Sikandar Lodi, Second Lodi Ruler

Jamali-Kamali Mosque in Mehrauli Archeological Park Delhi /Credit: iStock

Jamali, a Sufi saint, was a contemporary of Sikander Lodi

Sikandar Lodi was the second ruler of the Lodi dynasty, last of the dynasties that comprised Delhi Sultanate that lasted from AD 1206 to1526. Born as Nizam Khan, he succeeded his father Bahlul Lodi after his death in 1489. Bahlul Lodi had nominated him his heir apparent. Sikandar was the son of the daughter of a Hindu goldsmith.

In 1494 he dealt a crushing defeat to Hussain Shah Sharqi of Jaunpur and demolished the Sharqi monuments in Jaunpur. He crushed the Raja of Tirhut and captured Chanderi in 1514. He was able to seize Bihar and signed a treaty with the Sultan of Bengal.

From 1506 to 1517 he devoted his energies to capturing Gwalior which remained unconquered under its Tomar ruler Raja Man Singh (1486-1517).

Sikandar Lodi is credited with the tightening of the espionage system. He introduced the system of auditing of accounts and Gaaz-i-Sikandar of 32 digits for measuring cultivated land.

Sikandar Lodi gave patronage of philosophy. His rule saw the rising popularity of Avicenna’s philosophy in Delhi. The famous Sufi saint, known by his nom de plume Jamali, was a poet at his court. Sikandar Lodi had written verses in Persian under the penname of Gulrakhi.

Sikandar Lodi was a bigot and destroyed Hindu temples including the Jwalamukhi temple at Nagarkot.

He died in 1517. His tomb is situated in Lodi Gardens in Delhi.

Tomb of Sikander Lodi / Image Credit

Sikander Lodi was succeeded by his son Ibrahim Lodi, the last Lodi Sultan whose defeat in the First Battle of Panipat in 1526 led to the formation of Mughal Empire in India,

It was believed by the credulous section of his subjects that he could perform miracles such as raising the dead to life.

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