Indian Castles 1206-1526: The Rise And Fall Of The Delhi Sultanate (fortress)
by Konstantin Nossov /
2006 / English / PDF
16.7 MB Download
From the beginning of the 11th century onwards, the constant sate
of war amongst the various Indian kingdoms left them open to
outside attack, and Muslim Turkic tribesmen began to pour over the
north-west border from modern-day Afghanistan. These raiders
consolidated their successes and by 1206 a Muslim state, the
Sultanate of Delhi, had been founded, which then extended its
direct rule or influence over most of the subcontinent.
From the beginning of the 11th century onwards, the constant sate
of war amongst the various Indian kingdoms left them open to
outside attack, and Muslim Turkic tribesmen began to pour over the
north-west border from modern-day Afghanistan. These raiders
consolidated their successes and by 1206 a Muslim state, the
Sultanate of Delhi, had been founded, which then extended its
direct rule or influence over most of the subcontinent.
A turbulent period followed. The Sultanate was in constant flux as
five dynasties rose and fell: Mamluk or Slave (1206-90), Khalji
(1290-1320), Tughluq (1320-1413), Sayyid (1414-51), and Lodi
(1451-1526). 19 out of the 35 Sultans died at the hands of
assassins and the Sultanate was torn by factional rivalries and
court intrigues. As a consequence of this, the territory under its
direct control expanded and shrank depending on the personality,
fortunes and military success of each individual Sultan.
A turbulent period followed. The Sultanate was in constant flux as
five dynasties rose and fell: Mamluk or Slave (1206-90), Khalji
(1290-1320), Tughluq (1320-1413), Sayyid (1414-51), and Lodi
(1451-1526). 19 out of the 35 Sultans died at the hands of
assassins and the Sultanate was torn by factional rivalries and
court intrigues. As a consequence of this, the territory under its
direct control expanded and shrank depending on the personality,
fortunes and military success of each individual Sultan.
This era is considered to be the defining age of Indian castle and
fortification design. The instability and feudal division of the
country throughout the greater part of the period led to the
intense fortification of many of the provinces, as each small lord
sought to bolster his position by constructing castles. It was also
the period during which Indian castles started to show their
defining features, elements of which would be modified in later
years as the technology of siege warfare evolved. The combined
influence of the Islamic and Hindu architectural tradition lends
these fortifications a unique and exotic style.
This era is considered to be the defining age of Indian castle and
fortification design. The instability and feudal division of the
country throughout the greater part of the period led to the
intense fortification of many of the provinces, as each small lord
sought to bolster his position by constructing castles. It was also
the period during which Indian castles started to show their
defining features, elements of which would be modified in later
years as the technology of siege warfare evolved. The combined
influence of the Islamic and Hindu architectural tradition lends
these fortifications a unique and exotic style.
This book covers all the major sites of the period, including the
fabled seven medieval cities on the site of present-day Delhi, as
well as the most prominent sieges.
This book covers all the major sites of the period, including the
fabled seven medieval cities on the site of present-day Delhi, as
well as the most prominent sieges.