According to Sir Wolseley Haig who was the greatest of all the slave kings ?

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 2:

Sir Wolseley Haig, a distinguished historian of medieval India, considered **Iltutmish** (Shams-ud-din Iltutmish) to be the greatest ruler of the Slave Dynasty (Mamluk Dynasty). Iltutmish is widely regarded as the true founder and consolidator of the Delhi Sultanate. When he ascended the throne, the nascent Muslim state was politically fragmented and threatened by rivals like Yaldoz and Qabacha, as well as the potential Mongol invasion led by Genghis Khan. Iltutmish successfully navigated these crises, secured the Sultanate’s territorial integrity, and transferred the capital from Lahore to Delhi. Crucially, he received the *mansur* (letter of investiture) from the Caliph of Baghdad in 1229, which legally recognized the Delhi Sultanate as an independent state under the Caliphate, thus giving the new monarchy legitimacy and status in the eyes of the Muslim world. He also organized the nobility into the powerful *Chahalgani* (Group of Forty) and introduced crucial administrative reforms, including the silver *tanka* and copper *jital* coins, thereby establishing a standardized currency system. His comprehensive achievements solidify Haig’s view of him as the greatest of the early Mamluk rulers.

The incorrect option is 1 (Qutubuddin Aibak): While Qutubuddin Aibak founded the Slave Dynasty, his reign was relatively short (1206-1210 CE) and primarily focused on military campaigns, ruling only with the title of *Malik* and *Sipahsalar* rather than a sovereign Sultan. The Delhi Sultanate remained decentralized during his time.

The incorrect option is 3 (Razia Sultan): Razia Sultan was a courageous and capable ruler who was the first and only female Muslim ruler of Delhi. However, her brief reign (1236–1240 CE) was marked by continuous conflict with the powerful Turkic nobility, the Chahalgani, which prevented her from consolidating power or undertaking long-term administrative reforms comparable to Iltutmish.

The incorrect option is 4 (Balban): Ghiyas-ud-din Balban was a powerful ruler who focused on restoring the prestige of the crown and maintaining order through his 'Blood and Iron' policy. While he reorganized the administration and military, his reign came decades after Iltutmish and was more about restoration and centralization rather than the foundational state-building that Iltutmish accomplished.