The Lodi dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate was founded by which ruler?

Introduction / Context:
The Delhi Sultanate went through several dynasties, each founded by a different ruler. Knowing the founder and last ruler of each dynasty helps you understand the political sequence that led eventually to the rise of the Mughal Empire. The Lodi dynasty was the last ruling house of the Delhi Sultanate before Babur's victory in the First Battle of Panipat. This question asks you to identify the ruler who founded the Lodi dynasty and began this final Afghan phase of the Sultanate.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- The topic is the Lodi dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate. - The question is specifically about the founder of that dynasty. - Options include Bahlol Lodi, Khizr Khan, Ibrahim Lodi and Sikandar Lodi. - We assume awareness of the chronological order of late Delhi Sultanate rulers.

Concept / Approach:
After the decline of the Tughlaq dynasty, the Sayyid dynasty came to power in Delhi under rulers like Khizr Khan. Later, Bahlol Lodi, an Afghan noble, replaced the Sayyids and established the Lodi dynasty. He consolidated control over Delhi and laid the foundations for his successors. Sikandar Lodi was his son and a later ruler, and Ibrahim Lodi, another Lodi ruler, was the last Sultan defeated by Babur. Since the question is about the founding of the Lodi line, Bahlol Lodi is the correct answer, while the others either founded a different dynasty or ruled later within the same dynasty.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the sequence of late Delhi Sultanate dynasties: Tughlaq, Sayyid, then Lodi. Step 2: Remember that Khizr Khan is associated with the establishment of the Sayyid dynasty, not the Lodi dynasty. Step 3: Identify Bahlol Lodi as the Afghan noble who eventually replaced the Sayyids and assumed the title of Sultan, thus founding the Lodi dynasty. Step 4: Note that Sikandar Lodi was Bahlol's son and a later Lodi ruler known for administrative reforms and city founding, not for starting the dynasty. Step 5: Recognise that Ibrahim Lodi was the last Lodi Sultan who lost to Babur in 1526, bringing an end to the dynasty. Step 6: Therefore, the founder of the Lodi dynasty must be Bahlol Lodi.

Verification / Alternative check:
Summaries of the Delhi Sultanate in history books usually provide a table listing each dynasty and its founder. In that list, you will see entries such as Qutb ud din Aibak for the Slave dynasty, Ghiyas ud din Tughlaq for the Tughlaq dynasty, Khizr Khan for the Sayyid dynasty and Bahlol Lodi for the Lodi dynasty. This direct listing confirms that Bahlol Lodi is recognised as the founder, while his successors Sikandar and Ibrahim are later rulers within the same house. This simple pattern makes it easy to verify your answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Khizr Khan is wrong because he established the Sayyid dynasty, which preceded the Lodi rule in Delhi.

Ibrahim Lodi is wrong because he was the last ruler of the Lodi dynasty, not its founder, and his defeat paved the way for the Mughals.

Sikandar Lodi is wrong as he was a capable later ruler of the same dynasty, but he did not start it.

Common Pitfalls:
Students commonly confuse the founder and last ruler of a dynasty, especially when several names from the same family appear in exams. Another pitfall is to mix up Khizr Khan's role and assume that he is linked with every late Sultanate house. To avoid these mistakes, it helps to memorise the pair Bahlol Lodi (founder) and Ibrahim Lodi (last ruler) as bookends of the Lodi dynasty, with Sikandar Lodi in between. This simple mental framework ensures you pick Bahlol Lodi as the correct answer for founding the dynasty.

Final Answer:
The Lodi dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate was founded by Bahlol Lodi.