Chapter - 3 Ghaznavid empire [mohammed ghazni]

Now that we have read about the Arab invasions, it’s time to discuss Mahmud of Ghazni, a name you may have encountered in your studies. He is particularly famous for ransacking and looting the Somnath temple in Gujarat. However, before we delve into his actions, let’s explore a bit of his background.

Establishment of the Ghaznavid Empire (also known as the Yamini Empire)

- Location Ghazni, Afghanistan 

- 932: Alaptgin, sonless, married his daughter to his slave. 

- 962: Subuktigin emerged as a powerful and influential figure, unlike Alaptgin.

- 977: Subuktigin officially became the ruler of Ghazni, marking the real foundation of the Ghaznavid Empire.

- 998: The Peshawar king, Jaypal (from the Hindu Shahi dynasty), killed Subuktigin, following multiple previous conflicts. Around the same time, Mahmud killed Ismail, Subuktigin's elder son, and expanded his control over the Ghaznavid Empire.

Some of Mahmud’s Titles:

- Yamini Ud Daula 

- Yamini Ul Mallah 

- sultan

- These titles were conferred by the Khalifa, Adil-ul-billah of Baghdad.

- Other titles include Gazi and Idol Breaker (Butshikan or Murtibhanjak).

Invasions of Mahmud Ghazni

Mahmud invaded India 17 times, as described in the book *Tahkik-e-Hind* (or *Kitab-ul-Hind*) written by Al-Biruni. Our knowledge of Mahmud Ghazni comes from contemporary writers such as:

- Al-Biruni – *Tahkik-e-Hind* 

- Behaki – *Tarikh-e-Subuktigin* 

- Utbi – *Tarikh-e-Yamini* 

- Firdausi – *Shahnama* (considered the Homer of the East and was a court poet of Mahmud)

- Sistani  

- Farokhi

**Reasons for the Invasions:**

1. Plain avarice

2. Expansion of territory in India

3. Propagation of Islam

4. Revenge

**Major Attacks:**

1. In 1000, Mahmud faced the Peshawar king Jaypal (from the Hindu Shahi dynasty) without decisive results in the battle.

2. In 1001, Mahmud defeated Jaypal but chose not to kill him, leading Jaypal to humiliate himself by committing suicide. Anandpal then became the next king.

3. In 1006, Mahmud attacked and looted Multan.

4. In 1007, he attacked Bhattinda.

5. In 1008-09, Mahmud engaged in a second battle at Waihind.

6. In 1014, Mahmud looted the Thaneswar temple in Haryana, which was under King Chandraswami.

7. In 1015, after attacking Lahore, he went to Kashmir due to provocation from the Kashmiri general, Bhimpal. This battle was significant: Sangram Raja of the Lohar dynasty initially won, but ultimately Mahmud prevailed.

8. In 1018, in a crucial invasion of Mathura, despite facing resistance from multiple kings (with Rajyapal from the Pratihara dynasty as the leader), Mahmud destroyed and looted temples.

9. Between 1019-20, he had the Kalinjar expedition against the Chandela dynasty. Vidyadhar Chandela initially defeated Mahmud in the first two attacks, but Mahmud ultimately won the last attack.

10. In 1021-1023, Mahmud conducted the Gwalior expedition. In 1021, he attacked Kannauj and was victorious against King Chandrapal. In 1023, Ghazni succeeded in conquering Gwalior under Kirtiraj Kachwaha.

11. In 1025, he looted the Somnath temple during his 16th attack, where he inflicted heavy casualties on Hindus and stole 400 kg of gold. At the time, Bhim I of the Chalukya dynasty was the king, and the temple's shivling was suspended in the air. On his return from the raid, Mahmud was looted by the Khokhar Jats.

12. In 1027, Mahmud targeted the Khokhar Jats again but withdrew due to heavy injuries.

Mahmud died in 1030.

He was known to have both Sanskrit and Arabic silver coins, including dirhams. His invasions typically occurred through the Khyber Pass, located on the current-day border of Pakistan and Afghanistan.

**Impact of Ghaznavid Attacks on India:**

1. Expansion of his empire weakened the Hindu Shahi kingdom and left India’s borders unprotected.

2. The weakness of the Rajputs was exposed.

3. His invasions served as a gateway for further invasions.

4. There was a significant drain of resources from the region.

5. He provided patronage for art and learning.

6. His influence led to an exchange of ideas and cultural influences.

**Question:** Who halted the expansion of the Turkish Empire in India?  

**Answer:** Suhel Dev defeated Ghazi Salar Masud and his army of 16,000 Turkish soldiers, which effectively stopped Turkish expansion in India for about 150 years.  

**Source:** Chittaur Jheel, Bahraich district, Uttar Pradesh.