The late Delhi Sultanate and the "seven cities" of Delhi



(*The story continues from the 1300's...*)
*MAPS*
An overview of the rapid rise, constant fluctuations, and steep decline of the Sultanate; and here's a *dynastic chart* and a *map of early Delhi monuments*


*VIJAYA
STAMBHA*
((The real action was now local: the next victory tower was built in the Rajput fort of Chittor in 1448 by Rana Kumbha, to celebrate his triumph over the Sultan of Malwa))
Tombs and walls from the Lodhi dynasty (1451-1526) survive, in New Delhi's Lodi Gardens
((And yet another sign of the times: in independent Bengal, c.1487/8, the local sultan built a victory tower of his own in *Gaur*))
Masjid Moth (c.1500), named for a kind of small grain, was constructed by Miyan Bhuwa, a minister of Sikandar Lodhi (r.1489-1517)
*VASCO
DA GAMA*
((Meanwhile, in 1498, Vasco da Gama had his famous audience with the Zamorin of Calicut; from then on the European mercantile presence on the *Malabar* and *Coromandel* Coasts was constantly increasing))
Sikandar Lodhi's own tomb is also in the Lodhi Gardens, along with the magnificent Bara Gumbad mosque and other survivals of his reign
*PANIPAT
1526*

After him came the unlucky Ibrahim Lodhi (r.1517-26), who was buried in Panipat on the field of his last, lost battle-- and the Delhi Sultanate came to an end




(6) DINPANAH-- Now called the Purana Qila (Old Fort); built c.1533-38 by Humayun, with additions by Sher Shah; said to be on the site of the legendary Indraprastha
Inside it is the "Qila-e Kuhna Masjid" (Old Fort Mosque), said to have been added by Sher Shah in 1541-- or maybe it was Humayun's own: see *Glenn D. Lowry*




The extensive ruins to the south of Delhi later struck British visitors as a scene of romantic melancholy




*SHAH-
JAHAN-
ABAD*
(7) SHAHJAHANABAD-- the famous walled city built by Shah Jahan (r.1627-58) and now called Old Delhi



 
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