Razia Sultana

Razia Sultana
Sultana, Padshah
Equestrian miniature painting of Razia Sultana, circa 18th century
5th Sultan of Delhi
Reign	19 November 1236 − 20 April 1240
Predecessor	Ruknuddin Firuz
Successor	Muizuddin Bahram
Born	c. 1205[1]
Died	15 October 1240 Kaithal, Delhi Sultanate
Burial	Bulbuli Khana near Turkman Gate, Delhi
Spouse	Ikhtiyaruddin Altunia ​ ​ (m. 1240)​
Names Raziyyat-Ud-Dunya Wa Ud-Din Regnal name Jalâlat-ud-Dîn Razia
House	Mamluk dynasty
Father	Iltutmish
Mother	Turkan Khatun
Religion	Sunni Islam

Raziyyat-Ud-Dunya Wa Ud-Din (Persian: سلطان رضیه الدنیا والدین) (c. 1205 - 15 October 1240, r. 1236–1240), popularly known as Razia Sultana, was a ruler of the Delhi Sultanate in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent. She was the first female Muslim ruler of the subcontinent, and the only female Muslim ruler of Delhi.

A daughter of Mamluk Sultan Shamsuddin Iltutmish, Razia administered Delhi during 1231–1232 when her father was busy in the Gwalior campaign. According to a possibly apocryphal legend, impressed by her performance during this period, Iltutmish nominated Razia as his heir apparent after returning to Delhi. Iltutmish was succeeded by Razia's half-brother Ruknuddin Firuz, whose mother Shah Turkan planned to execute her. During a rebellion against Ruknuddin, Razia instigated the general public against Shah Turkan, and ascended the throne after Ruknuddin was deposed in 1236.

Razia's ascension was challenged by a section of nobles, some of whom ultimately joined her, while the others were defeated. The Turkic nobles who supported her expected her to be a figurehead, but she increasingly asserted her power. This, combined with her appointments of non-Turkic officers to important posts, led to their resentment against her. She was deposed by a group of nobles in April 1240, after having ruled for less than four years. She married one of the rebels – Ikhtiyaruddin Altunia – and attempted to regain the throne, but was defeated by her half-brother and successor Muizuddin Bahram in October that year, and was killed shortly after.