Mahmud
of Ghazni or Sultan Mahmud the conqueror who ruled from 998 to 1030 AD was the
son of Sebuktigin1 and the founder of the Ghaznavid
Empire2 having its capital at Ghazni3 in
Afghanistan. He started his carreer as the Governor of khorasan4
under Samanid5 ruler Nuh II6. He became the
Sultan of Qarakhanid Empire7 in 997 AD and took over his
father's kingdom in 998 AD. In 999 AD he ended the rules of Samanids by the
help of Qarakhanids under Elik Khan alias Nasr Khan8.
In 1002 he imprisoned Saffarid9 ruler Khuluf10
and also ended the rules of Saffarids. Then he paid his attention towards
India. He raided India at least seventeen times during twenty two years of his
ruling which started in 1000 and ended in 1025 just five years before his
death. As all his raids had a great importance the chronology of his raids are
given below:
1. 1000: Indian Frontier Towns
2. 1001-03: Jaipal11, Peshawar
3. 1004: Bhatia (Bhera) annexed after it fails to
pay its yearly tribute in 1004 CE.
4. 1005: Multan12, Fateh Daud, the
Shia Ismaili ruler of Multan, revolts and enlists the aid of Anandapala13.
Mahmud also massacares the Ismailis of Multan in the course of his conquest.
Anandapala is defeated at Peshawar and pursued to Sodra (Wazirabad). Ghor and
Amir Suri then captured by Mahmud, made prisoner along with his son and taken
to Ghazni, where Amir Suri died. Appoints Sewakpal14 to administer
the region. Anandapala flees to Kashmir, takes refuge in the Lohara
fort15 in the hills on the western border of Kashmir.
5. 1005: Sewakpal rebels and is defeated.
6. 1008: Mahmud defeats the Indian Confederacy
(Ujjain, Gwalior, Kalinjar, Kannauj, Delhi, and Ajmer) in battle between Und
and Peshawar, and captures the Shahi treasury at Kangra in Himachal Pradesh.
7. 1009: Invasion of Nagarkot (Kangra)
8. 1010: Multan revolts. Abul Fatah Dawood
imprisoned for life at Ghazni.
9. 1011: Thanesar
10.
1013: Bulnat: Defeats Trilochanpala16.
11.
1015: Ghazni’s expedition to Kashmir fails. Fails to take the Lohara fort
at Lokote in the hills leading up to the valley from the west.
12.
1018: Kannauj, Meerut, and Muhavun on the Yamuna, Mathura and various other
regions along the route. While moving through Kashmir he levies troops from
vassal Prince for his onward march, Kannauj and Meerut submitted without
battle.
13.
1021: Kalinjar attacks Kannauj: he marches to their aid and finds the last
Shahi King Trilochanpaala encamped as well. No battle, the opponents leave
their baggage trains and withdraw from the field. Also fails to take the fort
of Lokote again. Takes Lahore on his return. Trilochanpala flees to Ajmer.
First Muslim governors appointed east of the Indus River.
14.
1023: Lahore. He fails to conquer Kalinjar and Gwalior: Trilochanpala, the
grandson of Jaypala is assassinated by his own troops. Official annexation of
Punjab by Ghazni. Also fails to take the Lohara fort on the western border of
Kashmir for the second time.
15.
1024: Ajmer, Nehrwala, Kathiawar: This raid was his last major campaign. The
concentration of wealth at Somnath was renowned, and consequently it became an
attractive target for Mahmud, as it had previously deterred most invaders. The
temple and citadel were sacked, and most of its defenders massacred.
16.
1024: Somnath: Mahmud sacked the temple and is reported to have personally
hammered the temple's gilded Lingam to pieces and the stone fragments were
carted back to Ghazni, where they were incorporated into the steps of the
city's new Jama Masjid (Friday Mosque) in 1026. He placed a new king on the
throne in Guzrat as a tributary. His return detoured across the The Desert to
avoid the armies of Ajmer and other allies on his return.
17.
1025: Marched against the Jats of the Jood Mountains who harried his army on
its return from the sack of Somnath.
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