During the rule of which of the following dynasties did Timur or Tamerlane invade India in 1398 AD?

The correct answer is The Tughlaq dynasty.

Timur (also known as Tamerlane), the fearsome Central Asian conqueror, invaded India in 1398 AD. At that time, the Delhi Sultanate was under the rule of the Tughlaq dynasty, specifically during the reign of Nasir-ud-Din Mahmud Shah Tughlaq, who was the last significant ruler of this dynasty.

Let us understand this step by step:

Step 1 – Understanding the Tughlaq Dynasty's Timeline
The Tughlaq dynasty ruled the Delhi Sultanate from approximately 1320 AD to 1414 AD. It was founded by Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq and included notable rulers like Muhammad bin Tughlaq and Firuz Shah Tughlaq. By the late 1390s, the dynasty had grown very weak and fragmented.

Step 2 – The Political Weakness That Invited Invasion
By 1398 AD, the Tughlaq empire had disintegrated significantly. The central authority had collapsed, various provincial governors had declared independence, and there was widespread chaos and internal conflict. This political weakness made the Delhi Sultanate an easy and attractive target for Timur.

Step 3 – Timur's Invasion of 1398 AD
Timur crossed the Indus River and marched toward Delhi. On December 17, 1398 AD, he decisively defeated the army of Mahmud Shah Tughlaq at the Battle of Delhi. His forces sacked and plundered Delhi on a massive scale, massacring a large portion of the population. The destruction was so severe that Delhi took decades to recover.

Step 4 – Eliminating the Other Options
- The Slave dynasty (1206–1290 AD): Ruled much earlier; Timur's invasion was over a century after this dynasty ended.
- The Sayyid dynasty (1414–1451 AD): Actually came to power after Timur's invasion — it was a direct consequence of the chaos Timur left behind.
- The Khilji dynasty (1290–1320 AD): Also ruled well before 1398 AD and had ended nearly 80 years prior to the invasion.

Conclusion:
Since the Tughlaq dynasty was ruling the Delhi Sultanate in 1398 AD, Timur's devastating invasion took place during their reign. This event effectively sealed the fate of the Tughlaqs, and their dynasty collapsed shortly after, giving rise to the Sayyid dynasty in 1414 AD.