This book relates the political history of the Sultanate of Delhi from the first beginning to 1434. This story does not learn us much about East-Africa except that the many African slaves most probably came from there. At the end of the 15th century the Africans rose in many kingdoms of India to important positions, even became the rulers. As the books describing these events are from outside our time-span, and as they do not directly relate to the East-African history only some books are given as examples. I will give here all sections in this book that relate to African people in India.

Raziyya Iltutmish(ruled 1236-1240)
Raziyya (or Razia, or Radiyya) Iltutmish (or Altamsh) was the first Sultana (a Moslem woman ruler) of Northern India. Her father was Shamsudin Iltutmish, a former Turkish slave who became the greatest Sultan of the Mamluk ("Slave") Dynasty in Delhi. She was put on the throne by her fathers Amirs.. Her half-brother revolted and in response, riots broke out in the city. Raziyya herself led the troops that put down these riots.
She dressed like a man, wearing trousers, a turban and a sword. She hunted, held court and led her army in battle. She also tried to raise non-Turks to high positions. It has been speculated (but only much later) that Raziyya fell in love with Jamal al-Din Yaqut, an Ethiopian slave in her court, who she in an attempt to build her own power-base had promoted, to the rank of intendant of the stable (amir-i akhur). It alienated the people who had put her in power. One day it was witnessed that Yaqut helped Raziyya get on her horse. The fact that Sultana allowed herself to be touched by a slave was seen as a violation of ethical behavior and was used  as a pretext to have her removed from the throne.

p25

Malik Jamal ud din Yakut (1), the Abyssinian, was made lord of the stables, and the constant companion of the Sultan, for this he became the object of jealousy of the nobles and the amirs. It so happened that Sultan Razia wore high cap, the coat and the male dress, at length, she would come out with veils on. She never rode but on elephants.

Meanwhile, the news regarding the hostility of Malik Izz ud din Kanjan (2), the amir of Lahore (18), reaching her, Razia marched against him, and defeated and compelled him to sue for peace. On the 19th Sha'ban 637 H (15th March 1240AD) she returned to Dehli.
Subsequently Malik Altunia, the feoffee of Tabarhindah (3) revolting, the queen dispatched a force against him on the 9th Ramzan (10thApril 1240AD). Some of the amirs, maliks, and the Shamsi slaves (4) joined with him, and having rebelled, put Jamal ud din Yakut (1), the Abyssinian to death.           
Razia Begum had ruled (in Delhi) from 1236. In 1240 AD the Turkish (slave) nobles deposed her and declared Bahram Shah as their ruler, and Razia (was later) killed.
Bahram Shah in turn was overthrown in 1242 when, under the influence of one of his courtiers,  he contemplated the wholesale removal of the Turkish slave officers. The next extract is from the reign of the next Sultan.

p31

An account of Sultan Ala ud din Masud Shah (5)
...... he ascended the throne on 8th Zil Ka-da 639 H (10 May 1242AD).............
Some time afterwards, when the akta's (6) of the empire and the affairs of the kingdom were put in order, the news relating to the army of Mughals (7) arrived from Uchch (8). Having collected his forces from all the quarters the Sultan marched against them. When he reached the banks of Beah (9), the Mughals (7) were informed that an immense Muslim army, the like of which had never been collected by any of the previous sovereigns was advancing against them. Panic stricken, they made their way to Khorasan (10), and the Sultan returned to Dar ul Mulk Dehli.
In the meantime, a number of Abyssinians and worthless persons had gained access to the presence of the sultan, and used to influence him in the committal of unworthy acts and habits, so much so that (the practice of ) killing the amirs and seizing their chattels was gaining place in his nature, and he was steadfast in resolve (in that habit)..........        
p139
During the reign of the Delhi Sultan Firuz Shah Tughluq it happened that a man called Shams Damaghani (11) asked the Sultan the tax-farm of the province of Gujarat offering to pay the Sultan a way higher return.
In the year 778 H (1376-1377 AD) Shams Damaghani (11) offered annually 40 lacs (12) of tanks (13), 100 elephants, 200 Arab horses, and 400 slaves, children of Hindu chiefs and Abyssinians (59) over and above the present payment for Gujrat (14). The present tax collector could not meet this offer and was removed. But he knew that Shams Damaghani (11) could not meet this target. And in effect he couldn't and rebelled. The rebellion was crushed.

 

In 1389, another African in Delhi was Malik Sarwar, whom R.C. Majumdar describes as an eunuch, probably of Negro blood. he was a slave of Sultan Muhammad and in 1389 became the sultan's deputy, with the title of Khvaja Jahan (15). The sultan later conferred on him the title of Malik-ush-Sharq left Delhi for Jaunpur in 1394 and eventually began to rule as an independent king. He was later succeeded by an adopted son whose name was Malik Qaranful (clove), a name commonly given to African slaves. Some observers assume, therefore that he was african. His official title was Sultan Mubarak Shah. The next king in this line was Mubarak's brother, Ibrahim, who ascended to the throne as Shams-ud-din Ibrahim. His identity is more obscure. If he were in fact Mubarak's brother he was probably African. Majumdar simply states that after Mubarak died in 1402 " the amirs raised his brother Ibrahim to the throne". The lack of a clearer identification of Ibrahim is most unfortunate, because it was during his rule that Jaunpur became famous and prosperous. It emerged as a center of learning, attracted renowned writers; it is also noted for its impressive architecture, especially the mosques. But whatever the ethnic identity of Ibrahim, it is likely that both Malik-ush-Sharq and Mubarak Shah were Africans. The three together made Jaunpur a prominent kingdom during the fifteenth century. Ibrahim reigned till 1436 and was succeeded by his son; by then however nobody talked anymore about an African ruler. The following extract is a collection of paragraphs found in Sirhindi's book concerning Malik Sarwar and his dynasty and the kingdom they founded. Nowhere however Sirhindi mentions that he was African.   

p154

Account of Sultan Muhammad Shah, the youngest son of Sultan Firoz Shah.
On 6th Rabi ul Akhir of the year above mentioned (4th April 1389 AD) Muhammad Shah mounted the throne of the empire at Samana.......
The Amirs of Hindustan (34) such as Malik Sarwar, the governor of the city, Malik ul Shark (19) Nasir ul Mulk....... joined the Sultan with about 50,000 horse and innumerable foot. Malik Sarwar received the title of Khwaja i Jahan (15) and the vizirate.
p161
In the month of Rajab of this year (May-June 1392 AD) a letter arrived from Khwaja i Jahan, who was the sultan's locum tenens (16) in Dehli, bringing the information that Islam Khan was about to depart from Multan (17) and Lahore (18), with the object of stirring up a rebellion....Khwaja i Jahan was made vizir....

p163-164
Account of Sultan Ala ud din Sikandar Shah.
On the 19th Rabi ul Auwal (22 jan ) of the same year (796 H , 1394 AD) he ascended the throne... The vizirate was conferred upon Khwaja i Jahan (15), and the various offices and posts were suffered to remain in the old hands.
His rule lasted for one month and sixteen days. God knows the truth.
Account of Sultan Mahmud Nasir ud din Shah.
The amirs who were in possession of feudal lands on the west,.... encamping themselves at Jawarbag wanted to go back to their respective akta's (6) without an interview (with the new sultan ) This information reaching Khwaja i Jahan, he succeeded in bringing the Amirs within the city and making them pay homage to Sultan Mahmud.... The post of vizir was bestowed upon Khwaja i Jahan (15) ...
The affairs of the feudal lands of Hindustan (34) were far from satisfactory owing to the turbulence of the base infidels. The title of Sultan ul Shark (19) was conferred upon Khwaja i Jahan and the affairs of Hindustan from Kanauj (20) to Behar (21) devolved upon him.
In the month of Rajab 796 H (May 1394 AD) May its dignity increase, Khwaja i Jahan (15) was ordered off towards Hindustan with twenty well-equipped elephants. Having punished the infidels of Etawah (22), Kol (23), Khor (24), Kambal (25) and the environs of Kanauj, he proceeded to Jaunpur, and brought under his subjection the fiefs, such as Kanauj (20), Karah (26), Oudh (27), Sandilah (28), Dalmu (29), Bahraich (30), Bihar (21), and Tirhut (31). Most of the infidels were extirpated, and those fortresses that had been destroyed by them were restored. The Most High God conferred strength and victory upon Muslims. The Rai of Jajnagar (32) and the king of Lakhnauti (33), who used to send elephants every year to Delhi, now presented Khwaja i Jahan (15) with elephants.

p174

Due to endless civil war in the capital the outlying districts found themselves more and more independent.
.....the outlying parts of the kingdom that formerly remained in the possession of the amirs and the maliks were kept by them. .....the fiefs on the side of Hindustan (34) e.g. Kanauj (20), Oudh (27), Karah (26), Dalmau, Sandilah (28), Bahraich (30), Bihar (21) and Jaunpur under Khwaja i Jahan...
After the death of Khwaja i Jahan (15) at Jaunpur in that year Malik Mubarak Karanful (35) succeeded to his titles and took the designation of Mubarak Shah. All the districts came under his possession.

p175

In Jamadi ul auwal 803 H (Dec-Jan 1400-1401 AD)  Ikbal set out for Hindustan.....
He then proceeded to Kanauj when Sultan ul Shark Mubarak Shah (19) also came up from Hindustan (34). Between the two forces intervened the Ganges which neither of the parties could ford. The battle went on for two months till the belligerents retraced their way homewards.

p176

In 804 H (1401-1402 AD)....Accompanied by Ikbal, Mahmud marched to Kanauj (20). In that year Sultan Mubarak Shah died, and his younger brother Ibrahim succeeded him under the title of Sultan Ibrahim. At the approach of Sultan Mahmud and Ikbal Khan (41), Ibrahim came out to meet them with a large army. When the two forces neared each other and a fight was impending, the Sultan left Ikbal in the lurch on pretence of hunting to join Ibrahim. The latter paid him no attention, so he drew off and went to Kanauj. Here he drove out Shah Zadah Hariwi (36), who held the place for Mubarak Shah and took possession of the place. Ikbal went back to Dehli and Ibrahim to Jaunpur.
In the month of Jamadi ul auwal 809 H (Oct - Nov 1406) the Sultan marched against Kanauj (20)... .

p180-181-182

At the approach of Sultan Mahmud to Kanauj, Sultan Ibrahim crossed the Ganges and presented a bolt front. After some time Sultan Ibrahim retired to Jaunpur and Sultan Mahmud retraced his way to Dehli. On the homeward march the Sultan's army dispersed his men going to their respective fiefs. Receiving intelligence of this circumstance, Ibrahim turned round and came to Kanauj (20). Malik Mahmud Tarmati, who had  been left in command by Sultan Mahmud, was besieged at Kanauj. This state of affairs continued for four months. At last, receiving no relief, Tarmati was forced to surrender and seek an interview. Kanauj was entrusted to Ikhtiar Khan, the grandson of Malik Daulatyar Kambal (37).
Sultan Ibrahim having passed the rainy season at Kanauj (20) worked his way to Delhi in Jamadi ul auwal 810 H. Nusrat Khan Gurg Andaz (38), Tatar Khan (39), the son of Sarang Khan, and Malik Marhaba (40), the slave of Ikbal Khan (41), deserted Sultan Mahmud and joined Sultan Ibrahim. Asad Khan Lodi was besieged at Sambhal (42)(by Ibrahim). On the second day, he surrendered and the fort was given by Ibrahim to Tatar Khan (39). From thence, the victor moved onwards to Dehli intending to cross the Jumna at the ford of Kicha in the vicinity of the city (Dehli). Information reached him that, Zafar Khan after his conquest of Dhar, made Alb Khan, the son of Dilawar Khan (43), a prisoner, and was bound for Jaunpur. Sultan Ibrahim left Marhaba at Baran with a small battalion, and returned by the ford of Kicha on his way to Jaunpur. In Zil Ka'da, of the aforesaid year (Mar. Apr 1408 AD), Sultan Mahmud left Dehli for Baran and Malik Marhaba (40) gave him battle, but the latter, being defeated at the first onset, made off and was pursued by the Sultan's army and ultimately done to death. The Sultan then continued his way to Sambhal (42), but before he reached the banks of the Ganges, Tatar Khan (39) left his garrison behind (Sambhal) and ran away to Kanauj (20). Sambhal (42) was entrusted to Asad Khan Lodi and the Sultan came back to his capital.

p185

In Muharram, 816 H..... It transpired that, Sultan Ibrahim had surrounded Kadir Khan, the son of Mahmud Khan, and a fight had taken place between the two. Being not in command of sufficient forces, Daulat Khan refrained himself from opposing Sultan Ibrahim.
p214-215-216
The Sultan (of Dehli) summoned Malik Mubariz to his presence for advice, and in the month of Muharram, 831 H. (Oct-Nov. 1427AD) he ordered his army off to Bianah (44).
On the way, there came an epistle from Kadir Khan, the ruler of Kalpi (45), communicating the approach of Sharki, (Sultan Ibrahim Sharqi)(19), at which the powerful lord and the centre of the universe, made a change of front and went out to meet the invader. It got wind that, Sharki having laid waste Bhungaon (46), was working his way to Badaon (47). The Sultan crossed the Juan at Nuh-Patal (48), sacked Chartoli (49) and from thence, he led his army to Atroli (50).
It now reached the ears of the Emperor that, Muthtass Khan, brother of Sharki, had arrived at Etawah (22) with a large contingent and numerous elephants. Upon this, the king detached from the main body Malik ul Shark Mahmud Hasan with 10,000 brave and experienced horsemen and send him against Mukhtass Khan. Mahmud Hassan and his battalion descended upon the place where the army of Sharqi had pitched their camps. When the Khan was apprised of this news he fell back on his brother, but Mahmud Hasan halted there for some time more with the object of making a night attack upon the adversaries. As the latter were on the look out, he returned and rejoined the army of Dehli. Sharki (19) too, advanced along the banks of Ab i siyah (51) to Burhanabad (52), in district Etawah (22). To meet his enemy, the Sultan evacuated Atroli (50) and pitched his camp at Mabin Kotah (53), where the belligerents remained only a short distance apart. Discerning the valor of the Emperor, and the strength and vastness of his army, Sharki retired to Rapri (54) in the month of Jamadi ul auwal (Feb-Mar 1428 AD) There he crossed the Jaun at Gudrang (55), and marching on towards Bianah (44), he encamped on the river of Katehar (56). In pursuit of the retreating force, the powerful lord and the centre of the universe, crossed the Jaun with successive marches at Chandwar (57) and halted at a distance of four kuroh (58) from the enemy. The vanguard of the Imperial army made constant raids upon their opponents, carrying of prisoners, cattle and baggage. This state of things continued for twenty days, the belligerants remaining at a short distance from each other. Drawing out his equipage, footmen and cavalry, Sharqi presented a bolt front on 7th Jamadi ul akhir (24 Mar 1428 AD). His Majesty Malik ul Shark Sarwarul Mulk the vizir Sa'iyid us Sadat Sa'iyid Salim and several other prominent chiefs remained in the camp in safety, while some others were sent against the enemy such as Malik ul Shark Malik Mahmud Hasan, Khan i Azam Fath Khan, son of Sultan Muzaffar, Majlis i Ali Zirak Khan, Malik ul Shark  (19) Mali Sultan Shah, who received of late the title of Islam Khan, Malik Chaman, the grandson of Khan i Jahan (15), Malik Kalu Khani, master of elephants, Malik Ahmad Tuhfa and Malik Mukbil Khan. The action commenced at noon and continued till sun down, and when night fell the combatants withdrew to their respective encampments. Neither side retreating, fighting continued till the end. There were many wounded on the side of Sharki, so that, when on the next day, he saw the strength of the royal forces, he marched off towards the Jaun. On the 17th Jamadi ul akhir (sat 3 Apr 1428 AD) he forded (the river) at Gudrang, made his way to Rapri (54) and from thence retraced his steps to his own country. The Emperor pursued him to Gudrang, but the contending party being Muhammadan, he refrained himself from any further chase.

p240

The travelers from Hindustan (34) brought intelligence of a war having broken out between Sultan Ibrahim and Alb Khan, on account of Kalpi (45). Previous to this, his majesty had decided to march his army there ; and on hearing this intelligence his course was decided.
(he would be killed however a couple days later)

p242

Each of those irreligious mad fellows, such as Ranu the black, his assistants and confederates, at the side of whose vileness even the black-demon is repugnant, and before whose noise the sound of hell wait with anxiety, (then rushed out) martyred the righteous Emperor with their dagger and javelin.
p245
Ranu the black, the slave of Sidhpal was ordered off to Bianah (44) with a big force and the whole of his family to obtain possession of the shikk Bianah. (he concurs it without problems but then reinforcements arrive) The treacherous, wicked and vile infidels lost the power of remaining (in the battle-field) and at the very first onset they made a stampede. The accursed Ranu the black and many other were made food for the unsparing sword.

(1) Malik Jamal ud din Yakut: Jamal ud-Din Yaqut (also Yakut; died 1240) was an African Siddi slave-turned-nobleman who was a close confidant of Razia Sultana, the first and only female monarch of the Delhi Sultanate in India. Yakut was first the puppet of Razia Sultan's stepmother but after sometime he became a trustworthy soldier of the Delhi Sultanate.

(2) Malik Izz ud din Kanjan: real name: Malik Izz al-Din Kabir Khan rebelled in 1238; he surrendered to the Sultana and his fief taken from him. He was later instated in Multan while the ruler of Multan took over Lahore.

(3) Malik Altunia, the feoffee of Tabarhindah: Malik Ikhtiyar-ud-din Altunia was the governor of Bhatinda (Punjab) in India under the rule of the Delhi Sultanate under the Mamluk dynasty.

(4) Shamsi slaves: The Turkish slave soldiers were called the Shamsi nobles. During the reign of IItutmish, the forty slave commanders occupied the top leadership positions of the Shamsi nobles group and also had important portfolios in the Sultanate as regional military governors and state ministers.

(5) Sultan Ala ud din Masud Shah: Ala ud-Din Masud (died 10 June 1246, r. 1242–1246) was the seventh sultan of the Mamluk dynasty (Slave dynasty).

(6) akta's of the empire: division of land or alienated lands in general.

(7) army of Mughals: The Mughals had their ancestral domains in Turkistan (Central Asia) from which in the 16^th century they would concur India.

(8) Uchch: frequently referred to as Uuch Sharif is a historic city in the southern part of Pakistan's Punjab province.

(9) Beah: a river in Punjab (India and Pakistan)

(10) Khorasan: Afghanistan + Eastern Iran.

(11) Shams Damaghani: He supposedly lost his rebellion because the nobles in Gujarat rallied around the royal cause, then attacked and killed him in 1381.

(12) lacs; lakh is a unit in the Indian numbering system equal to one hundred thousand.

(13) Tanks; tanka: Iltutmish (r1211-1236) introduced the silver Tanka and the copper Jital-the two basic coins of the Sultanate period, with a standard weight of 175 grains (about 11 gr in silver).

(14) Gujrat; Gujarat: in northwestern India.

(15) Khvaja Jahan or Khwaja i Jahan: In 1389, Malik Sarwar received the title of Khwajah-i-Jahan. In 1394, he was appointed as the governor of Jaunpur and received his title of Malik-us-Sharq from Sultan Nasiruddin Mahmud Shah Tughluq (1394–1413). Soon, he established himself as an independent ruler and took the title of Atabak-i-Azam.

(16) locum tenens: a person who temporarily fulfills the duties of another.

(17) Multan: located in Punjab, Pakistan.

(18) Lahore: Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab.

(19) Sultan ul Shark: Shark = the East = Sultan of Jaunpur. Sultan Ibrahim Sharqi: The Jaunpur Sultanate attained its greatest height under the younger brother of Mubarak Shah, who ruled as Shams ud-din Ibrahim Shah (ruled 1402–1440).

(20) Kanauj; (Uttar Pradesh) was the focal point of three empires: the Rashtrakutas of Deccan, the Gurjara Pratiharas of Malwa, and the Palas of Bengal.

(21) Behar: Bihar is a state in East India, bordering Nepal.

(22) Etawah: is a city on the banks of Yamuna River in the state of Western Uttar Pradesh in India.

(23) Kol: the Kol people are a tribe in Jharkhand, West Bengal, Bihar, Assam, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. Mostly landless and dependent on forest produce to make a living.

(24) Khor: is a town in the region of Uttar Pradesh.

(25) Kambal: in the region of Himachal Pradesh in India.

(26) Karah: in Bihar state in East India.

(27) Oudh: The Oudh State was a princely state in the Awadh region of North India.

(28) Sandilah: is a town in Hardoi district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.

(29) Dalmu: is a historic town and tehsil headquarters in Rae Bareli district of Uttar Pradesh, India.

(30) Bahraich: a district of the Uttar Pradesh state of India situated in North eastern part of Devipatan Division.

(31) Tirhut: Tirhut Commissionary is an administrative-geographical unit of Bihar in India.

(32) Rai of Jajnagar: modern Orissa.

(33) Lakhnauti: also known as Gauḍa, an ancient ruined city in West Bengal, India.

(34) Hindustan: is the Persian name for India, a secondary meaning (here used) of Hindustan is as a geographic term for the Indo-Gangetic Plain in northern India e.g. Kanauj, Oudh, Karah, Dalmau, Sandilah, Bahraich, Bihar and Jaunpur.

(35) Malik Mubarak Karanful: Malik Karanful Mubarak Shah Xharki was the Shark Sultan of the Sultanate of Jaunpur. Malik Karanful was the adopted son of the habshi eunuch Malik Sarwar Khwadja-i Djahan Malik al-Shark and succeeded him on his death in 1399. Like his adoptive father, he was also a habshi. Karanful took the royal title of sultan by the name of Mubarak Shah and had the khutba read in his own name, issuing coin. From the title of Malik al-Shark (king of the East) derived the name of the dynasty sharkida.

(36) Shah Zadah Hariwi: Shahzada fath Khan Hariwi (d1452), (a Sharqi noble = Habshi) a famous noble and general of Mubarak Shah and Ibrahim Shah.

(37) Malik Daulatyar Kambal: former governor of Kanauj.

(38) Nusrat Khan Gurg Andaz: governor of Lahore 1432-1433

(39) Tatar Khan, the son of Sarang Khan: Sarang Khan had been governor of Multan and Dipalpur at the end of the 14^th century.

(40) Malik Marhaba: he got appointed in charge of Baran near Bulandshahr by Sultan Ibrahim where he committed suicide when under attack by Sultan Mahmud in 1408 at Baran.

(41) Ikbal Khan: The noble who took power in Delhi after it got destroyed by Tamerlane.

(42) Sambhal: is a city located in the Sambhal district of Uttar Pradesh state in India.

(43) Dilawar Khan: Dilawar Khan Ghori was Sultan of the Malwa Sultanate during the decline of the Delhi Sultanate. After serving at the court in Delhi, he was appointed governor at Dhar in C.E. 1390–91. He died in 1406.

(44) Bianah: 160 km south of Delhi.

(45) Kalpi: is a Historical city and municipal board in Jalaun district in Uttar Pradesh, India.

(46) Bhungaon: in Teonthar, Rewa, Madhya Pradesh India.

(47) Badaon: was the Muhammadan capital of Katehar for upwards of four centuries .

(48) Nuh-Patal: a ford at the river Jamna. (Ford= shallow place to cross a river.)

(49) Chartoli: part of Ichkela; Madhya Pradesh, India.

(50) Atroli: Atrauli is a town and a municipal board in Aligarh district in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India.

(51) Ab i siyah: river passing Kanauj; literally meaning black water.

(52) Burhanabad: is a small town in India. Located in Etah district, Uttar Pradesh, India, near Kasganj and Agra.

(53) Mabin Kotah; other translators have here: Malykota, Mali Koma, Payin Kotah.

(54) Rapri: This place is situated in Firozabad, Uttar Pradesh, India.

(55) he crossed the Jaun at Gudrang: the jumna or jamna river at Narang (Gudrang is mistake). It is very close to Rapri.

(56) the river of Katehar: must be river Gambhir; Bayana (Bianah) is close to this river.

(57) Chandwar: Chandawar, on the Yamuna River close to Agra.

(58) kuroh: or kos; the unit represent the distance at which another human could be heard. (3-4 km).

(59) Other authors writing on enslaving (children): Tuan Ch'eng-Shih (863); Jahiz: Sudan (869); Abu Zaid al Hassan (916); Hamza ibn-'Ali ibn-Ahmad (1017); Marvazi (1120); Mudjmal al -Tawarikh wa-l-qisas (1126); Al Idrisi (1150); Yahya bin Ahmad Sirhindi (1434); Ibn al Wardi (1456); Al Himyari; (1461).