Raziya Sultana

Sultana Razia of Delhi (1236-1240)

The only woman ever to sit on the throne of Delhi, India, Razia's ancestors were from Moslems of Turkish descent who invaded India in 11th century. "Like other Moselm princesses, she was trained to lead armies and administer kingdoms if necessary." (p. 34) Contrary to custom, her father selected her, over her brothers, to be his successor. After her father's death, she was persuaded to step down from the throne in favor of her stepbrother Ruknuddin, who, like her brothers, continued to neglect the kingdom and live a pleasure filled life. Disgusted with Ruknuddin's rule, the people demanded that she become Sultana in 1236.

She established peace and order, encouraged trade, built roads, planted trees, dug wells, supported poets, painters, and musicians, constructed schools and libraries appeared in public without the veil, wore tunic and headdress of a man. State meetings were often open to the populace at-large. Yet, she made enemies when she tried to eliminate some of the discriminations against her Hindu subjects.

Jealous of her attention to one of her advisors, Jamal Uddin Yaqut (not of Turkish blood), her governor, Altunia, rebelled. Razia's troops were defeated, Jamal was killed in battle, Razia was captured and married to her conqueror in 1240. One of her brothers claimed the throne for himself, Razia and her new husband were defeated in battle where both died.

"Sultana Razia" by Lyn Reese in Herstory: Women Who Changed the World, Ruth Ashby and Deborah Gore Ohrn (eds.), Viking, 1995, p. 34-36



http://www.pinn.net/~sunshine/15women.html#delhi

1236-40 Sultan Galalat ad-Din Begum Radiya bint Shamas al-Din Iltutmish of the Delhi Sultanate (Most of Northern India)

Also known Razia Begum or Radiyya Altamish, she was The daughter of the first Mameluk king of Delhi, Sultan Ilutmish, she came to the throne after deposing her brother and having him killed. She used the title al-dunya wa al din, which can be translated into "the blessed of the earthly world and of the faith". She was a very able leader and military commander, but was deposed and executed in 1246/47.

That is completely incorrect. India has been united before, under Chandergupta Maurya, under Ashoka, under the Khiljis and under the Mughals.

Well the very word "india" was not used until British Times. The Mauryans, Greco-bactrians, Khiljis, Moghuls and the rest called  their empire something else.

Originally posted by Melisende Maybe I should have been more specific and said a United India as we know it today.   I have no doubt that India was previously a united nation - as was Germany, France and other countries.  But it was also a kingdom of petty provincial rulers and tribal nations.   Question - would the Indian nation that existed prior to today have been modelled upon the same borders as we know it today?  Would the boundaries have included countries that are today seperate??

The historical India included todays pakistan, parts of eastern Iran, Bangladesh, & parts of South central Asia.

The mythological India extended from Turkey to South east Asian islands, Tibet, South central Asia upto burma

Originally posted by Melisende However, you must keep in mind that India, like many other nations, was originally a series of provinces and tribes who ruled independently of each other.  A United India did not come about until the reign of Queen Victoria of Great Britain. There are many women who governed provinces, ruled tribes, acted as governing regents, etc other than Razia of Delhi - I have an extensive list which I can provide for you.

You are right Melisende. Even at present India is ruled by a lady named Sonia Gandhi, an Italian national by birth, having come to India after marriage.

Yes Indira, In fact she was more manly than all the men combined (men who ruled India post independence).

in central India Another example of Brave ladies ruling & fighting is Laxmi, the ruler of Jhansi, Who fought with the British with her infant kids tied to her back & eventually lost out to the combined onslaught of the British & the Muslim Nawabs & was killed with her infant baby in battlefield, fighting.



Edited by Vivek Sharma - 03-Oct-2006 at 07:31

That reminds me of the Medici family in medieval Florence that supported the travelling artists, encouraged the political movements in the neighbouring countries and gave a great boost to the Renaissance in Europe