Lodhi Dynasty 1451 1526 Lodhi Dynasty 1451 1526

Lodhi Dynasty (1451 -1526)

Lodhi Dynasty (1451 -1526) ü The Lodhis are the last ruling family of the Delhi sultanate of India. The dynasty was of Afghan origin. üCompared to the Sayyids, the Lodhi Dynasty was a better governed empire. They were in power for 75 years. üEstablished by Bahlol Lodhi in 1451, the Lodhis ruled Delhi till 1526. üBahlol was a vigorous leader, holding together a loose confederacy of Afghan and Turkish chiefs with his strong personality. Starting with only the control of the region adjacent to Delhi, Bahlol extended the effective boundaries of his empire to the borders of Bengal.

Sikandar Lodhi coins struck by him

Sikandar Lodhi(1489 -1517) üHe was a great administrator. He continued his father’s expansion policy and made several conquests in Bengal and Bihar and subjugated Gwalior. üHe founded the modern city of Agra in 1504 on the site known as Sikandarabad. üHis reign was clouded only by a reputation for religious bigotry. üAfter his death, Lodhi dynasty went through severe disturbances as his descendants started fighting for power among themselves.

Ibrahim Lodhi (1517 -1526)

Ibrahim Lodhi (1517 -1526) üAt Sikandar’s death, his eldest son Ibrahim suppressed a brief rebellion led by some of his nobles who backed his younger brother Jalal Khan to be the next Sultan; he had his brother done away with and seized the throne, but never managed to pacify his dissatisfied nobles. üHe reportedly treated his elders with contempt and made many foes, ultimately bringing about his dynasty’s downfall within merely a decade. üApparently Ibrahim became despotic, feared and hated by his own relatives and officials. .

Fall of the Lodhi Dynasty Two such discontented nobles, Daulat Khan Lodi, the governor of Punjab, and Ibrahim’s uncle, Alam Khan Lodi, invited Babur, the Mughal ruler of Kabul, to invade Hindustan and attack Ibrahim. Lodhi On April 20, 1526, in the historic First Battle of Panipat, north of Delhi, Babur’s army of 12, 000 vanquished Ibrahim’s imperial forces of 100, 000 troops. Thus bringing a close to 75 years of the Lodhis of Delhi.

A miniature painting of the First Battle of Panipat (1526)

Causes for the Decline of the Lodhis Economic: The political structure was strained due to decline in trade and depleted treasury, as the Sultan had to constantly put down rebellions. Political: The Afghans were divided into several powerful factions, some supporting his brothers and uncles. Social-Cultural: The lack of a law of succession, meant Ibrahim had to constantly wage war against other claimants for the throne, this weakened his kingdom. Military-Strategic: The Mughals had a smaller army (12, 000 -24, 000), but used muskets and cannons. Ibrahim’s army (100, 000) did not have cannons. There were several desertions. Timurid claim on the throne: Babur was a Timurid prince and looked upon the Lodhis as usurpers of the Timurid kingdom – the Sayyids. So, when he got an opportunity to reclaim his legacy, he accepted it.

Lodhi Architecture Sikandar Lodhi’s tomb known as Lodi Tomb is located inside the picturesque Lodi Garden New Delhi. The maqbara or tomb of Sikandar Lodi, the second Lodi ruler of the Afghan Lodi Dynasty, was built in 1517 -18 and was designed in the Sayyid-Lodi style of octagonal tombs similar to the Sayyid's tombs located in the same Garden.

Lodhi Tombs

Lodhi Legacy Sikandar Lodi’s highly evolved octagonal tomb in the centre of a large peaceful garden enclosed by high walls – became a winning model to be further developed by later striking Mughal garden tombs, notably Humayun’s spectacular sandstone and marble mausoleum in Delhi, and finally, reaching perfection in Agra’s supreme white marble confection, the Taj Mahal.