Qutbuddin Aibak: Early Life (AD 1206-1210)

(Qutab-ud-Din Aibaq: Early Life 1206-1210 AD) 

The real founder  of   Turkish Empire   in India 

Qutbuddin Aibak  was  the real founder  of  the Turkish Empire  in India.  His parents were Turkish and he was also born in Turkestan.  When he was only a child, he was taken to Nishapur by a merchant and there a Qazi bought him as a slave.  Qazi gave him religious and military training along with his sons.  When the Qazi died, his sons sold it to a merchant who took it to Ghazni where it was bought by Muhammad Ghori.

Rise of Qutub-ud-Din Aibaq

Qutbuddin Aibak had "all admirable qualities and impressive elements", however, he did not have external flamboyance. He attracted the attention of his master by his courage, generosity and virility. He turned out to be so devoted to his master that his master made him the officer of a part of the army. He was also appointed as Amir-i-Akhur (Officer of the Stables). He served his master so commendably in the Indian campaigns that after the second battle of Tarain in 1192 AD, he was made the manager of Indian victories. In this way, "not only in the field of governance, but he got complete freedom to use his discretion in expanding the field of his victories even more." Aibak made Indraprastha near Delhi his center. 

To strengthen his position, Qutbuddin Aibak established his matrimonial relations with important persons. He himself married the daughter of Tajuddin Yaldouz. He married his sister to Nasiruddin Qubacha. He married his daughter to Iltutmish. In 1192 AD, he suppressed a rebellion in Ajmer and Meerut. In 1194 AD, he suppressed the second rebellion in Ajmer. In the same year he helped his master in defeating Jaichand, the ruler of Kannauj in the battle of Chandwar. In 1197 AD, he punished Bhimdev of Gujarat, plundered his capital and returned to Delhi by this route. In the year 1202 AD In 1565 he besieged the fort of Kalinjar in Bundelkhand and captured it. He got a lot of goods in this attack. Thousands of humans were taken prisoner. He advanced towards the city of Mahoba and captured it. After this he captured Badaun which was one of the richest cities of India at that time. One of his fighters, Ikhtiyaruddin, conquered some parts of Bihar and Bengal. Thus, before his accession to the throne in 1206 AD, Qutbuddin Aibak, as his master's fighter and his representative in India, had captured almost the entire northern India. 

Succession of Qutub-ud-Din Aibaq

Muhammad Ghori died in 1206 AD. Muhammad Ghori did not leave any successor. The governor of Kirman, Tajuddin Yalduz, became the ruler of Ghazni. It appears that Muhammad Ghori desired that Qutbuddin should be his successor in India. Perhaps for this reason, Muhammad Ghori had given Qutbuddin Aibak sub-royal powers and also adorned him with the title of Malik. After the death of Muhammad Ghori, the citizens of Lahore invited Qutbuddin Aibak to assume the sovereign powers. He assumed sovereign powers by going to Lahore and was formally enthroned on June 24, 1206 AD.

Problems Before Qutub-ub-Din

At the time of his accession to the throne in 1206 AD, Qutbuddin faced many problems which he successfully faced. He was an able soldier and administrator and had won many victories but after 1206 AD he solved the problems with humility, political tact and patience. 

He had the following problems in front of him-

(1) Eldouz and Qubacha—

 Due to the sudden death of Muhammad Ghori, the problem of successor had arisen. At the time of Gauri's death, Qubacha became the independent ruler of Multan and Sindh.

Went. At this time Eldouz, who was like Qubacha a slave of Muhammad Ghori, took possession of Ghazni. Both of them were strong rivals of Qutbuddin. Due to the capture of Ghazni, Eldouz also claimed the Ottoman state in India. The biggest problem in front of Qutbuddin was to oppose the claim of Eldauz and to protect the independence of Delhi. 

(2) The ambition of the Shah of Khwarizm

The second threat to Qutbuddin was from the ambition of the Shah of Khwarizm. The Sultan of Khwarizm, the kingdom of Central Asia, had his eyes fixed on Ghazni and Delhi. So Qutbuddin's task was to oppose this expansionist ambition of Shah. Habibullah wrote that, “It was necessary to keep a close watch on the situation in the North-West and other problems could be left in comparison. In this context, it can be understood that Aibak remained in Lahore and from there went to Girl. 

(3) Opposition of Rajput kings

Many Rajput states were conquered by the Turks. Most of these states were those who were trying to get freedom by rejecting the slavery of Turks. The control of the Turks had loosened on many areas. This was an internal problem before Qutbuddin. 

(4) Bengal problem

After the death of Bakhtiyar Khilji, disorder had spread in Bihar and Bengal and there was a danger of breaking the relation of these states with Delhi. The main reason for this was the mutual enmity and malice of the Khilji Sardars. 

(5) Security of the North-West Frontier

One of the most serious problems before Qutbuddin was to protect the north-west frontier. There was always a fear of attack on the border by the Shah of Alduj and Khwarizm. Therefore, military vigilance was necessary for border security.

solving problems

The most important problem before Qutbuddin was that of Eldauz, Qubacha and Khwarizm Shah. Aibak concentrated on this and remained in Lahore for four years. In these four years he had to face many difficulties but he solved these problems with patience and political wisdom. 

(1) Struggle with Eldouz

Qutbuddin rejected Eldauz's claim on the Ghori kingdom in India but adopted a policy of docile protection. On the other hand, Eldouz was also playing diplomatic tricks with the Shah of Khwarizm. He failed in this and had to flee from Ghazni in 1208 AD. Qutbuddin took advantage of this opportunity and captured Ghazni. At this time he had also received an invitation from a section of Ghazni. But his rule did not become popular in Ghazni and the people of Ghazni called Eldouz again. In this situation, Qutbuddin had to return to Lahore and Eldauz took over Ghazni. Habibullah has written that, "Considering on the basis of the result, this work seems to have been done in a hurry, which was also unsafe from the military point of view."

 (2) Policy towards Rajput states

Due to the crisis in the north-west, Qutbuddin could not take any action towards the Rajput states and he also abandoned the policy of conquering new territories. Instead of conquering new territories, he focused on the security and organization of the conquered territories. It was necessary that Muji Emir should accept his sovereignty, so he adopted the policy of compromise and strengthened the political structure. 

(3) Repression of Khiljis of Bengal

After the death of Bakhtiyar Khilji (AD 1206), a Khilji Sardar Ali Mardan declared himself the independent ruler of Bengal-Bihar. But the second class of Khiljis made Ali Mardan a prisoner.

Ali Mardan somehow escaped from the prison and reached Qutbuddin and prayed that Aibak should intervene in the matter of Bengal and the jagirs should be redistributed there. In the meantime Kaimaz Rumi, Aibak's representative forced the Khilji chieftains to accept Aibak's authority. After this Aibak appointed Ali Mardan as the governor of Bengal. 

(4) Agreement with Qubacha

Nasiruddin Qubacha was the son-in-law of Aibak.  After the death of Muhammad Ghori in 1206 AD, Qubacha had accepted the sovereignty of Aibak.  This enraged Eldouz and he attacked Multan.  Qubacha fled towards Sindh.  Aibak confronted Elduj and defeated him and fled to Kirman.  After this, Aibak appointed Qubacha as the governor of Multan and Sindh.  By this prudent policy, Kubacha remained his supporter. 

Death of Qutbuddin

In 1210 AD, Qutbuddin died due to a fall from his horse while playing polo.  During the short reign of four years, he wisely kept the Ottoman Empire safe.  Although he did not issue coins and his name was not read in the Khutba, he was the founder of the Delhi Sultanate.

Evaluation of Qutbuddin Aibak 

(Evaluation of Qutb-ud-Din Aibak)

Qutbuddin Aibak  was the first independent ruler  of  the Ottoman Empire  in India  .  In a short span of four years, he had to face many problems.  Appreciating his achievements, Dr. AK  Ale.  Srivastava writes that, “He was a brilliant soldier and rose from a lowly and penniless state to the pinnacle of power and fame.  He had courage and fearlessness of the highest order.  He was one of those capable and powerful slaves because of which Muhammad Ghori had achieved so much success in India.

great general 

Qutbuddin was a great general.  During the time of his master, he had achieved many victories and expanded the Ottoman Sultanate.  But after 1206 AD, he abandoned the policy of conquest of new territories and focused on the security and organization of the Sultanate.  This was a wise policy and it provided security to the Delhi Sultanate. 

generous and charitable

dr. Habibullah praised Aibak and wrote that, "The boldness of the Turks and the refined taste of the Persians were found in him."  It was because of his loyal services that Muhammad Ghori achieved most of his success in India.  Qutbuddin Aibak was credited with making a detailed outline of the Delhi Sultanate and organizing it.  Minhaj has also praised Aibak's charity.  He has written that Aibak was called 'Lakhbaksh'.  He was also a patron of scholars.  Fakhr-i-Mudabbir and Hasan Nizami were in his court and dedicated their works to Aibak.  He was also a patron of the arts.  He built two mosques, Quwat-ul-Islam and Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra during his time. According to Hasan Nizami, he was a just ruler and he provided peace and prosperity to the people.

 According to Minhaj, he was energetic and generous.  Of.  A.  Nizami has written that, "This is the best quality of his greatness that although his daily routine in India was spent in continuous military activities, the impression he left on the masses was not of destruction and destruction but of justice and generosity."

diplomacy of administration

It has been said that Aibak lacked creative genius and administrative qualities.  This is not correct.  He had to fight incessantly and did not get enough time to set up the administration during his short-lived reign of conflict.  His diplomatic success can be seen in the cases of Eldouz and Qubacha.  His biggest success was that he laid the foundation of a practically independent Delhi Sultanate by severing ties with Ghazni and prepared its outline. 

In this regard, Habibullah has written that, “It is needless to say that due to his untiring hard work and loyal services, Muizzuddin was successful in India because he only had the driving force.  Aibak was responsible for the establishment and design of the Delhi Sultanate in India.”3 Aibak was so busy with strategic work that he could not find time to establish a strong governance system in the country.  The base of the entire system was the army.  He did not only in the capital,  Rather, he kept his army in all the important cities of the state.  The local management remained in the hands of the people of the country.  The Muslim officers were kept only as managers of various departments.  Many of these people were soldiers. Hence the form of the system must have been refined. It would be an exaggeration to say that lions and goats used to drink water at the same ghat in his kingdom. It is also not correct to say that Aibak was kind to Hindus because such evidence has been found that he enslaved Hindus in his wars against Anhilwara and Kalinjar and converted them and built mosques with the materials of Hindu temples. . It is certain that Aibak was actually tolerant during the peace period.