Historical Context

Throughout history, multiple rulers lived their dreams of establishing an empire in India. Most of them kept Delhi as the Centre of their rule and their capital. As the rulers changed and empires transformed, so did the names of Delhi. The history of Delhi’s names is gathered from different places in different forms Delhi is generally known as the city of seven towns.

Delhi’s first town was Shahar Rai Pithora which was set up by King Rai Pithora in 1052 AD. The second town was Siri which came up during the reign of Allauddin Khilji in 1303 AD. Its third town was Tughlakabad which was given by Gyasuddin Tughlak in 1321 AD and he made it his capital. Its fourthtown was Jahanpanah which came up during the reign of Mohammad Bin Tughlak in 1334 AD. Its fifth town was Ferozabad, which Feroze Shah Tughlak helped settled in 1530 AD. Its sixth town was Deen Panah Sher Garh, which was built by Sher Shah Suri, and later emperor Humayun ruled over it. The seventh town was Shahjehanbad which emperor Shah Jehan settled in 1648 AD.

Besides these, Delhi has been known as various names such as Dahalia, Dehlalai, Yognipura, Hazrat Delhi and Dahlu. In one sher Amir Khusaro addressing Jalaluddin Feroze Shah termed the city as Dahloo.

First Dynasty: The Turks, or “Slaves”

1. 1206 – Qutub-ud-ddin, slave of Muhammad of Ghor
2. 1210 – Altamash, slave of Qutub-ud-din
3. 1236 – Firoz Shah, son of Altamash
4. 1237 – Raziyah, daughter of Altamash
5. 1240 – Bahram Shah, son of Altamas
6. 1246 – Mahmud, slave of Altamash
7. 1266 – Balban, slave of Altamash
8. 1287 – KAI Kubad, son of Balban

Second Dynasty: Khiljis

1. 1290 – Jalal-ud-din
2. 1296 – Ala-ud-ddin, son of Jalal-ud-din
3. 1316 – Mubarik, son of Ala-ud-din
4. 1320 – Khusru Khan

Third Dynasty: Tughlaq Shahis

1. 1320 – Tughlaq Shah
2. 1324 – Muhammad Ibn Tughlaq, son of Tughlaq Shah
3. 1351 – Firoz Shah, nephew of Tughlaq Shah
4. 1393 – Mahmud, grandson of Firoz Shah

Fourth Dynasty: Sayyads

1. 1414 – Khizr Khan
2. 1421 – Mubarik Shah, son of Khizr Khan
3. 1434 – Muhammad Shah, grandson of Khizr Khan

Fifth Dynasty: Lodis (Afgans)

1. 1450 – Bahlol Lodi Edward IV
2. 1488 – Sikandar Lodi, son of Bahlol Lodi Henry VII
3. 1518 – Ibrahim Lodi, son of Sikandar Lodi Henry VIII

Sixth Dynasty: Mughals

1. 1526 – Babar
2. 1530 – Humayun, son of Babar

Interregnum Afghans

1. 1540 – Sher shah drives out Humayun
2. 1545 – Islam Shah, son of Sher Shah

Mughal Dynasty Resumed

1. 1555 – Humanyun returns
2. 1556 – Akhbar, son of Humayun
3. 1605 – Jahangir, son of Akhbar
4. 1627 – Shah Jahan, son of Jahangir
5. 1658 – Auranzeb, son of Shah Jahan

1. 1707 – Shah Alam Bahadur Shah, son of Aurangzeb Anne
2. 1712 – Jahandar Shah, son of Shah Alam
3. 1713 – Farukhsiyar, nephew of Jahandar Shah
4. 1719 – Muhammad Shah, cousin of Farukhsiyar
5. 1748 – Ahmad Shah, son of Muhammad Shah
6. 1754 – Alamgir II, son of Ahmad Shah
7. 1759 – Shah Alam, son of Ahmad Shah
8. 1806 – Akhbar Shah, son of Shah Alam
9. 1837- Bahadur Shah, son of Akhbar shar

and last of the Mughals

Reference for the timeline- The Efflorescent History of Delhi by Gordon Risley