Question

The first medieval ruler to propound the divine theory of Kingship was________.
A. Iltutmish
B. Raziya
C. Balban
D. Alauddin Khalji

Answer 1

Hint:
> The divine right of kings is a philosophical and religious doctrine of royal and political authority or the divine-right theory of Kingship.
> It states that a king, deriving his right to rule directly from the will of God, is subjected to no earthly authority.
> It originates as a metaphysical act of humility or submission towards God.

Complete answer:
For Option A. Iltutmish
He was the third of the Mamluk kings who controlled northern India’s former Ghurid territories and was Delhi’s first Muslim sovereign to rule and is considered the successful founder of the Delhi Sultanate.

For Option B. Raziya
She was the daughter of Iltutmish and also the ruler of the Delhi Sultanate (1236) and is renowned for being the first Muslim female monarch of in Indian subcontinent.

For Option C. Balban
The ninth sultan of the Mamluk Dynasty of Delhi was Ghiyas ud Din Balban who ruled India as the Sultan of Delhi from 1266 to 1287 A.D. He was one of the greatest Sultans of the medieval period and an Ilbari Turk. After the death of Nasiruddin Mahmud he became the ruler of the slave dynasty and propounded the divine theory of Kingship.

For Option D. Alauddin Khalji
He was the most powerful emperor of the Khalji dynasty, ruling the Delhi Sultanate on the Indian subcontinent. Alauddin has introduced a number of important administrative changes relating to revenues, price controls, and society.

Therefore, the correct answer is C

Note:
> For both the church and the state, the doctrine of divine law may be harmful. It means for the state that secular power is imposed by the clergy and can therefore be revoked, and for the church, it implies that kings have a direct relationship with God and can therefore dictate to priestly rulers.
> The harsh and violent theory of kingship led to the adoption of the policy of blood and iron.
> Balban proclaimed himself as the descendent of the legendary Turkish warrior Afrasiyab and that circumstances had only made him a slave.