This biography, written by Gabby Storey, is shared with permission from Team Queens, an educational history blog run by a collective of historical scholars. All rights reserved; this material may not be republished without the author’s consent.
Born: 1205, India
Died: 15 October 1240
Country most active: India
Also known as: Sultan Raziyyat-Ud-Dunya Wa Ud-Din, Jalâlat-ud-Dîn Razia, سلطان رضیه الدنیا والدین
Sultan Raziyyat-Ud-Dunya Wa Ud-Din, otherwise known as Razia Sultana (c.1205-1240) was a ruler of the Delhi Sultanate, India. She was the first female Muslim ruler of the Indian subcontinent. She was also the only female Muslim ruler of Delhi.
Born to the Delhi Sultan Shams-ud-din Illutmish and his wife Qutub Begum, Raziyyat was not expected to inherit the throne as she had an older brother, Nasiruddin. After Nasiruddin’s death in 1229, Illutmish left Raziyyat in charge of Delhi’s administration in 1231 whilst on campaign. Upon his return, Illutmish nominated Raziyyat as heir apparent.
After Illutmish’s death in 1236, the nobility appointed his son Ruknuddin Firuz as the new king, the circumstances of which are debated. Ruknuddin’s rule was unpopular, and Raziyyat turned the public to her side and gained the allegiance of the army and several nobles. She ascended to the throne successfully, but soon faced opposition from the nobles who wanted her to be a figurehead. Raziyyat increasingly asserted herself, issuing coins in her own name and acting as a sultan. Opposition soon turned to rebellion and Raziyyat was deposed and imprisoned in April 1240.
In September 1240, she married Ikhtiyar-ud-din Altunia, a former slave who although favoured by Raziyyat, turned against her in the initial 1240 rebellion. Their forces fled when faced with the army of the new king, Muiz ud-din Bahram, and Razia was killed on 15 October 1240. Her tomb is situated near Turkman Gate, Old Delhi, alongside that of her sister’s.
Recommended Reading
K. A. Nizami, “The Early Turkish Sultans of Delhi,” in A Comprehensive History of India: The Delhi Sultanate (A.D. 1206-1526), eds., M. Habib, K. A. Nizami, 191-303 (Delhi: People’s Publishing House, 1970)
Peter Jackson, The Delhi Sultanate: A Political and Military History (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2003)
Sudha Sharma, The Status of Muslim Women in Medieval India (New Delhi: SAGE, 2016).
The following is excerpted from “Female Warriors: Memorials of Female Valour and Heroism, from the Mythological Ages to the Present Era,” by Ellen C. Clayton (Mrs. Needham), published in 1879 and shared online by Project Gutenberg.
On the death of Altumsh, Emperor of Hindostan, in 1235, he was succeeded by his son, Prince Feroze. The latter was an effeminate, luxurious monarch, who thought of nothing but spending on dancing-women, comedians, and musicians, the treasures accumulated by his father, and he left the affairs of state to be ruled by his mother. Her cruelty, and the indifference of Feroze, caused several of the omrahs to revolt. The emperor marched against them with a vast army; but he was deserted by his vizier, a great portion of his army, and seven of his principal nobles. The latter returned to Delhi, and placed Sultana Rizia, the eldest daughter of Altumsh, on the throne. When this news reached Feroze, he hastened back to Delhi; but the new Empress marched out to meet him, and he was delivered into her hands. He died in confinement some time after.
The Sultana possessed every quality proper for a ruler; even detractors could find no fault, save that she was a woman. During her father’s lifetime she had entered heartily into state affairs and was Regent for a short time during the absence of Altumsh on an expedition against Gwalior.
Rizia was not long left in undisturbed possession of the throne. The omrahs who had conspired against her brother now marched from Lahore, and encamped before Delhi; but she contrived to sow dissensions amongst them, and each was compelled to retreat to his own province. Some of them, pursued by the Empress, were captured and put to death. The omrahs finally tendered their submission and the empire enjoyed peace for a time. But the promotion of Jammal, who had once been an Abyssinian slave, to the post of Captain-general of Hindostan,[142] gave such umbrage to the nobles as to ruin the cause of Rizia. The viceroy of Lahore threw off his allegiance in 1239; but the empress, collecting her forces, marched against him, and the viceroy was compelled to accept peace on the most humiliating terms.
Scarcely was this revolt quelled, when Altunia, governor of Tiberhind, raised the standard of rebellion. Rizia immediately marched against him; but when she had gone about halfway, all the Turkish chiefs mutinied. A tumultuous scene ensued, the Abyssinian general was slain, and the Empress sent prisoner to Tiberhind. The imperial troops then returned to Delhi; and set Byram, the Empress’s younger brother, upon the throne.
Rizia married the Governor of Tiberhind, and by their joint influence they raised a great army, and marched to Delhi. They were defeated near the city, by the troops of Byram, and the empress with difficulty escaped to Tiberhind. Soon, however, she rallied her scattered forces, and marched once more towards the capital. But she was again defeated at Keitel, and, together with her husband, made prisoner, and barbarously put to death. Thus died Sultana Rizia, after a brief reign of three years six months and six days. Indian historians agree that she was worthy of a better fate.