Lodhi dynasty

All you want to know about Lodhi dynasty

Sikandar Lodhi's tomb at Lodhi Gardens, New Delhi.
Sikandar Lodhi's tomb at Lodhi Gardens, New Delhi.

Lodhi Dynasty (Pashto / Persian: سلطنت لودھی) was a Ghilzai(khilji) Afghan (ethnic Pashtun) dynasty, who ruled over the Delhi Sultanate during its last phase. The dynasty founded by Bhalul Lodhi ruled from 1451 to 1526. The last ruler of this dynasty, Ibrahim Lodhi was defeated and killed by Babur in the first Battle of Panipat on April 20, 1526.

Contents

Bahlul Lodhi

Bahlul Khan Lodhi (r.1451-89) was the nephew and son-in-law of Islam Khan (Malik Sultan Shah Lodhi), the governor of Sirhind (Punjab) and succeeded him as the governor of Sirhind during the reign of Sayyyid dynasty ruler Muhammad Shah (Muhammad-bin-Farid). Muhammad Shah raised him to the status of an Amir. After the last Sayyid ruler of Delhi, Ala-ud-Din Alam Shah voluntarily abdicated in favour of him, Bahlul Khan Lodhi ascended the throne of the Delhi sultanate on April 19, 1451[1]. He quelled uprisings in the provinces and garnered political support by granting extensive lands to his native Afghan nobles. Bahlul spent most of his time in fighting against the Jaunpur Sultanate and ultimately annexed it. He placed his eldest surviving son Barbak on the throne of Jaunpur in 1486.

Sikandar Lodhi

Sikandar Lodhi (r.1489-1517) (born Nizam Khan), the second son of Bahlul, succeeded him after his death on July 17, 1489 and took up the title Sikandar Shah. He was nominated by his father to succeed him. However, nobles backed the rule of Barbak Shah, his elder son, who had been appointed viceroy of Jaunpur. A power struggle ensued; Sikandar eventually won the struggle against Barbak and his ally, Hussain Shah of Jaunpur and was crowned as king on July 15,1489. He proved to be a capable ruler, and was somewhat merciful to his opponents. He allowed Barbak the governorship of Jaunpur and also resolved differences with an uncle, Alam Khan, who had conspired to overthrow him. Sikandar also brought many Afghan nobles under his control, conquered Gwalior and Bihar, and encouraged trade across his holdings. He was a kind ruler and founded the present-day city of Agra in 1504. But, in one occasion, he also ordered for destruction of Hindu temples in Mathura and the construction of the mosques in their places[2]

Ibrahim Lodhi

Ibrahim Lodhi (r.1517-26) was the eldest son of Sikandar. He ascended the throne on November 21, 1517 after the death of his father. His rule began on a problematic note; in an attempt to divide his kingdom, the nobles recognized his break-away brother Jalal Khan as independent ruler over Jaunpur. Ibrahim had his brother assassinated in an attempt to consolidate power. However, he never really gained the support of his nobles, as he ruled by fear. He was very strict and disrespectful to his nobles.

Ibrahim retook Gwalior in a military campaign and then menaced Mewar, then ruled by Rana Sanga. Under the premise that Ibrahim threatened to expand the Delhi Sultanate into the desert regions of Rajasthan, which had largely been left alone by previous sultans, Rana Sanga was able to unite the rajput chieftains of the desert into a shortlived military alliance. This alliance made common cause with discontented Muslim nobles of the sultanate to invite Babur, the ruler of Kabul, to overthrow the Lodhi dynasty.

Babur was officially invited to take India by Daulat Khan Lodhi, a governor in Lahore, and by Alam Khan, an uncle of Sultan Ibrahim Lodhi. Babur was able to defeat the Lodhis at the Battle of Panipat in 1526. His army's use of artillery, plus the desertion of many nobles and soldiers from Ibrahim Lodhi's forces, led to victory despite Babur being heavily outnumbered. This victory caused the Delhi sultanate to be supplanted by the Mughal Dynasty founded by Babur.

The Lodhis continued to control Agra, until it too was taken by the Mughal emperor Akbar.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Mahajan, V.D. (1991, reprint 2007). History of Medieval India, Part I, New Delhi: S. Chand, ISBN 81-219-0364-5, p.244
  2. ^ Mahajan, V.D. (1991, reprint 2007). History of Medieval India, Part I, New Delhi: S. Chand, ISBN 81-219-0364-5, p.256

References

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