Qutbuddin Aibak (1206-10 A.D.)
He was a General of Ghurid dynasty’s king Muizzuddin Muhammad Ghori. After death of Muhammad Ghori, he became the ruler of the Delhi Sultanate.
He was sold into slavery at child age and purchased by a Qazi at Nishapur in Persia, where he learned archery and horse riding among other skills. He resold to Muizzuddin in Ghazni, where he was the officer of the royal stables. After victory in the second battle of Tarain in 1192 A.D. Muhammad made him in- charge of his Indian territories. He expanded the Ghurid power in northern India and after the death of Muhammad Ghori in 1206 A.D.
Campaign against the Chahamanas
Muhammad Ghori crushes by Prithviraj Chauhan in 1191 A.D. at first battle of Tarain. At second battle of Tarain in 1192 A.D., Ghurids were victory and Aibak was the General of Indian territories.
After victory at Tarain, Muhammad assigned the former Chahamana territory to Aibak and Govindaraja IV appointed as a Ghurid feudatory ruler. Prithviraj’s brother Hariraja invaded the Ranthambore fort, Which Aibak placed under his subordinate, Qawamul Mulk. Aibak forcing Hariraja to retreat from Ranthambore as well as the former Chahamana capital Ajmer.
After defeated Jatwan at Hansi, he returned to Kuhram of Punjab and invades the Ganga-Yamuna Doab and he attacked to Gahadavala Kingdom. He also retained the local Tomara rulers as a vassal. In 1193 A.D., he deposed the Tomara and took direct control over Delhi. After that he stayed at Ghazni for 6 months. During this time, Hariraja regain control over the part of Chahamanas territory. In 1194 A.D., Aibak returned to India and sent an army against Hariraja, Hariraja was defeated and committed suicide. He placed a Muslim Governor at Ajmer and Govindaraja ruled as vassal from Ranthambore.
Then he moved to Gahadavala kingdom, at the battle of Chandawar, Jai chand, the king of Kannauj, defeated. Aibak defeated to Kumarapala, (Bhati ruler of Bayana), and Gwalior. He defeated to Chalukya army at Mount Abu in 1197 A.D. and marched to Chalukya capital Anhilwara and defeated to Bhima II and plundered the city. In 1198 A.D., he conquered to Badaun, in 1202 A.D., he besieged Kalinjar, the important fort of Chandela kingdom. Then Kalinjar, Mahoba, and Khajuraho come under Ghurid control which was governed by Hasam Arnal.
In 1206 A.D., Muhammad of Ghor assassinated by the Khokhars. According to Minhaj us siraj, at the time of Sultan in 1206 A.D. Ghurid controlled over Multan, Uchch, Nahrwala, Peshawar, Sialkot, Lahore, tarain, Ajmer, Hansi, Koli, Delhi, Meerut, Badaun, Hansi, Kuhram, Gwalior, Bhera, Banaras, Kannauj, Kalinjar, Awadh, Malwa Bihar and Lakhnauti in Bengal.
He was a patron of Literature. Qutb Minar in Delhi was started in his reign and finished in Iltutmish’s reign.
Death
After became a Sultan of Delhi, he ruled over the territory when he controlled, but in 1210 A.D., he fell down from a horse while playing Chaugan or Polo and died instantly.
