Empire of Mehmud Ghezr : Medieval Indian History

Mahmud

Mahmud raided Nagarkot in the Punjab hills and Thaneshwar near Delhi in 1011. In 1018, Mahmud plundered the holy city of Mathura and also attacked Kanauj.

In 1024, Mahmud marched from Multan across Rajaputana, defeated the Solanki King Bhimadeva I, plundered Anhilwad and sacked the famous temple of Somanatha. This was his last campaign in India. Mahmud died in 1030 A.D

Mahmud was not a mere raider and plunderer of wealth. He built a wide empire from the Punjab in the east to the Caspian sea on the west and from Samarkand in the north to Gujarat in the south

Mahmud was considered a hero of Islam by medieval historians. He also patronized art and literature. Firdausi was the poet-laureate in the court of Mahmud. He was the author of Shah Namah. Alberuni stayed in Mahmud’s court and wrote the famous Kitab-i-Hind,

He paved the way for the Turks and Afghans for further conquests and make deeper incursions

Hindu Shahi kingdom was guarding the gates of India against foreign invaders. Mahmud destroyed it and thus India’s frontiers became defenceless.

Muhammad Ghori

Ghoris started as vassals of Ghazni but became independent after the death of Mahmud.

Taking advantage of the decline of the Ghaznavid empire, Muizzuddin Muhammad popularly known as Muhammad Ghori brought Ghazni under their control.

Mu’izz ad-Din Mohammad Ghori, born Shihab ad-Din (1149 – March 15, 1206), also known as Mohammad of Ghor, was the Sultan of the Ghori empire along with his brother Ghiyath ad-Din Muhammad from 1173 to 1202 and as the sole ruler from 1202 to 1206.

He is credited with laying the foundation of Muslim rule in the Indian subcontinent, which lasted for several centuries. He reigned over a territory spanning over parts of modern-day Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Iran, Northern India, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.