| Bahlul Khan Lodi | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bahlul Shah Ghazi | |||||
 Billon Tanka (80 ratti) of Bahlul Lodi | |||||
| 29thSultan of Delhi | |||||
| Reign | 19 April 1451 – 12 July 1489 | ||||
| Coronation | 19 April 1451 | ||||
| Predecessor | Alam Shah | ||||
| Successor | Sikandar Lodi | ||||
| Born | c. 1421 | ||||
| Died | 12 July 1489 (aged 67–68) Delhi,Delhi Sultanate | ||||
| Burial | Tomb of Bahlul Lodi Delhi | ||||
| Spouse | Shams Khatun Bibi Ambha | ||||
| Issue | Sikandar Khan Lodi Barbak Shah Taj Murassa Alam Khan | ||||
| |||||
| House | Lodhi | ||||
| Dynasty | Lodi | ||||
| Father | Malik Kala Khan Lodi | ||||
| Religion | Sunni Islam | ||||
Bahlul Khan Lodi (Persian:بهلول لودی; died 12 July 1489) was the chief of theAfghanLodi tribe.[1] He was the founder of theLodi dynasty from theDelhi Sultanate,[2] upon the abdication of the last claimant from the previousSayyid rule.[3] Bahlul becameSultan of the dynasty on 19 April 1451[4][1] (855AH).
Bahlul's grandfather, Malik Bahram Khan Lodi, was aLodi tribal chief of the Shahu Khēl clan of thePrangi tribe fromDera Ismail Khan.[5] He later took service under the governor of Multan, Malik Mardan Daulat. Bahram had five sons. His eldest son, Malik Sultan Shah Lodi, later served under theSayyid dynasty rulerKhizr Khan and distinguished himself by killing in the battle Khizr's worst enemy, Mallu Iqbal Khan. He was rewarded with the title of Islam Khan and in 1419 appointed the governor ofSirhind. Bahlul, the son of Malik Kala Khan Lodi (the younger brother of Malik Sultan) was married to Malik Sultan's daughter.[6][7]
In his youth, Bahlul was involved in the trading of horses and once sold his finely bred horses to the Sayyid dynasty SultanMuhammad Shah. As a payment he was granted apargana and raised to the status ofamir. After the death of Malik Sultan, he became the governor ofSirhind. He was then allowed to addLahore to his charge. Once, SultanMuhammad Shah asked for his help when the Malwa SultanMahmud Khalji invaded his territory. Bahlul joined the imperial army with 20,000 mounted soldiers. By his cleverness, he was able to project himself as a victor over the army of the Malwa Sultan and Sultan Muhammad Shah conferred on him the title ofKhan-i-Khanan. He also accepted Bahlul's occupation over a large part of Punjab.[6][7]
In 1443, Bahlul attacked Delhi but he did not succeed. During the reign of last Sayyid ruler Sultan Alam Shah, Bahlul again made an unsuccessful attempt to capture Delhi in 1447. In 1448, when Alam Shah retired toBadaun, a minister of Alam Shah, Hamid Khan invited him to occupy the throne of Delhi. After the voluntary abdication of the throne by Alam Shah, Bahlul Shah ascended the throne ofDelhi on 19 April 1451 and adopted the title ofBahlul Shah Ghazi. Alam Shah continued to live in Badaun until his death in July 1478.[6][7]
After ascending to the throne, Bahlul decided to dispose of Hamid Khan. His cousin and brother-in-law Malik Mahmud Khan alias Qutb-ud-din Khan (Governor ofSamana) imprisoned Hamid Khan.[7]
In 1479, Sultan Bahlul Khan Lodi defeated and annexed theJaunpur Sultanate based atJaunpur. He fortified the city of Jaunpur and turned it into akasbah with severalmosques andmadrasas.
Bahlul did much to stop rebellions and uprisings in his territories, and extended his holdings overJaunpur and upperUttar Pradesh. Just like the previousDelhi Sultans, he keptDelhi the capital of his kingdom.
In 1486, he appointed his son, Babrak Shah asviceroy ofJaunpur. In time, this proved to be problematic, as his second son, Nizam Khan (Sikandar Lodi) was named successor, and a power struggle ensued[citation needed] upon his death in July 1489.[8]
The site of his grave is disputed. TheArcheological Survey of India has long designated a building close to the shrine of the notedSufi saintNasiruddin Chirag-e-Delhi in a locality that goes by his name, 'Chirag Delhi', asBahlul Lodi's tomb.[9] Other historians argue that theSheesh Gumbad in theLodi Gardens is actually to be identified with his tomb.[10]
Bahlul married two times:
| Regnal titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Sultan of Delhi 1451–1489 | Succeeded by |
| New dynasty | Lodi dynasty 1451–1525 | |