Alauddin Khalji

Alauddin Khalji
Sultan Sikander-e-Sani (Alexander the Second)
A 17th century portrait of Alauddin Khalji
13th Sultan of Delhi
Reign	19 July 1296–4 January 1316
Coronation	21 October 1296
Predecessor	Jalaluddin Firuz Khalji
Successor	Shihabuddin Omar
Governor of Awadh
Tenure	c. 1296–19 July 1296
Governor of Kara
Tenure	c. 1266–1316
Predecessor	Malik Chajju
Successor	ʿAlāʾ ul-Mulk
Amir-i-Tuzuk (equivalent to Master of ceremonies)
Tenure	c. 1290–1291
Born	Ali Gurshasp c. 1266
Died	4 January 1316(1316-01-04) (aged 49–50) Delhi (present-day India)
Burial	Madrasa and tomb of Alauddin Khalji, Delhi[1]
Spouse	Malika-i-Jahan (daughter of Jalaluddin) Mahru (sister of Alp Khan) Kamala Devi (wife of Karna) Jhatyapali (daughter of Ramachandra)
Issue	Khizr Khan Shadi Khan Qutb ud din Mubarak Shah Shihab-ud-din Omar
Regnal name Alauddunya wad Din Muhammad Shah-us Sultan
House	Khalji dynasty
Father	Shihabuddin Mas'ud (brother of Jalaluddin Khalji)
Religion	Sunni Islam[2]

Alauddin Khalji (Persian: علاء الدین خلجی; r. 1296–1316), born Ali Gurshasp, was a ruler from the Khalji dynasty that ruled the Delhi Sultanate in the Indian subcontinent. Alauddin instituted a number of significant administrative changes in India, related to revenues, price controls, and society. He also successfully fended off several Mongol invasions of India.

Alauddin was a nephew and a son-in-law of his predecessor Jalaluddin. When Jalaluddin became the Sultan of Delhi after deposing the Mamluks, Alauddin was given the position of Amir-i-Tuzuk (equivalent to master of ceremonies). After suppressing a revolt against Jalaluddin, Alauddin obtained the governorship of Kara in 1291, and the governorship of Awadh in 1296, after a profitable raid on Bhilsa. In 1296, Alauddin raided Devagiri, and acquired loot to stage a successful revolt against Jalaluddin. After killing Jalaluddin, he consolidated his power in Delhi, and subjugated Jalaluddin's sons in Multan.

Over the next few years, Alauddin successfully fended off the Mongol invasions from the Chagatai Khanate, at Jaran-Manjur (1297–1298), Sivistan (1298), Kili (1299), Delhi (1303), and Amroha (1305). In 1306, his forces achieved a decisive victory against the Mongols near the Ravi riverbank, and later ransacked the Mongol territories in present-day Afghanistan. The military commanders that successfully led his army against the Mongols include Zafar Khan, Ulugh Khan, and his slave-general Malik Kafur.

Alauddin conquered the kingdoms of Gujarat (raided in 1299 and annexed in 1304), Jaisalmer (1299), Ranthambore (1301), Chittor (1303), Malwa (1305), Siwana (1308), and Jalore (1311). These victories ended several Rajput and other Hindu dynasties, including the Paramaras, the Vaghelas, the Chahamanas of Ranastambhapura and Jalore, the Rawal branch of the Guhilas, and possibly the Yajvapalas. His slave-general Malik Kafur led multiple campaigns to the south of the Vindhyas, obtaining a considerable amount of wealth from Devagiri (1308), Warangal (1310) and Dwarasamudra (1311). These victories forced the Yadava king Ramachandra, the Kakatiya king Prataparudra, and the Hoysala king Ballala III to become Alauddin's tributaries. Kafur also raided the Pandya kingdom (1311), obtaining much treasure, elephants, and horses.

During the last years of his life, Alauddin had an illness and relied on Malik Kafur to handle the administration. After his death in 1316, Malik Kafur appointed Shihabuddin, son of Alauddin and his Hindu wife Jhatyapali, as a puppet monarch. His elder son Qutbuddin Mubarak Shah seized the power shortly after his death.