10 reasons for the downfall of the Tughlaq dynasty
In Adhunik Bharat Ka Itihas After his death all his successors proved incompetent and they failed to organize their empire. As a result, gradually the vast Tughlaq Empire disintegrated. In short, the following reasons were responsible for the downfall of the Tughlaq dynasty:
(1) The vastness of the empire-
According to historians, the main reason for the decline of the Tughlaq dynasty was the expansion of the Tughlaq Empire. M / s. In the words of Iyengar, “The heaviness of the empire and the difficulties of communication in its various parts guided the provincial governors to independence.” That
There were very few means of transport in those days. Therefore, it was a difficult task to control the territories which were far away from Delhi.
(2) Lack of qualified generals and ministers –
The Tughlaq sultans lacked qualified generals and ministers. The ministers and generals of the Tughlaq period were not loyalists but conspiratorial and were engaged in their self-fulfillment.
(3) Weak military organization—
Firoz Tughlaq made changes in the military organization, as a result of which the army became more and more weak. He made the army weak by making the posts of soldiers hereditary and not separating the old soldiers from the army and giving jagirs to the generals.
(4) Selfish governor (subedar) –
Whenever the provincial subedars saw the weakness of the central power, they used to revolt. The Subedars were selfish, ambitious and opportunistic. They lacked national spirit. Taking advantage of the incompetence of the Tughlaq Sultans, their subedars declared their independence and many provinces became independent.
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(5) To encourage slavery –
Firoz Tughlaq gave special impetus to slavery during his time. As a result the number of slaves in the government increased day by day. Some slaves were even appointed to important posts in different provinces. Gradually the slaves increased their power and started interfering in politics. After the death of Firoz Tughlaq, he revolted against the Tughlaq Empire and started supporting some other rebels as well.
(6) The impractical policy of Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq-
The plans of Muhammad bin Tughlaq hollowed out the roots of the Delhi Sultanate. The plans to move the capital from Delhi to Devgiri, increase taxes in the Doab, issue copper coins, attack Khorasan and Karajal, etc. emptied the treasury of the paltanate and the people came out on protest. The separation of the native and foreign nobles also paved the way for the decline of the Tughlaq Sultanate.
(7) Responsibility of Firoz Tughlaq –
Sultan Firoz Tughlaq also had a hand in the downfall of the Tughlaq dynasty. His jagir system, slavery system, the mediation of the Ulemas in politics, etc. were also responsible for the decline of the Sultanate. He did not listen to the nobles to subjugate the rebellious provinces of the Sultanate. In fact he was opposed to shedding blood because of his soft heart. Due to this he failed to suppress the rebellions, as a result the downfall of the Sultanate became necessary.
(8) Religious policy of Tughlaq Sultans –
Almost all the Sultans of the Tughlaq dynasty were following the policy of religious partiality. Hindu subjects were treated badly. Firoz Tughlaq had taken the policy of religious intolerance to the extreme. ‘Jaziya' (religious tax) was collected harshly from the Hindus. Many of his temples were demolished. As a result of such actions, even the Hindus did not consider themselves a part of the government. He always felt himself humiliated. Hindus never supported the Sultan wholeheartedly.
(9) Inept successor of Firoz Tughlaq –
Firoz Tughlaq's successors were very inept and luxurious. The big chieftains had made him a puppet in their hands by a conspiracy. After the death of Firoz Tughlaq, all his successors proved incompetent and failed to keep the empire organized. Taking advantage of their incompetence, many provincial rulers became independent and the Tughlaq Empire disintegrated.
(10) Timur's Invasion –
In 1398 AD, the ruler of Samarkand, Timur Lang attacked Delhi. In this attack, the last ruler of the Tughlaq dynasty, Nasiruddin Mahmud, was badly defeated and Timur occupied Delhi. With the death of Nasiruddin Mahmud in 1413 AD, the Tughlaq dynasty collapsed.
In the history of the Delhi Sultanate, the empire of the Tughlaq dynasty was the most extensive in India. Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq took full advantage of Alauddin Khilji's southern conquest and brought it under the Delhi Sultanate. But from that time, the decline of the Tughlaq dynasty and the disintegration of the Tughlaq Empire began and in the end, neither the prestige of the Sultan nor his empire remained in the time of Nasiruddin Mahmud (who was the last ruler of this dynasty). It was said of him that “the rule of the lord of the world extended from Delhi to Palam.” Thus the Tughlaq dynasty collapsed due to various circumstances. Rulers like Muhammadbin-Tughlaq and Firoz Tughlaq were also responsible for this, but basically the incompetence of Firoz Tughlaq's successors was responsible for this.
