ʿAlāʾ-al-Dīn Khaljī

Khaljī sultan of Delhi

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June 30, 2026

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The Khalji dynasty (1290–1320) was the second ruling dynasty of the Muslim sultanate of Delhi. The founder, Jalal-ud-Din Firuz Khalji, was the previous Mamluk dynasty's top military commander. His nephew, Juna Khan, murdered him in 1296 and took the throne as Alauddin Khalji. Alauddin reigned for 20 years, expanding the Delhi sultanate into an imperial power by conquering Gujarat and Rajasthan, and reducing Hindu kingdoms in southern India to vassalage. His forces also repelled Mongol raids. After Alauddin's death in 1316, the dynasty declined, ending with the murder of the last Khalji sultan in 1320. Alauddin Khalji also attempted to abolish the jagirdar system.1234

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- India
  Centralization and expansion
  During the reign of ʿAlāʾ al-Dīn Khaljī, the sultanate briefly assumed the status of an empire. In order to achieve his goals of centralization and expansion, ʿAlāʾ al-Dīn needed money, a loyal and reasonably subservient nobility, and an efficient army under his personal control. He had earlier, in 1292,…
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  During the reign of ʿAlāʾ al-Dīn Khaljī, the sultanate briefly assumed the status of an empire. In order to achieve his goals of centralization and expansion, ʿAlāʾ al-Dīn needed money, a loyal and reasonably subservient nobility, and an efficient army under his personal control. He had earlier, in 1292,…
  Read More

Delhi sultanate
The Khaljis
Under the sultans of the Khalji dynasty (1290–1320), the Delhi sultanate became an imperial power. Ala al-Din (reigned 1296–1316) conquered Gujarat (c. 1297) and the principal fortified places in Rajasthan (1301–12) and reduced to vassalage the principal Hindu kingdoms of southern India (1307–12). His forces also defeated serious Mongol onslaughts…
Read More
Under the sultans of the Khalji dynasty (1290–1320), the Delhi sultanate became an imperial power. Ala al-Din (reigned 1296–1316) conquered Gujarat (c. 1297) and the principal fortified places in Rajasthan (1301–12) and reduced to vassalage the principal Hindu kingdoms of southern India (1307–12). His forces also defeated serious Mongol onslaughts…
Read More