The sultans of Delhi were the successors of the Ghaznavids and Ghurids in the Punjab and northern India. The Delhi Sultanate or `Sultanat-e-Dilli` refers to the Islam dynasties that ruled in India from 1206 to 1526. During the last quarter of 12th century, Muhamud Ghori invaded the Indo-Gangetic plain. The first real Muslim state in North India was established by Muhammad Ghori. Qutb-ud-din Aibak was responsible for executing and consolidating Sultan Ghori`s conquests in northern India. He succeeded in establishing himself as the Sultan of Delhi.

Qutb-ud-din Aibak established the first dynasty of Delhi Sultanate, the Slave Dynasty. The Slave Dynasty was the first Muslim dynasty that ruled India. Aibak could only rule for four years and died in 1210. His son Aram Shah succeeded him. Iltutmush, one of the slave and son-in-law of Aibak was invited then after to take charge of the state. He ruled for 26 years from 1211 to 1236. He settled the Sultanate of Delhi on strong footings. A war of succession started soon after the death of Iltutmush between his children. First Rukn-ud-din Firuz sat on the throne for seven months. Razia Sultana replaced him. Another son of Iltutmush, Bahram, took over from Razia Sultana in 1239. Next, Masud, son of Rukn-ud-din Firuz, became Sultan from 1242 to 1245. Finally the youngest son of Iltutmush, Nasir-ud-din Mahmud became Sultan in 1245. Though Mahmud ruled India for around 20 years, but throughout his tenure the main power remained in the hands of Balban. On death of Mahmud, Balban directly took over the throne and ruled Delhi. During his rule from 1266 to 1287, Balban consolidated the administrative set up of the empire and completed the work started by Iltutmush. Prince Muhammad, the successor of Balban, was killed in one of the battles against Mongols during his fathers` lifetime. His seventeen years old grandson, Kaiqubad, succeeded Balban. After Kaiqubad his 3years old son Kaimurs replaced him. The Slave dynasty came to an end as took over the throne from the infant Sultan. He declared his independence with the title of Jalal-ud-din Khalji. The institution of the Forty, Whom Iltutmush recognized as his personal supporters, were a corps of powerful officers. They were like the cabinate. When Balban came into the power, he crushed the power of these forties. Though with this Balban strengthened his rule, but he actually destroyed the base of the Slave Dynasty.

The arrival of a Khalji dynasty was not much welcomed as majority of the Muslim population of Delhi was Turk. Coming of Khalji to power was more than a dynastic change. But Jala-ud-din Khilji managed to win the heart of the people with his generosity. Alauddin Khilji, killed Jalal-ud-din and took over as the new ruler. Alauddin Khilji`s period is marked by market control regulations, innovative administrative and revenue reforms. The period is considered as the golden era of Khalji rule. Alauddin`s most trusted nobel Malik Kafur after him succeeded in making Shahab-ud-din Umar as the successor of Alauddin. Qutb-ud-din Mubarik Shah, another son of Alauddin removed his younger brother Umar after the death of Malik Kafur and became the sultan. With the rise of a Hindu slave, who was given the name Khusraw Khan by Mubarik, Khalji dynasty came to an end. The Khalji dynasty ruled for 30 years from 1290 to 1320.

When Khusraw came into power, he replaced most of the Muslim officers by Hindu officers in the key positions. These Hindu officers openly insulted Islam and this situation was very difficult for the Muslim to tolerate. They gathered around a Tughluq noble, Ghazi Malik. He killed Khusraw and wanted to give the power back to the Khalji Dynasty. But there were no survivor amongst the decedents of Alauddin. In this situation, he ascended the throne and took the title of Ghiyas-ud-din Tughluq Shah. Thus he became the founder of the Tughluq dynasty. After becoming Sultan, Ghiyas-ud-din started crushing the Hindu rajas, who had gained power during the short rule of Khusraw. He conquered Bengal. After killing Ghiyas-ud-din, his son Muhammad bin Tughluq succeeded him. He tried to implement a number of his own schemes. Unfortunately for him, most of his schemes failed and he became unpopular amongst the masses. After him his cousin, Firuz Shah`s long rule of 37 years is known for his marvelous administrative reforms. Firuz Shah handed over power to his son Muhammad Shah during his lifetime that proved incompetent. Firuz Shah helped in managing the tension and replaced Muhammad Shah with Ghiyas-ud-din, his grandson, as Sultan. However, after the death of Firuz Shah in 1388, a tussle once again began between the power-hungry princes of the house of Tughluqs. This period of fighting amongst the Tughluq princes continued for about quarter of a century. Amir Timur`s invasion on Delhi in 1398 further destroyed the political and economic standing of the Tughluqs.

The dynasty eventually came to an end in 1414 when Khizar Khan founded the Saiyid Dynasty in Delhi. In 1414, Khizar won the battle against Mahmud Shah the last Tughlaq ruler and established the rule of Saiyid Dynasty. He Used to rule in the name of Timur and then after as the successor of Timur, Shah Rukh. A number of states and provinces of Delhi Sultanate, declared their independence. Kaizar tried to reintegrate them but failed. The Sultanate reduced to Sindh, Western Punjab, and western Uttar Pradesh during Kaizar`s rule. Rule of Mubarik Shah, the successor of Kaizar was full of internal and external revolts. The next successors were also marked by political instability. During the rule of Saiyid The Sultanate of Delhi reduced to a distance from Delhi to Palam. The era of Saiyid Dynasty came to an end when Buhlul Lodhi occupied Delhi and established the Lodi Dynasty.

Buhlul Lodhi, when the Saiyid dynasty became weak firstly occupied the province of Punjab and then captured Delhi. The founder of Lodhi Dynasty was the governor of Sarhind in the time of Kaizar Khan. He faced several attempt of destabilization during his rule. But he succeeded to secure the foundation with the help of Afghans. He took the title of `Sultan Abul Muzzaffar Buhlul Shah Ghazi`. After him, his son Nizam Khan marked himself as the most cable ruler of the Lodhi Dynasty. This founder of the city Agra took the title of Sikandar Shah. The death of Sikandar Shah created a disharmony between his two sons-Ibrahim Lodhi and Jalal Lodhi. This war of succession resulted in the downfall of Lodhi Dynasty. Ibrahim Lodhi was the last sultan of the Dynasty. He was defeated in the hands of Babar in the first battle of Panipat on 1526. This battle brought an end of 320 years rule of the Sultans in Delhi.

During this 320years rule of the Sultanate, the administrative setup was remarkable. The central administrative system was like a tree. Sultan was on the top of that tree with a strong basis of `Wazir`, who was the in charge of the entire fiscal administration and matters relating to income expenditure. Then followed by `Musharraf-I-Mumalik`, Mustauf-I-Mumalik`, `Sadr-us-Sadar`, `Munshi-I-Mumalik`. Another remarkable establishment was of Revenue System was introduced by the Sultanate.