“It is pleasing to recognize one's merits, when the crooked sphere
Has bent the final arrow of misfortune into the shape of a bow.
The honour of the Sultán has perished from the world, and there
remains not anything
Except this tale, that he recognized not the merits of Firdúsí.”
According to the Guzída, Firdúsí died in the year 416,* but God knows everything!
When the hand of Yamínu-d daula Mahmúd was cut off from possession in worldly things, his son Muhammad,* according to the will of his father, placed upon his head the crown of Sultánship, and, just as it was in the days of Mahmúd, he appointed Hasnak Míkál prime minister. Sultán Mas'úd, who was at Hamadán, having obtained intelligence of the death of his father, hastened towards Khurásán, and wrote a letter to his brother to the effect that he did not want the country which his father had given to his brother, but he insisted that his name should be recited first in the khutba. Muhammad, having returned a stern refusal, began to make preparations for war, but several of those who consulted the welfare of the government employed their exertions to bring about a reconciliation between the two brothers. They were unavailing, for Muhammad would not yield in the least. Having entrusted the advance guard of the army to Yúsuf bin Subuktigín, he set out on the road, and on the 1st of the blessed month of Ramazán, in the year 421 H., he arrived at Nagínábád,* which was in truth Nakbatábád (i.e. the abode of calamity), at which place he remained during the whole of the fasting month. On the feast day, his cap happened to fall off his head without any cause, a circumstance which the people interpreted as a bad omen, for on the night of the 3rd of Shawwál, Amír 'Alí Khesháwand* and Yúsuf bin Subuktigín, having conspired together, raised the standard of enmity, and made advances to Mas'úd. Having surrounded the tent of Muhammad, they seized him and imprisoned him in the fort of Nagínábád.*
The chief men then went out to meet Mas'úd, and Amír
Hasnak, who was at Naishápúr, came to the Court of Mas'úd.
When Mas'úd saw him, he ordered him to be hanged, because
he had heard that Hasnak had one day said in the Court of
Muhammad that before Mas'úd should become king it would be
right to make war. When 'Alí Khesháwand and Yúsuf Subuk-
In contradiction to what has been above written, men have it that before the eye of the prosperity of Muhammad was made blind by the iron of oppression, he had reigned four years. After Mas'úd had obtained the kingdom, Muhammad was imprisoned for nine years. After the death of Mas'úd he again became king for one year,* and in the year 434 H. he was murdered by the order of Maudúd bin Mas'úd.
The surname of Sultán Mas'úd, according to some historians, was Násiru-d dín, but in the opinion of Hamdu-lla Mustaufí, it was Násiru-d daula.* After he had deprived his brother of eyesight, he placed upon his own head the crown of sovereignty at the metropolis of Ghaznín. He occupied himself with laying the foundation of justice and equity, and threw open the doors of kindness to all learned men. During the days of his rule, such buildings as mosques, colleges, and inns, were erected in different parts of the kingdom. Every year he occupied his ambitious mind in war against the infidels of Hind, and it was owing to this that the Saljúkíans obtained an opportunity of crossing the river Oxus, and having gained strength, they subdued in a little time the cities of Khurásán.
During the latter days of his prosperity, Mas'úd again made war upon the cities of Hind, and on his return from the river Indus, Noshtigín, and the sons of 'Alí Khesháwand, and Yúsuf bin Subuktigín, all of whom bore enmity towards him, seized him and delivered him over to his brother, Muhammad Makhúl: he was imprisoned in a strong fort, and was killed in the year 430 H. (1038-9 A.D.). His reign lasted twelve years.
In the year 422 H. (1031 A.D.) Mas'úd mounted the throne of Ghaznín. He appointed Abú Suhail Hamadúní* to the administration of Hirát, and having written out a farmán, he delivered over the governorship of Ispahán to 'Aláu-d daula Ja'far bin Kákúya. 'Aláu-d daula was the son of the maternal uncle of Majdu-d daula bin Fakhru-d daula Dailamí, and in the language of Dailam they call a maternal uncle by the word “Kákúya.” This Kákúya was at first the viceroy of 'Irák, but afterwards he arrogated to himself absolute dominion. In the year 423 H.* (1032 A.D.) Altúntásh hájib, conformably with Mas'úd's* order, proceeded from Khwárizm to Máwaráu-n nahr against 'Alítigín, who had subdued Samarkand and Bukhára. On the confines of Balkh he was joined by 15,000 men from the army of Ghaznín, and Altúntásh first marched to Bukhára, which he took, and then directed his steps towards Samarkand.
'Alítigín having come out of the city with the intention of fighting, drew up his army near a certain village, on the one side of which was a river and numerous trees, and on the other a mountain, equal in height to the revolving heavens. When Altúntásh came up to that spot, the flame of battle was kindled, and in the middle of the fight a band of men, who had lain in ambuscade, rushed out and charged the army of Khwárizm. They wounded Altúntásh mortally, but that brave man concealed the circumstance, and conducted himself with such resolution that many of the army of 'Alítigín were killed, and the rest, who escaped the sword, were taken prisoners. When it was night, Altúntásh sent for the nobles and generals of the army, showed them his wound, and said, “I shall never recover from this wound:* do you now make your own arrangements.” That very night they sent a messenger to 'Alítigín, and brought about a reconciliation, and then returned to Khurásán. The next day Altúntásh died, and his son Hárún took his place. Khwája Ahmad bin Hasan Maimandí* died in the year 424 H., and Mas'úd having sent for Abú Nasr Muhammad bin 'Abdu-s Samad, who was the accountant of Hárún, appointed him wazír, which post he filled up to the last days of the life of Mas'úd.
In the midst of all these events, the Saljúkíans, having passed over the Jíhún, settled in the vicinity of Naishápúr. When, after a little time, they had obtained strength, they began to show hostilities towards Mas'úd. In the year 426 (A.D. 1034-5),* Sultán Mas'úd led his army towards Jurján and Tabaristán, because his governors in 'Irák had implored help from him. Abú Suhail Hamadúní, the governor of Re, sent an army to reduce to obedience the inhabitants of Kumm* and Sáwa, who had rebelled. Sultán Mas'úd returned from Jurján to Ghaznín, and then wished to march to Hind; but some of the amírs and chief men of the State hinted to him that it would be proper first to go to Khurásán and dislodge the Saljúkíans; but he listened not to the proposal, and hastened to Hindustán. During his absence the Saljúkíans perfected their power, and 'Aláu-d daula bin Kákúya having rebelled, drove Abú Suhail Hamadúní out of Re.
In the year 428 H. (A.D. 1036-7), Mas'úd returned from his
expedition,*
and when he obtained intelligence of the victories of
his enemies, he repented of his attack upon Hindustán. After
he had made preparation for war, he marched to Balkh, and the
inhabitants of that place informed him that during his absence
the victorious standards of Túztigín had several times crossed
over the river, and his men had murdered and plundered the
people. Mas'úd told them that he would defeat him in the cold
season, and that in the spring he would engage in eradicating the
Saljúkíans. The nobles and deputies complained to him and
said: “It is two years since the Saljúkíans have taken Khurá-
“Your enemies were ants, they grew into serpents:
Kill the ants which have become serpents:
Give them no rest, delay no more;
For if they have time, the serpents will become dragons.”