The Slave dynasty served as the first Sultans of Delhi in India from 1206 to 1290. The founder of the dynasty, Qutb-ud-din Aybak, was a Turkish ex-slave of the Aybak tribe who rose to command the armies and administer the territory of Muhammad Ghori in India. After Muhammad's death in 1206 without an heir, Qutb-ud-din fought off rivals to take possession of Muhammad's Indian empire. He established his capital first at Lahore, and later at Delhi, where he started building the Qutb complex. He died accidentally in 1210; after a succession struggle, Iltutmish, another Turkish ex-slave, emerged as Sultan. Iltutmish married Qutb-ud-din's daughter, and all but one of the later sultans of the dynasty were his descendants, including his daughter, Razia, who reigned for four years. Sultan Balban was also an ex-slave, who commanded the armies of Sultan Nasir ud din, and kept the Mongols at bay, eventually securing the throne for himself. After the brief reigns of Balban's grandson and great-grandson, the Slave dynasty was overthrown by Jalal-ud-din Feroz Khalji of the Khalji dynasty, who had established themselves in Bihar and Bengal in Muhammad Ghori's reign.
