Razia Sultana (1205-1240) was in the throne of Delhi from 1236 to 1240. Her throne name was Jalalat Ud Din Razia. She was of Turkish Seljuks origin. Like other Muslim princesses of that time, she was trained to lead armies and how to administer kingdoms if necessary.

Razia Sultana was the nominated heiress of her father Iltutmish. Iltutmish was the first sultan who appointed a woman as his successor. Iltutmish first nominated his eldest son as his successor but he died prematurely. But the Muslim community was not ready to accept a lady as their Sultan. So they disregarded Iltutmish`s last wish and selected Ruknuddin Feroze Shaah, another son of Iltutmish as the successor of the throne after the Sultan died on April 29, 1236.

However, Rukunuddin could rule for a very short period. Iltutmish`s widow Shaah Turkaan ran the government on the name of ruknuddin while Ruknuddin was busy in having personal pleasure and drunken revelry. On November 9,1236 both Ruknuddin and his mother Shaha Turkaan was killed after only six months of power.

The noble body of Delhi court had to agree to allow Razia to reign as sultana of Delhi. When Razia was a child or in her adolescent period she had only a little chance to come in contact with the woman of the Harem and thereby could not learn the customary behavior of the ladies in the Muslim society. Even before she became the Sultana she used to pay attention to the political and administrative affair of the state. As she had to go out for battle on elephant back she used to wear dress like men and kept her face open, which was contrary to the custom.

Razia Sultana was competent politician and she was successfully able to keep the nobles in check. As a ruler she enlisted the population of Delhi and checked the strength of her army. Her greatest achievement in the political front was to control the rebel factions and conspiracy against each other. In this case, she seems to be amongst the most powerful rulers of Delhi Sultanate.

Razia Sultana believed most one of her Assyrian slaves, Jalal Ud din Yakut in the matters of ruling her reign. They two developed a special relationship. Some sources identify them as lovers while other sources opine that they were nothing but close confidants. Whatever was the reality, she aroused jealousy of the Muslim noble class by her favoritism for Yakut. The consequence was that the Governor of Bhatinda, a childhood friend of Razia named Malik Ikhtiar-ud-din Altunia refused to obey Razia`s order any more.

A battle occurred between Razia Sultana and Altunia, in which Yakut was killed. Altunia imprisoned Razia and Razia agreed to marry Altunia in order to survive. Meanwhile Razia`s brother Muiuddin Baharam Shaha seized the throne of Delhi. Altunia and Razia Sultana took back sultanate from Bahram through battle and both of them were killed on October 14, 1240. Bahram was later dethroned for his incapability and incompetence.

Razia Sultana was a very efficient ruler. She wanted to cut down tax on non-Muslims but the nobility did not agree with her. Razia always wanted to point out that the spirit of religion was more important than its parts and Muhammad himself was in opposition to overburden the non-Muslims. Razia Sultana tried to appoint an Indian Muslim converted from Hinduism in some official position but again got resistance from the Muslim nobility. She agreed that old prejudice can even outnumber the bonds of Islam and yielded to the nobles.

Razia Sulatana was a devoted ruler to her subjects and her empire. She never remained aloof from her subjects and always tried to be mingled among them. She was tolerant to Hinduism, which caused her to be criticized by the Muslim historians. Razia established schools, academic centers, public libraries, research centers that also included the instructions of Quran and the traditions of Muhammed.

Nowadays Razia Sultana`s tomb is found in old Delhi but another source says that Razia`s tomb is at Kaithal city of Haryana state.