The Tughlaq dynasty produced two of the Delhi Sultanate’s most striking rulers: one famous for bold, often disastrous experiments, and one for public works.
MCQ QuestionsMedieval History
The Tughlaq Dynasty
Three rulers, two very different governing styles
“Most learned” Sultan
Controversial capital shift toward the Deccan
Failed token currency — copper coins declared equal to silver
Ibn Battuta‘s “Rihla” documents this period as an eyewitness account
Public works & charity
Built one of the largest medieval irrigation canal networks
Levied Jizya even on Brahmins — a break from earlier practice
Transported two ancient Ashokan pillars to Delhi
Must Know
Ghiyasuddin’s Fall: Accident or Murder
- StoryGhiyasuddin Tughlaq founded the dynasty in 1320 CE, overthrowing the last, weak Khilji ruler. His own reign is covered in more depth in MedHist0026 — Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq.
- InsteadHe died in 1325 CE when a reception pavilion collapsed. Some chroniclers, including Ibn Battuta, suspected his own son of engineering the collapse. Others blamed an accident. Historians still treat this as genuinely unresolved, not settled fact.
Muhammad bin Tughluq’s Costly Experiments
- StoryHis son Muhammad bin Tughluq, who ruled 1325-1351 CE, is remembered for ambitious, poorly executed experiments. These include a controversial capital shift toward Daulatabad in the Deccan, and a token currency of copper coins declared equal to silver that collapsed under counterfeiting.
- ResultHis costly military expeditions also never achieved their goals. His full reign is covered in MedHist0027 — Muhammad bin Tughlaq.
- HowThe Moroccan traveller Ibn Battuta visited India during this period. His travel account, the Rihla, remains a major eyewitness source for Sultanate-era society.
Good to Know
Peak Reach, Fastest Fall
- StoryUnder Muhammad bin Tughluq, the Sultanate briefly held sway over more of the subcontinent than at almost any other point in its history. That same reign’s failed experiments then triggered the fragmentation that never fully reversed.
- ResultThe Bahmani Sultanate broke away in the Deccan around 1347 CE, still during Muhammad bin Tughluq’s own reign. Bengal followed, becoming effectively independent by around 1352 CE, early in Firuz Shah’s reign.
Firuz Shah: Canals, Charity, and a Debated Legacy
- StoryFiruz Shah Tughlaq, who ruled 1351-1388 CE, governed very differently from his predecessor: canals, new cities, and public charity rather than disruptive experiments. His reign is covered in more depth in MedHist0028 — Feroz Shah Tughlaq.
- InsteadFiruz Shah levied “Jizya” even on Brahmins, a group traditionally exempted, marking a real break from earlier practice. Historians characterise his overall religious policy differently, though. Some describe it as strict and orthodox, others weigh it against his extensive public-works and charitable legacy. Treat this as a genuinely debated question, not a settled one.
- HowFiruz Shah founded a dedicated charitable department to organise alms and relief for the poor, and transported two ancient Ashokan pillars to Delhi, showing an unusual interest in preserving pre-Islamic Indian monuments.
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Great to Know
Timur, and the End
- StoryAfter Firuz Shah’s death in 1388 CE, a rapid succession of weak rulers took the throne. By 1394 CE, two rival claimants ruled from Delhi and Firozabad at the same time, a clear sign of collapsing central authority. Jaunpur broke away around 1394 CE, Malwa around 1401 CE, and Gujarat around 1407 CE.
- ResultIn 1398 CE, the Central Asian conqueror Timur invaded and sacked Delhi. Historians treat this as delivering the effective death blow to real Tughlaq authority. A nominal Tughlaq ruler technically remained on the throne for a while longer, but held little real power.
- HowTimur left behind a deputy, Khizr Khan, who gradually consolidated power in the region. Khizr Khan took Delhi outright in 1414 CE, ending the Tughlaq line for good and founding the Sayyid dynasty.
- TakeawayMuhammad bin Tughluq’s ambitious but poorly executed experiments are often cited as a textbook example of good ideas undermined by weak implementation. Firuz Shah’s focus on public works and charity contrasts sharply with that turbulence.
Exam Point of View
NDA 2017: The Eyewitness to Tughluq’s Reign
- QuestionNDA asked which travelogue gives an insight on the reign of Muhammad Bin Tughlaq. The answer is Ibn Battuta’s Rihla.
- WhyThe trap options, Bernier’s Travels in the Mogul Empire, Manucci’s Storia do Mogor, and Tavernier’s Travels in India, all describe the later Mughal era, not the Tughlaq period.
- LinkSource: NDA & NA (II) 2017, General Ability Test (see Q122).
CDS I 2026: Who Actually Wrote the Rihla?
- QuestionA separate CDS I 2026 question asked directly who authored the Rihla, the Arabic travel account providing rich detail on India. The answer is Ibn Battuta.
- WhyTwo separate exams tested this exact same fact from two different angles: one asked which travelogue covers Muhammad bin Tughluq’s reign, the other asked who wrote it. Both point to the same book and author.
- LinkSource: CDS I 2026, General Knowledge (see Q59).
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MedHist0027 — Muhammad bin TughlaqMedHist0026 — Ghiyasuddin TughlaqMedHist0028 — Feroz Shah TughlaqMedHist0032 — Decline and Downfall of the Delhi SultanateMedHist0030 — Mongol Raids on the Delhi Sultanate❓ Practice this topic
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