Sayyid Dynasty (1414 - 1451 CE)

The Sayyid dynasty was the fourth dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate, with four rulers ruling from 1414 ce to 1451 ce. 

Founded by Khizr Khan, a former governor of Multan.

They succeeded the Tughlaq dynasty and ruled the sultanate until they were displaced by the Lodi dynasty.

Members of the dynasty derived their title, Sayyid, or the descendants of the Islamic prophet, Muhammad, based on the claim that they belonged to his lineage through his daughter Fatima, and son-in-law and cousin Ali.

Sayyid dynasty Sultans (Rulers):

1. Khizr Khan(1414 – 1421 ce)

He was the founder of the Sayyid dynasty, the ruling dynasty of the Delhi sultanate, in northern India soon after the invasion of Timur and the fall of the Tughlaq dynasty.

Khan was Governor of Multan under the Tughlaq ruler, Firuz Shah Tughlaq, and was known to be an able administrator.

He did not swear any royal title due to fear of Amir Timur.

He brought parts of Surat, Dilapur, and Punjab under his control.

But he lost Bengal, Deccan, Gujarat, Jaunpur, Khandesh, and Malwa.

During his reign, coins were continued to be struck in the name of previous Tughlaq rulers.

After his death on 20 May 1421, he was succeeded by his son Mubarak Khan.

2. Mubarak Shah (1421 - 1434 ce)

was the second monarch of the Sayyid dynasty which ruled the Delhi Sultanate

He took the title of Muizz-ud-Din Mubarak Shah.

He is the first Sultan ruler to appoint Hindu nobles in the court of Delhi.

He constructed “Mubarakbad” City on the banks of the river Jamuna.

He was murdered in 1434 and succeeded by his nephew, Muhammad Shah.

3. Muhammad Shah(1434 – 1445 ce)

He was the third monarch of the Sayyid dynasty which ruled the Delhi Sultanate.

He succeeded his uncle, Mubarak Shah to the throne.

He defeated the ruler of Malwa with the help of Bahlul Lodi the Governor of Lahore.

He conferred Bahlul Lodi with the title Khan-i-Khanan for help in defeating the ruler of Malwa.

Both Muhammad Shah and his son, Alam Shah who succeeded him, were supplanted by the Lodi dynasty.

4. Alam Shah (1445 – 1451 CE)

He was the fourth and last ruler of the Sayyid dynasty which ruled the Delhi Sultanate.

Born Ala ud-Din, he succeeded his father, Muhammad Shah to the throne and took on the regnal name of Alam Shah.

Alam Shah abandoned his charge in 1448 and retired to Budaun.

Three years later, Bahlul Lodi, who had made two prior attempts at capturing Delhi, took control of the capital to mark the beginning of the Lodi dynasty.