Born Ali Gurshasp, Alaud-Dn Khalj, also known as Alauddin Khilji, was an emperor of the Khalji dynasty who oversaw the Delhi Sultanate in the Indian subcontinent. Alauddin made a number of significant changes to the administration that had to do with society, price controls, and revenue. Additionally, he was successful in repelling multiple Mongol invasions of India.
His predecessor, Jalaluddin, had a nephew and a son-in-law named Alauddin. Alauddin was appointed Amir-i-Tuzuk, or master of ceremonies, when Jalaluddin became the Sultan of Delhi after overthrowing the Mamluks. After putting down a revolt against Jalaluddin, Alauddin won control of Kara in 1291 and Awadh in 1296 through a successful raid on Bhilsa. Alauddin raided Devagiri in 1296, acquiring loot to successfully launch a revolt against Jalaluddin. He consolidated his power in Delhi and subjugated Jalaluddin’s sons in Multan after killing Jalaluddin.
Alauddin defeated the Mongol invasions from the Chagatai Khanate over the next few years at Jaran-Manjur (1297–1298), Sivistan (1298), Kili (1299), Delhi (1303), and Amroha. In 1306, his forces defeated the Mongols decisively near the Ravi riverbank. Later, they ransacked the Mongol lands in what is now Afghanistan. Zafar Khan, Ulugh Khan, and Malik Kafur, his slave general, were among the military leaders who led his army against the Mongols with success.
Alauddin conquered Gujarat (raided in 1299 and annexed in 1304), Jaisalmer (raided in 1299), Ranthambore (raided in 1301), Chittor (raided in 1303), Malwa (raided in 1305), Siwana (raided in 1308), and Jalore (raided in 1308). The Paramaras, Vaghelas, Chahamanas of Ranastambhapura and Jalore, the Rawal branch of the Guhilas, and possibly the Yajvapalas were all brought to an end by these victories. Malik Kafur, his slave-general, led numerous expeditions to the south of the Vindhyas, securing significant wealth from Devagiri (1308), Warangal (1310), and Dwarasamudra (1316). The Yadava king Ramachandra, the Kakatiya king Prataparudra, and the Hoysala king Ballala III were compelled to become Alauddin’s tributaries as a result of these victories. In addition, in the year 1111 Kafur carried out a raid on the Pandya kingdom, obtaining a lot of horses, elephants, and treasure.
Alauddin conquered Gujarat (raided in 1299 and annexed in 1304), Jaisalmer (raided in 1299), Ranthambore (raided in 1301), Chittor (raided in 1303), Malwa (raided in 1305), Siwana (raided in 1308), and Jalore (raided in 1308). The Paramaras, Vaghelas, Chahamanas of Ranastambhapura and Jalore, the Rawal branch of the Guhilas, and possibly the Yajvapalas were all brought to an end by these victories. Malik Kafur, his slave-general, led numerous expeditions to the south of the Vindhyas, securing significant wealth from Devagiri (1308), Warangal (1310), and Dwarasamudra (1316). The Yadava king Ramachandra, the Kakatiya king Prataparudra, and the Hoysala king Ballala III were compelled to become Alauddin’s tributaries as a result of these victories. In addition, in the year 1111 Kafur carried out a raid on the Pandya kingdom, obtaining a lot of horses, elephants, and treasure.
Alauddin was ill for the last few years of his life, so he had Malik Kafur take care of administration. Malik Kafur made Shihabuddin, the son of Alauddin and his Hindu wife Jhatyapali, a puppet monarch after his death in 1316. Shortly after his death, Qutbuddin Mubarak Shah, his older son, took control.
The childhood of Alauddin did not receive much attention from contemporary chroniclers. Haji-ud-Dabir, a chronicler from the 16th or 17th century, says that Alauddin started his march to Ranthambore when he was 34 years old (1300–1301). Alauddin was born between 1266 and 1267, assuming this is true.His birth name was Ali Gurshasp. He was the oldest son of Shihabuddin Mas’ud, the older brother of Sultan Jalaluddin, the founder of the Khalji dynasty. Three brothers were his: Muhammad, Qutlugh Tigin, and Almas Beg (later Ulugh Khan)
