Shams Al-Din Iltutmish
Iltutmish, Shams Al-Din
Ruler of the Sultanate of Delhi (1211–36). Member of the Ghulam (Slave) dynasty.
Of Turkic origin, Iltutmish was a ghulam (slave) of Qutb al-Din Aibak, who founded the Sultanate of Delhi; he later became a mukta (governor) of several districts. He annexed the Punjab and Sind to the sultanate and successfully warred against the Indian princes. In 1229 he was recognized as an independent ruler (sultan) by the Baghdad Caliphate. Under Iltutmish, large religious structures were built in Delhi.