Razia Sultana was the first Muslim woman ruler in India
Razia was the first women who ruled medieval India during Muslim empire. Razia Sultan‘s original name was Razia-al-Din. Her throne name was Jalalat-ud-Din Raziya. She preferred to be called as Razia Sultan as sultana was feminist.
Razia succeeded her father Shams-ud-din Iltutmish to the Sultanate of Delhi in 1236. Iltutmish always said, “My Razia is better than my sons”. It was true; while his sons were enjoying youth, Razia was actively participating in the Administrative matters of the kingdom.
Once when Iltutmish was busy with the siege of Gwalior, he had entrusted the government in Delhito Razia. On his return he was very much impressed by the way Razia had run the empire. At that very moment he declared Razia as her heir. It was the will of the king that after his death Razia, his daughter should succeed the throne. But the Muslim people were not happy with this decision.
When Iltutmish died, Rukn-ud-din Firuz, one of his sons, usurped the throne and ruled for about 7 months.
Ruknuddin was all wasted after he got the control and the throne. Muslim nobility with reluctance agreed to allow Razia to rule the empire.
She was an efficient Sultan working for the betterment of the empire but like her father, most of her time was spent infighting rebellions. She had personally led the army to many places like Punjab and Multan.
She is also having many controversies on her name. She was supposed to having feelings for one of her advisers, Jamal-ud-Din Yaqut, an Abyssinian Siddi slave.
In her battle with Altunia in Bhatinda, Yaqut was killed and Razia was taken into prison. There she decided to marry Altunia. In her absence, Razia’s brother Muizuddin Bahram Shah took over the throne. After Razia married Altunia, they had a battle with Bahram to take back the empire. Both Razia and Altunia were defeated in the battle (Oct.1240). Both of them fled to Delhi and on reaching Kaithal, the remaining forces abandoned them. They both fell into the hand of the jatts and were robbed and killed (October 1, 1240).
Controversies did not leave Razia’s side even after her death. There are three claims regarding her grave.