3.3 Tughlaq Dynasty (1320–1414 CE)

3.3 Tughlaq Dynasty (1320–1414 CE)

Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq (1320–1325 CE) — founder; efficient administrator; built Tughlaqabad Fort (Delhi); died when a wooden pavilion collapsed on him (some say engineered by his son Muhammad bin Tughlaq, though this is debated).

Muhammad bin Tughlaq (1325–1351 CE) — In Depth (his "experiments")

• Known for his ambitious but poorly executed administrative experiments — earned the label "wise fool" from historians due to good intentions but disastrous execution.

1. Transfer of Capital (Delhi to Devagiri/Daulatabad), c. 1327 CE

• Shifted the capital from Delhi to Devagiri (renamed Daulatabad, in present Maharashtra) — intended reasons: more central location for administering the whole empire (including the Deccan), and safety from Mongol raids on Delhi.
• Forced mass migration of Delhi's population (including nobles, officials) to Daulatabad — caused enormous hardship, death, and resentment.
• Later (c. 1335 CE) reversed the decision and shifted the capital back to Delhi — the whole episode is cited as a major failure/blunder.

2. Token Currency (Introduction of Copper/Brass Coins), c. 1329–1330 CE

• Introduced token bronze/copper coins to be valued at par with silver coins (Tanka) — inspired by similar experiments in China (Kublai Khan) and Persia.
• Intention: to overcome shortage of silver and expand currency supply.
• Failure: lack of proper controls led to large-scale counterfeiting by the public (people minted fake copper coins at home), leading to economic chaos; the treasury was flooded with worthless coins.
• Muhammad bin Tughlaq eventually withdrew the token currency and exchanged copper coins for silver from the treasury, incurring huge losses.

3. Taxation in the Doab (Increased Taxation), c. 1326–1327 CE

• Sharply increased land tax in the fertile Ganga-Yamuna Doab region during a time of famine/drought — led to peasant revolts, desertion of villages, and severe agrarian distress.

4. Khorasan Expedition Project

• Planned a massive military expedition to conquer Khorasan and Iraq (Persia) — raised a huge army but the plan was abandoned; the standing army had to be disbanded, wasting state resources.

5. Qarachil Expedition

• Sent an expedition into the Himalayan region (Kumaon/Kangra, sometimes linked to Nepal/Tibet borders) — ended in disaster with heavy losses.

6. Agricultural reforms: Established the "Diwan-i-Kohi" (Department of Agriculture) to promote agricultural expansion, provide loans (Sondhar) to peasants for cultivation — a genuinely progressive idea but poorly implemented.

• Faced numerous rebellions during his reign (Bengal, Deccan — leading to the rise of the independent Bahmani Kingdom in 1347 CE, and the Vijayanagara Empire in 1336 CE, both essentially born out of the disorder of his reign).
• Visited by the Moroccan traveller Ibn Battuta, who served as the Qazi (judge) of Delhi and later was sent as an envoy to China; his travelogue "Rehla" is a key source for this period.
• Died in 1351 CE while chasing a rebel in Sindh (Thatta) — a contemporary historian remarked the Sultan was "freed from his people and the people from their Sultan."

Firoz Shah Tughlaq (1351–1388 CE)

• Successor of Muhammad bin Tughlaq; adopted a more conservative, welfare-oriented but less martial approach.
• Administrative/welfare measures:
  • Established Diwan-i-Khairat (department of charity), Dar-ul-Shifa (free hospitals), employment bureau (Diwan-i-Bandagan) for slaves.
  • Dug several canals for irrigation (notably from the Yamuna and Sutlej) — a genuinely beneficial public works program.
  • Founded new towns: Firozabad, Fatehabad, Jaunpur, Hisar.
  • Reduced/abolished many taxes not sanctioned by Islamic law; imposed Jizya (tax on non-Muslims) more strictly, even on Brahmins (who had earlier been exempt).
  • Brought two Ashokan pillars to Delhi (from Topra and Meerut) — set up at Firoz Shah Kotla and other locations — early example of preservation/relocation of ancient monuments.
  • Reintroduced/expanded the Iqta system and made it hereditary, weakening central control gradually.
  • Institutionalized slavery on a large scale (reportedly ~180,000 slaves).
• After his death, the dynasty weakened rapidly amid succession disputes.

Timur's Invasion (1398 CE)

• Timur (Tamerlane), Central Asian Turco-Mongol conqueror, invaded Delhi in 1398 CE during the reign of the weak Tughlaq ruler Nasiruddin Mahmud Tughlaq.
• Sacked and plundered Delhi brutally; massacred a large part of the population; left the Sultanate devastated and effectively fragmented.
• The Tughlaq dynasty limped on nominally until 1414 CE.

Key Facts / Quick Revision Points — Tughlaq Dynasty

• Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq — founder; built Tughlaqabad.
• Muhammad bin Tughlaq — capital transfer to Daulatabad (1327), token currency (1329-30), Doab tax hike, Khorasan & Qarachil expeditions, Diwan-i-Kohi.
• Ibn Battuta — Moroccan traveller, Qazi of Delhi under Muhammad bin Tughlaq, wrote "Rehla."
• Firoz Shah Tughlaq — canals, new towns, brought Ashokan pillars to Delhi, reimposed Jizya strictly.
• Timur's invasion of Delhi: 1398 CE — devastated the Sultanate.
• Vijayanagara Empire (1336) and Bahmani Kingdom (1347) arose during Muhammad bin Tughlaq's troubled reign.