Iltutmish, Shams Al-Din

The following article is from The Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1979). It might be outdated or ideologically biased.

Iltutmish, Shams Al-Din

 

Ruler of the Sultanate of Delhi (1211–36). Member of the Ghulam (Slave) dynasty.

Of Turkic origin, Iltutmish was a ghulam (slave) of Qutb al-Din Aibak, who founded the Sultanate of Delhi; he later became a mukta (governor) of several districts. He annexed the Punjab and Sind to the sultanate and successfully warred against the Indian princes. In 1229 he was recognized as an independent ruler (sultan) by the Baghdad Caliphate. Under Iltutmish, large religious structures were built in Delhi.

The Great Soviet Encyclopedia, 3rd Edition (1970-1979). © 2010 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.