1. Who was the founder of the Slave Dynasty?
(a) Iltutmish
(b) Alauddin Khalji
(c) Balban
(d) Qutbuddin Aybak
[U.P. P.C.S. (Pre) 1990]
Ans. (d) Qutbuddin Aybak
- Qutbuddin Aibak was the first ruler of the Slave Dynasty which was the first of five different dynasties to rule India from 1206 to 1290.
- All of the kings that came after him were slaves to their predecessors.
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2. Who was the first ruler of the Slave Dynasty?
(a) Iltutmish
(b) Qutbuddin Aybak
(c) Raziyya
(d) Balban
[53rd to 55th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2011, 47th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2005]
Ans. (b) Qutbuddin Aybak
- Qutbuddin Aibak was the first ruler of the Slave Dynasty (called the Gulam Dynasty).
- He was born in Turkistan and worked his way up to become a powerful ruler.
- He was taken as a prisoner and sold as a slave to the Qazi of Nishapur, where he was given an education and military training.
- When his master, Muhammad Ghori, invaded India, Aibak provided him with support.
- As Ghori had no son to succeed him, when he died in 1206 A.D. his empire was taken over by his slaves, one of whom was Aibak.
- He was invited by the Amirs of Lahore to take control and gave himself the titles of Malik and Subedar.
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3. Which Sultan of Delhi Sultanate is known as “Lakh Baksh”?
(a) Iltutmish
(b) Balban
(c) Muhammad-Bin-Tughluq
(d) Qutbuddin Aybak
[Jharkhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2003]
Ans. (d) Qutbuddin Aybak
- Sultan Qutbuddin Aibak, also known as Lakh Baksh Sultan, was the first Muslim ruler of India.
- He had a capital in Delhi and he was very generous, which is why he was given the name Lakh Baksh.
- He was different from the earlier Muslims who came to India as he actually settled there and ruled.
- His time as ruler was only four years, and he was fighting against revolts from nobles and Hindu chiefs, but he still managed to put a good administrative system in place.
- He built the Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque and Adhai Din ka Jhopara in Delhi and laid the foundation of the Qutb Minar, which was completed by his successor Iltutmish.
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4. What is ‘Adhai Din ka Zhonpda’?
(a) Mosque
(b) Temple
(c) Saint’s hut
(d) Tower
[56th to 59th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2015]
Ans. (a) Mosque
- Sultan Qutbuddin Aibak, also called “Lakh Baksh Sultan”, was the first Muslim ruler to rule India from his capital Delhi.
- He was generous and was known as Lakh Baksh, and he never took the title of “Sultan”.
- He supported scholars such as Hasan Nizami and Fakh-i-Mudabbir and set up an administrative system during his four-year reign.
- He started the construction of the Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque in Delhi and Adhai Din ka Jhopara (Ajmer).
- He also laid the foundation for the Qutb Minar, which was completed by his successor Iltutmish.
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5. Who among the following did not contribute to building the famous ‘Qutb-Minar’?
(a) Qutbuddin Aybak
(b) Iltutmish
(c) Ghiyasuddin Tughluq
(d) Firuz Shah Tughluq
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2013]
Ans. (c) Ghiyasuddin Tughluq
- Qutbuddin Aybak began building the Qutb Minar.
- Iltutmish added three stories to it. The highest level was struck by lightning and rebuilt by Firuz Shah Tughluq, who also added two more floors.
- Ghiyasuddin Tughluq did not contribute to its construction. Option (c) is the correct answer.
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6. The capital of Qutbuddin Aybak was
(a) Lahore
(b) Delhi
(c) Ajmer
(d) Lakhnauti
[41st B.P.S.C. (Pre) 1996, U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1990]
Ans. (a) Lahore
- After Muhammad Ghori died in 1206, his General Qutbuddin Aybak was invited by the leaders of Lahore to take charge of the region.
- Aybak ruled from Lahore for four years and later moved the capital to Delhi.
- However, Taj-ud-Din Yilduz, the Governor of Kirman, wanted to take control of Punjab.
- This made Aybak decide to stay in Lahore, so he never got the chance to move to Delhi.
- He also formed a partnership with a rival Turkish leader to make his position stronger.
- Nasiruddin Qabacha of Multan refused to accept Aybak’s rule over Delhi.
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7. How did Sultan Qutbuddin Aybak die?
(a) He was treacherously stabbed to death by one of his ambitious nobles
(b) He was killed in a battle with Taj-u-din Yilduz the ruler of Ghazni who entered into a contest with him over the capture of Punjab
(c) He sustained injuries while besieging the fortress of Kalinjar in Bundelkhand and succumbed to them later
(d) He died after a fall from his horse while playing Chaugan
[I.A.S. (Pre) 2003]
Ans. (d) He died after a fall from his horse while playing Chaugan
- Qutbuddin Aibak, the founder of the Slave Dynasty in India, died in a tragic accident in 1210 while he was playing polo.
- He fell off his horse and was badly hurt.
- He was buried in Lahore near the Anarkali Bazaar.
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8. Who among the following established Delhi as the capital of the Sultanate?
(a) Qutbuddin Aybak
(b) Iltutmish
(c) Raziyya
(d) Muizzuddin Ghori
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2012, U.P.P.C.S. (Spl) (Mains) 2004]
Ans. (b) Iltutmish
- Iltutmish was the founder of the Delhi Sultanate and the first real Turkish Sultan of Delhi.
- He introduced a new currency system in India with two coins, a silver Tanka and a copper Jital.
- He was recognized as the Muslim Sultan of India in 1229 and was given the title of ‘Commander of the faithful’.
- This was a great achievement for him.
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9. Who was the first Sultan of Delhi who introduced regular coins and declared Delhi the capital of his empire?
(a) Nasiruddin Mahmud
(b) Iltutmish
(c) Aram Shah
(d) Balban
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2014]
Ans. (b) Iltutmish
- Iltutmish (1210–36 A.D.) was the founder of the Delhi Sultanate and the first real Turkish Sultan of Delhi.
- He introduced the first Arabic silver and copper currency, which were two basic coins of (175 grain) in the Sultanate period.
- He also created a bimetallic currency system consisting of an 11-gram silver Tanka and a copper Jital.
- In 1229, he was officially recognized as the Sultan of India by the Khalifa of Baghdad, and assumed the title of ‘Amirul- Mommini’ or ‘Commander of the faithful.’
- His coins had the name of Khalifa inscribed on them, which was a great accomplishment.
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10. Which one of the following was the capital of the Sultanate during the reign of Iltutmish?
(a) Agra
(b) Lahore
(c) Badaun
(d) Delhi
[U.P. R.O./ A.R.O. (Pre) 2016]
Ans. (d) Delhi
- Iltutmish was the first real Turkish Sultan of Delhi who ruled from 1210-1236 A.D.
- He is credited for introducing the first Arabic silver and copper coins with a weight of 175 grains in the Sultanate period.
- To address the shortage of silver, Iltutmish created a bimetallic coinage system with a silver Tanka weighing 11 grams and a copper Jital.
- The Dehliwala coin was devalued to be equal to the Jital.
- In 1229, Iltutmish was acknowledged as the Muslim Sultan of India by the Khalifa of Baghdad and was given the title of ‘Amirul- Mommini’ or ‘Commander of the faithful’.
- His coins were inscribed with the name of the Khalifa, which was a great accomplishment.
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11. Who amongst the following Sultans of the Sultanate was the first to shift his capital to Delhi?
(a) Aram Shah
(b) Balban
(c) Iltutmish
(d) Qutbuddin Aybak
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2016]
Ans. (c) Iltutmish
- Iltutmish moved his main city from Lahore to Delhi.
- He was the first ruler of the Sultanate to move his capital.
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12. Who was the first Muslim ruler of Delhi?
(a) Qutbuddin Aybak
(b) Iltutmish
(c) Raziyya
(d) Balban
[U.P. P.C.S. (Pre) 2002]
Ans. (b) Iltutmish
- Iltutmish was the first Sultan of Delhi and was given the title “Sultan-i-Azam” or the Sultan The Great by the Khalifa of Baghdad in 1229 A.D.
- He was able to keep the Delhi throne safe from Mongol invasion and other attacks.
- He was successful in breaking up the power of the Rajputs in the north and making his rule hereditary.
- He also issued coins with his name and made Delhi a beautiful capital.
- He brought in the first Arabic silver and copper coins, which were the two main coins used during the Sultanate period.
- Iltutmish was from the Ilbari tribe in Turkestan and was made governor of Badaun in 1206 after helping Muhammad of Ghur fight against the Khokhars.
- Amirali Ismail asked Iltutmish to be crowned Sultan in Delhi with the approval of Turkish nobles after the death of Aybak in 1210 A.D.
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13. Who was called a slave of a slave?
(a) Mohd. Ghori
(b) Qutbuddin Aybak
(c) Balban
(d) Iltutmish
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2016]
Ans. (d) Iltutmish
- Iltutmish is known as “Slave of a Slave” because he was a slave of Qutbuddin Aibak, who himself was a slave of Mohd. Ghori.
- Iltutmish later married Qutbuddin Aibak’s daughter and took over as Sultan after Aibak’s death, earning him the nickname.
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14. Who of the following was the first woman ruler of medieval India?
(a) Raziyya Sultan
(b) Chand Bibi
(c) Durgavati
(d) Noorjahan
[U.P.P.S.C. (GIC) 2010, U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2004]
Ans. (a) Raziyya Sultan
- Raziyya Sultan was the only woman to become the ruler of Delhi, from 1236 to 1240 A.D.
- The Turkish nobles were not happy about her taking power, and they plotted against her while she was trying to stop a rebellion in 1239 A.D.
- The nobles took control while she was away, and she was dethroned. After she put down the rebellion in Delhi, she worked on the issues of governance that had been neglected during her brother’s rule.
- This showed her skills as a wise leader, brave warrior, and great administrator.
- She was able to prove herself worthy of the Sultanate of Delhi, after her father Iltutmish.
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15. During whose reign Mongol invader Genghis Khan came through the North-West Frontier of India?
(a) Alauddin Khalji
(b) Iltutmish
(c) Balban
(d) Aybak
[U.P. P.C.S. (Pre) 1993]
Ans. (b) Iltutmish
- Genghis Khan, a Mongol invader, came to India during the rule of Iltutmish.
- He was chasing Jalaluddin Mingburni, who had escaped from Khawarizm.
- When Genghis Khan arrived at the Indus River, Jalaluddin Mingburni asked Iltutmish for shelter.
- However, Iltutmish was afraid of the powerful Genghis Khan and refused to give refuge to Mingburni.
- In 1224 AD, Prince Mingburni left India, taking the Mongol invasion trouble.
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16. Which Sultan of Delhi was a contemporary of the Mongol Leader Genghis Khan?
(a) Iltutmish
(b) Raziyya
(c) Balban
(d) Alauddin Khalji
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2007]
Ans. (a) Iltutmish
- Genghis Khan, a Mongol invader, invaded India during the reign of Iltutmish.
- He was chasing the ruler of Khawarizm, Jalaluddin Mingburni, who asked Iltutmish for refuge.
- Iltutmish was aware of the consequences of allowing Genghis Khan to enter India, so he wisely refused to give asylum to the Mingburni.
- The Mongol invasion was put to an end when Prince Mingburni returned in 1224 AD.
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17. In whose reign Mongols were seen on the bank of the Indus river for the first time?
(a) Balban
(b) Iltutmish
(c) Qutbuddin Aybak
(d) Raziyya
[U.P.P.S.C. (GIC) 2010]
Ans. (b) Iltutmish
- Genghis Khan, a Mongol invader, invaded India during the rule of Iltutmish.
- He was chasing Jalaluddin Mingburni, the ruler of Khawarizm, and reached the Indus River.
- Jalal-ud-din-Mingburu asked Iltutmish for refuge, but Iltutmish was afraid of Genghis Khan, so he didn’t give him asylum.
- Genghis Khan and Prince Mingburni went back in 1224 AD.
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18. The Mongols under Genghis Khan invaded India during the reign of :
(a) Balban
(b) Firuz Tughluq
(c) Iltutmish
(d) Muhammad-Bin-Tughluq
[Chhattisgarh P.C.S. (Pre) 2013, I.A.S. (Pre) 2001]
Ans. (c) Iltutmish
- Genghis Khan, a Mongol invader, arrived on India’s northwest frontier when Iltutmish was in power.
- He was chasing Jalaluddin Mingburni, who had escaped and got as far as the Indus River.
- Jalaluddin asked Iltutmish for refuge, but Iltutmish was too scared to let him stay since Genghis Khan was a dangerous and powerful enemy.
- In the end, Jalaluddin returned to the Mongols with Prince Mingburni in 1224 AD.
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19. The original name of Changez (Genghis) Khan was
(a) Khasul Khan
(b) Yesugai
(c) Temuchin (Temujin)
(d) Ogadi
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2015]
Ans. (c) Temuchin (Temujin)
- Genghis Khan was a powerful leader from Mongolia who greatly helped the Mongolian Empire to grow.
- Before he was known as Genghis Khan, his name was Temujin (or Temuchin).
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20. Iltutmish appointed his first Subedar in Bihar too:
(a) Aivaj
(b) Nasiruddin Mahmud
(c) Alimardan
(d) Malik – Jani
[48th to 52nd B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2008]
Ans. (d) Malik – Jani
- In 1225, Iltutmish won against Hisamuddin Awaz near Teliyagarhi in the Rajmahal mountains.
- Awaz accepted Iltutmish’s authority and Iltutmish put Malik-Jani in charge of Bihar.
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21. Who was behind the dethroning of Raziyya Begum?
(a) Afghans
(b) Mongols
(c) Turks
(d) Arabs
[U. P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2004]
Ans. (c) Turks
The Turkish noblemen, led by the governor of Bhatinda, Malik Altunia, rebelled against Raziyya Begum and took away her power. |
22. The full name of Sultan of Delhi Balban was?
(a) Jalaluddin
(b) Iltutmish
(c) Ghiyasuddin
(d) Qutbuddin
[Chhattisgarh P.C.S. (Pre) 2004]
Ans. (c) Ghiyasuddin
- Ghiyasuddin Balban was the ninth Sultan of the Mamluk dynasty of Delhi.
- He was the heir of the last Shamsi Sultan, Nasiruddin.
- He made the nobility less powerful and increased the respect of the Sultan.
- Even though he didn’t have many military successes, he was the most powerful ruler between Shamsuddin Iltutmish and Alauddin Khalji.
- He was given the title of Ulugh Khan and the post of Nayab-e-Mamlikat when he married his daughter to Sultan Nasiruddin.
- Balban took the throne of Delhi in 1266 A.D.
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23. Which Sultan of Delhi is said to have followed the policy of “blood and iron”?
(a) Iltutmish
(b) Balban
(c) Jalaluddin Firuz Khalji
(d) Firuz Shah Tughluq
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2009]
Ans. (b) Balban
- Balban was known for his ‘blood and iron’ policy.
- He was a strong believer in the divine right of kings and that the Sultan should be an autocratic leader.
- He said that the Sultan is the representative of God on Earth, and the public and leaders have no right to question his decisions.
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24. Who was the first Muslim ruler to formulate the ‘theory of kingship’ similar to the ‘theory of the divine right of the kings’?
(a) Aibak
(b) Iltutmish
(c) Balban
(d) Alauddin
(e) None of the above/ More than one of the above
[63rd B.P.S.C (Pre.) 2017]
Ans (c) Balban
- Balban was the first ruler to suggest the idea that kings should be treated like they have the right to rule from God.
- He said that the sultan was like God on earth and should be respected.
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25. Which Delhi Sultan is known for adopting the ‘blood and iron’ policy?
(a) Iltutmish
(b) Balban
(c) Ala-ud-din Khalji
(d) Muhammad bin Tughluq
(e) None of the above/More than one of the above
[66th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2020]
Ans (b) Balban
- Balban was the first leader to state the idea that a king is similar to a ruler chosen by God.
- He believed that a Sultan was a representation of God on Earth and that they should be respected just like a prophet.
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26. Given below are two statements, one labeled as Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R):
Assertion (A): Balban made his government firm stable and centralized all authority in his hands.
Reason (R): He wanted to protect the North-West frontier against Mongol invasions.
Code :
(a) Both (A) and (R) are true, and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
(b) Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
(c) (A) is true, but (R) is false.
(d) (A) is false, but (R) is true.
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2013]
Ans. (b) Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
- Ghiyasuddin Balban was the leader of the Slave Dynasty in the Delhi Sultanate, and he ruled from 1266 to 1287 A.D.
- He believed that he had been given the power to be an emperor by God and had full control.
- He started the traditions of Sijdah and Paibos.
- He also built strong walls on the northwest side of the country to protect himself from Mongolian attacks.
- Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are correct, but Reason (R) does not explain Assertion (A) correctly.
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27. After consolidating his power, Balban assumed the grand title of
(a) Tuti-e-Hind
(b) Kaiser-e-Hind
(c) Zil-e-Ilahi
(d) Din-e-Ilahi
[I.A.S. (Pre) 1997]
Ans. (c) Zil-e-Ilahi
- Balban based his rule on famous models of leadership.
- He wanted to create a good reputation for his reign.
- He believed he was God’s representative on earth and was of equal importance to the Prophet.
- He saw himself as the “Image of God” and was the first Sultan to create a theory of kingship.
- He taught his son that the role of the Sultan was a symbol of absolute power.
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28. Who among the following introduced the famous Persian festival ‘Navroz’ in India?
(a) Balban
(b) Iltutmish
(c) Firuj Tughluq
(d) Alauddin Khalji
[I.A.S. (Pre) 1993]
Ans. (a) Balban
- Balban created laws and regulations for his court and made sure they were followed.
- He was inspired by Iranian rulers and brought many of their customs into his court, such as the tradition of Sizdah (bowing down to the ground) and Paibos (kissing the feet of the king).
- Additionally, he incorporated rituals to celebrate the Persian festival Navroz.
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29. Which one of the following statements is not true about Balban?
(a) He propounded the theory of Niyabat-e-Khudai.
(b) He introduced the Iqtadari System.
(c) He eliminated the power of Turkan-e-Chahalgani.
(d) He quelled down the revolt of Bengal.
[Chhattisgarh P.C.S. (Pre) 2008]
Ans. (b) He introduced the Iqtadari System.
- Baha-ud-din was given the title of ‘Ulugh Khan’ by Nasiruddin Mehmood and the title ‘Zil-e-Ilahi’ by himself.
- His reign was from 1266 to 1286 century.
- Balban is famous for his reign theory which was inspired by the Persian way of ruling.
- He believed the king was ‘Niyamat-e-Khudai’, or a representative of God.
- He ended the ‘Turkan-e-Chahalgani’ set up by Iltutmish and put down the revolt of Tughril Khan in 1279 century, punishing those who revolted.
- The Iqtadari system was created by Iltutmish.
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30. Which of the following Sultans has called himself the ‘Helper of a Caliph’ in his inscription on the walls of the Mosque at Garhmukteshwar?
(a) Balban
(b) Kaiqubad
(c) Jalaluddin Khalji
(d) None of the above
[U.P.R.O./A.R.O. (Mains) 2014]
Ans. (a) Balban
- Balban wrote on the walls of the Mosque at Garhmukteshwar that he was the “Helper of a Caliph”.
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