Delhi Sultanate (12th to 16th century AD) Slavery in India

during delhi sultanate period (1206–1555), references abundant availability of low-priced indian slaves abound. many of these indian slaves used muslim nobility in subcontinent, others exported satisfy demand in international markets.

the revenue system of delhi sultanate produced considerable proportion of indian slave population these rulers, , subordinate shiqadars, ordered armies abduct large numbers of locals means of extracting revenue. while communities loyal sultan , regularly paid taxes excused practice, taxes commonly extracted other, less loyal groups in form of slaves. thus, according barani, shamsi slave-king balban (r. 1266–87) ordered shiqadars in awadh enslave peoples resistant authority, implying refused supply him tax revenue. sultan alauddin khalji (r. 1296–1316) reported have legalised enslavement of defaulted on revenue payments. policy continued during mughal era.

an greater number of people enslaved part of efforts of delhi sultans finance expansion new territories. example, while himself still military slave of ghurid sultan muizz u-din, qutb-ud-din aybak (r. 1206–10 first of shamsi slave-kings) invaded gujarat in 1197 , placed 20,000 people in bondage. 6 years later, enslaved additional 50,000 people during conquest of kalinjar. later in 13th century, balban s campaign in ranthambore, reportedly defeated indian army , yielded captives beyond computation .

levi states forcible enslavement of non-muslims during delhi sultanate motivated desire war booty , military expansion. gained momentum under khalji , tughluq dynasties, being supported available figures. zia uddin barani suggested sultan alauddin khalji owned 50,000 slave-boys, in addition 70,000 construction slaves. sultan firuz shah tughluq said have owned 180,000 slaves, 12,000 of whom skilled artisans. significant proportion of slaves owned sultans have been military slaves , not labourers or domestics. earlier traditions of maintaining mixed army comprising both indian soldiers , turkic slave-soldiers (ghilman, mamluks) central asia, disrupted rise of mongol empire reducing inflow of mamluks. intensified demands delhi sultans on local indian populations satisfy need both military , domestic slaves. khaljis sold thousands of captured mongol soldiers within india. china, turkistan, persia, , khurusan sources of male , female slaves sold tughluq india. yuan dynasty emperor in china sent 100 slaves of both sexes tughluq sultan, , replied sending same number of slaves of both sexes.