Malika-i-Jahan (Alauddin Khalji)
| Malika-i-Jahan | |
|---|---|
| Shahzadi of the Delhi Sultanate | |
| Queen consort of the Delhi Sultanate | |
| Tenure | c. 1296–1316 |
| Spouse | Alauddin Khalji |
| Issue | Khizr Khan |
| House | Khalji (by birth) |
| Father | Jalaluddin Khalji |
| Mother | Malika-i-Jahan |
| Religion | Islam |
Malika-i-Jahan ("Queen of the World") was the first and chief wife of Sultan Alauddin Khalji, the second and most powerful ruler of the Khalji dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate. She was the mother of her husband's eldest son and heir-apparent, Crown prince Khizr Khan.
Malika-i-Jahan was the daughter of Jalaluddin Khalji, the founder and first sultan of the Khalji dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate. Her mother, also titled Malika-i-Jahan, was Sultan Jalaluddin's chief wife. She was quite an ambitious and arrogant lady and held great influence over the Sultan. She also influenced contemporary politics to great extent. Malika-i-Jahan had at least three brothers: Khan-i-Khan, Arkali Khan and Qadr Khan. Her future husband, Alauddin, was the son of Jalaluddin's older brother, Shihabuddin Mas'ud, making Malika-i-Jahan a first-cousin of Alauddin.
Malika-i-Jahan married her cousin, Alauddin, long before the Khalji revolution of 1290. The marriage was not a happy one. Malika-i-Jahan used to take pride in being the daughter of the Sultan and was neglected by Alauddin due to her haughty demeanour. He fell out with the princess when she attempted to dominate her husband and exhibited open jealousy and contempt towards his second wife, Mahru, the sister of Alp Khan. Once, while Alauddin and Mahru were together in a garden, Malika-i-Jahan attacked Mahru. In response, Alauddin assaulted her. The incident was reported to Jalaluddin, but the Sultan did not take any action against Alauddin.
Alauddin was also on bad terms with his mother-in-law, who was also titled Malika-i-Jahan. She, instead of bringing about reconciliation between the husband and wife, sided with her daughter and found fault with Alauddin. The fear of his mother-in-law, who had great influence over the reigning Sultan Jalaluddin, as well as the dignity of the Sultan himself, prevented Alauddin from complaining of his wife's disobedience to Jalaluddin. In 1296, Alauddin murdered his uncle, Jalaluddin, in a deceitful manner and took over the throne, proclaiming himself the new sultan of the Delhi Sultanate. Malika-i-Jahan never forgave her husband for the murder of her father.
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