THE CIRCA 1000-1200 AD

Mahmud of Ghazni

Against grave political uncertainties, the Mahmud of Ghazni ascended the throne in 998 at Ghazni (Afghanistan). Mahmud Ghazni conducted 17 raids into India, and in his march towards India, came in conflict with the Hindushahi rulers ruling in Punjab and Peshawar. In 1001, he defeated Jaipala of Punjab.  The Indian temples were well-known for their fabulous wealth. It was this wealth that led him to conduct his subsequent raids in India.  Mahmud used to call himself a butshikan or a breaker of images for the glory of Islam. His most daring raids were against Kannauj in 1018 and against Somnath in Gujarat in 1025.  Mahmud did not encounter any serious resistance on his way due to the lack of any effective political power. The Somnath Plunder was his last campaign in India. He, however, never tried to annex any of these territories. Plunder, pure and rich, was his goal.

Back home, after the break-up of the Pratihara empire, a number of Rajput states came into existence. The most important of these were the Gahadavalas of Kannauj, the Parmars of Malwa and the Chauhans of Ajmer.

Mohammed Ghauri

In 1173, Shahabuddin Muhammad (1173-1206 AD), who is also known as Muizzuddin Muhammad bin Sam and Mohammed Ghauri ascended the throne in Ghazni. Meanwhile, the Chauhan power had been steadily growing with their many conquests, e.g. of the Tomars of Delhi. The expansion of their power towards Punjab brought them into conflict with the Ghazanvid rulers of the area.

Prithviraja Chauhan

In Ajmer, a young prince Prithviraja Chauhan had just taken over. Prithviraja was an ambitious young ruler, who had defeated many of his contemporaries. He has been immortalized in many legends based on his lifestory later. When he tried to turn his eyes towards Punjab, this brought him in direct conflict with Mohammed Ghauri. Thus, there was the First Battle of Tarain in 1191 in which the Ghauri forces were completely routed.

The Second Battle of Tarain in 1192 is regarded as a turning point in the history of India. Ghuari has made careful preparations for the war. As soon as Prithviraja awoke to the danger, he made a fervent appeal to all the other rajas of northern India for help. Many of them did help him, but Jaichand of Kannauj, stayed away. The legend that Jaichand had done so because his daughter had eloped with Prithviraja is thought to be incorrect by most historians because this romantic story was written much later. Probably, the reason for this was an old outstanding rivalry. In the fiercely contested battle, the Chauhan forces were routed. Prithviraja managed to escape, but was captured near Saraswati. He was allowed to rule over Ajmer for a short time. Soon after, Prithiviraja was executed on a conspiracy charge. Prithiviraja’s son succeeded to the throne, but Ajmer was soon captured by Turkish rulers. The son moved to Ranthambore and founded a powerful kingdom these later. Thus the Delhi area and eastern Rajasthan passed under the Turkish rule.

Qutbuddin Aibak

After Tarain, Ghuari left for Ghazni, leaving India in the hands of his trusted slave Qutbuddin Aibak. In 1194, Ghuari returned to India, defeating Jaichand of Kannauj and looting and destroying Hindu temples in Benares. Thus the battles of Train and Chandawar laid the foundations of the Turkish rule in India