Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq Shah II (1388 AD) - Important Ruler of Tughlaq Dynasty - Medieval India History Notes

Firoz Shah Tughlaq was succeeded by one of his grandsons, Tughlaq Shah. He eventually took the name Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq II. But he died within a year, and the Sultanate descended into political turmoil. Nasiruddin Mahmud Shah Tughlaq was the Tughlaq dynasty's final ruler. Timur, the Mongol leader of Central Asia, invaded India in 1398 during his reign. This was a fatal blow to the Tughlaqs. In this article, we will discuss Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq Shah II which will be helpful for UPSC exam preparation.

Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq Shah II - Background

• Following the death of Firoz Shah Tughlaq in the year 1388, Muhammad Khan ascended to power, but he was assassinated within a few days.
• After Muhammad Khan's death in 1388, Firoz Shah Tughlaq's grandson Ghiyasuddin Muhammad II ascended to power, but he was assassinated only five months later.
• Ghiyath-ud-din Tughlaq Shah II, born Tughluq Khan, was Fateh Khan's son and Feroze Shah's grandson.
• A succession crisis, however, erupted almost immediately, with Muhammad Shah ibn Feroze Shah staking his claim with the support of his brother Zafar Khan's son Abu Bakr Khan.
• Tughlaq Khan dispatched troops against his uncle towards the Sirmur Hills.
• Muhammad Shah ibn Feroze Shah took refuge in the Fort of Kangra after a brief battle, and Tughlaq Khan's army returned to Delhi without pursuing him any further due to the difficulties of the venture and terrain.
• However, some Amirs eventually joined Abu Bakr Khan, son of Zafar Khan and grandson of Sultan Feroze Shah Tughlaq, in plotting to assassinate Tughluq Khan.
• In 1389, they surrounded the Sultan and his vizier, killed them, and hung their heads over the Delhi city gate; Tughlaq Khan's reign lasted five months and eighteen days.

Conclusion

Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq Shah II was a Muslim turkic ruler of the tughlaq dynasty. He succeeded Firoz Shah Tughlaq in 1388 AD, immediately after his death. Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq Shah II was not a capable ruler and failed to successfully manage and control his empire. He was murdered on March 14th, 1389 and was succeeded by Abu Bakr Shah.