Alauddin Khilji

Ala-ud-din Khilji
Sultan Alauddin Khilji
Reign	1296–1316
Coronation	1296, Delhi
Predecessor	Jalal ud din Firuz Khilji
Successor	Qutb ud din Mubarak Shah
Died	Delhi, India
Burial	Delhi, India
Dynasty	Khalji dynasty

Ala-ud-din Khilji (Arabic: علاء الدین الخلجی‎‎; died 1316), born Juna Muhammad Khilji, was the second ruler of the Khilji dynasty reigning from 1296 to 1316. He is considered to be one of the most powerful rulers in Indian history.

ʿAlāʾ al-Dīn’s sent his lieutenant, Malik Kāfūr, on expedition to the south in 1308, which led to the capture of Warangal, the overthrow of the Hoysala dynasty south of the Krishna River, and the occupation of Madura in the extreme south. Malik Kāfūr returned to Delhi in 1311 laden with spoils. Thereafter the fortunes of ʿAlāʾ al-Dīn and the dynasty declined. The sultan died in early 1316, and Malik Kāfūr’s attempted usurpation ended with his own death.

A poetic tale of his attack on Chittor in 1303 CE to capture the queen of Chittor, Rani Padmini, the wife of Rawal Ratan Singh and the subsequent story have been immortalized in the epic poem Padmavat, written by Malik Muhammad Jayasi in the Awadhi language in the year 1540.

He was a strategist and military commander who commanded forces across the Indian subcontinent. Sultan Ala-ud-din Khilji is also noted in history for being one of the few rulers in the world to have repeatedly defended his empire against Mongol invasions. He defeated large Mongol armies and then launched punitive expeditions against them in Central Asia, around modern-day Afghanistan.

Alauddin Khilji's original name was Ali Gurshasp. He was the eldest son of Shihabuddin Mas'ud, who was the elder brother of the Khilji dynasty's founder Sultan Jalaluddin. He had three brothers: Almas Beg, Qutlugh Tigin and Muhammad.

Alauddin was brought up by Jalaluddin after Shihabuddin's death. He married a daughter of Jalaluddin, who appointed him as the governor of Kara. Alauddin was not on good terms with his wife and his mother-in-law, and disliked Jalaluddin's family. He became determined to dethrone Jalaluddin, and found allies among the supporters of Malik Chajju, the former governor of Kara who had been deposed by Jalaluddin.