Question

The first sultan of Delhi to cross the Narmada and move to the South was
A)Iltutmish
B)Balban
C)Alauddin Khilji
D)Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq

Answer 1

Hint: The Delhi Sultanate, from 1206-1526 stretched over large parts of Indian subcontinent. It comprised five short surviving kingdoms of Turkic and Afghan origin.

Complete answer: Option A: Iltutmish, was the third of Mamluk kings, who was the Turkic Sultan of the Sultanate of Delhi. Iltutmish’s headquarters was in Lahore. This option is incorrect.
Option B: Balban, was the ninth sultan of the Mamluk dynasty in Delhi, his complete name is Ghiyas- ud din Balban. Under his reign, he reduced the power of the nobility. This option is incorrect.
Option C: Alauddin Khilji was one of the powerful rulers of the Khilji dynasty who succeeded Jalal-ud-din Firoz Khilji. Khilji dynasty was a Turk-Afghan dynasty who ruled the Indian subcontinent between 1290 and 1320. He is remembered for expanding the dynasty to over large regions including Chittor, Mewar, Ujjain. Allauddin Khilji, was the first Sultan who attacked South India by asking his General Malik Kafur, to lead the army against the rulers of South and ended up defeating the king Prataparudra-II of Warangal, the Yadava King of Devagiri, Veera Ballala and the Hoysala king.
Option D: Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq, was the eldest son of the founder of the Tughlaq dynasty who ruled from 1325 to 1351. This option is incorrect.
Therefore, Option C is correct.

Note: The Delhi Sultanate was established after Prithvi Raj was defeated by Muhammad of Ghor in 1192 and captured Delhi. In the sixteenth century, the last ruler of their dynasty was overthrown by the Mughals and this marked the inception of the Mughal empire in India.