salaatin

Salaatin refers to a specific lineage of rulers, primarily within the history of the Indian subcontinent, particularly the Delhi Sultanate. The term "Sultan" is an Arabic word meaning "strength" or "authority," and it was adopted by rulers who established a sultanate, a form of Islamic state. The Delhi Sultanate, which existed from the early 13th century to the mid-16th century, was founded by Qutb-ud-din Aybak, a former slave of Muhammad of Ghor. The rulers of this dynasty, and often subsequent dynasties in the region that followed a similar political structure, are collectively referred to as the salaatin.

The Delhi Sultanate itself was comprised of several dynasties, each of which ruled in succession. These included the Mamluk dynasty (Slave dynasty), the Khilji dynasty, the Tughlaq dynasty, the Sayyid dynasty, and the Lodi dynasty. While these were distinct ruling families, their leaders were all addressed as Sultans, and thus, they all fell under the broader umbrella term of salaatin. The era of the salaatin was marked by significant political, cultural, and architectural developments in North India. Their rule laid the groundwork for many subsequent political entities in the region, including the Mughal Empire, which eventually overthrew the Lodi dynasty. The term salaatin encapsulates the period of Sultanate rule and its various royal incumbents.