GHIZ'NEVIDES, a celebrated dynasty, which, in the height of its power, possessed an empire extending from the Tigris to the Ganges, and from the Salon or Sir-Daria to the Indian ocean. The founder of the dynasty was Alepteghin, originally a slave belonging. to Abdultnelek, the Samani Ameer of Bokliara, who was appointed governor of Khoras san; but on the death of his benefactor he rebelled, and proceeded at the head of an army to Ghizni, of which he took possession in 961, and for 15 years successfully with stood the whole power of the Samani (q.v.). On his death, Sebekteghin or Sabactagi was unanimously chosen as his successor. He was distinguished for his prudence and valor, and equally so for his humanity and justice. By him the kingdom was extended from the Indus to Khorassan, and from the gulf of Oman to the Anafi-Daria Jilion; and in the latter province his son, Malimficl, was appointed governor under the nominal suzerainty of the Samani. Sehekteghin died in 997, and was succeeded by his younger son IsmAil; but Mahmttd the elder, hearing of his father's death, hastened to Ghizni, and assumed the reins in 993, with the title of sultan! In the year follow ing, he took complete possession of Khorassan, and in 1001 commenced a series of destructive inroads into Ilincifistfin: Falling in with Jeypill, the prince of north-western India, at Peshawur, sultan Mahmfid, on the 8th of Mohurrim (Nov. 26), defeated him with immense slaughter. In 1004, while on his second expedition to India, he was recalled by the news that Eylelt Khan of Khashgar, who in 999 had conquered the Samani and taken possession of their territory, was ravaging Kliorassa and Balkh; on hearing which, sultan Malinulfl, leaving his conquests, returned in an incredibly short time to Ghizni, and thence proceeding without delay to Balkh, engaged in battle with the enemy, amd completely defeated them. He then took possession of the country between the Sihon and the Jilion (ancient Transoxiana). In 1007 and 1009, sultan Mithmad made his third and fourth expeditions into Hinciftstfin, and each time carried off an immense booty in money, jewels, and slaves. On his return to Ghizni, he made a liberal distribution from his treasures among the poor and the ministers of religion. About this time he reduced Gliftr, Gherjistan, and Khau•ezin, bestowing the latter province upon Altun-Taush, one of his favorite generals. In 1024, he was engaged in his last expedition against the Hindus, the famous expedition to Somnaut (q.v.), at the southern extremity of Guzerat. Mahmfid here obtained an enormous booty. In 1027, he received from the Calif Ul Kader a ratification of all his conquests, together with numerous titles of honor, and in the two following years having conquered Irak, Tebriztan, and Mazanderan, he returned to his capital, where he died April 29,1030. At this time, the empire of Ghizni was at the summit of its glory, having in the short space of 69 years extended over 88 degrees of longitude and 20 of latitude. Mahmtld possessed some of the most exalted qualities that dignify and adorn human character, but they were much obscured by his sanguinary zeal for the advancement of Islam. He was succeeded by his younger son Mahomed, who in Oct. of the same year was com
pelled to resign the sovereignty to his younger brother, Mussaild I. This prince was in 1037 signally defeated by the Seljfiks (q.v.), who had taken possession of Khorassan under Toghrul Beg and Tchegher Beg, the grandsons of Seljfik. Though an able and warlike prince, misfortunes crowded thickly round his declining years, and in 1041 he was put to death. During his reign, the Seljfiks took possession of Balkh, Khorassan, Khaurezm, Herat, and Irak. The sovereigns who in succession reigned in Ghizni were Mfldud (1041-49), Mussafid II. All (1049-52), AbdurrashId (1052-53), and Furrukh zaud (1053-58), during whose reigns there is nothing worthy of relation, beyond the intestine quarrels at Ghizni, and the encroachments of the Seljfilts on the w. and north. The reign of Furrukhzaud, however, shed a bright luster over the expiring glory of Ghizni, for the Seljuk prince, Daoud, thinking to take advantage of the dissensions at at Ghizni, marched towards it; but on the way he was met by Nfishtekein, one of the best generals of the age, and signally defeated. Taking advantage of this victory, Nftslueltein marched into Khorassan, to recover that province, and 'encountering Kellisaurek, a celebrated TOrkman chief, totally defeated him. On news of this second defeat, Alp-Arslan (q.v.) was sent by his uncle Toghrul Beg to stop the progress of the Ghiznevides; and in the battle which ensued, fortune changed sides, and Nftslitekein was totally defeated. A treaty of peace was then concluded. Furruklizaud was suc ceeded by Ibrahim (1058-98),. Mussafid III. (1098-1114), Arslan Shah (1114-18), and Behram Shah (1118-52). During the reign of this last prince, the Ghuri, a tribe inhabit ing the mountainous country of Ghat., began to make inroads upon the territory of Ghizni, and growing bolder by snccess, attacked and took the capital itself, driving Behram Shah across the Indus. But on the retreat of part of the Galati to their own country, Behram Shah returned and retook his capital, making prisoner the prince of Seyfuddeen Souri, whom he put to death with the most refined cruelty. On learn ing this, the brother of the unfortunate prince, Allah-ud-deen, hastened from Mar, and having defeated Behram Shah, gave up Ghizni to be pillaged by his followers. Behram Shah, thus driven a second time across'the Indus, desisted from all further attempts to regain his ancestral dominions, and died in 1152. His son Khosrfi Shah succeeded him, and took up his residence in Lahore; but the many attempts which he made to repossess himself of Ghizni and the surrounding territory were unsuccessful. Khosrft Melek, the 17th and last monarch of the dynasty of Ghizni, occupied himself in the first part of his reign (1160-66) in extending and consolidating his Indian possessions, but subsequently his whole energies were required.-to repel the attacks of Shahab-ud-deen prince of (Thar, who, having conquered all the territory w. of the Indus, now sought to drive the race of Sebekteghin from their last possession. In 1184, Lahore was all that remained to Khosrft Melek, and the taking of -that city by the Ghttrian prince in 1186 put an end to the power of the Ghiznevides.