Ibrahim Lodhi
Encyclopedia
Ibrahim Lodi (b.? - April 21, 1526) was one of the ruler of the Lodi dynasty who became the last Sultan
of the Delhi Sultanate
in India
. He was an Afghan (specifically of the Ghilzai
tribe of Pashtuns) who ruled over much of northern India
from 1517 to 1526, when he was defeated by Babur
's army.
Lodi attained the throne upon the death of his father, Sikandar Lodi, but was not blessed with the same ruling capability. He faced a number of rebellions. The Mewar
ruler Rana Sanga
extended his empire right up to western Uttar Pradesh
and threatened to attack Agra
. There was rebellion in the East also. Lodi also displeased the nobility when he replaced old and senior commanders by younger ones who were loyal to him. He was feared and loathed by his subjects. His Afghan nobility eventually invited Babur
to invade India.
Ibrahim died in the Battle of Panipat
, where Babur's artillery and the desertion of many of Lodi's soldiers led to his downfall, despite superior troop numbers.
, though is actually situated in near the tehsil
office in Panipat
, close to the Dargah
of Sufi saint Bu Ali Shah Qalandar
. It is a simple rectangular structure on a high platform approached by a flight of steps. In 1866, the British renovated the tomb and added an inscription mentioning Ibrahim Lodi’s defeat at the hands of Babur in order to belittle the Sultan even though Babur learned about the Sultan and didn't have any feeling of disdain for the Late Sultan.
Sultan
Sultan is a title with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic language abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", and "dictatorship", derived from the masdar سلطة , meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it came to be used as the title of certain rulers who...
of the Delhi Sultanate
Delhi Sultanate
The Delhi Sultanate is a term used to cover five short-lived, Delhi based kingdoms or sultanates, of Turkic origin in medieval India. The sultanates ruled from Delhi between 1206 and 1526, when the last was replaced by the Mughal dynasty...
in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. He was an Afghan (specifically of the Ghilzai
Ghilzai
Ghilzai are the largest Pashtun tribal confederacy found in Afghanistan and Pakistan. They are also known historically as Ghilji, Khilji, Ghalji, Ghilzye, and possibly Gharzai...
tribe of Pashtuns) who ruled over much of northern India
Indian subcontinent
The Indian subcontinent, also Indian Subcontinent, Indo-Pak Subcontinent or South Asian Subcontinent is a region of the Asian continent on the Indian tectonic plate from the Hindu Kush or Hindu Koh, Himalayas and including the Kuen Lun and Karakoram ranges, forming a land mass which extends...
from 1517 to 1526, when he was defeated by Babur
Babur
Babur was a Muslim conqueror from Central Asia who, following a series of setbacks, finally succeeded in laying the basis for the Mughal dynasty of South Asia. He was a direct descendant of Timur through his father, and a descendant also of Genghis Khan through his mother...
's army.
Lodi attained the throne upon the death of his father, Sikandar Lodi, but was not blessed with the same ruling capability. He faced a number of rebellions. The Mewar
Mewar
Mewar is a region of south-central Rajasthan state in western India. It includes the present-day districts of Pratapgarh, Bhilwara, Chittorgarh, Rajsamand, Udaipur, Dungarpur, Banswara and some of the part of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. The region was for centuries a Rajput kingdom that later...
ruler Rana Sanga
Rana Sanga
-Historical Fact:Maharana Sangram Singh was the ruler of Mewar state, a region lying within the present-day Indian state of Rajasthan, a desert region, between 1509 and 1527. He was a scion of the Sisodia clan of Suryavanshi Rajputs...
extended his empire right up to western Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
and threatened to attack Agra
Agra
Agra a.k.a. Akbarabad is a city on the banks of the river Yamuna in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, India, west of state capital, Lucknow and south from national capital New Delhi. With a population of 1,686,976 , it is one of the most populous cities in Uttar Pradesh and the 19th most...
. There was rebellion in the East also. Lodi also displeased the nobility when he replaced old and senior commanders by younger ones who were loyal to him. He was feared and loathed by his subjects. His Afghan nobility eventually invited Babur
Babur
Babur was a Muslim conqueror from Central Asia who, following a series of setbacks, finally succeeded in laying the basis for the Mughal dynasty of South Asia. He was a direct descendant of Timur through his father, and a descendant also of Genghis Khan through his mother...
to invade India.
Ibrahim died in the Battle of Panipat
First battle of Panipat
The first battle of Panipat took place in Northern India, and marked the beginning of the Mughal Empire. This was one of the earliest battles involving gunpowder firearms and field artillery.-Details:...
, where Babur's artillery and the desertion of many of Lodi's soldiers led to his downfall, despite superior troop numbers.
Tomb
His tomb is often mistaken to be the Sheesh Gumbad within Lodi Gardens DelhiDelhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
, though is actually situated in near the tehsil
Tehsil
A Tehsil or Tahsil/Tahasil , also known as Taluk and Mandal, is an administrative division of some country/countries of South Asia....
office in Panipat
Panipat
Panipat بَنِبَت is an ancient and historic city in Panipat district, Haryana state, India. It is 90 km north from Delhi and 169 km south of Chandigarh on NH-1. The three battles fought at the city were turning points in Indian history. The city is famous in India by the name of "City of...
, close to the Dargah
Dargah
A Dargah is a Sufi shrine built over the grave of a revered religious figure, often a Sufi saint. Local Muslims visit the shrine known as . Dargahs are often associated with Sufi meeting rooms and hostels, known as khanqah...
of Sufi saint Bu Ali Shah Qalandar
Bu Ali Shah Qalandar
Shaikh Sharafuddeen Bu Ali Qalandar Panipati was a Sufi saint of the Chishtī Order who lived in India. His dargah in the town of Panipat is a place of pilgrimage....
. It is a simple rectangular structure on a high platform approached by a flight of steps. In 1866, the British renovated the tomb and added an inscription mentioning Ibrahim Lodi’s defeat at the hands of Babur in order to belittle the Sultan even though Babur learned about the Sultan and didn't have any feeling of disdain for the Late Sultan.
External links
- http://www.indohistory.com/lodhi_dynasty.html
- http://www.webindia123.com/history/MEDIEVAL/delhisultanate/delhi%20sultanate4.htm
- http://sify.com/itihaas/fullstory.php?id=13233620