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Razia Sultan, The first and the last female ruler of the Delhi Sultanate

2022-10-14 Fri

She sat on the throne of the Delhi Sultanate in 1236, with the title Raziyyat-Ud-Dunya Wa Ud-Din. She was the fifth ruler of the Mamluk Dynasty and first female Muslim ruler of the subcontinent, and the only female Muslim ruler of Delhi.

Razia Sultan was the Shams ud-Din Iltutmish, the third Mamluk king and the founder of the Delhi Sultanate. After sitting on the throne of the Delhi Sultanate, Razia refused to herself as 'Sultana' and was ordered, to address herself as Sultan; because sultana refers to the wife or mistress of a Sultan (ruler).

Many people refuse to accept Razia as a sultan because they felt a female Sultan was a humiliation to male warriors and nobles. Many nobles conspire against her, one such noble was Malik Ikhtiar-ud-din Altunia, the then governor of Bhatinda, who conspired against her. It is said that Altunia was a childhood friend of Razia and also had a soft corner for her. He was jealous of Razia because of rumours of a love relationship between Razi and Jamaluddin Yaqut, an Abyssinian slave. Jamaluddin Yagut got killed in a battle between Razia and Altuna. Later, both Razia and Altuna got married. Razia and her husband decided to take back her kingdom from her brother but were defeated and fled Delhi, where they got killed.

Image Courtesy: colnect.com