Agra was the capital of India during the reign of which Sultan ?

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 1:

Sikandar Lodi (reigned 1489–1517 AD) was the second and most famous ruler of the Lodi dynasty, which governed the Delhi Sultanate. He is credited with establishing the city of Agra in 1504 CE on the bank of the Yamuna River. His primary motivation for this shift was strategic: he needed a central location closer to the rebellious Rajput principalities, particularly Gwalior, to better monitor and control them. After establishing the city, Sikandar Lodi officially moved the capital of the Sultanate from Delhi to Agra in 1506 CE. By shifting the seat of power, he transformed Agra into a vital administrative and cultural center, a status it maintained and even enhanced during the later Mughal Empire.

The incorrect option is 2 (Bahlol Lodi): Bahlol Lodi was the founder of the Lodi dynasty and the predecessor of Sikandar Lodi. He ruled primarily from Delhi and was focused on consolidating the Afghan tribes, but he did not establish or shift the capital to Agra.

The incorrect option is 3 (Firoz Tughlaq): Firoz Shah Tughlaq belonged to the Tughlaq dynasty, which preceded the Lodi dynasty by over a century. Although he was a great builder and founded cities like Firozabad and Hissar, his capital remained at Delhi (or Firozabad) and he had no role in founding or adopting Agra as a capital.

The incorrect option is 4 (Mubarak Shah): Mubarak Shah belonged to the Sayyid dynasty (which came between the Tughlaqs and the Lodis). His capital was Delhi. The Sayyid rule was characterized by political instability and limited territorial control, and he certainly did not move the capital to Agra.