Razia Sultana was born in 1205, and was the favorite daughter of Shamshuddin Iltutmish. When she was five years of age, Qutubuddin Aibak died after a fall from the horse while playing polo. Iltutmish, her father was made the Sultan of Delhi. Being the favorite child, she was allowed to be next to her father during the administrative proceedings of the court. That is how she gradually learned the skills to run an empire. At the same time her brother Nasiruddin Mahmud too was groomed by Iltutmish to succeed him.
Destiny had some other plans. Unfortunately, in 1229 CE her brother Nasiruddin Mahmud passed away. And his other sons were worthless due to debauchery. In 1230, Iltutmish led a campaign against Gwalior and due to which he had to leave his capital Delhi. Before his departure he made his daughter Razia and another son Ruknuddin Firoz as his lawful reagent of Delhi. Razia performed her duty diligently while her half brother proved to be worthless.
On his return in 1231, Iltutmish was highly impressed to see the administration of Razia. He declared Razia as his successor. He became the first and last Delhi sultan to make a woman his successor. Iltutmish died in 1236, and due to court intrigues Ruknuddin Firoz was made the sultan of Delhi. Ruknuddin ruled briefly for seven months with the help of his mother Shah-i-Turkan but all efforts went in vain. In this situation, she declared herself as the lawful successor after deposing and assassinating both of them.
On 10th November 1236, she created history to be the first and the last woman who sat on the throne of Delhi. Razia was an efficient ruler and possessed all the qualities of a ruler. According to Minhaj-i-Siraj, she was “sagacious, just, beneficent, the patron of the learned, a dispenser of justice, the cherisher of her subjects, and of warlike talent, and endowed with all the admirable attributes and qualifications necessary for a king”.
Razia is also famous for her involvement and legends with her lover and later turned husband, Malik Ikhtiar-ud-din Altunia, who was then the governor of Bhatinda. Her male dominant court members could not tolerate orders given by a woman. They spread rumors about her affair with Jamal-ud-Din Yaqut, an Abyssinian Siddi (Habshi) slave. Hearing this, Altunia immediately revolted against her. She went to suppress his revolt in which Yahut was murdered and Razia was captured.
Destiny had some other plans. Unfortunately, in 1229 CE her brother Nasiruddin Mahmud passed away. And his other sons were worthless due to debauchery. In 1230, Iltutmish led a campaign against Gwalior and due to which he had to leave his capital Delhi. Before his departure he made his daughter Razia and another son Ruknuddin Firoz as his lawful reagent of Delhi. Razia performed her duty diligently while her half brother proved to be worthless.
On his return in 1231, Iltutmish was highly impressed to see the administration of Razia. He declared Razia as his successor. He became the first and last Delhi sultan to make a woman his successor. Iltutmish died in 1236, and due to court intrigues Ruknuddin Firoz was made the sultan of Delhi. Ruknuddin ruled briefly for seven months with the help of his mother Shah-i-Turkan but all efforts went in vain. In this situation, she declared herself as the lawful successor after deposing and assassinating both of them.
On 10th November 1236, she created history to be the first and the last woman who sat on the throne of Delhi. Razia was an efficient ruler and possessed all the qualities of a ruler. According to Minhaj-i-Siraj, she was “sagacious, just, beneficent, the patron of the learned, a dispenser of justice, the cherisher of her subjects, and of warlike talent, and endowed with all the admirable attributes and qualifications necessary for a king”.
Razia is also famous for her involvement and legends with her lover and later turned husband, Malik Ikhtiar-ud-din Altunia, who was then the governor of Bhatinda. Her male dominant court members could not tolerate orders given by a woman. They spread rumors about her affair with Jamal-ud-Din Yaqut, an Abyssinian Siddi (Habshi) slave. Hearing this, Altunia immediately revolted against her. She went to suppress his revolt in which Yahut was murdered and Razia was captured.
In the mean time, the nobles in Delhi appointed Razia’s half-brother, Muiz ud din Bahram as her successor. To regain the lost empire, Altunia and Razia combined their army for the common enemy. They attacked Delhi and unfortunately badly defeated. They took shelter at Kaithal after being abandoned by their army. And it is said that at night of 13th October 1240 robbers killed them.
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