MAHMUD, sultan of Ghazni, the founder of the Mohammedan empire in India: b. Ghazni, about 970; d. 29 April 1030. His father, Sabuk tagin, governor of Ghazni, owed a nominal alle giance to Persia, but was really independent On his death Mahmud put aside his brother Ismail, whom his father had appointed to succeed him, took the title of sultan, then over the Persian monarchy, and laid the four. dation of an extensive empire in central Asia. He then turned his attention to India, which he invaded repeatedly. His earlier expeditions into the country were directed against successive rajahs of Lahore, on whom he inflicted repeated defeats. In 1008 the Rajah of Lahore, Anang pal, with the assistance of a powerful coalition of rajahs, had assembled one of the largest armies yet seen in the Punjab, but Mahmud was again victorious and carried away enormous spoils from the temple of Nagarcot. On his return he celebrated a triumph at Ghazni. In 1010, after subduing Ghur in the Hindu-Kush, he resumed his conquests in India, captured Ifultan, plundered the temple of Tanesar and continued for a number of years to extend his conquests in successive expeditions. These for a time were interrupted by his conquest of Transoxiana, effected in 1016. In 1017 he set out at the head of an army of 100,000 foot and 20,000 horse, passed the Jamna Jummd and turning to the south appeared before Canoj, the largest and most magnificent Indian city of the day, the rajah of which took precedence of all the Indian rajahs. As the Rajah of Canoj at
once submitted it was spared from pillage, a fate to which Mattra, a famous religious city, was subjected without restraint for 20 days. In 1023 he annexed the territories of Teipal II who had revolted and established for the first time a permanent Mohammedan gar rison in Lahore. His last, which is usually called his 12th, expedition into India (1024-26) was directed against Gujerat. He took the capital and changed the government, but the chief attraction was Somnath. The magnifi cence of its temple filled him with wonder and the descriptions of it suggest images of the palace of Aladdin. Its lofty roof was sup ported by 56 pillars carved and glittering with precious stones. It was lighted by a lamp sus pended from the centre by a gold chain. A huge idol, which Mahmud broke, was found hollow and disclosed immense treasures in diamonds and precious stones. The pieces of the idol were sent to Mecca, Medina and Ghazni. The remainder of his enterprises were confined to western Asia. Mahmud was avari cious and loved to accumulate treasures from his warlike expeditions. Consult Elliot, tory of India' ; Lane-Poole, India under Mohammedan Rule' (London 1903).