Mahmûd de Ghaznî

See also: Ghazni

Mahmûd de Ghaznî - Yamîn ul-Daulâ Abd ul-Qasim Mahmûd Ibn Subuktigîn - (October 2nd 971 - April 30th 1030) was leading Empire ghaznévide of 997 until its death.

In 994, Mahmûd is made governor of the Khorâsan, with the title of Saïf ud-Daulâ - sword of the state. Two years later, his/her father Subuktigîn dies in the area of Balkh, having declared his second wire, Ismail, like his successor. As soon as Ismail is established in Balkh, Mahmûd, which is then in Nishapur, contacts him in friendly terms and a division of the territories had by their father with his death proposes to him. Ismail which disallows its proposal is at once attacked by his/her brother and demolishes. It is then brought back to Ghaznî where it is imprisoned and Mahmûd reigns now without division on Khorâsan and of Ghaznî (997).

During the first two years of its reign, Mahmûd consolidates its position in Ghaznî. Although leader of an independent state, Mahmûd makes an allegiance of form to the Abbasid caliph of Baghdad which, in return, encourages it in its conquests and legitimates it as governor of the conquered grounds. The tradition says that Mahmûd had made the wish plunder India once the year and to recite a verse of the Coran after each destruction of temple. In fact, it conducts seventeen campaigns of plundering to it, the first important one in 1001, the last in 1026. Its first forwardings target the Panjâb and the India of the North-East, while the last reached Somnâth on the southern part of the Kâthiâwar in the Goujerat.

Its principal enemy is Jaipâl - or Jayapâla Shâhî - Râja of Lâhore and Kabul, driven out by the father of Mahmûd of this last city and which reigns then on Panjâb. In 1001, Mahmûd goes on India to the head of 15.000 riders, Jaipâl meets it with 12.000 riders, 30.000 infantrymen and 300 elephants of war. At the time of the battle, close to Peshâwar, the Indians, although superiors of number and equipment, fall under the blows from the Arab cavalry, leaving 15.000 victims on the battle field. Jaipâl and 15 of its close relations or officers are captured then released, but the râja, which does not support the defeat, abdicates in favor of his/her son Ânandapâla and goes up on its Bûcher funerary that it would have lit itself.

Ânandapâla then launches a call to the assistance with the others râjas Indian, and in 1008, an large army is raised. The two combatants find themselves between Und and Peshâwar and faces during 40 days. Mahmûd finally succeeds in forcing Ânandapâla to attack it. The dubious battle one moment, turns to its disadvantage, when the elephant of Ânandapâla, suddenly thrown into a panic, made half-turn and escapes any control. The Indian troops, believing their chief in escape, are relaxed, giving up a covered battle field of their deaths. Nothing will resist any more Mahmûd in its campaigns of plundering.

Of return with immense spoils and annexed Panjâb, Mahmûd transforms Ghaznî into a great center of art and culture which accommodates a great number of scientists and artists, among which Fîrdûsî and Al-Biruni. It founds a university, traces gardens and builds mosques and palate.

In 1018, it plunders Kânauj and Mathurâ and brings back more than fifty thousand prisoners, which causes the slump in prices on the market with the slaves of Ghaznî. In 1021 - 1022, it cuts down the power of the Chandelâ. Mahmûd carries out its last forwarding in 1024 - 1026, a forwarding remained famous for the width of its destruction. It destroys the temples of Ajmer, then takes the direction of the rich person Goujerat whom it did not put yet at bag. It goes down again on the southernmost coast of the Kâthiâwar along the Mer of Oman, attacks the Holy City of Somnâth which is defended dearly, and shaves it like its temple dedicated to Shiva, one of most important of India where a thousand of Brahmans officiates and which maintains three hundred musicians and dancers.

Mahmûd spend the last years of its life to fight tribes coming from the Central Asia which threaten its empire. Never, he regarded India as a ground of conquest, he saw only one reserve of plundering there. At the end of its life, it hardly any more remains of temples debouts in the towns of Vârânasî, Mathurâ, Ujjain, Maheshwar, Jwalamukhi, and Dvârakâ. To its death, caused by the Malaria, the Ghaznévides enter a slow decline.

Chronology

1000 : Mahmûd de Ghaznî demolishes the râja Jaipâl and seizes Peshâwar.
1004 : Mahmûd crosses the Indus and plunders the area of Bhatiya. It converts of force the inhabitants of Ghor.
1005 : Mahmûd attacks the râja Ânandapâla, it seizes immense spoils.
1008 : It invades Panjâb after its victory over the Indians with Peshâwar.
1010 : Mahmûd de Ghaznî invades the kingdom of Multân in India.
1011 : It plunders the town of Thâneshvar and destroyed the temple of Chakrasvamin.
1013 : Mahmûd attacks Trilochanapâla, the son of Ânandapâla and plunders the Cachemire and Panjâb.
1018 : The Indian city of Kânauj is entirely destroyed, the large temple of Mathurâ and all the secondary temples are burnt.
1019 : Mahmûd returns in Ghaznî with 53.000 slaves and enormous spoils.
1025 : It attacks the Holy City of Somnâth in the Kâthiâwar, 50.000 Indians lose the life during plundering and the Lingam of the temple is destroyed and its pieces integrated into the pavement of mosques with Mecque and Médine.
1030 : Died of Mahmûd de Ghaznî.

Quotation

According to the historian Edmund Bosworth: “Mahmud handles the religion of coolness. Its sunnism guarantees the aggression and justifies plunderings. But it is not a fanatic. ”

See too

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