Cause of the Downfall of Tughluq Dynasty

Cause of the Downfall of Tughluq Dynasty

Tughluq Dynasty

Sir Wolseley Haig has remarked about the downfall of Tughluq dynasty, “The great empire of India had begun to dissolve before the death of Muhammad-bin-Tughluq and before the death of Firoz, even the kingdom of Delhi was already dissolving. On his death he left a disputed succession, one of the worst legacies which the subjects of an original ruler can inherit …………… leaving none of the royal princes worthy of the throne.”

Tughluq dynasty has a very significant place in the history of the medieval period. This dynasty was founded by Ghiasuddin Tughluq in A.D. 1320 and the rulers of this dynasty ruled in India for 96 years. Tughluq dynasty was uprooted after the invasion of Timur on India and Khizr Khan Sayyid, a representative of Timur, established the rule of Sayyids in India. The downfall of Tughluqs is not an incident to be wondered at because rise and fall are natural phenomena but after Muhammad Tughluq and Firoz Tughluq, the speed of decline really surprises the readers. The following were the chief factors which contributed to the downfall of the Tughluq dynasty.

Vastness of Empire

Vastness of the empire was the main reason of the downfall of the Tughluq dynasty. During the reign of Muhammad Tughluq, the whole content of India besides Kashmir, Cutch and a part of Kathiawar and Orissa formed his kingdom. No successor of Muhammad Tughluq had the capability and ability to rule over such a vast empire. Muhgammad Tghluq himself could not organize this vast empire. As there were no good means of transport and communication, it was very difficult to administer the affairs of this huge empire.

 Autocratic Rulers

The Tughluq rulers were autocratic despots and autocratic form of government cannot be permanent because the success of an autocratic despot depended on the personal ability, influential personality, military power and ability of government officials, patriotism and the cooperation of the people. Unfortunately, the rulers of Tughluq dynasty had some shortcomings. Muhammad Tughluq was efficient but unpopular. The fanaticism of Firoz had made him infamous among the public and the successors of Firoz completely shattered the power and prestige of the empire.

Lack of Nationalism

The structure of Tughluq Empire was not based on nationalistic pattern. Muhammad Tughluq was a secular ruler but Firoz was a fanatic and conservative Muslim ruler. He favored his Muslim public and suppressed the Hindus. Hence the Tughluqs failed to secure the support and cooperation of the majority of Hindus public. It weekend the empire and led it towards downfall.

Utopian Schemes of Muhammad Tughluq

Muhammad-bin-Tughluq failed to earn the favour and goodwill of his subjects and officials. The schemes which he framed could not satisfy the people as there were various drawbacks in them. His visionary plans could not succeed and he had to cut a sorry figure before his people. Both Hindus and Muslims were dissatisfied with his schemes. The stern policies of Firoz enhanced this dissatisfaction and brought the decline of the dynasty.

Firoz Tughluq’s Weaknesses

Firoz Tughluq was a feeble and irresolute ruler. He was most unfit and incompetent ruler during the 14^th century. He had neither the military skill nor high ambition. He could not re-conquer the lost empire nor did he extend the frontiers of Delhi by adding new territory to his empire. People failed to understand his generosity and their activities started weakening the administration. The official machinery became corrupt due to weak policies of the Sultan. Favoritism, red-tapism and bribery became rampant in all spheres of life. It not only weakened the administration but also led the dynasty towards downfall.

Slave System

 Firoz Tughluq was very fond of slaves. He provided them with all facilities. He directed his officials to bring as many slaves as possible. Hence the number of slaves reached the peak during his reign. He set up a separate department for their maintenance. But these slaves instead of doing any good, proved to be a burden on the state exchequer. They not only opposed their masters but also raised the standard of revolt against the Delhi Sultanate. Firoz Tughluq failed to provide enough facilities to them die to their large number and because the royal treasury was emptied on them.

Jagirdari System

Jagirdari system was also responsible for the downfall of the Tughluq dynasty. Firoz preferred to pay his soldiers and officials in kind in place of cash and hence he granted Jagirs to them. Alauddin had abolished the system of Jagirs during his reign but Tughluq reintroduced this system which made the Jagirdars powerful and they began to think of becoming independent. Some of them succeeded in their motive. Thus the government officers who were faithful and sincere turned rebels due to the weakness and shortcomings of the Sultan. Elliot observes, “Great nobles were given whole districts and provinces. These powerful feudal nobles contributed enough to the breakup of the empire after the Sultan’s death.”

Selfish Attitude of Provincial Governors and commanders

 Selfish attitude of the provincial Governors and Commanders also contributed to the downfall of the Tughluq dynasty. They, instead of serving the government and performing their duties sincerely, wanted to be independent. They often revolted against the central government due to their ambitions. In the same manner the provincial subjects were also engrossed in their provincial feelings. They never thought of the unity of the empire as a whole. The provincial governors were given free rope and they were not less powerful than the Sultan in their respective provinces. They generally grew very powerful whenever a weak person ascended the throne.

Weak Army

Tughluq rulers failed to maintain a permanent and strong army which was earlier organized by Alauddin. During the reign of the Tughluqs the army had neither courage, nor dexterity nor loyalty. An autocratic ruler cannot achieve success without a strong army. Firoz adopted a sympathetic attitude towards soldiers and permitted them to get their son, son-in-law or slave appointed in their place when they became old. This was a very bad system. It destroyed the efficiency of the army. The stability of the Tughluq dynasty endangered due to weak army.

Empty Treasury

For the smooth running of administration, a well planned economy is necessary. Nothing can be done without money; hence the royal coffers should always be full. But the visionary schemes of Muhammad-bin-Tughluq had made the treasury empty and the natural calamities such as droughts and famines also contributed to it. Firoz Tughluq also reduced the sources of income by cancelling the legitimate taxes and made no efforts to improve the economic condition of the Sultanate. Therefore, the administration of the country became quite unstable for want of money and several deficiencies cropped up in it. Thus the fall of the Tughluq dynasty became inevitable as the royal treasury could not be improved.

Theocratic Nature of State

Firoz’s religious policy was fanatic. It was anti-Hindu and anti-non-Sunni. The staunch Mullas and Ulema exercised deep influence on him which proved very harmful for the Sultanate. Hindus and non-Sunni Muslims were awfully dissatisfied in his reign. He persuaded the non-Muslims to embrace Islam and assured them exemption from paying Jaziya and other taxes. Firoz Tughluq was a generous ruler but his religious attitude was very stern. He brought an idol from Nagarkot and broke it into pieces in Delhi. He ordered a Brahman to be burnt alive in front of his palace for preaching his religion. He treated the Hindus very badly.

As a result of his anti-Hindu policy, the Hindus were forced to raise the standard of revolt against Sultan for they were fed up with his step-motherly treatment towards them. Owing to humiliation and maladministration, the Hindus started revolting against the Sultanate of Delhi. It sucked the strength out of the Sultanate.

Tyrannical Rule

The tyrannical rule of the Tughluq sultans also contributed to its downfall. They had no influence over their subjects as they were weak kings. The success of a tyrannical ruler depends on his own ability. The Sultans of the Tughluq dynasty were not efficient like Akbar, hence they failed to exercise their control over the empire. At every change of ruler, there happened to be disorder and anarchy which ultimately led the country towards downfall.

Inefficient Successors

So long as Muhammad Tughluq and Firoz Tughluq remained on the throne, they handled the affairs of the State but after the death of Firoz Tughluq his successors did not prove worthy enough to hold the reins of the empire successfully. They were mostly lost in wine and women and paid no attention of administration of the Sultanate. The provincial Governors took advantage of their weaknesses and hatched conspiracies against them in order to subdue them. If the successors of Firoz had a little wisdom and courage, they could have averted the downfall but their own weakness shattered the Tughluq dynasty.

Moral Downfall of Muslims

With the passage of time, moral degradation afflicted the Muslims. The victor Muslims were gradually lost in sensual atmosphere of the court. Consequently their moral strength declined and they were hollowed from inside. Now they did not appear to be like their forefathers. A prominent historian has remarked, “There was strife and tension in every branch of administration. Muslims were attaching more importance to religious affinities and caste propensities. Thus there were quarrels between the Turkish nobles, Khaljis, Turks, Mongols and Afghans. This loss of the sense of solidarity of the Muslims shook the foundation of the empire.”

Social Reasons

Muhammad Tughluq did not make any social reforms but Firoz Tughluq paid attention to this aspect and introduced some social reforms. Although he had religious fanaticism his social reforms were not beneficial for the Hindus. Only the Muslims population of the empire could be benefited by it. The weak successor s of Firoz Tughluq could not maintain harmony in the social structure and so contributed to the deterioration of the social condition. The Sultans were awfully absorbed in their internal and external problems and had no time to devote their attention toward constructive works and activities. Hence the downfall of the empire became inevitable.

Timur’s invasion

Dr, V.A. Smit has remarked, “Timur quit India, as he had come by the way of Punjab, leaving anarchy, famine and pestilence behind him.”

After the death of Firoz Tughluq there was chaos and anarchy in India, Timur took advantage of it and invaded India. The ruler of Delhi could not offer tough resistance. Timur slaughtered a great number of Hindus captives before waging war against Delhi and he murdered the people en masse after achieving victory against Delhi. Thus the bloodshed and killing shook the very foundation of the Tughluq Empire.

Thus we notice that various factors contributed to the collapse of the Tughluq dynasty. The process of disintegration began during the reign of Muhammad Tughluq and it continued in the reign of Firoz Tughluq die to his weak policies and incompetence. During the reign of weak successors the invasion of Timur not only destroyed the Tughluq dynasty but also made the fall of Delhi Sultanate inevitable.

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Milan Tomic

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