Billon Jital of Razia Sultan – Slave Dynasty

 

Obverse

Inscription	Al-Sultan Al-Muazzam Raziyya al-Din Bint Al-Sultan	अल सुल्तान अल मुअज़्ज़म रज़िया अल दीन बिंत अल सुल्तान	السلطان المعظم رضیۃ الدین بنت السلطان
Translation	The Great Sultan, Praise-Worthy of the Faith, Daughter of the Sultan	महान सुल्तान, धर्म की सराहनीय, सुल्तान की पुत्री	عظیم سلطان، دین کی قابل تعریف، بنت سلطان

 

Razia Sultan

Raziyyat-ud-Dunya wa Ud-Din, popularly known as Razia Sultan (reigned: 1236-1240) was a ruler of the Delhi Sultanate. She was designated as Iltutmish's heir after he passed away, but his eldest son, Ruknuddin Firoz, was chosen instead by the courtiers who objected to the idea of a female monarch. This was a mistake since Firoz was an inept leader who was heavily influenced by his cunning mother Shah Turkan. A group developed to back Razia's claims before revolts broke out in various sections of the empire. After only six months of his brief administration, Firoz was executed.

Not only was Razia's accession to the Delhi throne unusual because she was a woman, but it was also notable because popular backing served as the primary motivation for it. There was considerable resistance to her rule and in the start, she was successful in overcoming it. But it didn't take long before additional dissent among the nobility manifested itself. By assigning an African to the position of Master of the Horse and giving him undue authority at the court, she had incited the animosity of the Turkish nobility. As a result, there was a mutiny, and Razia was taken prisoner during that time. Muizzuddin Bahram, the third son of Iltutmish and Razia's half-brother, was installed as king by the rebels, who himself ruled only for two years.[i]

The coin

This coin also falls under the Horseman type jitals. The side with the bull motif now has an Arabic inscription which presents Razia’s titles along with the patronym ‘Bint’ for daughter. Earlier coins of Razia had Iltutmish’s name as well.

This coin was most likely struck in either Delhi or Budaun.

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[i] Goenka, S. G. (2022). The Coins of the Indian Sultanates: Covering the Areas of Present Day India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. New Delhi: Manoharlal Publishers & Distributors.