Htutmish (1211-1236) : Medieval Indian History

A display of the genealogy of Iltutmish would be incomplete without the mention of his forefathers. Iltutmish belonged to the Ilbari tribe and hence his dynasty was named as Ilbari dynasty.

He shifted his capital from Lahore to Delhi. The meantime, Temujin popularly known as Chengiz Khan, the leader of the Mongols,started invading Central Asia. He defeated Jalaluddin Mangabarni, the ruler of Kwarizam.Mangabarni crossed the river Indus and sought asylum from Iltutmish.

Iltutmish refused to give him shelter in order to save his empire from the onslaught of the Mongols. Fortunately for fltutmish, Chengiz Khan retuned home without entering into India. In fact, the Mongol policy of Iltutmish saved India from the wrath of Chengiz Khan.

Iltutmish was a great statesman. He received the mansur, the letter of recognition, from the Abbasid Caliph in 1229 by which he became the legal sovereign ruler of India. Later he nominated his daughter Raziya as his successor.