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Medieval History / Delhi Sultanate

Sayyid and Lodi Dynasties


Sayyid and Lodi dynasties are the 4th and 5th dynasties of Delhi Sultanate. Sayyid dynasty ruled Delhi from 1414 to 1451 and Lodi dynasty ruled from the year 1451 to 1526.



Sayyid Dynasty

  • Sayyid Khizr Khan, who was the founder of Sayyid dynasty, was once an officer of Delhi Sultanate. He captured Delhi and established Sayyid dynasty after the death of the last Sultan of Tughlaq dynasty, Nasir-ud-din Mahmud Shah Tughlaq.

  • Khizr Khan has not taken up the title Sultan because of the fear of Timur and continued to remain as a vassal of the Timurids.

  • Mubarak Shah, son of Khizr Khan, succeeded him. He had a great vision, but his nobles were not in good terms with him and kept on revolting against him.

  • The last ruler of Sayyid dynasty is Ala-ud-din Alam Shah. He didn't even cross Palam in Delhi. He was a weak ruler and he surrendered Delhi throne to Bahlul Lodi and hence Lodi dynasty came to power.

Lodi Dynasty

  • Lodi dynasty belongs to Afghan race. The previous 4 dynasties of Delhi Sultanate were of Turkish race. Bahlul Lodi, the founder of lodi dynasty, was the first Afghan ruler of India.

  • The second king of Lodi dynasty is Sikandar Lodi. It was Sikandar Lodi, who built Agra city in 1506 AD and who shifted the capital from Delhi to Agra.

  • The last ruler of Lodi dynasty is Ibrahim Lodhi. In 1526 AD, Babur invaded India and killed Ibrahim Lodi in Panipat. It is called the First Battle of Panipat. With this, Delhi Sultanate came to end. Ibrahim Lodi was the only Sultan of Delhi to be killed in the battlefield. Mughals continued to rule from Agra.