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Bahlul Khan Lodi (1406 - 1489)
Bahlul Khan Lodi, the founder of the Lodi dynasty which ruled over Delhi for 75 years was born in the year 1406.
Bahlul was the son of Malik Bahram’s, (a Pashtun native to Multan working for the Governor of Multan) younger son Malik Kala. He was also the son-in-law of Bahram’s eldest son Malik Sultan Shah Lodi.
Sultan Shah Lodi worked under the Sayyid dynasty of Delhi and was appointed the Governor of Sirhind in Punjab.
Bahlul had a horse trading enterprise and once sold finely bred horses to the Sayyid ruler Sultan Muhammad Shah. He received a pargana and the status of ‘amir’ as his payment.
Bahlul also got an opportunity to help the Sultan when his territory was invaded by the Malwa Sultan. After this successful military engagement, the Sultan conferred on Bahlul the title Khan-i-Khanan. Bahlul also received a good part of Punjab for himself.
Bahlul attacked Delhi in 1443 & 1447 but was not successful.
Finally, the Sayyid ruler of Delhi Alam Shah retired in 1448 to Badaun in Uttar Pradesh.
Alam Shah’s minister Hamid Khan invited Bahlul to occupy the throne, which he did. On 19th April 1451, Bahlul Khan ascended to the throne of Delhi as the first Lodi ruler, ending the Sayyid dynasty’s reign.
On becoming the king of Delhi, he took on the title, Bahlul Shah Ghazi.
One of the first things he did after ascending the Delhi throne was to imprison Hamid Khan, as he might have proved dangerous for his position.
He extended his territory to Jaunpur (1479), Gwalior and upper Uttar Pradesh. He retained Delhi as his capital.
He appointed his son Babrak Shah as Jaunpur’s Viceroy in 1486. His second son Nizam Khan was named his heir apparent.
Bahlul’s death on 12 July 1489 was followed by a power struggle between his two sons. Nizam Khan succeeded him as the ruler of Delhi and assumed the name, Sikandar Lodi.
Bahlul ruled over Delhi for 38 years. His tomb is located at Chirag Dilli in Delhi.
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