Razia Sultana

c. 1205 – October 1240

Razia Sultana was the Sultan of Delhi from 1236 to 1240 and the first and only woman to rule the Delhi Sultanate. The daughter of Sultan Shamsuddin Iltutmish, she governed capably but faced fierce opposition from the Turkic nobility, who deposed her in 1240. She was killed shortly after a failed attempt to reclaim her throne.

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Lived at the same time

Well-documented people whose lives overlapped with Razia Sultana.

Life events

Born to Sultan Iltutmish
c. 1205

Razia was born around 1205, a daughter of Shamsuddin Iltutmish, who would become Sultan of Delhi, and his chief wife Turkan Khatun.

Birth ?
Reportedly designated heir by her father
c. 1231

According to the chronicler Minhaj-i-Siraj, Iltutmish nominated Razia as his heir after the death of his eldest son, judging her more capable than his other sons.

Other ?
Ascended the throne of Delhi
November 1236

In November 1236, after the deposition of her half-brother Ruknuddin Firuz, Razia was raised to the throne of the Delhi Sultanate.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Career ✓
Became the first woman to rule the Delhi Sultanate
November 1236

Razia's accession made her the first and only female monarch of the Delhi Sultanate.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Achievement ✓
Adopted male royal attire and ruled openly
c. 1237

Chronicles record that Razia abandoned the veil, dressed in the tunic and headgear of a king, and appeared publicly at court and in battle.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Other ✓
Promoted Jamaluddin Yaqut, alienating the Turkic nobility
c. 1239

Razia's elevation of the Abyssinian officer Jamaluddin Yaqut to a high post provoked resentment among the Turkic nobles of the court.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Captured and imprisoned by Malik Altunia
April 1240

In April 1240 the rebel governor Ikhtiyaruddin Altunia defeated Razia's forces at Tabarhinda, where Yaqut was killed and Razia was imprisoned, and the Delhi nobles enthroned her brother Bahram in her place.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Married Malik Altunia and marched on Delhi
September 1240

Razia married her former captor Altunia, and the couple raised an army in an attempt to retake the throne of Delhi.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Relationship ✓
Defeated and killed near Kaithal
October 1240

After their army was defeated by the forces of Sultan Muizuddin Bahram, Razia and Altunia were killed near Kaithal in October 1240.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Death ✓