Lodi Dynasty

Author of this article is Dayanand Deswal दयानन्द देसवाल

The Lodi Dynasty (or Lodhi Dynasty) composed of some Afghan rulers that ruled Delhi Sultanate from 1451 to 1526. It was founded by Bahlol Lodi when he replaced the Sayyid Dynasty and ruled over northern India.

Rulers of Lodi Dynasty

Bahlol Lodi (1451-1489)
Sikandar Lodi (1489 -1517)
Ibrahim Lodi (1517 - 1526) - He was defeated by Babur in the first battle of Panipat in April 1526. After his defeat, the Mughal Empire started in India.

Daulat Khan Lodi, the governor of Lahore during the reign of Ibrahim Lodi, had personal differences with Ibrahim Lodi. Daulat Khan invited Babur to invade the kingdom.
Ibrahim Lodi was over-ambitious. He overestimated his strength, hence, in all the conflicts with Rana Sanga, Ibrahim faced defeat. This had a great setback to him and his prestige suffered in the eyes of his subordinates.
Ibrahim neither had the qualities of a great general nor that of a skillful diplomat. His personal temperament was also very rash. He failed to have a correct estimate of his limitations and strengths. All these led to the fall of the Lodi dynasty.
Babur had a vast artillery whereas Ibrahim's war elephants were no match to the cavalry of Babur. Moreover, Babur had a well-disciplined army. Babur and his army of only 24,000 men marched to the battlefield armed with muskets and artillery. Sultan Ibrahim prepared to fight by gathering 100,000 men (well armed but with no guns) and 1,000 elephants. Even then, Babur won the battle.
Ibrahim's unpopularity and lack of unity among Afghan nobles also led to Ibrahim's defeat in the battle of Panipat.