10.4 The Tughlaq Dynasty · Part 3

TUGHLAQ DYNASTY Goa Krishna XI History - Lesson - - Advent of Arabs and Turks Muhammad bin Tughlaq died without naming his successor. The claim made by Muhammad’s sister to his son was not supported by the nobles. His son, recommended by Muhammad’s friend Khan-i Jahan, was a mere child. Under such circumstances, Firuz ascended the throne. The vizier of Firuz Tughlaq, the famous Khan-i-Jahan, was a Brahmin convert to Islam. Originally known as Kannu, he was captured during the Sultanate campaigns in Warangal (present-day Telangana). Conciliatory Policy towards Nobles Firuz Tughlaq followed a conciliatory policy towards the nobles and theologians. Firuz restored the property of the owners who had been deprived of it during the reign of Muhammad Tughlaq. He reintroduced the system of hereditary appointments to offices, a practice which was not favoured by Ala-ud- din Khalji. The Sultan increased the salaries of government officials. While toning up the revenue administration, he reduced several taxes. He abolished many varieties of torture employed by his predecessor. Firuz had a genuine concern for the slaves and established a separate government department to attend to their welfare. The slave department took care of the wellbeing of , slaves. They were trained in handicrafts and employed in the royal workshops. Firuz Policy of No Wars Firuz waged no wars of annexation, though he was not averse to putting down rebellions challenging his authority. There were only two Mongol incursions during his times, and both of them were successfully repulsed. His Bengal campaign to put down a rebellion there, however, was an exception. His army slew thousands and his entry into Odisha on his way helped him extract the promise of tribute from the Raja. A major military campaign of his period was against Sind ( ). He succeeded in routing the enemies on the way. Yet his government had to withdraw the bronze coins and replace them with silver coins, which told heavily on the resources of the empire. Sultan’s Other Innovative Measures Equally innovative was Muhammad Tughlaq's scheme to expand cultivation. But it also failed miserably. It coincided with