Ghazni Dynasty Overview

Ghazni Dynasty

• Founded by Alp-Tegin in 962 AD.
• Alp-Tegin was a Turkish slave commander.
• Gulam Pirai, Alp-Tegin's successor, defeated the son of Jaipal.
• Subuktagin, Gulam Pirai's successor, established the Yamini dynasty in 977 AD.

Subuktagin

• Subuktagin was a slave and son-in-law of Alp-Tegin.
• He became the ruler of Ghazni in 977 AD.
• In 986 AD, Subuktagin defeated Hindu ruler Jaypal in Kabul and Jalalabad.
• Subuktagin died in 997 AD.
• Before his death, he named his younger son, Ishmael, as his successor.
• Mahmud Ghaznawi, the eldest son of Subuktagin, killed Ishmael and became king in 998 AD.

Mahmud of Ghazni

• Born on November 1st, 971 AD.
• Ruled the Yamini dynasty from 998 to 1030 AD.
• Became ruler at the age of 27.
• Held titles such as:
  • Sultan-e-Aajam (first ruler to hold the title of sultan)
  • Yamin-ul-Millah
  • Hero of Islam (title given by the Caliph of Bagdad, Al-Kadir)
  • Yamin-ud-daula
  • But-shikan (Idol breaker)
  • Gazi

Invasion of Mahmud of Ghazni on India

• Attacked India 17 times between 1001 and 1027 AD.
• Attacks typically occurred between September-October and March-April.

First Attack:

• In 1001 AD.
• Attacked the ruler of the Royal dynasty, a descendant of Kanishka.
• Region: From Chenab River to the Hindkush Mountain (Kabul + Punjab).
• Mahmud of Ghazni defeated Jaypal, the ruler.
• Jaypal committed suicide.
• Anand pal, Tri lochanpal, and Bheempal succeeded Jaypal.

Second Attack:

• Between 1001 and 1002 AD.
• Attacked Hindushahi rulers, taking over Waihind.

Third Attack:

• In 1004 AD.
• Attacked the ruler of Kutchh (Wajira).

Fourth Attack:

• In 1005 AD.
• Attacked Multan.

Fifth Attack:

• In 1007 AD.
• Attacked Punjab.

Sixth Attack:

• In 1008 AD.
• Attacked Punjab + Nagar Kot.

Seventh Attack:

• In 1009 AD.
• Attacked Alwar.

Eighth Attack:

• In 1010 AD.
• Attacked Multan.

Ninth Attack:

• In 1013 AD.
• Attacked Thaneshwar.

Tenth Attack:

• In 1013 AD.
• Attacked Hindushahi states.

Eleventh Attack:

• In 1015 AD.
• Attacked Kashmir.

Twelfth Attack:

• In 1018 AD.
• Attacked Mathura + Kannauj.

Sixteenth Attack:

• In 1025 AD.
• Attacked the Somnath temple (Skir temple) in Saurashtra, Gujrat.
• Temple was established by Chandrader.
• Ruled by Bheem 1st.
• Mahmud of Ghazni murdered 50,000 Hindus during the attack and plundered immense wealth (65 tons of gold).
• In 1026 AD, Chalukya ruler, Bhim pal 1st, renovated the temple.
• In 1169 AD, Kumar Pal reconstructed the temple.
• In 1669 AD, Aurangzeb destroyed the temple.
• In 1765 AD, Ahilyabai reconstructed the temple.
• In 1950 AD, Sardar Patel reconstructed the temple.
• On May 1st, 1961, President Rajendra Prasad consecrated the temple.
• On December 1st, 1995, President Shankar Dayal Sharma dedicated the temple to the nation.
• The temple was designed by Prabhashankar.

Seventeenth Attack:

• Last attack in 1027 AD.
• Attacked the Jagts of Sindh (Khokhar fort) near Agra in Bhera.

Post Invasion

• Mahmud Ghaznawi constructed a university in Ghazni.
• He had two sons: Masood and Muhammad.
• After Mahmud Ghaznawi's death in 1030 AD, Masood succeeded him.
• Mahmud Ghaznawi appointed two commanders-in-chief: Sanwed ram and Tilak.

Main Scholars of Court of Mahmud of Ghazni

• Al-Beruni

  • Title: Abu-Rehan-Muhammad.
  • Wrote Kitabul - Hind in Arabic.
  • The book covers Indian history, geography, science, math, and astronomy.
  • He was the first Muslim to study Purans.
  • Book translated to Hindi by Rajnikant Sharma and to English by Edward Sachau.

• ** Firdaushi**

  • Called the Homar of East (Persia).
  • Composed the Shahnama.
  • Scholar of Philosophy.
  • Composed the Shahnama in Persian.
  • Contained 1000 verses.
  • Committed suicide after being insulted in court.

• ** Uttabi**

  • Composed Tarikhe - Yamini.
  • Tushi was a Khurasani Scholary.
  • The book was also called Kitabul Yamin.
  • Written in the Arabic language.
  • He was the secretary of Mahmud of Ghazni.

• ** Abul Fazal Bayhaqi.**

  • Called the Pops of East.
  • Poet in the court of Subuktagin.
  • Royal Poet and teacher.
  • Wrote Tarikh - E - Subukt agin.

• ** Khwaja Ahmad.**

  • Minister of Mahmud of Ghazni.

• ** Farabi**

• ** Uchri**