Which dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate was the first Afghan (Pashtun) dynasty to rule in India?

The Lodi dynasty, which ruled Delhi from 1451 to 1526, was the first Afghan (Pashtun) dynasty to rule in India, and the last dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate.

About the Lodis:

• They belonged to the Lodi tribe of the Ghilzai Afghans (Pashtuns), who had settled in Punjab and other parts of north India.
• The earlier dynasties of the Sultanate (the Mamluks, Khaljis and Tughlaqs) were of Turkish origin, while the Sayyids claimed Arab descent.

The founder - Bahlol Lodi:

• He was the governor of Sirhind and Lahore under the Sayyids.
• In 1451, the last Sayyid ruler handed over Delhi to him, and he became Sultan.
• He ruled from 1451 to 1489.
• He treated the Afghan nobles as his equals, and shared power with them; he did not sit on the throne in their presence, according to tradition.
• His greatest achievement was the conquest of the Sharqi kingdom of Jaunpur, after a long struggle.

Later rulers:

• His son Nizam Khan succeeded him as Sikandar Lodi (1489-1517).
• Ibrahim Lodi (1517-1526) was the last ruler.

The Afghan nobles and the Sultan:

• Among the Afghans, the tribal chiefs regarded themselves as equals of the Sultan, which created tension when later rulers tried to assert their authority.
• Ibrahim Lodi's attempts to control the nobles led to rebellions.

The end:

• In 1526, Babur defeated and killed Ibrahim Lodi in the First Battle of Panipat, ending the Delhi Sultanate and founding the Mughal empire.
• The Lodi Gardens in Delhi contain the tombs of Muhammad Shah (a Sayyid ruler) and Sikandar Lodi, and the Bara Gumbad.

The second Afghan dynasty:

The Sur dynasty, founded by Sher Shah Suri (1540-1545), was the second Afghan dynasty; it ruled north India after defeating the Mughal emperor Humayun, until 1555.

Why not the other options?

• ✗The Sur dynasty was a later Afghan dynasty, not part of the Delhi Sultanate.
• ✗Good to know
• ✗The Sayyids claimed Arab descent.
• ✗The Tughlaqs were of Turkish origin.