The Ghaznavids

The Ghaznavids or the Ghaznavid dynasty is a dynasty that belongs to a Muslims and Turkic Muslims with the origin of Mamluk, reigning at the vast expanse, huge parts of Afghanistan, Iran. Sabuktigin is also called the founder of the Ghaznavid dynasty. He became a founder after the death of his father-in-law. His father in law name was Alp Tigin. Alp Tigin was designated as a Samanid at Balkh. Most Sunni Islam follows the principles of the Ghaznavid dynasty. The dynasty follows the principles of Persians in terms of language, words, culture, architecture, art, norms, and so forth. 

Mahmud of Ghazni (Mahmud Ghaznavid)

Mahmud Ghaznavid followed the religion of Sunni Islam and was the son of Sabuktigin. Mahmud Ghaznavid was the first who declared the independence of the Samanid Empire, due to which the Ghaznavid Empire expanded. The Ghaznavid Empire expanded up to the Amu Darya, located near the Indian ocean, the easy direction of the Indus river, and Rey and Hamadan, which are located in the west. The power of the Ghaznavid Empire started decreasing after the battle of Dandanaqan. The Mud regulates this battle. After this battle, Ms’ud loses complete control over some territories, which lie in the West region of the dynasty of Seljuk. 

Rulers of the Ghaznavid dynasty, according to their era of the reign.

These are the 30 Rulers of the Ghaznavid dynasty according to their era of the reign:

• Alptigin (963-977)
• Sebük Tigin, or Sebuktigin (Abu Mansur) (977-997)
• Ismail of Ghazni (997-998)
• Mahmud of Ghaznavid (Yamin ud-Dawlah) (998-1030)
• Mohammad Ghaznavi (Jalal ud-Dawlah) (1030-1031)
• Mas’ud I of Ghazni (Shihab ud-Dawlah) (1031–1041)
• Mohammad Ghaznavi (Jalal ud-Dawlah (second time) (1041)
• Maw’dud Ghaznavi (Shihab ud-Dawlah) (1041-1050)
• Mas’ud II (1050)
• Ali (Baha ud-Dawlah) (1050)
• Abd ul-Rashid (Izz ud-Dawlah) (1053)
• Toğrül (Tughril) (Qiwam ud-Dawlah) (1053)
• Farrukhzad (Jamal ud-Dawlah) (1053-1059)
• Ibrahim (Zahir ud-Dalah) (1059-1099)
• Mas’ud III (Ala ud-Dawlah) (1099-1115)
• Shirzad (Kemal ud-Dawlah) (1115)
• Arslan Shah (Sultan ud-Dawlah) (1115-1118)
• Bahram Shah (Yamin ud-Dawlah ) (1118-1152)
• Khusrau Shah (Mu’izz ud-Dawlah) (1152-1160)
• Khusrau Malik (Taj ud-Dawlah) (1160-1187)

Key Highlights of the Ghaznavids 

Some key highlights are:

Ghaznavid sultans

Let’s discuss the sultans of Ghaznavid. 

The first sultan of Ghaznavid was Qara Bajkam. He has two sons, named Sabuktigin and Bughrachuq. Sabuktigin gets the Emir of Ghazna, and Bughrachuq gets the position of Governor of Herat. Bughrachuq died in 998 without any child. After that, Sabuktigin forwarded the dynasty. He had five sons, and this elder son named Mahmud became the Ghaznavid sultan from 998 to 1030. Mahmud has three sons named Muhammad, Mas’ud I, and Abd al-Rashid. Muhammad and Mas’ud I both became the sultan of Ghaznavid from 1030 to 1041. After that, their youngest brother Abd al-Rashid became the sultan of Ghaznavid from 1049 to 1052. 

Mas’ud, I have eight sons. His four elder sons became the sultan of Ghaznavid:

• Mawdud from 1041 to 1048.
• Ali from 1048 to 1049.
• Farrukh-Zad from 1053 to 1059. 
• Ibrahim from 1059 to 1099.

Khusrau Malik was the last sultan of Ghaznavid, who ruled from 1160 to 1186.

Culture of Ghaznavid

Let’s discuss the culture of Ghaznavid. 

Most Ghaznavid are the Iranian Muslims. They usually follow the culture of Turkish and Persians. Even the soldiers of the Ghaznavid follow the principles of the Turkish military. They practise all the fundamentals, which are running in the turkey. The administration department of Ghaznavid follows the traditions of Perso-Islamic. They follow the craftwork, architecture work, and many more of the Perso-Islamic. Under the administration rules of Ghaznavid, payment of taxes is the priority. All the collected tax is used to provide the facilities to the public and facilitate the lifestyle of sultans. All the expenditures and tax collection are done with a great inspection and security of the sultan of Ghaznavid.

Conclusion

Before being overthrown by his twin Ma’sud I, his reign lasted for five months in the year 1030; after that, he was imprisoned and blinded. After nine years, Muhammad Ghaznavid (who belongs to Sunni Islam) was brought back for about a year before being put to death by Maw’dud, nephew of Muhammad of Ghazni. The reign of Muhammad Ghaznavid lasted for only 50 days before he was imprisoned and blinded by the instructions of his twin, Ma’sud I. After losing a battle in Nangarhar, a year later, he was put to death by his nephew, Maw’dud.