Question

How did Razia Sultana ascend the throne of the Delhi Sultanate? What challenges did she face as a woman ruler?

Answer 1

Instructions:

1. Introduce Razia Sultana
2. Talk about Razia Sultana’s capabilities as a brave warrior and an able ruler
3. As she was a woman she had to face challenges
4. Describe the challenges - Nobles went against her
5. They plotted to dethrone her and subsequently got her killed

Solution:

• Raziya Sultan was the daughter of Mamluk Sultan Iltutmish.
• She was a brave woman and a warrior. As she was more capable than all her brothers, her father Iltutmish nominated her as his successor.
• She ascended to the throne in 1236, thereby becoming the first woman ruler of the Delhi Sultanate.
• However, some of the nobles and governors were not comfortable with a woman ruling them, as it was against their idea of a social system.
• Despite being a capable ruler, she had to face rebellion. She was plotted against and killed in 1240 by the rebels.