The Saiyyid dynasty
Then came the Saiyyid dynasty founded by Khizr Khan. The Sayyids
ruled from about 1414 AD to 1450 AD. At a time when the provinces were declaring
themselves independent the first task of Khizr Khan was the suppression of the
revolts. In 1412 AD he conquered Gujarat, Gwalior and Jaunpur. In 1416 he
defeated Bayana and in 1421AD he attacked Mewat. Due to illness he died in the
year 1421 AD. He was succeeded by Mubarak Shah who succeeded in suppressing the revolts against him In a
conspiracy against him he was killed by him opponents in 1434 AD. After him
Muhammad-bin-Farid came to the throne. During his reign there was confusion and
revolts. The empire came to an end in 1451 AD with his death.
The Lodhi dynasty
Behlol Lodhi who was in service during Khizr Khan
founded the Lodhi dynasty. Behlol Lodhi was an Afghan of the Lodi tribe. He
became the governor of Punjab and was proclaimed the Sultan in 1451AD. After coming
to the throne he quelled the rebelling nobles and Jagirdars. He gave jagirs to
the Afghan nobles to win their cooperation, and brought Mewar, Sambal and
Gwalior under his rule.
Behlol Lodhi nominated his son Nizam Khan
as his successor. But the nobles placed Barbak Shah on the throne. In the
struggle that ensured Nizam Khan was successful and ascended the throne as
Sikandar Lodi. He proved to be a capable ruler who brought back the lost
prestige of the Sultan. He maintained friendly relations with the neighbouring
states. Sikandar Lodi settled his differences with his uncle Alam Khan who
conspired against him. He also defeated Barbak Shah who in co-operation with
Hussain Shah of Jaunpur fought against him. Barbak Shah was appointed the
governor of Jaunpur. He brought Gwalior and Bihar under his rule. Though he was
a religious fanatic yet he brought changes in some of the practices of the
Muslims. He encouraged education and trade. His military skill helped him
in bringing the Afghan nobles under his control.
Sikandar Lodi was succeeded by Ibrahim
Lodi who is said to have been the last great ruler of the Lodi dynasty. He came
to the throne in 1517 AD. The nobles brought his younger brother Jalal Khan as
the ruler of Jaunpur. The nobles who wanted division of the empire into two
created problems of Ibrahim Lodi. He defeated Jalal Khan in a battle. He
conquered Gwalior, and came into conflict with Rana Sanga the ruler of Mewar who
defeated him twice. His relations with the Afghan nobles became worse and this
led to several conflicts with him. The discontented Afghan chiefs sent Daulal Khan
Lodi to invite Babur the ruler of Kabul to India. After many incursions in the year 1525
and1526 Babur
defeated Ibrahim Lodi in the battle of Panipat. With this defeat the Delhi
Sultanate was laid to rest.
The History of India added a new outlook
with the coming of Babur. This was the beginning of a rule that is recorded as
the medieval history of India.
