In Which year Razia (Daughter of Sultan Iltutmish) became Sultan?

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 1:

Razia Sultan, the daughter of Sultan Iltutmish, ascended to the throne of the Delhi Sultanate in 1236. Her rise to power was remarkable, as she was the first and only female Muslim ruler of Delhi, breaking significant gender barriers in a highly patriarchal society. Iltutmish, recognizing her capabilities, had nominated her as his successor over his sons, a decision that initially met with resistance from the Turkish nobility. However, after the brief and ineffective reign of her half-brother Ruknuddin Firuz, the public's demand and the support of some nobles led to Razia's enthronement in November 1236. Her reign, though short, was marked by her efforts to rule independently and assert her authority, which ultimately led to her deposition by a group of nobles in 1240.

The incorrect option is 2: 1336. This year falls a century after Razia Sultan's reign. The Delhi Sultanate continued to exist, but the rulers during this period were from different dynasties, such as the Tughlaq dynasty, which had no direct connection to Razia Sultan or her father Iltutmish.

The incorrect option is 3: 1256. By 1256, Razia Sultan had long been deposed and killed (in 1240). The Delhi Sultanate was under the rule of her half-brother Muizuddin Bahram and later other rulers from the Mamluk dynasty. This date is well past her period of influence and rule.

The incorrect option is 4: 1456. This year is even further removed from Razia Sultan's era, by over two centuries. By 1456, the Delhi Sultanate was in a much later phase of its history, under the Lodi dynasty, and the political landscape of India had significantly changed since the time of the early Mamluk rulers.