Medieval and Islamic History

After Humayun's accidental death in 1556, Akbar was hastily crowned at Kalanaur in Punjab to stabilize the Mughal succession. The location was chosen for its strategic safety rather than a major city like Kabul or Lahore.

Mir Jumla was a prominent noble who initially served Abdullah Qutb Shah of Golconda before defecting to the Mughal service under Aurangzeb. His military expertise and administrative skills made him valuable to both regimes.

Chin Qilich Khan (later Nizam-ul-Mulk) betrayed Jahandar Shah and supported Farrukhsiyar's claim to the Mughal throne. This betrayal was crucial in Farrukhsiyar's successful coup against his uncle Jahandar Shah.

Haji Maula (also known as Haji Maula Multani) revolted against Alauddin Khalji in 1301. He led a rebellion in the Awadh region during Alauddin Khalji's reign. The revolt was suppressed by Alauddin's forces, and Haji Maula was killed. This was one of several rebellions that challenged Alauddin's authority.

Ibn Battuta, the famous Moroccan traveler, visited India during 1333-1342 CE, which corresponds to the reign of Mohammad Bin Tughlaq (1325-1351 CE) of the Delhi Sultanate. Ibn Battuta served as a qadi (judge) in the court and documented his travels in his famous work 'Rihla'. Babar came much later (Mughal period), and Qutub-ud-din Aibak was from the earlier Slave dynasty period.

Quli Qutb Shah (with typos 'kuli' and 'Kutubshah') was indeed the founder of the Qutb Shahi (also known as Golconda) dynasty in 1518 CE. He was a Turkoman governor under the Bahmani Sultanate who declared independence and established his own kingdom with Golconda (now Hyderabad) as the capital. The dynasty ruled until 1687 when it was annexed by Aurangzeb.

Bahlul Lodi was indeed the founder of the Lodi dynasty, the last ruling dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate. He was an Afghan noble who seized the throne in 1451 CE after the decline of the Sayyid dynasty. Sikandar Lodi was his grandson (not son) who later became a notable ruler. The Lodis ruled until 1526 when Ibrahim Lodi was defeated by Babar.

Qutb-ud-din Aibak (with typos 'Kutubudin' and 'Ebak') was indeed the founder of the Slave (Mamluk) dynasty, the first dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate. He started as a slave of Muhammad Ghori but rose to become a general and then ruler after Ghori's death in 1206 CE. He ruled from Lahore and started the construction of Qutub Minar. The Khilji, Tughlaq, and Mughal dynasties all came later.

Akbar's court was famous for the Navratnas (nine jewels), nine extraordinary scholars and artists who adorned his royal court. This included legendary figures like Tansen, Birbal, Raja Todarmal, and Abul Fazl, representing the peak of cultural and administrative excellence in Mughal India. The term 'Navratnas' symbolizes how Akbar valued talent regardless of religion or background.

Hyderabad was founded by Muhammad Quli Qutub Shah in 1591 AD. He was the fifth ruler of the Qutub Shahi dynasty and established Hyderabad on the banks of the Musi River. The city was built to commemorate his love for Bhagmati, a local Banjara maiden.

Muhammad Shah (1719-1748) was called 'Rangeela' (colorful) due to his interest in arts, music, and lavish lifestyle. Akbar was known as 'the Great', Aurangzeb for his austere rule, and Jahandar Shah's reign was too brief (1712-1713) to earn such a nickname. Muhammad Shah's court was known for cultural patronage.

Iltutmish (1211-1236) completed the Qutub Minar after the death of its founder Qutub-ud-din Aibak. Qutub-ud-din Aibak started construction but only completed the first storey. Iltutmish added three more storeys to reach its famous five-storey height.

Shah Jahan (reigned 1628-1658) shifted the Mughal capital from Agra to Delhi in 1648, founding the city of Shahjahanabad (now Old Delhi). This included building the Red Fort and Jama Masjid. Muhammad bin Tughlaq had shifted it to Daulatabad earlier, not from Agra to Delhi.

Fatawa-i-Alamgiri was compiled during the reign of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb (1658-1707). It is a comprehensive compilation of Islamic law and jurisprudence, commissioned by Aurangzeb to provide authoritative guidance on legal and religious matters. The work involved over 500 scholars and took 8 years to complete. Akbar, Babar, and Azam ruled in earlier periods.