes triggered widespread rebellions throughout the empire.
• During his 25-year reign, Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq reportedly faced 36 revolts.
• The final years of his rule were largely spent in suppressing rebellions and restoring order.

Important Events During Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq’s Reign

     1335 AD

• • • Madurai declared independence under Jalaluddin Ahsan Shah.

     1336 AD

• • • Harihara and Bukka founded the Vijayanagara Empire.
    • Warangal also became independent under Kanhaiya.

     1341–1347 AD

• • • The Revolt of the Sada Amirs took place.
    • It culminated in the establishment of the Bahmani Kingdom in 1347 AD under Hasan Gangu.

Death

• Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq died at Thatta (Sindh) while campaigning against the rebel Taghi, a Turkish slave.

Firoz Shah Tughlaq (1351–1388 AD)

Accession

• • Firoz Shah Tughlaq was a cousin of Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq.
  • After Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq’s death, the nobles and theologians of the court selected Firoz Shah as the next Sultan.

Policy Towards the Sultanate

    Consolidation Instead of Expansion

• • On ascending the throne, Firoz Shah faced the challenge of preventing the disintegration of the Delhi Sultanate.
  • He followed a policy of conciliation, attempting to appease the nobility, the army, and the theologians.
  • He concentrated only on territories that could be efficiently administered from the centre.
  • Consequently, he made no serious attempt to recover South India or the Deccan.

Hereditary Principle

   In Civil Administration

• • Firoz decreed that when a noble died, his son should inherit his office and Iqta.
  • If the noble had no son, succession would pass to his son-in-law, and in his absence, to his slave.

   In the Army

• • He extended the principle of heredity to the military.
  • Soldiers were allowed to retire and send their sons in their place.
  • Instead of cash salaries, many soldiers were compensated through assignments of village revenues (Vajeha).
  • This hereditary arrangement eventually weakened military efficiency.

Religious Policy

    Support to Orthodox Islam

• • Firoz Shah sought the support of orthodox theologians (Ulema) by presenting himself as a true Islamic ruler.
  • Many theologians were appointed to high administrative offices.

    Social Restrictions

• • He prohibited practices regarded by orthodox scholars as un-Islamic.
  • He specifically banned Muslim women from visiting the tombs of saints.

Taxation Reforms

   Jizya

• • During his reign, Jizya became a separate tax.
  • Unlike earlier rulers, Firoz refused to exempt Brahmins from paying Jizya because Islamic law (Shariat) did not permit such exemption.

    Quranic Taxes

• • He reorganised taxation according to the Quran, recognising four principal taxes:

1. 1. Kharaj – Land tax, generally 1/10th of agricultural produce.
   2. Zakat – 2½% tax on property and wealth.
   3. Jizya – Tax imposed on non-Muslims.
   4. Khams – One-fifth of the war booty captured during military campaigns.

Irrigation and Agriculture

    Canal Construction

• • To promote agriculture, Firoz Shah gave great importance to irrigation projects.
  • He constructed and repaired numerous canals, increasing cultivated land.

    Water Tax

• • He imposed a water tax known as Haque-i-Sharb (or Hasil-i-Sharb).

Architectural Contributions

    New Cities

• • Firoz Shah founded several important cities, including:
    
    • Fatehabad
    • Hisar
    • Jaunpur
    • Firozabad

    Ashokan Pillars

• • He transported two Ashokan pillars to Delhi:
    
    • One from Topra (Haryana)
    • Another from Meerut (Uttar Pradesh)

Welfare Measures

     Dar-ul-Shifa

• • Established a public hospital at Delhi known as Dar-ul-Shifa.

     Diwan-i-Khairat

• • Created a special department called Diwan-i-Khairat to provide financial assistance for the marriages of poor girls.

Slave Policy

• • Firoz directed his officials that during military expeditions they should select handsome and well-born young boys and send them to the Sultan as slaves.
  • This policy had both economic and political objectives.

Administration

• • His reign is generally remembered as a period of peace and stability.
  • Much of the credit for efficient governance is attributed to his capable Prime Minister, Khan-i-Jahan Maqbul.

Death

• • Firoz Shah Tughlaq died in 1388 AD.

After Firoz Shah Tughlaq (1388–1414 AD)

Decline of the Tughlaq Dynasty

• Following Firoz Shah’s death, the Delhi Sultanate rapidly weakened.
• Several regions broke away and became independent, including:
  
  • Malwa
  • Gujarat
  • Sharqi Kingdom of Jaunpur

Timur’s Invasion (1398–1399 AD)

Invasion of India

• • Timur (Tamerlane), the Turkish conqueror from Central Asia and a descendant of Chengiz Khan, invaded India in 1398 AD.
  • The invasion occurred during the reign of Mahmud Shah Tughlaq, the last important Tughlaq ruler.

Sack of Delhi

• • Timur’s forces mercilessly plundered and devastated Delhi, causing immense destruction.

Departure

• • After the campaign, Timur returned to Central Asia, leaving Khizr Khan as his representative in Punjab.
  • Timur died in 1404 AD while preparing for a campaign against China.

The Tughlaq Dynasty significantly influenced the history of the Delhi Sultanate through administrative reforms, architectural developments, and ambitious policies. However, internal rebellions, weak successors, and Timur’s invasion (1398 AD) accelerated its decline, paving the way for the Sayyid Dynasty.