Razia Sultana was the first Muslim woman to rule India. She defeated her brother in 1236. Razia Sultana was the only woman to rule the Delhi Sultanate. She ruled India for twenty-six years until she died in 1265. Learn about her life and her achievements.
Razia Sultana was the first Muslim woman to rule India
Razia Sultana was born in 1205 and became the first Muslim woman to rule the Indian subcontinent. As a daughter of the Sultan of Delhi, she defied the traditional gender roles and became a powerful ruler. Her father was a strong warrior who gave her training in leadership and fighting, making her a formidable leader. After her father’s death, she was nominated to be his successor.
Razia had very little interaction with the women of her father’s harem, and never imbibed the demure ways of women. However, during her father’s reign, she was a useful queen and assisted in his affairs. Later, as Sultan, Razia dispensed with the traditional dress code for women and became known for her boldness. Moreover, she openly rode an elephant into battle as the chief of her army.
Razia Sultana was a powerful Muslim ruler who ruled India from 1236 to 1240. Her short reign was significant because she was a brilliant administrator and a brave warrior. She also founded many schools, academies, and public libraries to benefit the people of Delhi.
Razia’s rise to power was accompanied by a series of political changes. She introduced a policy of religious tolerance, ordered the disbandment of the jaziya tax, and toured various parts of Delhi and its surrounding villages. She imposed a new order of equality, abolished ordeal trials, and paved the way for inter-provincial exchange.
Razia’s rise to power provoked jealousy among Turkish nobles. In fact, Razia had a childhood friend, Malik Ikhtiar-ud-din Altunia, who led an army against her and took her as a prisoner.
Razia was a renowned warrior and an unabashed woman, leading her forces in battles and conquests. She was an excellent administrator, and her education was noted for her dedication to science and learning. She also established various schools, academies, libraries, and research centers. In the process of creating a modernized and secular country, Razia promoted new learning and culture.
Razia came to power in 1231 and ruled Delhi from 1231 to 1232. After her father’s return, she became the heir apparent. However, her authority was not officially recognized until the Caliph of Baghdad approved it. The Caliph was the spiritual leader of Sunni Islam, and he carried the title Emir ul Momineen, meaning ‘leader of believers’.
Razia’s enemies had already been plotting against her and they used her position to their advantage. In one incident, she appointed Habshi Malik Yakut as her stables superintendent. This caused jealousy among the Turkic nobles, and they plotted a coup against her to remove her.
Razia Sultana was chosen as the wife of Sultan Iltutmish because she was capable of administering the government and had administrative experience. When her husband was away on military campaigns, she was often left in charge of the government. As a result, Razia exercised her royal authority with dignity.
Razia was also a good student of politics and administration. She was even an able military cadet. She ruled the state when Iltutmish was away for a Gwalior expedition. Her performance far exceeded her aides’ expectations. When Iltutmish returned in 1228, Razia was named the heir apparent. She had the courage, alertness, and the requisite training to succeed Iltutmish as emperor.
She defeated her brother in 1236
Razia Sultana became the first female Sultan in Islamic history, and her elevation to the throne was controversial. She removed her veil and did favours for a slave from Abyssinia, and the Muslim nobility turned against her. Her behavior and actions made many Turkish leaders hostile.
During her reign, Razia began a series of campaigns against her brother and his family. First, she led mass protests against her brother, who had failed in his role as sultan. She even wore red as a symbol of her opposition. She then defeated her brother and took the title of Raziyat-uddin.
The opposition against Razia’s accession was fueled by the desire of the Mamluk nobility to keep all power in their hands. The nobles were not satisfied with a weak ruler on the throne. However, they played the gender card to cover up their ulterior motives. The opposition soon spread to Multan, Lahore, and Hansi in Haryana. As a result, Razia’s brother was overthrown and the Sultanate’s first female ruler emerged.
The reign of Razia Sultana was a turbulent one, and many nobles turned against her. A number of rumors were spread claiming that she had slept with a slave from Africa, and her half-sister Altunia became jealous and rebelled. In April 1240, Razia was deposed by a group of nobles. She later married Ikhtiyaruddin Altunia, who was her half-brother.
Razia Sultana’s victory over her brother in 1236 was not without sacrifice. Her father, Sultan Altumish, had fled to the west and left the kingdom to her. However, the Muslim people of Delhi supported the queen, and they did not let her die alone. Nevertheless, Razia Sultana defeated her brother in 1236 with the help of the people of Delhi.
Razia Sultana is also known as the first Muslim woman to rule in India. She was a talented administrator, a great warrior, and a wise ruler. She became the Sultan of Delhi after her father died, and her brother’s death seven months later.
Razia Sultana came to power on 10 November 1236. Her formal name was Jalalat-ud-Din Raziya, which means “The Empress of Women.” Despite the fact that she was a woman, she renounced traditional Muslim attire. She instead wore gender-neutral clothing, which shocked the Muslim nobility. She also encouraged scholars and craftsmen.
Razia Sultana’s family background is largely unknown, but her ancestors came from Turkish Seljuk slaves. Her father, Iltutmish, was the first Sultan of Delhi. Her father had arrived in Delhi as a slave under Qutb al-Din Aibak, who laid the foundations for the Mamluk dynasty. Iltutmish eventually rose up the ladder to become the first Sultan of India.
Razia Sultana was a wise and excellent administrator. She was also a fighter like her father, and her three-year reign was notable. Razia’s Tomb in Delhi honors her memory. She was the only female ruler of the Delhi Sultanate, but her short reign was not without its challenges.
As a young girl, Razia had little contact with the women of the harem. She had little exposure to Muslim women, which made it difficult for her to learn the standards of conduct as a woman. Once she became the Sultan, Razia wore the clothing of a man. She even rode an elephant into battle.
