Raziyye Hatun is a mostly forgotten female ruler in the Muslim Turkish State of Delhi.

Iltutmush “Shems üd-Dünya v’ed-Dîn,” who was Kutbüddîn Aybek’s slave and son-in-law, seized the throne and took the title of sovereign and became very powerful. His dynasty was given the name of “Shemsiyye.” He was a just ruler and chose his daughter Raziyye Hatun as heir to the throne. Sultan Raziyye was the only female Muslim ruler who, of the three possible means of succession to the throne, was chosen by “Ahid,” that is to say was appointed by the ruling monarch to succeed him.

While this decree was being prepared, some of the influential statesmen who were in contact with the sultan asked him why, when he had sons who were of age, he had chosen to make his daughter Raziyye heir to the Moslem Sultanate of India. Sultan Iltutmush replied that his sons were given to passing their time in drinking and youthful entertainment, that not one of them was capable of managing the country’s affairs without becoming more mature. When Raziyye was sovereign, they would realize what a fortunate choice her appointment as heir had been.