Category Social Sciences

Who were the prominent rulers of the Kakatiya dynasty?

           Warangal’s history is entwined with the Kakatiyas, a South Indian dynasty that made Warangal its capital. The ancestry of the Kakatiyas can be traced back to a legendary chief named Durjaya. Though many other dynasties of Andhra Pradesh claim to be the descendants of Durjaya, nothing much is known about him. The Kakatiyas worshipped goddess “Kakati” and hence the name Kakatiya.

           Ganapati Deva, who assumed the title of ‘Rayagajekesari’ is the most famous Kakatiya king. He ruled for over 62 years, starting from 1199. He fought battles against the Yadavas, Cholas, Kalingas and the rulers of Karnataka and Gujarat. The famous Tikkana Somayaji was his court poet. He also patronized trade and commerce.

           The famous Rudrama devi who ruled as a queen for thirty years was Ganapati Deva’s daughter. The Kakatiyas declined after they were defeated by Malik Kafur, Alauddin Khalji’s general. This happened during the reign of Prataparudradeva following which, it merged with the Bahmani kingdom.

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When did the Seuna or Yadava dynasty come to power?

           Before the Seunas or Yadavas came to power, they were feudatories either of the Chalukyas or of the Rashtrakutas. Around the mid-12th century, the power enjoyed by the Chalukyas waned. The Yadava king Bhillama V utilized this opportunity to declare independence.

           The Yadava kingdom was at its utmost splendour under Singhana II. With its capital at Devagiri, it was almost as large as that of the western Chalukyas, covering present-day west Maharashtra and parts of Madhya Pradesh.

           Singhana’s court had members from different areas of expertise including writers and scientists. The Yadava territory was annexed by the Sultan of Delhi around 1317.

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What were the causes of the decline of the Delhi Sultanate?

           The Delhi Sultanate expanded rapidly under Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq; constant wars soon emptied their treasury.

         The rulers of the Delhi Sultanate acquired power with sword and fire. So, there was no definite law of succession, and the raids from the Mongols were always a threat.

           The throne was sustained only by military strength and this became a source of political instability. Some of the nobles were more powerful than weak Sultans and local rulers continuously asserted their independence.

          It was the Iqtadari, Zamindari and Jagirdari systems that led to the disintegration of the Delhi Sultanate. Peasants lived in a permanent state of poverty, while kings and nobles lived in great splendour. This alienated the common people from their rulers.

          The invasion by Babur brought down a Sultanate that was already in ruins.

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Who was Sikandar Lodi? What led to the First Battle of Panipat?

           Nizam Khan was the second son of Bahlul Lodi. Bahlul Lodi nominated him as the next Sultan and when he came to power after his father’s death in 1489, he took up the title Sikandar Lodi.

           In 1504, Sikandar Lodi founded the city of Agra and soon shifted his capital there from Delhi. Apart from defeating Rajput kings and suppressing Afghan nobles, he was also known for his efficient administration.

           He abolished corn duties and patronized trade and commerce. Lodi had great interest in cultural development as well. He patronized learning and ordered for Persian translations of Sanskrit works in medicine. He was a reputed poet who wrote under the pen-name Gulruk. However, the conquest and annexation of Bihar is considered to be his greatest achievement.

           Sikandar had a son named Ibrahim Lodi who was notorious for his deeds like insulting the nobles. He was killed at Panipat in 1526, by Babur’s army in what came to be known as the First Battle of Panipat. Daulat Khan Lodi, the then governor of Punjab had invited Babur to invade India.

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Which dynasty came to power after the Sayyids?

           Bahlul Khan, who once served as the Subedar (Governor) of Lahore and Sirhind during the reign of Muhammad Shah succeeded to the throne after the Sayyids. When he founded the Lodi dynasty, he was establishing the first Afghan Pashtun dynasty in India. It also happened to be the last dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate that ruled from AD 1451 to 1526.

           Bahlul Khan Lodi’s efforts were directed in restoring the greatness of the Delhi Sultanate. He conquered territories surrounding Delhi and took necessary steps to stop rebellions and uprisings in his territories. His most successful war was against Mahmud Shah Sharqi of Jaunpur. During his reign, the Delhi Sultanate expanded territorially to include Gwalior, Mewat, Suket, Manipur and Bhongaon, and upper Uttar Pradesh, but his capital remained in Delhi.

           Bahlul Khan’s legacy continued through his son Nizam Khan. Nizam Khan ascended the throne in AD 1489.

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How many rulers were there in the Sayyid dynasty?

           With four rulers ruling from 1414 to 1451, the Sayyid dynasty is the fourth dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate. Khizr Khan succeeded the Thuglaqs; he founded the Sayyid dynasty and ruled the Sultanate before the Lodis came into the picture.

           Khizr Khan continued to be a vassal of the Timurids and did not take up the title of ‘Sultan.’ Though he tried conquering various territories, he hardly succeeded in any of his ventures.

           After his death, his son Sayyid Mubarak Shah ascended the throne. Mubarak Shah referred to himself as Muizz-ud-Din Mubarak Shah; this name was inscribed on his coins. He was succeeded by his nephew who styled himself as Sultan Muhammad Shah.

           However, he did not live up to his title; he was an inefficient ruler who misused his power and authority. As a result, he lost the support of the nobles.

           Alam Shah, the last of the Sayyids came to power in 1444. He proved to be an incapable ruler and eventually the Delhi Sultanate was taken over by Bahlul Khan Lodi, an Afghan noble.

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