Raziya Sultana
Raziyya, or Raziyyat-ud-Din, d. 1240, Sultana of Delhi, 1236-40. Daughter of Sultan Iltutmish, who chose her to succeed him in preference to his son, she was the only woman ruler to sit on the throne of Delhi. After the death of her father (1236) the nobles disregarded his wishes and placed her incompetent brother Ruknud-Din on the throne who was ousted after a few months, and Raziyya ascended the throne. She put down all opposition with a firm hand, and casting aside her veil, held her court like any other sultan. But her sex was against her, and her love for her Abyssinian slave, Yaqut, on whom she lavished her favours, alienated the nobles, who murdered Yaqut. She was sent as a prisoner to Malik Altuniya, thesovernor of Bhatinda, in 1236, but she won him over, and married him, and with his aid sought to regain her throne. But both were defeated, pursued, and killed.
