THE GHAZNAVIDS

THE GHAZNAVIDS

An adventurer Alptigin founded the principality of Ghazni - in AD 962. After his death in 977 his slave and son-in-law, Subuktigin, succeeded him. His policy of conquest brought him in conflict with the Shaiya dynasty. He defeated its ruler, Jaipal, twice and thus extended the kingdom beyond the Indus. After a reign of 20 years, Subuktigin died in 997 and was succeeded by his son Mahmud, a brilliant general and a mighty conqueror. He led as many as 17 expeditions into India during the years 1000-1206.

Out of these the one against the temple of Somnath in 1025 was the most important as it gave Mahmud a vast treasure. Mahmud did not make any systematic effort to capture Indian territories, except for that held by the Shaiya dynasty. However, Mahmud may be seen as the founder of Turkish rule in India to the extent that his conquests opened India to conquest from the north-west. The Yamini dynasty to which Subuktigin and his successors belonged was soon over­
thrown by Muhammad of Ghur (at the close of the 12th century).

The decline of Ghazni rule in India may be attributed
to:
(i) Little or no attention was paid to internal strength­
ening and organisation of the empire.
(ii) Excess use was made of military power in external
security.
(iii) Mahmud Ghazni had incompetent successors.
(iv) Lack of definite and universal law relating to
succession to throne resulted in constant fight among the successors of Mahmud.
(v) Ala-ud-din Hussain, a Gaud king, attacked Ghazni in 1155. Khusro Malik, the last Ghazni ruler, was killed by
Muhammad Ghur in 1192.
(vi) There was a lack of control over the army. (vii) There was no new source of income.
Mahmud Ghazni's invasion had some significance for
Indian history.
(i) It exposed India's military weakness.
(ii) It exposed the political disunity of India.
(iii) It weakened the economic condition of India
because Mahmud carried huge wealth out of India.
(iv) It caused a great setback to Indian art and sculpture
due to destruction of idols, temples and beautiful palaces.
(v) It opened India to foreign attacks.
(vi) It provided Islam a foothold in India.
(vii) Mahmud's attack upon Hindu temples brought a
feeling of hatred and fear among the Hindus towards the Muslims.
(viii) Arrival of Muslim saints, called the Sufis, pro­
vided impetus to greater Hindu-Muslim interaction.
(ix) The accounts of Al-beruni, who accompanied Mahmud to India, provide very useful information about contemporary Indian life.