ICSE Class 7 Answered

After the death of Iltutmish, Razia became the first woman Sultan of Delhi in 1236. Razia had to face many challenges from powerful nobles who were not willing to accept a woman as a ruler. The Turkish nobles wanted a puppet ruler who could govern according to their wishes. Razia however was not willing to rule according to their desires. Razia Sultan dressed like a man and led armies into battlefield. She did not practice ‘purdah’, held open court, listened to the problems of her subjects and supervised the work of every department. When the provincial governors of some territories revolted against her, she failed to crush their power. Later, Razia married Altunia, the leader of a rebel group, to pacify them. However, both Razia and Altunia were killed in 1240. After the death of Razia Sultan, a line of weak rulers ruled Delhi. They were not able to consolidate the empire. Balban became the ruler of Delhi in 1266. He was a powerful noble who later became the Sultan of Delhi. He suppressed the powerful nobles and strengthened the powers of monarchy in the state.