Sikandar Lodi was the greatest of the Lodi Sultans. His real name was Nizam Khan. He ascended the throne of Delhi in 1488 after his father’s death. He crushed the unruly Afghan nobles and brought the haughty chiefs under his control. His brother, Barkah Shah staked his claim to sovereignty and declared himself as an independent ruler but Sikandar defeated and imprisoned him. Sikandar also subdued the rulers of Dholpur, Chanderi and Gwalior. He annexed the province of Bihar and maintained friendly relations with the ruler of Bengal. In 1504, he founded a new city near Agra, which became his capital. Like Balban, he maintained a splendid court and was greatly feared and respected by the nobles. But like Firoz Tughlak, he was a religious bigot and intolerant towards the Hindus. He is said to have destroyed many temples and raised mosques in their places.