Firuz Shah Tughluq
Muhammad bin Tughlaq was succeeded by his cousin Firuz Shah Tughlaq who died at Thatta, Sindh, where he had pursued Taghi, the disobedient Muslim ruler of Gujarat. For the first time in the Delhi Sultanate's history, a scenario arose in which no one was willing to take the throne. The camp followers had a tough time persuading Firuz to take on the duty. His reign was substantially smaller than Muhammad's because of considerable instability. Rebellions compelled Tughlaq to grant Bengal and other regions virtual freedom.
Rajab, Ghazi Malik's younger brother who held the title Sipahsalar, was his father. His mother Naila was the offspring of Rajput King Rana Mal of Dipalpur, Punjab, and a concubine from the Jat clan.
The Reign of Firuz Shah Tughlaq
When he became Sultan of Delhi in 1351, he was 42 years old. He held power until 1388. After Muhammad Tughlaq's death, when he succeeded him, he had to deal with several uprisings, including those in Bengal, Gujarat, and Warangal. Nevertheless, he worked to upgrade the empire's infrastructure by constructing canals, hospitals, and rest stops as well as building and renovating reservoirs and digging wells. Around Delhi, he established Jaunpur, Firuzpur, Hissar, Firuzabad, and Fatehabad. The majority of Firuzabad was destroyed as later rulers tore down its structures and recycled the spoil as building materials, and the remaining portion was absorbed as New Delhi expanded.
Firuz Shah was heavily reliant on Malik Maqbul, his commander. He was referred to as the genuine king or "khan-i-Jahan" by the Sultan. When Firuz Shah embarked on an expedition, Malik served as the monarch. To prevent other areas from annexing territory that had broken off, he decided not to retake them. He made several necessary concessions to the experts and abstained from actions that the established scholars deemed improper for Islam. He forbade Muslim women from stepping outside to offer prayers at sacred figures' tombs. He is alleged to have abused several Muslim organisations that the academics considered to be heretical.
The military received the inheritance principle from Firuz. Officers were allowed to unwind, enjoy themselves, and enlist their kids on their property. Instead of paying the officials with actual money, communities used land revenue to do so. This innovative installation method led to many cases of abuse. He demolished Hindu temples as well as their written works. Sanskrit or Persian were used to translate the works of Islam.
Religious and administrative policies
As per historians and researchers, the administrative policy of Firuz Shah Tughlaq was considered unique in its ways. He was a devout Muslim who made an effort to protect Islamic law and follow Sharia law. He attempted to outlaw actions that traditional theologians deemed to be un-Islamic. He made the decision not to retake territories that had seceded or prevent more areas from doing the same. As a sultan, he was kind and compassionate to everyone. To ensure that he could rule his country peacefully, he decided to maintain good relations with the Ulema and the aristocracy.
Gujarat and Sindh had uprisings, and the southern states had separated from the sultanate. Bengal even proclaimed its independence. In 1353 and 1358, he oversaw missions directed towards Bengal.
In addition to capturing Cuttack, he also destroyed Puri's Jagannath Temple and had Raja Gajpati of Jajnagar, Orissa, pay tribute. In the fourteenth century, he converted the Chauhan Rajputs from Hinduism to Islam.
He besieged Kangra Fort, had Thatta pay tribute, and besieged Nagarkot as well.
Tughlaq permitted a nobleman's son to ascend to his father's post and jagir after his passing rather than giving positions based on merit. Similar arrangements were made in the military, where a retired soldier may substitute his son, son-in-law, or even his slave. The nobility's pay was raised by him. He abolished all forms of severe punishment, including the amputation of hands. He also reduced the increased land levies imposed by Muhammad. The period of Tughlaq's rule has been referred to as the most corrupt in medieval India.
Infrastructure development
Tughlaq used economic measures to improve his people's material well-being. There were several rest homes (sarai), gardens, and Tughlaq tombs constructed. To promote Muslim religious education, several madrasas (Islamic religious schools) were established. He established facilities where the underprivileged might receive free medical care, and he supported the growth of unani medicine among physicians. He donated funds to the Diwan-i-khairat department to help marry off daughters from low-income households. In Delhi, he ordered a large number of public structures.
Sanskrit texts about Hinduism were translated into Persian and Arabic. Manuscripts in Persian, Arabic, and other languages made up a sizable portion of his collection.
He transported two Ashokan pillars from Meerut and Topra near Radaur in the Yamunanagar area of Haryana to Delhi in bullock cart trains after meticulously cutting and wrapping them in silk. On the top of his palace at Firuz Shah Kotla, he rebuilt one of them.
Death and consequences
The death of Firuz Shah Tughlaq brought political instability in the kingdom and even led to 2 consecutive civil wars in the kingdom.
Fateh Khan, his oldest child, passed away in 1376. Then, in August 1387, he declared Prince Muhammad to be the new king after abdicating. He had to give his grandson, Tughluq Khan, the royal title due to a slave uprising.
Following Tughlaq's demise, nobles rebelled to found independent states, resulting in a war of succession. His liberal behaviour had made the nobility stronger, which made his position weaker. Ghiyas-ud-Din Tughlaq II, his successor, was unable to govern the nobility or the slaves. The empire had dwindled in extent and the army had grown feeble. Delhi was destroyed by Timur's invasion ten years after his death. In 1352–1353, Firoz Shah constructed a madrasa that is connected to the tomb.
