The Turkish Sultanate of Delhi during the reign of Shamsuddin İltutmish (1211-1236)

Turks have established great states throughout history and ruled in different geographies. Turkic states, which have become important political forces in the geographies they dominated, have deeply influenced these areas in administrative, militaristic, legal and socio-economic spheres. Among the Turkish states that ruled in the Indian subcontinent are Kushans and Akhuns (before the coming of Islam), Ghaznavids, Ghurids, Turkish sultans of Delhi, Malwa Khaljis, Qutbshahis, Adilshahis and Baburids (with the coming of Islam). Islamic rule, which began with the conquest of Sind by the Umayyads, continued also during the Abbasid period. However, the period when Islamic conquests gained real momentum in the region of India started with Mahmud of Ghaznavî who organized seventeen expeditions to the region. As a result of these expeditions, many important centers in India were captured, the region was largely dominated, and the foundations of centuries-old Turkish-Islamic rule were laid. With the Ghaznavid State's loss of power in the middle of the 12th century, the administration of the region fell into the hands of the Ghorids. The Ghorid dynasty of Ghor, Afghanistan captured Lahore, bringing an end to the Ghaznavid rule; thus the politics of North India surviving the Ghaznavid state changed hands. The Turkish sultans of Delhi, who further expanded the conquering politics of the Ghaznavids and Ghorids, have great historical importance. With the accession of Sultan Shamsuddin Iltutmish to the throne of Delhi, the Turkish-Islamic rule in India reached wide boundaries by making many administrative, militaristic, political and socio-economic arrangements. Shamsuddin Iltutmish played a great role in bringing about one of the brightest periods of the Turkish Sultanate of Delhi in every sense thanks to his successful administration and skills.