In the month of Shawwál, A.H. 384 (November, 994), the command of Khurásán was conferred on Amír Mahmúd, under the title of Saifu-d daula, and Amír Subuktigín received the title of Násiru-d dín. He expelled Abú-l hasan Saimjúr, and Khurásán was cleared of its enemies. Amír Subuktigín was a wise, just, brave, and religious man, faithful to his agreements, truthful in his words, and not avaricious for wealth. He was kind and just to his subjects, and the Almighty God had be­stowed upon him all the great qualities which are admirable in nobles and princes. The length of his reign was twenty years, and of his life fifty-six years. He died in the vicinity of Balkh, at the village of Barmal Madrúí, A.H. 386 (996 A.D.).*

Sultán Mahmúd was a great monarch. He was the first Muhammadan king who received the title of Sultán from the Khalif. He was born on the night of Thursday, the tenth of Muharram, A.H. 361* (2nd October, 971), in the seventh year after the time of Bilkátigín. A moment (sá'at) before his birth, Amír Subuktigín saw in a dream that a tree sprang up from the fire-place in the midst of his house, and grew so high that it covered the whole world with its shadow. Waking in alarm from his dream, he began to reflect upon the import of it. At that very moment a messenger came, bringing the tidings that the Almighty had given him a son. Subuk-tigín greatly rejoiced, and said, I name the child Mahmúd. On the same night that he was born, an idol temple in India, in the vicinity of Parsháwar, on the banks of the Sind, fell down.

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Mahmúd was a man of great abilities, and is renowned as one of the greatest champions of Islám. He ascended the throne in Balkh, in the year 387 H. (997 A.D.), and received investiture by the Khalífá Al Kádir bi-llah. His influence upon Islám soon became widely known, for he converted as many as a thousand idol-temples into mosques, subdued the cities of Hindustán, and vanquished the Ráís of that country. He captured Jaipál, who was the greatest of them, kept him at Yazd (?), in Khurásán, and gave orders so that he was bought for eighty dirams.* He led his armies to Nahrwála and Gujarát, carried off the idol (manát) from Somnát, and broke it into four parts. One part he deposited in the Jámi' Masjid of Ghazní, one he placed at the entrance of the royal palace, the third he sent to Mecca, and the fourth to Medina. 'Unsurí composed a long Kasída on this victory. [The story of his return from Somnát through the desert of Sind follows (see supra, p. 191), and an account is given of the state and pomp of his Court.] He died in the year 421 H. (1030 A.D.), in the thirty-sixth year of his reign, and at sixty-one years of age.

III.—Muhammad bin Mahmúd Jalálu-d daula.*

Jalálu-d daula Muhammad was a good amiable man. Many curious poems are attributed to him. When his father Mahmúd died, his brother Mas'úd was in 'Irák, and the nobles of the court of Mahmúd resolved upon placing Muhammad on the throne, which they did in the year 421 H. (1030 A.D.). He was a man of gentle temper, and had not the energy necessary for governing a kingdom. A party of the friends of Mas'úd wrote to him in 'Irák, and that prince gathered a force, with which he marched upon Ghazní. When intelligence of his design reached Ghazní, Muhammad prepared an army and went out to meet his brother. 'Alí Kuríb was Hájib and commander-in-chief. When they reached Takínábád* they heard of Mas'úd's approach, so they seized upon Muhammad, blinded him, and put him in prison. 'Alí Kuríb then led his army on to Hirát to meet Mas'úd. When he came within a stage of that place, he went to wait upon the Sultán, but Mas'úd ordered him to be made prisoner, and his whole force to destroyed. On this occasion Muhammad reigned for seven months. When Mas'úd was killed at Máríkala, Sultán Muhammad was brought out of prison, and although he was blind he was once more placed upon the throne. He then marched at the head of his army towards Ghazní, but Maudúd, son of Mas'úd, came forth to avenge his father, met his uncle in battle, defeated him, and slew him and his children. The second time he reigned four months. His age was forty-five years when his death occurred, in the year 432 H.

IV.—Násiru-d dín Allah Mas'údu-sh Shahíd (the Martyr).*

Násiru-d dín Allah was the appellation of this prince, but his family name was Abú Mas'úd. He and his brother Sultán Mu-hummad were born on the same day. Sultán Mas'úd, the martyr, ascended the throne in A.H. 422 (1031 A.D.). He was so exceedingly generous that people used to call him “the second 'Alí,” and for his bravery they named him “the second Rus-tam,” No man could lift his battle-axe from the ground with one hand, and even an elephant could not stand before him. His father envied his strength, and used to keep him under con­trol. He (Mahmúd) kept Muhammad at Ghazní, and at length he obtained authority from the Khalif to place the name and titles of Muhammad in the Khutba before those of Mas'úd. Khwája Abú Nasr Mishkán says: “When the letters (of the Khalif) were read in Mahmúd's court, it was felt by us, and by all the princes and great men, to be a heavy blow, for marks of intelli­gence and courage were apparent on the brow of Mas'úd. When the prince came forth from the presence of his father, I, Abú Nasr Mishkán went after him and said to him, “O prince, this post­ponement of your name in the letter of the Khalif is very offen­sive to your servants.” The prince said, “Don't grieve about it, the sword is a truer prophet than the pen.” He then told me to return. I had no sooner got back than the informers told the Sultán Mahmúd of my devotion to Mas'úd. He sent for me, and I waited upon him. He asked me why I went after Mas'úd, and what I had said to him. I related exactly all that had passed, without reserve, for by concealment my life would have been imperilled. The Sultán then said, “I know that Masúd excels Muhammad in every respect, and after my death the kingdom will devolve upon him, but I take this trouble now on behalf of Muhammad, that the poor fellow may enjoy some honour and gratification during my lifetime, for after my death it will not be so safe for him. May God have mercy on him.”

Abú Nasr Mishkán goes on to say:—“In this incident two things surprised me very much. The first was the answer which Mas'úd so kindly and discreetly gave me. The second was the quickness and strict control of Mahmúd, from whom this little attention of mine could not be concealed.” When Sultán Mah-múd took 'Irák he placed Mas'úd on the throne of that country, and before that period Hirát and Khurásán had been ruled in his name. After he ascended the throne of Spáhán (Ispahán) he took the countries of Re, Kazwín, Hamadán, and Táram,* and he overcame the Dailamites. Several times he received robes of honour from the Khalifate. After the death of Mah-múd he came to Ghazní, and took possession of his father's king­dom. Several times he led his armies to India, and waged religious war. Twice he went to Tabaristán and Mázandarán. Towards the end of his reign the Saljúks made inroads, and three times he scattered their forces in the neighbourhood of Marv and Sarakhs. But as it was the will of God that the kingdom of Khurásán should come into the hands of the Saljúks, he eventually fought a bloody battle with them for three days at Tálikán.* On the third day, which was a Friday, the Sultán was defeated, and retreated by way of Gharjistán to Ghazní. In panic he collected his treasures and went towards India, but in Máríkala* his Turkí and Hindí slaves revolted, took him prisoner, and raised Muhammad to the throne. They sent Mas'úd to the fort of Kírí,* and there he was slain in the year 432 H. (1040 A.D.). His age was forty-five years, and he had reigned nine years.