Jamal-ud-Din Yaqut

Jamal-ud-Din Yaqut (also "Jamaluddin Yakut") was an Abyssinian slave who was a close confidante of Razia Sultana, the first female monarch of the Delhi Sultanate in India and is speculated to have been her lover. Razia Sultana's patronage made him an influential member of the court, provoking racial antagonism amongst the nobles and clergy, who were primarily Turkish and already resented the rule of a female monarch.

Ethnic background

Jamal-ud-Din Yaqut lived during the time of the Sultan Iltutmish and then Razia Sultan, sometime from 1200 to 1240 CE, when he was slain in a revolt against Razia Sultan.cite book| last=Mernessi| first=Fatima | title=The Forgotten Queens of Islam | pages=97 | year=1997 | publisher=University of Minnesota Press | isbn=0816624399 ] Yaqut was a "habshi" (or "siddi"). "Habshi's" were slaves of East African descent frequently employed by Muslim monarchs in India for their reputed physical prowess and loyalty and as such were an important part of the armies and administration of the Delhi Sultanate. [http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9038707/Habshi Encyclopedia Britannica] ]

Biography

Yaqut rose in the ranks of the Delhi court, and found favour with the first female monarch of the Mamluk dynasty, Razia Sultana. Yaqut soon became a close advisor and was widely rumoured in the court and amongst the nobles to be the queen's lover. Contemporary historians were also conflicted in their assessment — many including Ibn Battuta record that their relationship was illicit and too intimate in public, but others assert that Yaqut was just a close advisor and friend.cite book| last=Mahajan| first=V. D. | title=History of Medieval India | pages=102 | year=2001 | publisher=S. Chand | isbn=8121903645 ] A particular incident that provoked the rumours was when Yaqut was observed sliding his arms under the queen's armpits to hoist her onto a horse, which was seen as a flagrant act of intimacy.cite book| last=Mernessi| first=Fatima | title=The Forgotten Queens of Islam | pages=97 | year=1997 | publisher=University of Minnesota Press | isbn=0816624399 ] His power and influence grew through his close relationship with Razia Sultana, who appointed him to the important post of superintendent of the royal stables, giving a loyalist an important post and challenging the power of the Muslim nobles and orthodox leaders.cite book| last=Mahajan| first=V. D. | title=History of Medieval India | pages=102 | year=2001 | publisher=S. Chand | isbn=8121903645 ] She awarded him the honorific title "Amir-al-Khayl" ("Amir of Horses") and later the much higher "Amir-al-Umara" ("Amir of Amirs"), much to the consternation and outrage of the Turkish nobility.cite book| last=Mernessi| first=Fatima | title=The Forgotten Queens of Islam | pages=97 | year=1997 | publisher=University of Minnesota Press | isbn=0816624399 ] Already resented for being a woman ruler by the Muslim nobles and clerics, Razia's proximity to an Abyssinian slave (considered racially inferior to the Turkish nobles who ruled the Sultanate) alienated the nobility and clerics and soon provoked open rebellion and conspiracy. [http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=107449 Queen empress of quiet] ] cite book| last=Keay | first=John | title=India: A History | pages=245 | year=2001 | publisher=Grove Press | isbn=0802137970 ] cite book| last=Mahajan| first=V. D. | title=History of Medieval India | pages=102 | year=2001 | publisher=S. Chand | isbn=8121903645 ]

A rebellion led by Malik Altunia, the governor of Bhatinda (Punjab) broke out against Razia and Yaqut; fearing a siege, Razia and Yaqut chose to go out of Delhi to engage the rebels. Forces loyal to Razia and Yaqut were routed by Altunia; Yaqut was killed and Razia was imprisoned until she married Altunia; however, both Razia and Altunia were subsequently killed in battle against Razia's brother Bahram Shah, who had usurped the throne of Delhi in Razia's absence.cite book| last=Mernessi| first=Fatima | title=The Forgotten Queens of Islam | pages=97 | year=1997 | publisher=University of Minnesota Press | isbn=0816624399 ] cite book| last=Mahajan| first=V. D. | title=History of Medieval India | pages=102 | year=2001 | publisher=S. Chand | isbn=8121903645 ]

Modern influence

The speculated relationship between the slave Yaqut and the queen Razia has become famous and a part of folklore in India. The character of Jamal-ud-Din Yaqut was played by the Indian actor Dharmendra in the 1983 Hindi film "Razia Sultan", whose plot was centred around the love story of Yaqut and Razia, who was portrayed by the actress Hema Malini. [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0152148/plotsummary Razia Sultan film] ]

References