• Ajay

The early 13th century marked a transformative phase in the political and cultural history of the indian subcontinent with the emergence of Islamic rule under the Delhi Sultanate. Historian Raziuddin Aquil argues that this transformation was relatively smooth, characterized more by political negotiation than bloody rupture: "the common people were not killed in large numbers, and there was no big change in the population". Among the many rulers of this era, Raziya Sultan stands out as the first and only female monarch to ascend the throne of Delhi. Her reign (1236-1240)represents a critical moment in Indo-Islamic political history, where the question of gender, legitimacy, and authority intersected. Her story shows how the early Delhi sultanate was not only a space of power struggle, but also one where new ideas about leadership and legitimacy could take shape, even in the hands of a woman. Through a critical reading of primary sources such as Tabaqat-i-Naisiri and the writings of Barani, alongside modern historiography, this study explores how Razia navigated a male-dominated political landscape.

Islamic rule, Delhi Sultanate, Raziyyat-ud-din, Gender, Turkish nobility, Patriarchy in medieval India, Elite resistance, Tabaqat-i-Naisiri, Minhaj-i-Siraj.

""Raziyyat-ud-din" Revisited: The Sovereignty of Raziya Sultan"", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.12, Issue 8, page no.b558-b560, August-2025, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2508173.pdf

""Raziyyat-ud-din" Revisited: The Sovereignty of Raziya Sultan"", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.12, Issue 8, page no. ppb558-b560, August-2025, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2508173.pdf