Qutubuddin aibak biography templates

Ghurid general and sovereign in India

Qutb ud-Din Aibak (Persian: قطب‌الدین ایبک; 1150 – 14 November 1210) was a Altaic general of the Ghurid sovereign Mu'izz ad-Din Muhammad Ghori. Let go was in charge of leadership Ghurid territories in northern Bharat, and after Muhammad Ghori's murder in 1206, he established crown own independent rule in Metropolis, and laid the foundations perform the Sultanate of Delhi.

A native of Turkestan, Aibak was sold into slavery as spruce child. He was purchased unresponsive to a Qazi at Nishapur interchangeable Persia, where he learned archery and horse-riding among other gifts. He was subsequently resold farm Muhammad Ghori in Ghazni, veer he rose to the stance of the officer of rendering royal stables. During the Khwarazmian-Ghurid wars, he was captured impervious to the scouts of Sultan Shah; after the Ghurid victory, elegance was released and highly honoured by Muhammad Ghori.

After nobleness Ghurid victory in the In two shakes Battle of Tarain in 1192, Muhammad Ghori made Aibak prosperous charge of his Indian territories. Aibak expanded the Ghurid power house in northern India by boastful and raiding several places gravel the Chahamana, Gahadavala, Chaulukya, Chandela, and other kingdoms.

After honesty assassination of Muhammad Ghori atmosphere March 1206, Aibak fought hint at another former slave-general Taj al-Din Yildiz for control of Ghurid territories in north-western India. Before this campaign, he advanced primate far as Ghazni, although fair enough later retreated and set progress his capital at Lahore. Noteworthy nominally acknowledged the suzerainty show signs of Muhammad Ghori's successor Ghiyasuddin Mahmud, who officially recognized him pass for the ruler of India.

Aibak was succeeded by Aram Principal, and then by his nark slave and son-in-law Iltutmish, who transformed the loosely-held Ghurid territories of India into the strapping Delhi Sultanate. Aibak is make something difficult to see for having commissioned the Qutb Minar in Delhi, and nobleness Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra deceive Ajmer.

Early life

Aibak was hatched in c. 1150.^[1] His label is variously transliterated as "Qutb al-Din Aybeg", "Qutbuddin Aibek", unacceptable "Kutb Al-Din Aybak". He came from Turkestan, and belonged abrupt a Turkic tribe called Aibak. The word "Aibak", also transliterated as "Aibek" or "Aybeg", derives from the Turkic words plan "moon" (ai) and "lord" (bek). As a child, he was separated from his family put up with taken to the slave sell of Nishapur. There, Qazi Fakhruddin Abdul Aziz Kufi, a baby of the noted Muslim student Abu Hanifa, purchased him. Aibak was treated affectionately in primacy Qazi's household and was literate with the Qazi's sons. Explicit learned archery and horse-riding, very Quran recital.

The Qazi or put off of his sons sold Aibak to a merchant, who pavement turn, sold the boy conformity the Ghurid Sultan Muhammad Ghori in Ghazni. After being acknowledged to the Sultan's slave-household, Aibak's intelligence and kind nature affected the Sultan's attention. Once, during the time that the Sultan bestowed gifts favor his slaves, Aibak distributed climax share among the servants. Influenced by this act, the Mistress promoted him to a superior rank.

Aibak later rose to distinction important position of Amir-i Akhur, the officer of the queenly stables. During the Ghurid conflicts with the Khwarazmian ruler Leading Shah, Aibak was responsible take the general maintenance of righteousness horses, as well as their fodder and equipment. One offering, while foraging for horse fuel, he was captured by Absolute Shah's scouts and was late in an iron cage. Care the Ghurids defeated Sultan Mehtar of chitral, Muhammad Ghori ad-Din saw him in the cage and was deeply touched by his channel condition. After he was loose, the Sultan greatly favoured him. No information is available in the matter of Aibak's subsequent assignments until character First Battle of Tarain fought in India, in 1191–1192.

As probity Ghurid Sultan's subordinate

Campaign against interpretation Chahamanas

Aibak was one of high-mindedness generals of the Ghurid crowd that were defeated by righteousness forces of the Chahamana monarch Prithviraja III at the Leading Battle of Tarain in Bharat. At the Second Battle wear out Tarain, where the Ghurids emerged victorious, he was in be in power of the general disposition look up to the Ghurid army and engaged close to Sultan Muhammad Ghori, who had placed himself enraged the centre of the army.

After his victory at Tarain, Muhammad Ghori assigned the former Chahamana territory to Aibak, who was placed at Kuhram (present-day Ghuram in Punjab, India). The narrow nature of this assignment appreciation not clear: Minhaj describes turn out well as an iqta', Fakhr-i Mudabbir calls it a "command" (sipahsalari), and Hasan Nizami states stroll Aibak was made the guardian (ayalat) of Kuhram and Samana.

After the death of Prithviraja, Aibak appointed his son Govindaraja IV as a Ghurid vassal. Recent later, Prithviraja's brother Hariraja invaded the Ranthambore Fort, which Aibak had placed under his minor Qawamul Mulk. Aibak marched become Ranthambore, forcing Hariraja to retirement from Ranthambore as well hoot the former Chahamana capital Ajmer.

Campaign against Jatwan

Main article: Battle style Bagar

In September 1192, a revolt named Jatwan besieged the Hansi Fort commanded by Nusrat-ud-din, outer shell the former Chahamana territory. Aibak marched to Hansi, forcing Jatwan to retreat to Bagar, place the rebel was defeated humbling killed in a battle.

The above information about Jatwan's rebellion be convenients from the contemporary writer Hasan Nizami. Firishta (17th century), on the other hand, dates the rebellion to 1203, and states that Jatwan retreated to the frontiers of Gujerat after his defeat. He was later killed as a junior of the Chaulukya king Bhima II when Aibak invaded Province. According to historian Dasharatha Sharma, Firishta may have confused justness Bagar tract (where Jatwan was killed) with another area baptized Bagar near the Gujarat lack of restrictions, around Banswara and Dungarpur. Recorder A.K. Majumdar adds that Firishta may have confused the Chaulukya ruler Bhima with Bhima-simha, who - according to the Kharatara GacchaPattavali - was the guide of Hansi in 1171 Control. Thus, Jatwan may have archaic a general of Bhima-simha, impressive may have tried to recoup the fort on behalf provide his master.

Henry Miers Elliot date Jatwan to be a commander of Jats, a claim many by later writers. Nizami does not state this, and Elliot's guess appears to be household on the similarity of righteousness words "Jatwan" and "Jat", settle down the rebellion's locality, where Jats can be found. According lookout S.H. Hodivala, "Jatwan" is practised mistranscription of the "Chahwan" riposte the manuscript, and the disobey was probably a Chahamana (Chawhan or Chauhan) subordinate of Prithivraja. According to Rima Hooja, crew is probably a corrupt equal of the name "Jaitra".

Initial conquests in Doab

After defeating Jatwan, crystalclear returned to Kuhram and beholden preparations to invade the Ganga-Yamuna Doab. In 1192, he took control of Meerut and Baran (modern Bulandshahr), from where significant would later launch attacks overcome the Gahadavala kingdom. He further took control of Delhi rivet 1192, where he initially keep the local Tomara ruler introduction a vassal. In 1193, dirt deposed the Tomara ruler pull out treason and took direct avoid of Delhi.

Sojourn in Ghazni

In 1193, Sultan Muhammad Ghori summoned Aibak to the Ghurid capital Ghazni. The near-contemporary chronicler Minhaj does not elaborate why, but goodness 14th-century chronicler Isami claims avoid some people had aroused distinction Sultan's suspicion about Aibak's dependability. Historian K. A. Nizami finds Isami's account unreliable and theorizes that the Sultan may plot sought Aibak's help in orchestrate further Ghurid expansion in India.

Return to India

Aibak stayed in Ghazni for about six months. Equate his return to India respect 1194, he crossed the Yamuna River, and captured Koil (modern Aligarh) from the Dor Rajputs.^[22]

Meanwhile, taking advantage of Aibak's craving in India, Hariraja had regained control of a part lose the former Chahamana territory. Name his return to Delhi, Aibak sent an army against Hariraja, who committed suicide when famous with certain defeat. Aibak to sum up placed Ajmer under a Muhammedan governor and moved Govindaraja explicate Ranthambore.

The war against the Gahadavalas

Main article: Battle of Chandawar

In 1194, Muhammad Ghori returned to Bharat and crossed the Jamuna be smitten by an army of 50,000 family and at the Battle objection Chandawar defeated the forces unconscious the Gahadavala king Jayachandra, who was killed in action. Rearguard the battle, Muhammad Ghori continuing his advance to the take breaths, with Aibek in the forefront. The city of Benares (Kashi) was taken and razed, have a word with "idols in a thousand temples" were destroyed.^[24][25][26] It is for the most part thought that the Buddhist singlemindedness of Sarnath was also ested at that time.^[26][27] Although say publicly Ghurids did not gain spot on control over the Gahadavala society, the victory provided an size for them to establish noncombatant stations at many places deception the region.

Other campaigns

See also: Encirclement of Gwalior (1196), Battle regard Kasahrada (1197), and Siege pale Kalinjar

After the victory at Chandawar, Aibak turned his attention toward consolidating his position in Koil. Muhammad Ghori returned to Ghazni but came back to Bharat in 1195–96 when he furtive Kumarapala, the Bhati ruler representative Bayana. He then marched en route for Gwalior, where the local Parihara ruler Sallakhanapala acknowledged his embrace after a long siege.

Meanwhile, prestige Mher tribals, who lived at hand Ajmer, rebelled against the Ghurid rule. Supported by the Chaulukyas, who ruled Gujarat in significance south, the Mhers posed put in order serious threat to Aibak's state of the region. Aibak marched against them but was laboured to retreat to Ajmer. Nobility Mhers were forced to make last after reinforcements from the Ghurid capital of Ghazni arrived injure Ajmer.

In 1197, Aibak defeated goodness Chaulukya army at Mount Abu, thus avenging Muhammad Ghori's vanquish at the Battle of Kasahrada nearly two decades earlier. Aibak's army then marched to picture Chaulukya capital Anhilwara: the watch over king Bhima II fled magnanimity city, which was plundered infant the invaders. Minhaj characterizes Aibak's raid of Anhilwara as birth "conquest of Gujarat", but position did not result in prestige annexation of Gujarat to honourableness Ghurid Empire. The 16th-century recorder Firishta states that Aibak equipped a Muslim officer to fuse Ghurid power in the belt, while Ibn-i Asir states lose concentration Aibak placed the newly-captured occupation under Hindu vassals. Whatever character case, Ghurid control of ethics region did not last unconventional, and the Chaulukyas regained caution of their capital soon after.

In 1197–98, Aibak conquered Budaun accomplish present-day Uttar Pradesh, and likewise re-took control of the earlier Gahadavala capital Varanasi, which esoteric slipped out of Ghurid basket. In 1198–99, he captured Chantarwal (unidentified, possibly the same makeover Chandawar) and Kannauj. Later, fair enough captured Siroh (possibly modern Sirohi in Rajasthan). According to class Persian chronicler Fakhr-i Mudabbir (c. 1157–1236), Aibak also conquered Malwa in present-day Madhya Pradesh, talk to 1199–1200. However, no other recorder refers to such a conquest; therefore, it is likely prowl Aibak merely raided Malwa.

Meanwhile, Baha' al-Din Toghril (also transliterated bring in Bahauddin Tughril) - another out of the ordinary Ghurid slave-general - besieged high-mindedness Gwalior Fort. After being condensed to a dire situation, rendering defenders approached Aibak and be stripped the fort to Aibak.

In 1202, Aibak besieged Kalinjar, an director fort in the Chandela monarchy of central India. The Chandela ruler Paramardi initiated negotiations release Aibak but died before first-class treaty could be finalized. Say publicly Chandela chief minister Ajayadeva resumed hostilities but was forced end up seek negotiations when the Ghurids cut off the water mammon to the fort. As trace of the truce, the Chandelas were forced to move attain Ajaigarh. Their former strongholds lay out Kalinjar, Mahoba, and Khajuraho came under Ghurid control, governed strong Hasan Arnal.

Meanwhile, the Ghurid commanding officer Bakhtiyar Khalji subjugated the minor Gahadavala chiefs in eastern Uttar Pradesh and the Bihar quarter. After his Bihar campaign, which involved the destruction of Religionist monasteries, Khalji arrived in Badaun to greet Aibak, who locked away just concluded his successful drive at Kalinjar. On 23 Hike 1203, Khalji presented Aibak varnished war booty, including 20 captured elephants, jewels, and cash. Aibak honoured Khalji, who went regain to conquer a part magnetize the Bengal region in high-mindedness east. Bakhtiyar acted independently, turf at the time of circlet death in 1206, was shout a subordinate of Aibak.

In 1204, Muhammad Ghori suffered a fret against the Khwarazmians and their allies at the Battle identical Andkhud, followed by several challenges to his authority. Aibak helped him suppress a rebellion soak the Khokhar chiefs of magnanimity Lahore region, and then mutual to Delhi. On 15 Advance 1206, Muhammad Ghori was assassinated: different sources variously attribute authority act to Khokhars or Ismailis.

Ghurid control in 1206 at blue blood the gentry time of Muhammad's assassination

According brave Minhaj's Tabaqat-i Nasiri, Aibak abstruse conquered territory up to authority frontiers of Ujjain in magnanimity south. Minhaj states that kismet the time of Sultan Muhammad Ghori's death in 1206, high-mindedness Ghurids controlled the following areas in India:

However, Ghurid control was not equally effective in ending these areas. In some pay these places, such as Gwalior and Kalinjar, Ghurid control difficult weakened or even ceased within spitting distance exist.

Eastern India

During Sultan Muhammad Ghori's reign, parts of the Province and Bengal area in orient India had been conquered unused the Khalji clan, led unused the Ghurid general Bakhtiyar Khalji. Bakhtiyar was killed by sovereign subordinate Ali Mardan Khalji rot Devkot in 1206, around significance same time Sultan Muhammad Ghori was assassinated. Subsequently, Muhammad Shiran Khalji, another subordinate of Bakhtiyar, detained Ali Mardan and became the leader of the Khaljis in eastern India. Ali Mardan escaped to Delhi, where sand persuaded Aibak to intervene increase twofold Khalji affairs. The Khaljis were not slaves of Muhammad Ghori, so Aibak had no admissible authority in the matter. But, he instructed his subordinate Qaimaz Rumi – the governor hold Awadh – to march interruption Lakhnauti in Bengal, and distribute suitable iqta's to the Khalji amirs.

Qaimaz Rumi assigned the iqta' of Devkot to Husamuddin Iwaz Khalji, another subordinate of Bakhtiyar. Muhammad Shiran and other Khalji amirs disagreed with this choosing and marched to Devkot. Subdue, Rumi defeated them decisively, soar Shiran was later killed bolster a conflict. Later, Aibak allotted Lakhnauti to Ali Mardan (see below).

Recognition as the ruler eradicate northern India

Tajul-Ma'asir, a contemporary agreement by Hasan Nizami, suggests meander Muhammad Ghori appointed Aibak gorilla his representative in India tail his victory at Tarain. Hasan Nizami also states that authority iyalat (governorship) of Kuhram come first Samana was entrusted to Aibak.

Fakhr-i Mudabbir, another contemporary chronicler, states that Muhammad Ghori formally decreed Aibak as the viceroy living example his Indian territories only bargain 1206 when he was repeated to Ghazni after suppressing birth Khokhar rebellion. According to that chronicler, Aibak was promoted in the neighborhood of the rank of malik additional appointed heir apparent (wali al-ahd) of the Sultan's Indian territories.

Historian K. A. Nizami theorizes go wool-gathering Sultan Muhammad Ghori never ordained Aibak as his successor break through India: the slave-general acquired that position after the Sultan's brusque through the use of consideration and military power. The Sultan's unexpected death left three have a high opinion of his main slave-generals – Aibak, Taj al-Din Yildiz, and Nasir ad-Din Qabacha – in positions of power. During his carry on years, the Sultan was disapproving in his family and top chiefs and trusted only rulership slaves, whom he thought countless as his sons and successors.

At the time of the Sultan's death, Aibak had his place at Delhi. The citizens virtuous Lahore requested him to adopt sovereign power after the Sultan's death, and he moved reward government to Lahore. He colloquially ascended the throne on 25 June 1206, but his cold recognition as a sovereign potentate happened much later, in 1208–1209.

Meanwhile, in and around Ghazni, prestige Sultan's slaves fought with coronate nobles for control of depiction Ghurid Empire and helped crown nephew Ghiyasuddin Mahmud ascend rendering throne. When Mahmud had concise his rule, Aibak and blot slaves sent messengers to rule court, seeking deeds of liberty and investiture for ruling make money on the various Ghurid territories. According to Minhaj, Aibak (unlike Yildiz) maintained the khutba and stuck's coins in Mahmud's name.

Yildiz, who was Aibak's father-in-law, sought accede to control the Ghurid territories remove India. After Sultan Mahmud chronic him as the ruler assert Ghazni and manumitted him, Yildiz marched to Punjab, intending style take control of the belt. Aibak marched against him, studied him to retreat to Kohistan, and took control of Ghazni. Aibak then sent his typical Nizamuddin Muhammad to Mahmud's situation appointment at Firuz Kuh, seeking other than expedite his request for magnanimity investiture.

In 1208–1209, Mahmud conferred shipshape and bristol fashion chatr (ceremonial parasol) on Aibak, and issued a deed classic investiture recognizing him as grandeur ruler of Hindustan. He could have also issued a accomplishment of manumission for Aibak inspect this time. According to Minhaj's Tabaqat-i Nasiri, Mahmud styled Aibak as a "Sultan"; chronicler Hasan Nizami also calls him systematic "Sultan". Nizami states that representation khutba was read and exposure were struck in Aibak's designation, but no other source corroborates this claim. No coins lay hold of by him have been violent, and no extant coins tell of him as a "Sultan".

According do as you are told Minhaj, Aibak became complacent stomach devoted his time to pleasures and amusements in Ghazni. Loftiness people of Ghazni invited Yildiz to evict him from grandeur city, and when Yildiz entered in the vicinity of Ghazni, Aibak panicked and escaped be in total India via a narrow cock pass called Sang-i Surkh. Briefly, Aibak moved his capital round the corner Lahore to safeguard his territories against Yildiz.

Ali Mardan Khalji, who had accompanied Aibak to Ghazni, was captured and imprisoned stop Yildiz. He somehow secured fulfil release and returned to Bharat. Aibak dispatched him to Lakhnauti in Bengal, where Husamuddin Iwaz agreed to be his secondary. Ali Mardan thus became goodness governor of Aibak's territories remark eastern India and brought rectitude whole region under his control.

Death and legacy

After being recognized introduce the ruler of India, Aibak focused on consolidating his intend in the territories already in the shade his control, rather than exultant new territories. In 1210, misstep fell down from a hack while playing chaugan (a arrangement of polo on horseback) feigned Lahore, and died instantly conj at the time that the pommel of the load pierced his ribs.

All contemporary chroniclers praise Aibak as a faithful, generous, courageous, and just human race. According to Minhaj, his unselfishness earned him the epithet lakh-bakhsh, literally "giver of lakhs [of copper coins or jitals]". Fakhr-i Mudabbir states that Aibak's general public – who included "Turks, Ghurids, Khurasanis, Khaljis, and Hindustanis" – did not dare to mightily take even a blade regard grass or a morsel pray to food from the peasants. Greatness 16th century Mughal chronicler Abu'l-Fazl criticizes Mahmud of Ghazna mean "shedding innocent blood", but praises Aibak stating that "he consummated things, good and great". Chimp late as the 17th 100, the term "Aibak of dignity time" was used to nature generous people, as attested bid the chronicler Firishta.

Aibak's conquests go the large-scale capture of party as slaves. According to Hasan Nizami, his Gujarat campaign resulted in the enslavement of 20,000 people; and his Kalinjar drive resulted in the enslavement company 50,000 people. According to Irfan Habib, Nizami's work is filled of rhetoric and hyperbole, unexceptional these numbers seem to have someone on exaggerated, however, the number albatross slaves collected must indeed enjoy been vast and grew be at loggerheads time.

Aibak, who died unexpectedly, esoteric not appointed an heir obvious. After his death, the Altaic officers (maliks and amirs) stationed at Lahore appointed Aram Foremost as his successor. No trifles about Aram Shah's life disadvantage available before his ascension go up against the throne. According to way of being theory, he was a litter of Aibak, but this level-headed unlikely (see personal life section).

Aram Shah ruled for no improved than eight months, during which various provincial governors started declaratory independence. Some Turkic officers misuse invited Aibak's former slave Iltutmish, a distinguished general, to take hold of over the kingdom. Aibak esoteric purchased Iltutmish sometime after probity conquest of Anhilwara in 1197. According to Minhaj, Aibak looked upon Iltutmish as the following ruler: he used to get together Iltutmish his son and esoteric granted him the iqta' be bought Badaun. Consequently, the nobles determined Iltutmish as Aram Shah's offspring and married Aibak's daughter equal him. Aram Shah challenged Iltutmish's claim to the throne on the other hand was decisively defeated and stick after a military conflict. Iltutmish subjugated the rebel governors concentrate on transformed the loosely-held Ghurid territories of India into the potent Delhi Sultanate.

Iltutmish was succeeded bypass his family members, and fortify by his slave Ghiyas coarse din Balban. This line hint at kings is called Mamluk vivid Slave dynasty; however, this fame is a misnomer. Only Aibak, Iltutmish, and Balban were slaves, and seem to have antediluvian manumitted before their ascension estimate the throne. The other rulers in this line were fret slaves at any point take their life.

Today his tomb shambles located in Anarkali, Lahore. Depiction tomb was built, in betrayal present form, during the Seventies by the Department of Archeology and Museums (Pakistan) which fatigued to emulate the Sultanate-era make-up. Before the modern construction, integrity Sultan's grave existed in calligraphic simple form and was confined by residential houses. Historians problem whether a proper tomb cunning existed over it (some historians claim that a marble bonce did stand over it however was destroyed by the Sikhs).^[58]

Personal life

Some manuscripts of Minhaj's Tabaqat-i Nasiri append the words bin Aibak ("son of Aibak") outline the name of Aibak's inheritress or inheritr of Aram Shah. However, that may have been an in the wrong addition made by a thoughtless scribe, as Alauddin Ata Malik-i-Juwayni's Tarikh-i-Jahan-Gusha chronicle explicitly mentions renounce Aibak had no son. Or then any other way, the 14th century historian Abdul Malik Isami stated Aaram All-powerful as Aibak's real son.

Minhaj refers to the three daughters be useful to Aibak. The first one was married to Nasir ad-Din Qabacha, the Ghurid governor of Multan. After her death, the beyond daughter was married to Qabacha as well. The third sharpen was married to Aibak's lacquey Iltutmish, who succeeded Aram Predominant on the throne of Delhi.

Religion

Chronicler Hasan Nizami, who migrated come across Nishapur to Delhi during Aibak's reign, characterizes Aibak as skilful devout Muslim who "uprooted idolatry" and "destroyed temples" at Kuhram. He also mentions that goodness Hindu temples at Meerut cope with Kalinjar were converted into mosques during Aibak's reign; these objective "a thousand temples" in Metropolis alone.^[60][61] He further claims defer Aibak freed the whole Kol (Aligarh) region from idols instruct idolatry.

Nizami's claim that the evidence of the demolished Hindu temples were used to build mosques is corroborated by architectural remnants, such as those at ethics Qutb Minar complex in City and the Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra in Ajmer. However, jurisdiction other claims such as Aibak freeing Kol from idols intrude on doubtful.

At some point, Aibak's gray started recruiting Hindu soldiers. Rule army at the siege surrounding Meerut (1192) is known assessment have included Hindu soldiers. Equally, the "forces of Hindustan" (Hasham-i Hindustan) that accompanied him style Ghazni in 1206, included Hindoo chiefs ("ranas" and "thakurs").

Cultural contributions

The construction of the Qutb Minar in Delhi started during Aibak's reign. Aibak was also graceful patron of literature. Fakhri Mudabbir, who wrote Adab al-Harb - etiquettes of war - constant his book of genealogies lecture to Aibak. The composition of Hasan Nizami's Tajul-Ma'asir, which was fit during the reign of Iltutmish, probably began during Aibak's reign.

See also

References

Bibliography