Iltutmish was a brave soldier and an experienced military commander. The Sultan, Muhammad Ghori, was very much impressed by his valour and instructed his slave Aibak to free him from slavery. He led the army against Yaldoz, Qubacha, Rajputs and Bengarand always attained victory due to his ability and capability.
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Dr. A. L. Srivastava writers, “Iltutmish was not a builder of civil institutions and was not a constructive statesman. But Dr K. A. Nizami does not agree with Srivastava and remarks, “The administrative setup of Tqta. (Province) and the maintenance of the army of the Sultan were his contributions to the administration of the Delhi Sultanate.” Moreover, introduction of Arabic coinage such as silver ‘Tanka’ and copper ‘Jital’ were also wonderful contributions of Iltutmish.
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Iltutmish was a far-sighted diplomat. He gave birth to dynastic monarchy system and strengthened the political structure of the Sultanate. His behaviour towards Chengiz Khan and Mangbarni was purely diplomatic He cleverly refused to support prince Mangbarni and yet did not let the Muslims be annoyed.
He provided a legal status to the infant Muslim kingdom and established dynastic rule very successfully. Dr. R. P. Tripathi writes about him, “The history of Muslim Sovereignty in India begins with him.” Professor K. A. Nizami narrates in praise of him, “It was he, who gave the country a capital, an independent state, a monarchial form of government and. governing class.”
Professor A. B. M. Habibullah writes, “Aibak outlined the Delhi Sultanate and its sovereign status. Iltutmish was unquestionably its first king.”
lltutmish was a religious person. He used to spend enough time in worship and contemplation. He gave liberal patronage to Sufi saints and other learned persons. But the was intolerant towards the Hindus and his behaviour towards the Shias was also callous. He destroyed the Hindu temple of Mahakal at Ujjain, He did not aziya bother to consult the Ulema again and again. Nomination: as his successor is a clear indication of this fact.
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Minhaj-us-Siraj praises Sultan Iltutmish in these words: “No king so benevolent, sympathetic, and reverent to the learned and the old ever rose by his own efforts to the cradle of Empire.”
Although Professor Habibullah does not accept Iltutmish to be a great ruler, he mentioned, “He was an unusually able ruler who left his mark on every sheet of Sultanate’s activity.”
Lanepoole regards Iltutmish to be “a true founder of the Slave kings whom Aibak did not live long enough to consolidate.” Dr. Ishwari Prasad remarks, “Iltutmish is, undoubtedly, the real founder of the slave dynasty” for he crushed all his rivals, kept the Mongols away, linked the Sultanate with Khalifate, made Delhi the capital and gave India good and consolidated administration.
To sum up we may quote Dr. R. C. Majumdar, “Iltutmish may justly be regarded as the greatest ruler “of the early Turkish Sultanate of Delhi which lasted till 1290 A.D.
