The sultan of Delhi who himself took up the title of caliph was :

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 3:
Qutubuddin Mubarakshah, who ruled the Delhi Sultanate from 1316 to 1320 CE, was the only Sultan of Delhi to reject the traditional requirement of receiving recognition or sanction from the Caliph (Khalifa). All previous Sultans of Delhi maintained a nominal relationship with the Caliphate, acknowledging the Caliph as the supreme head of the Islamic world to legitimize their rule. However, Mubarakshah went to the radical extreme of declaring himself the Caliph, asserting his absolute sovereignty over the state and eliminating the need for external religious authority. He adopted the unprecedented titles of *Al-Imam*, *Khalifatullah*, and *Al-Wasiq Billah*, proclaiming his own religious and political supremacy. This move was a dramatic assertion of secular authority in the Sultanate’s history, showcasing his attempt to centralize both temporal and spiritual power in his own hands.

The incorrect option is 1:
Nasiruddin Khusaravshah succeeded Qutubuddin Mubarakshah, but he only ruled for a few months (1320 CE). While he also broke with orthodoxy, he did not take the title of Caliph; rather, he tried to legitimize his non-Turkish rule under the title of *Wali al-Amir* and was known for patronizing Hindus.

The incorrect option is 2:
Kaikubad (1287–1290 CE) was the last ruler of the Slave Dynasty. His reign was marked by incompetence and luxury, but he maintained the conventional subservience to the Caliphate for legitimacy, never claiming the Caliph title for himself.

The incorrect option is 4:
Nizamshah is not recognized as a Sultan of the Delhi Sultanate who claimed the title of Caliph. The name is not associated with any ruler who made such a radical claim against the established religious hierarchy.