Razia Sultana was the first woman to rule the Delhi Sultanate, reigning from 1236 to 1240 CE. Appointed by her father, Sultan Iltutmish, over his own sons, she governed one of medieval Asia's most powerful Islamic states — riding into battle unveiled, holding public court, and commanding armies — until a rebellion ended her reign and her life in 1240. Her four-year rule remains one of the most remarkable episodes in South Asian history.
How Did Razia Sultana Rise to Power?
Razia was born around 1205 CE, the daughter of Shams ud-Din Iltutmish, the third sultan of the Delhi Sultanate and a former Turkic slave who became the most capable ruler of the early sultanate. Recognising her talent for governance and military strategy, Iltutmish publicly named Razia his successor in his will — a move that shocked his court. When Iltutmish died in 1236, his nobles initially placed his son Rukn ud-Din Firuz on the throne. Rukn ud-Din proved incompetent and dissolute; within months the people of Delhi rose in revolt. Razia appeared before the Friday congregation at the Jama Masjid, reportedly addressed the crowd directly, and earned popular and military support. Rukn ud-Din was deposed and executed in November 1236, and Razia ascended the throne.
What Made Razia's Reign Revolutionary?
Razia broke virtually every convention of medieval Islamic queenship. She abandoned the veil (purdah) and appeared unveiled in her open court (durbar). She wore a tunic and cap instead of female dress and led her army on horseback and — according to some chroniclers — on elephant. She struck coins in her own name, a key marker of sovereign legitimacy in Islamic states, and had the Friday khutba (sermon) read in her name at mosques across the sultanate. She proved herself an able administrator, maintaining law and order across a territory stretching from the Punjab to Bengal. Contemporary historian Minhaj-i-Siraj Juzjani, who served at her court, praised her wisdom and courage even as he expressed discomfort with female rule, writing that she was 'endowed with all the qualities befitting a king' but that 'fate had not bestowed upon her the fortune' of being male.
| Ruler | Reign | Relationship to Razia | Notable Fact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iltutmish | 1211–1236 | Father | Named Razia his chosen successor |
| Rukn ud-Din Firuz | 1236 (7 months) | Half-brother | Deposed; replaced by Razia |
| Razia Sultana | 1236–1240 | — | First female sultan of Delhi |
| Muiz ud-Din Bahram Shah | 1240–1242 | Half-brother | Succeeded after Razia's death |
Why Did Razia Sultana Fall From Power?
Razia's authority rested on a fragile coalition. The Turkic nobility — known as the Chahalgani or 'Group of Forty' — resented a woman holding power over them and grew increasingly hostile. Her close relationship with Jamal ud-Din Yaqut, an Abyssinian (East African) officer she appointed as Master of the Stables, gave her enemies a pretext to revolt. In 1240, the governor of Bhatinda, Malik Ikhtiyar ud-Din Altunia, rebelled. During the campaign to suppress him, Yaqut was killed and Razia herself was captured. In a dramatic twist, Razia agreed to marry Altunia, and the two marched on Delhi together to reclaim the throne. They were defeated by the forces of her half-brother Bahram Shah at the Battle of Kaithal in October 1240. Razia and Altunia fled but were reportedly killed by Hindu Jat villagers on 15 October 1240, near present-day Kaithal in Haryana. She was approximately 35 years old.
