Shams-ud-din Iltutmish was the third ruler of The Slave Dynasty. Originally he belonged to the tribe of Ilbari in Turkestan. A man of intelligence and good looks sold by his brothers to a slave merchant. Qazi of Bukhara purchased him. With the favor of God he received education and a very good training. Aibak realized the potentials of Shams-ud-din and purchased him. Aibak was very kind to Shams-ud-din and appointed him as Sar-Jandar or the Chief of Guards. He proved himself with hard work and was promoted to the position of `Amir of Gwalior`. Shams-ud-din raised his status step by step. He was made the Governor of Badaun. Aibak married his daughter to Shams-ud-din.

After Aibak his son Aram Shah was decided to be the new Sultan but failed to prove himself. Aram Shah was replaced with Shams-ud-din within one year of span. He was given the title of Iltutmish. The new sultan faced the resentment of the Amirs. He also tackled the revolt with Narsir-ud-din Qabacha and the governor of Bengal Ali Mardan. He was a competent ruler. He established a strong administration with the scholars, administrators, and generals who had to leave their hometown due to Mogol invasions. Iltutmish completed the Qutub Minar started by Aibak. A mosque was also constructed on his order. He was the first Muslim ruler who introduced Arabic coinage, the `Tankha`. He received a bestowal from the Abbasid Caliph of Bagdad. He created a stable empire out of the newly conquered territories. His empire was protected from internal opposition and external attacks. This marked Iltutmish as a great monarch.

During the reign of Iltutmish, the Mughals for the first time invaded India. Chengez Khan, following Jalal-ud-din Khwarizm, reached the Indus near Attock. Jalal-ud-din asked Iltutmush for shelter in Delhi. By giving him shelter, Iltutmush did not want to get into conflicts with Chengez Khan. He politely refused Jalal-ud-din`s request. Thus Iltutmush saved his newly established Muslim State from the Mongols.

In 1234, Iltutmush conquered Malwa, Bhilsa and Ujjain and managed to extend the southern limits of his empire to Narbad.

On his death bed Iltutmish nominated his daughter Raziya as his successor. But the Nobels of the court disagree to welcome a woman as the ruler. They offered the throne to Iltutmish`s surviving son Rukh-ud-din Firuz. But son`s of Sultan proved incable of taking care of the Empire.