When did Muslim rule become established in northern India?

While early Muslim trading communities and raids occurred in India as early as the 7th and 8th centuries, the establishment of permanent Muslim rule in northern India is dated to the late 12th century.1

This transition was driven by the Ghūrid dynasty, particularly through the military campaigns of Muʿizz al-Dīn Muḥammad ibn Sām (Muhammad of Ghūr) and his lieutenant, Qutb ud-Din Aibak. A pivotal moment in this process was the second Battle of Taraori in 1192, where the defeat of the Rajput king Prithviraja opened the path to Delhi.2345

Following the conquest of Delhi in 1193, Qutb ud-Din Aibak was left to consolidate and expand these territories. Upon the death of Muhammad of Ghūr in 1206, Qutb ud-Din Aibak declared himself sultan, marking the beginning of the Delhi sultanate and the formal establishment of Muslim hegemony in the region.245