Qutb Ud-din Aibak belongs to the dynasty of :
AThe Mamluk dynasty
BThe Lodhi dynasty
CThe Khalji dynasty
DThe Tughlaq dynasty
Answer:
A. The Mamluk dynasty
Read Explanation:
- Qutb Ud-din Aibak was the founder of the Slave Dynasty, also known as the Mamluk Dynasty, which ruled the Delhi Sultanate from 1206 to 1290 AD.
- The term Mamluk is an Arabic word meaning 'owned' or 'slave,' referring to the practice of military slavery where elite soldiers were recruited from Central Asia and the Caucasus.
- Aibak was a trusted general of Muhammad Ghori. Following Ghori's death in 1206, Aibak established his independent rule in Lahore.
- He is historically known as Lakh Baksh (Giver of Lakhs) for his immense generosity.
- Key architectural contributions initiated by Aibak include the Qutub Minar in Delhi, dedicated to the Sufi saint Khwaja Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki, and the Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque, the first mosque built in Delhi.
- His reign was brief, lasting only four years (1206–1210 AD). He died in 1210 AD following an accidental fall from his horse while playing Chaugan (an early form of polo) in Lahore.
- He was succeeded by his son-in-law Iltutmish, who is often considered the 'real consolidator' of the Delhi Sultanate.