Medieval and Islamic History

The department of Waqil-i-Sultan was established by Mahmud Tughlaq. This position served as a high-ranking administrative office responsible for important state affairs and directly representing the Sultan's authority.

When Caliph's investiture was solicited, the Delhi Sultan had to accept the condition of being the Naib (deputy/representative) of the Caliph. This acknowledged the Caliph's theoretical supremacy while allowing the Sultan to exercise actual power.

Mohammad-bin-Tughlaq attempted to issue coins without the Caliph's name as a symbol of independent authority, but faced strong opposition from the orthodox Ulemas and nobility who viewed this as against Islamic tradition. He was forced to restore the Caliph's name to maintain political and religious legitimacy.

Sawar-i-Bargustwani refers to the cavalry (horsemen) in the Delhi Sultanate army. The term specifically denotes the mounted soldiers who formed a crucial part of the military force, providing mobility and striking power in battle.

Halaku Khan (Hulagu Khan), grandson of Genghis Khan and founder of the Ilkhanate, sacked Baghdad in 1258 and executed Caliph Al-Musta'sim. This marked the end of the Abbasid Caliphate in Baghdad and was a major turning point in Islamic history.

The Sultan was the supreme authority in the Delhi Sultanate, holding absolute power over military, civil, judicial, and religious matters. While the Wazir was the most important administrative official, all authority derived from the Sultan who could appoint or dismiss anyone.

Alauddin Khilji adopted the title 'Nasir-i-Amir ul Mominin' (Helper of the Commander of the Faithful), positioning himself as a defender and supporter of the Islamic Caliphate while maintaining practical independence. This title enhanced his religious legitimacy.

Ibn Batuta, the Moroccan traveler who visited India during Mohammad-bin-Tughlaq's reign, famously wrote about the forced migration to Daulatabad. He described how people were compelled to move, including the disabled and disadvantaged, highlighting the human suffering caused by this policy.

Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq belonged to the Turkish ethnic origin, which was the ruling elite of the Delhi Sultanate during most of its history. The Tughlaq dynasty was of Turkish descent, continuing the pattern of Turkic rule in medieval India.

The Lodhi dynasty was of Afghan origin, marking a shift from the previous Turkish-dominated rule of the Delhi Sultanate. The Lodhis were Pathans (Afghans) who established the last dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate before the Mughal conquest.

The revolt of Tughril Khan, the governor of Bengal, occurred during Sultan Balban's reign (1266-1287 CE). Balban personally led a military campaign to suppress this rebellion and reassert Delhi's control over Bengal.

During Muhammad bin Tughlaq's reign (1325-1351), there were Mongol invasions from the Trans-Oxiana region. The Chagatai Mongols launched attacks on the northwestern frontier of the Delhi Sultanate during this period.

Firoz Shah Tughlaq (1351-1388 CE) introduced several administrative and economic reforms, including the issuance of two new copper currencies called Addha (half jital) and Bhikh (one-quarter jital) to facilitate small-scale transactions and trade.

Diwan-i-Rasalat was the department of religious affairs and charity in the Delhi Sultanate's administrative structure. It was responsible for managing endowments (waqf), charitable works, and religious matters, serving as an important interface between the state and religious institutions.