Delhi Sultanate

Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq
Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq ©Image Attribution forthcoming. Image belongs to the respective owner(s).
1320 Jan 1 00:01

Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq

Tughlakabad, India

After assuming power, Ghazi Malik renamed himself as Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq - thus starting and naming the Tughlaq dynasty. He was of mixed Turko-Indian origins; his mother was a Jatt noble and his father was likely descended from Indian Turkic slaves. He lowered the tax rate on Muslims that was prevalent during Khalji dynasty, but raised the taxes on Hindus. He built a city six kilometers east of Delhi, with a fort considered more defensible against the Mongol attacks, and called it Tughlakabad. In 1321, he sent his eldest son Ulugh Khan, later known as Muhammad bin Tughlaq, to Deogir to plunder the Hindu kingdoms of Arangal and Tilang (now part of Telangana). His first attempt was a failure. Four months later, Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq sent large army reinforcements for his son asking him to attempt plundering Arangal and Tilang again. This time Ulugh Khan succeeded. Arangal fell, was renamed to Sultanpur, and all plundered wealth, state treasury and captives were transferred from the captured kingdom to Delhi Sultanate. His reign was cut short after five years when he died under mysterious circumstances in 1325.

Last Updated: Tue Jan 23 2024

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