| Khizr Khan | |
|---|---|
| Sultan | |
Silver Tanka of Khizr Khan INO Muhammad Bin Firoz
| |
| 25th Sultan of Delhi | |
| Reign | 28 May 1414 – 20 May 1421 |
| Anointment | 28 May 1414 |
| Predecessor | Nasir-ud-Din Mahmud Shah Tughluq |
| Successor | Mubarak Shah |
| Under the nominal suzeraintyof | Shah Rukh Mirza |
| Timurid GovernorofMultan | |
| Reign | 17 December – 20 December 1398 |
| Timurid GovernorofDelhi | |
| Reign | 20 December 1398 – 18 February 1405 |
| Anointment | 21 December 1398 |
| Under the nominal suzeraintyof | Timur |
| |
| Born | 1351 |
| Died | 20 May 1421 (aged 70) |
| Burial | |
| Issue | Sayyid Mubarak shah |
| House | Sayyid dynasty |
| Religion | Islam |
Khizr Khan (reigned 28 May 1414 – 20 May 1421) was the founder of the Sayyid dynasty, the fourth ruling dynasty of the Delhi sultanate, in northern India soon after the invasion of Timur and the fall of the Tughlaq dynasty.[1] Khizr Khan was Governor of Multan under the Tughlaq ruler, Firuz Shah Tughlaq, and was known to be an able administrator. He did not take up any royal title due to fear of invasion by Amir Timur (better known historically as Tamerlane) and contended himself with the titles of Rayat-i-Ala (Sublime Banners) and Masnad-i-Aali or (Most High Post). During his reign, coins were continued to be struck in the name of previous Tughlaq rulers.[2] After his death on 20 May 1421, he was succeeded by his son Mubarak Khan,[3] who took the title of Muizz-ud-Din Mubarak Shah.
A contemporary writer Yahya Sirhindi says in his Takhrikh-i-Mubarak Shahi that Khizr Khan was a descendant of Muhammad.[4] Members of the dynasty derived their title, Sayyid (a title of descendants of Muhammad), based on the claim that they belonged to his lineage through his daughter Fatima. However, Yahya Sirhindi based his conclusions on unsubstantial evidence, the first being a casual recognition by Sayyid Jalaluddin Bukhari of Uch Sharif of his Sayyid heritage,[5][6] and the second being the Sultan's character whose moral qualities were those of a descendant of Muhammad.[7] Abraham Eraly is of the opinion that Khizr Khan's ancestors were likely descendants of an Arab family who had long ago settled in region of Multan during the early Tughluq period, but he doubts his Sayyid lineage.[8] According to Richard M. Eaton and oriental scholar Simon Digby, Khizr Khan was a Punjabi chieftain belonging to the Khokhar clan, who was sent to Timur as an ambassador and negotiator from the most adjacent area, the Punjab, ultimately became the power holder in Delhi, thanks to the contacts he had acquired.[9][10] Francesca Orsini and Samira Sheikh have presented a similar view in their work.[11]
After his accession to the throne, Khizr Khan appointed Malik-us-Sharq Tuhfa as his wazir and he was given the title of Taj-ul-Mulk and he remained in office until 1421. The fiefs of Muzaffarnagar and Saharanpur were given to Sayyid Salim. Abdur Rahman received the fiefs of Multan and Fatehpur. In 1414, an army led by Taj-ul-Mulk was sent to suppress the rebellion of Har Singh, the Raja of Katehar. Raja fled to the forests but finally was compelled to surrender and agree to pay tributes in future. In July 1416 an army led by Taj-ul-Mulk was sent to Bayana and Gwalior where it plundered the peasants in the name of realising the amount equivalent to the tributes to be paid and also annexed both the regions.[3] In 1417, Khizr Khan obtained permission from Shah Rukh to have his own name also suffixed to that of Shah Rukh.[12] In 1418, Har Singh revolted again but was defeated completely by Taj-ul-Mulk. On 28 May 1414, Khizr Khan captured Delhi and imprisoned Daulat Khan Lodi.[3]
The first of these two dynasties was founded by Khizr Khan, who bore the appellation 'Sayyid', which identified him as a descendant of prophet Muhammad, so the dynasty he founded came to be known as the Sayyid dynasty. The veracity of Khizr Khan's claimed lineage is uncertain, but it is likely that his forebears were Arabs, who had migrated to India in the early Tughluq period and settled in Multan. The family prospered in India, gaining wealth and power. This advancement culminated in Malik Suleiman, Khizr Khan's father, becoming the governor of Multan under the Tughluqs. When Suleiman died, Khizr Khan succeeded him to the post, but lost it during the political turmoil following the death of Firuz Tughluq.
The career of Khizr Khan, a Punjabi chieftain belonging to the Khokar clan, illustrates the transition to an increasingly polycentric north India.
And we find that a Khokhar chieftain, Khizr Khan who was sent to Timur as an ambassador and negotiator from the most adjacent area, the Punjab, ultimately became the power holder in Delhi, thanks to the contacts he had aquired [sic].
| Preceded by
Tughlaq dynasty |
Shah of Delhi 1414-1421 |
Succeeded by |
