XI.—'Aláu-d dín Mas'úd, the Generous, son of Ibráhím.*

Sultán Mas'úd, the generous, was a virtuous prince, who had a prosperous reign. He possessed many excellent qualities, and was adorned with justice and equity. He ascended the throne in the days of Al Mustazhar bi-llah Ahmad, commander of the faithful, son of Muktadar. He was very modest and liberal. He abolished all the tyrannical practices which had been intro­duced in former reigns, and cancelled the newly-established im­posts throughout the dominions of Mahmúd, and the country of Záwulistán. Taxes and imposts were remitted in all his do­minions. He restored to the princes, nobles, and grandees their possessions as they had held them in the reign of Sultán Ibrá-hím, and he adopted whatever seemed best for the welfare of the state. Amír 'Azdu-d daula was confirmed in the governorship of Hindustán. In the days of this prince the great Hájib died; but Hájib Taghátigín crossed the river Ganges, and made an in­cursion into Hindustán, carrying his arms farther than any army had reached since the days of Sultán Mahmúd. All the affairs of state were reduced to a system in his reign, and there was nothing to disturb the minds of any one in any quarter. He was born in Ghazní in A.H. 453 (1061 A.D), and after reign­ing seventeen years, he died in the year 509 (1115 A.D.), at the age of fifty-seven. He married the sister of Sultán Sanjar, who was called Mahd-i 'Irák (Cradle of 'Irák).

XII.—Malik Arslán, son of Sultán Mas'úd.

Malik Arslán Abú-l malik ascended the throne A.H. 509 (A.D. 1115), and brought Garmsír and the kingdom of Ghazní under his rule. Bahrám Sháh, his uncle, fled to Sultán Sanjar, in Khurásán. Several wonderful phenomena occurred in the reign of this prince. One was that fire and lightning fell from the sky, and burnt the markets of Ghazní. Other distressing calamities and events occurred during his reign, making it hate­ful to the people. Arslán was famous for his magnanimity and energy, courage, and bravery. After he had ascended the throne he treated his mother, Mahd-i 'Irák, with contempt, and this in­censed Sanjar, who gave his aid to Bahrám Sháh, and marched to Ghazní. Malik Arslán gave him battle, but being defeated, he fled to Hindustán, and fell into great distress. He expired in A.H. 511 (1117 A.D.), after a reign of two years, in the thirty-fifth year of his age.

XIII.—Bahrám Sháh.*

Mu'izzu-d daula Bahrám Sháh, was handsome and manly, liberal, just, and a friend of his people. In the early part of his career, when Malik Arslán succeeded his father, Sultán Mas'úd the generous, he went to Khurásán, the throne of which country was occupied in those days by the great Sultán Sa'íd Sanjar. Bahrám Sháh remained for some time at his Court. But at length Sultán Sanjar marched against Ghazní, and defeated Malik Arslán in battle. Bahrám Sháh then mounted the throne, and was supported by Sultán Sanjar. Saiyid Hasan composed an ode, which he recited at Court in the presence of Sanjar. Sanjar went back to Khurásán, and Bahrám took pos­session of the country. He made some expeditions to Hin-dustán, and on the twenty-seventh of Ramazán, A.H. 512, he captured Muhammad Báhalím, and kept him a prisoner; but he afterwards liberated him, and assigned the whole country of Hindustán to him. This officer again revolted and built the fort of Nágor, in the Siwálik hills, in the vicinity of Bera.* He had many sons and dependants. Bahrám Sháh proceeded to Hindustán to subdue the fort, and Muhammad Báhalím marched towards Multán to meet him, and gave battle, but God punished him for his ingratitude, and he, with his ten* sons, their horses and arms, fell on the day of battle into a quagmire,* so that no trace of him was left. Bahrám Sháh returned to Ghazní, and had to fight against the kings of Ghor. In the war his son Daulat Sháh was slain, and in one campaign he was defeated three times by Sultán 'Aláu-d dín. Ghazní fell into the hands of the Ghorians, who set it on fire and destroyed it. Bahrám Sháh went to Hindustán, but when the Ghorians had retired, he again came to Ghazní, and there expired. His reign lasted forty-one years.

XIV.—Khusrú Sháh, Son of Bahrám Sháh.*

Sultán Yamínu-d daula Khusrú Sháh ascended the throne in A.H. 552 (1157 A.D.) The kings and princes of Ghor had shaken the throne of the descendants of Mahmúd, and had wrested from them and desolated the countries of Ghazní, Bust, Zamín-dáwar, and Takínábád. Weakness had thus fallen on the kingdom and its splendour was departed. When Khusrú Sháh ascended the throne he was weak and unable to bring the country under his rule.

A body of Ghuzz (Turks) also arose and attacked Khurásán* where the reign of Sultán Sa'íd Sanjar had come to an end. An army likewise came against Ghazní, and Khusrú Sháh be­ing unable to resist them went to India. He thus lost Ghazní which fell into the hands of the Ghuzz, and so remained for twelve years. But at length Sultán Sa'id Ghíyásu-d dín Mu­hammad Sám led an army from Ghor, expelled the Ghuzz, took possession of Ghazní, and mounted the throne. Khusrú Sháh had gone to Láhore in Hindustán, where he died. He reigned seven years.

Khusrú Malik Táju-d daula Sultán Jahán, the gentle king, mounted the throne at Lahore. This prince was exceedingly gentle, liberal, and modest, but fond of pleasure. He possessed many excellent qualities, but as he lived when the rule of his family came to an end, he was held in small esteem. With him closed the power of his house, and anarchy reigned in the country. All the nobles and officers of the State, both Turks and freemen, (atrák o ahrár), deserted him. The slaves and servants of the throne took the government into their own hands, while he in-indulged in luxury and pleasure.

Sultán Sa'íd Mu'izzu-d daula Muhammad Sám came every year from Ghazní, continually increasing his hold upon Hind and Sind, till at length in A.H. 577 (1181 A.D.), he advanced to the gates of Lahore, where he took the elephant and the son of Khusrú Sháh and carried them off with him.

In A.H. 583 (1187 A.D.) he again advanced on Lahore and took it. He then dethroned Khusrú Malik, sent him to Ghazní from whence he was subsequently sent to Fíroz-Koh, which was the capital of the great king Sultán Ghiyásu-d dín Muhammad Sám. By order of this monarch, Khusrú Malik was kept a prisoner in the fort of Balrawán, in Gharjistán. When the war (hádisa) of Sultán Sháh (of Khwárizm) broke out in Khurásán, the kings of Ghor* were obliged to throw themselves into it, and they then put Sultán Khusrú Malik to death in the year 598 H. (A.D. 1201). His son Bahrám Sháh who was a captive in the fort of Saifrúd in Ghor, was also slain. Thus ended the house of Násiru-d dín Subuktigín. The kingdom of Írán, the throne of Hindustán, and the country of Khurásán all fell into the pos­session of the Shansabániya Kings.

TABAKAT XVII.

THE SHANSABÁNIYA SULTÁNS AND THE KINGS OF GHOR.*

[Page 34 to 40 of the printed Text.]

1.—Amír Fúlád Ghorí Shansabí.*

Amír Fúlád Ghorí was one of tke sons of Malik Shansab, son of Harnak. The mountains of Ghor came into his possession, and he gave new life to the names of his forefathers. When the founder of the house of 'Abbás, Abú Muslim Marwazí, revolted, and resolved upon expelling the officers of the Ummayides from Khurásán, Amír Fúlád led the forces of Ghor to his assistance, and took an active part in the victories of the race of 'Abbás, and of the people of the house of the prophet. The fortress of Man-desh * was in his possession, and he ruled for some time over the Jabbál and Ghor. Upon his death he was succeeded by the sons of his brother, but after these nothing is known of the rulers of Ghor until the time of Amír Banjí Nahárán.