The North-West Frontier of the Sultanate during the 13th century
By U. N. Day
Summary
The article examines the north-west frontier of the Delhi Sultanate during the 13th century, arguing that the Delhi sultans, unlike the later Mughals, failed to establish a scientific frontier. The author defines a scientific frontier as the Kabul-Ghazni-Qundhar line flanked by the Hindukush mountains and the wide belt of turbulent hill tribes. The frontier problem became critical after the death of Muhammad bin Sam and the expansion of the Khwarizmi empire, which pushed its frontier up to Ghazni. The ascendency of Chingiz Khan in 1221 A.D. changed the entire situation, pushing the Delhi kingdom's frontier far into the interior of the modern Punjab. The Salt Range, inhabited by the turbulent Khokhars, Awands, and Janjuhas, formed a part of the unregulated land. The author uses evidence from primary sources such as the *Tab-i-Nasiri* by Raverty, the *Tarikb-i-Jaban Gusha* by Juwayni, and the *Per. Text* of Ferishta. The text details the strategic importance of Lahore and Multan, which were westernmost provinces but were frequently occupied by Yaldiz and Qubacha. The article traces the frontier's recession under various rulers, including Iltutmish, Raziya, and Balban. Balban improved the frontier by rebuilding Lahore and repopulating it, but the frontier line ultimately receded to the river Beas. The author concludes that the north-west frontier, except for a brief period under Iltutmish, remained between the river Ravi and Beas, and that the so-called Slave rulers were never able to achieve a natural frontier to ward off the Mongols.
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Conclusion
The study reveals that the North-West Frontier of the 13th-century Delhi Sultanate was a zone of perpetual vulnerability, defined by a reactive and defensive posture rather than a proactive, scientific strategy. The key finding is that the empire's effective boundary consistently receded from its initial limits, ultimately settling between the rivers Ravi and Beas. This contraction was driven by the overwhelming pressure of Mongol invasions, which transformed the Indus into a mere political boundary and pushed the Delhi kingdom's frontier deep into the interior of modern Punjab. The significance of this analysis lies in its correction of the historical misconception that Peshawar was the frontier of the Sultanate; instead, it was a territory outside the empire's jurisdiction, frequently falling under Mongol influence or serving as a lawless buffer zone. Consequently, the Sultanate's inability to secure a natural, defensible frontier left it perpetually exposed to the threat of Mongol incursions, shaping its military and administrative priorities for the remainder of the century.