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| Sultana Razia of Delhi
The only woman ever to sit on the throne of
Delhi, India. Razia's ancestors were from Moslems of Turkish
descent who invaded India in 11th century. "Like other Moslem
princesses, she was trained to lead armies and administer kingdoms if
necessary." (p. 34) Contrary to custom, her father selected her, over
her brothers, to be his successor. After her father's death, she was
persuaded to step down from the throne in favor of her stepbrother
Ruknuddin, who, like her brothers, continued to neglect the kingdom and
live a pleasure filled life. Disgusted with Ruknuddin's rule, the
people demanded that she become Sultana in 1236. She established peace and order, encouraged
trade, built roads, planted trees, dug wells, supported poets, painters,
and musicians, constructed schools and libraries, appeared in public
without the veil, wore tunic and headdress of a man. State meetings
were often open to the populace at-large. Yet, she made enemies when
she tried to eliminate some of the discriminations against her Hindu
subjects. Jealous of her attention to one of her
advisors, Jamal Uddin Yaqut (not of Turkish blood), her governor, Altunia,
rebelled. Razia's troops were defeated, Jamal was killed in battle,
Razia was captured and married to her conqueror in 1240. One of her
brothers claimed the throne for himself, Razia and her new husband were
defeated in battle where both died. Gloria Steinem, Herstory: Women Who Changed the World, Viking, 1995, p. 34-36
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