Part 17 ||Mehmood Ghaznavi a Great Ruler & General & Secret of Hanging Idol of Somnath

Mehmood of Ghazni, also known as Mahmud of Ghazni, was a ruler of the Ghaznavid Empire in Afghanistan and parts of present-day Pakistan and Iran from 997 to 1030 CE. He is best known for his military campaigns into India and his patronage of Persian literature and culture. Early Life and Rise to Power: Mehmood was born in 971 CE in the city of Ghazni, which was then part of the Samanid Empire. His father, Sabuktigin, was a Turkish slave who had risen to become the governor of Ghazni. Mehmood succeeded his father as governor of Ghazni in 997 CE, at the age of 27, and began to expand his territories through military conquests. Military Campaigns: Mehmood's military campaigns were primarily aimed at expanding his empire and increasing his wealth. His first major campaign was against the Shahis of Punjab in 1001 CE, where he defeated Jaipal, the king of the Shahis, in the Battle of Peshawar. Mehmood's victory over Jaipal was significant as it marked the beginning of his expeditions into India. Over the next few years, Mehmood launched several successful campaigns into northern India, including modern-day Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. He plundered temples and cities, including the famous Somnath temple in Gujarat, which was one of the richest Hindu temples of the time. Mehmood's expeditions into India earned him immense wealth, which he used to patronize Persian literature and culture. Patronage of Literature and Culture: Mehmood was a patron of Persian literature and culture and encouraged the development of art and literature in his empire. He invited several Persian scholars, poets, and artists to his court in Ghazni, including Firdausi, the author of the famous Persian epic, Shahnama. Mehmood commissioned Firdausi to write the Shahnama, a historical epic that chronicles the history of Iran from the beginning of time to the Islamic conquests. The Shahnama is considered one of the greatest works of Persian literature and is still widely read and studied today. Death and Legacy: Mehmood died in 1030 CE and was succeeded by his son, Masud I. Mehmood's military campaigns into India established the Ghaznavid Empire as a major power in the region and laid the foundation for the Muslim conquest of India. Mehmood's patronage of Persian literature and culture also had a lasting impact on the development of Persian literature and culture in the Islamic world.