Explanation: The Khilji dynasty was a significant ruling dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate in medieval India, established by Jalaluddin Khilji in 1290. The dynasty was known for its military conquests and administrative reforms, particularly under the rule of Alauddin Khilji, who expanded the empire significantly and implemented various economic and military reforms.
Alauddin Khilji was succeeded by his son, Qutbuddin Mubarak Shah, who ruled from 1316 to 1320. However, Qutbuddin Mubarak Shah's reign was marked by internal strife and instability. Khusru Khan, a Hindu convert to Islam and a former slave of Qutbuddin Mubarak Shah, took advantage of the situation and overthrew Qutbuddin Mubarak Shah in 1320. Khusru Khan thus became the last ruler of the Khilji dynasty.
Khusru Khan's rule was brief and tumultuous. He faced opposition from various quarters, including the powerful general Ghazi Malik, who had been a trusted lieutenant of Alauddin Khilji. Ghazi Malik, who later became Sultan Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq, eventually overthrew Khusru Khan and established the Tughlaq dynasty, marking the end of the Khilji dynasty.
It is important to note that while Alauddin Khilji was a prominent and influential ruler, he was not the last ruler of the dynasty. Similarly, Ghazi Malik, who founded the Tughlaq dynasty, was not a ruler of the Khilji dynasty. Malik Kafur, a general under Alauddin Khilji, was also not a ruler of the dynasty.
Understanding the sequence of rulers and the transitions between dynasties is crucial for comprehending the political and historical landscape of medieval India. The Khilji dynasty's end with Khusru Khan and the subsequent rise of the Tughlaq dynasty under Ghazi Malik represent a significant shift in the power dynamics of the Delhi Sultanate.