Ascends the throne. — The household troops under their officers quit Ghizny. — They are attacked by the King's troops. — The latter defeated. — The household troops proceed to join the King's elder brother, Musaood, at Nyshapoor. — Musaood marches to Ghizny to claim the throne. — Mahomed is seized by his uncle, Ameer Yoosoof, and others, and deposed. — The confederates proceed to join Musaood, who is proclaimed king.

AT the time of Mahmood's death, his son Ma-homed was in the province of Joorjan, and the Prince Musaood in Ispahan. Ameer Ally, son of Kuzil Arslan, the father-in-law of Mahmood, in­vited the Prince Mahomed to Ghizny, and accord­ing to the will of his father, placed the crown upon his head. Mahomed, on his accession, conferred the office of Sipasalar * on his uncle Ameer Yoo-soof Subooktugeen, and that of Vizier on Aboo Soheil Ahmud, son of Hussun Humadany. He opened the treasury also, and gave largesses to his friends, and on the public servants likewise he be­stowed liberal donations. The hearts of the sol­diery and people, however, were chiefly devoted to his brother Ameer Musaood.

About 50 days after the death of Mahmood, one of the nobles, by name Abool-Nujm Ameer Ayaz, the son of Isaac, having, in conjunction with Ally Dabye, gained over the household troops, entered the royal stables in broad daylight, and mounting the King's best horses rode off towards Boost. Mahomed, informed of this circumstance, des­patched Sewund Ray, an Indian chief, with a numerous body of Hindoo cavalry, in pursuit of them. Having come up with the nobles in a few days, a skirmish ensued, in which Sewund Ray and the greatest part of his troops were killed, but not without a heavy loss on the side of the insurgents. The rebel chiefs, continued to pursue their journey to the Prince Musaood, whom they met at Nyshapoor. Musaood having heard of his father's decease when at Humadan, left governors in the provinces of Persian Eerak, and hastened towards Khorassan. On his arrival he wrote to his brother, that he had no intention of disputing those countries with him, which his father, in spite of his own preferable right, had been pleased to bequeath on Mahomed; observing, that the provinces of Joorjistan, Tubristan, and Eerak, most of which he had acquired by his own sword, were ample for himself. He only insisted so far on his birthright as to have his name read first in the Khootba * over all his dominions. These princes were twins; but Mahomed was the elder by some hours, and, consequently, had an un­doubted right to succeed. Enmity had always subsisted between them; and Mahomed, on the present occasion, having returned an answer of defiance to his brother, prepared for war, in spite of his counsellors, who opposed so unnatural a pro­ceeding.

Rumzan 1.
A. H. 421.
Sept. 23.
A. D. 1030. Putting his army in motion, and leaving Ghizny on the 1st Rumzan, he proceeded to meet Musaood at Tukee-abad, where he halted during the fast a whole month, and a most unpropitious delay it was for him. * While there, his crown falling acci­dently from his head, it was taken as a bad omen

Shuwal 3.
October 26.

by his army. Accordingly, upon the 3d night of Shuwal, a confederacy having been formed by Ameer Ally Chesh-awundy, Ameer Yoosoof Subooktugeen, and Hoos-sein Michael, they sounded to arms, and putting themselves at the head of the troops, surrounded the King's tents, seized his person, and sent him prisoner to the fort of Wally, which the people of Kandahar at this day call Khullij.† * They now marched the army to Hirat, and joining the Prince Musaood, swore allegiance to him.

Musaood marched to Bulkh, where he ordered Hoosein Michael to be hanged, on the plea of his having condescended, on his return from a pil­grimage to Mecca, to wear a dress presented to him by the Caliph of Egypt; but it is also said, a private pique existed, which hastened the death of Hoosein; for he was once heard to say in public, that if ever Musaood became king, he would suffer himself to be hanged. Ameer Ally also had his head struck off for his ingratitude to his prince; and Ameer Yoosoof, the other conspirator, although the King's uncle, was imprisoned for life. Shortly after, the Prince Mahomed was deprived of his eye-sight, so that his reign scarcely lasted five months; but after nine years' imprisonment he again ascended the throne for one year, and was eventually put to death by his nephew Modood, the son of Musaood.