II.

A. H. 387.

them. The contest ended in their being totally CHAP. defeated in the neighbourhood of Tús (now Meshhed).* Their force was completely broken; and A.D. 995, Fáik, abandoning the scene of his former importance, fled to E'lik Khan, the successor of Bógra, by whose powerful interposition he was soon after reconciled to Nóh, and appointed to the government of Samarcand.

Immediately after this arrangement Nóh died; and E'lik Khán, profiting by the occasion of a new succession, advanced on Bokhára, supported by his ally from Samarcand, and ultimately compelled the new prince, Mansúr II., to place all the power of his government in the hands of Fáik.

During these transactions Sebektegín died on Death of Sebektegin. his way back to Ghazni.†

* De Guignes, vol. ii. p. 158.; Price, vol. ii. p. 248.; Ferishta, vol. i. p. 22.

+ He died within a month of Nóh, A.D. 997, A. H. 387. (Ferishta. De Guignes. Price. D'Herbelot.)

HOUSE OF GHAZNI.

BOOK
V.

Disputed succession.

A.D. 997,
A.H. 387.

CHAP. III.

SULTÁN MAHMUD.

MAHMUD had from his boyhood accompanied his father on his campaigns, and had given early indications of a warlike and decided character. He was now in his thirtieth year, and, from his tried courage and capacity, seemed in every way fitted to succeed to the throne; but his birth was probably illegitimate*, and, from his absence at his government of Níshapúr, his younger brother, Ismáel, was enabled, according to some accounts, to obtain the dying nomination of Sebektegín, and, certainly, to seize on the reins of government, and cause himself to be proclaimed without delay. Not the least of his advantages was the command of his father's treasures; he employed them to conciliate the leading men with presents, to augment the pay of the army, and to court popularity with all classes by a lavish expenditure on shows and entertainments.

By these means, though still more by the force of actual possession, and perhaps an opinion of his superior right, he obtained the support of all that part of the kingdom which was not under the immediate government of Mahmúd.

* See Colonel Briggs's note on Ferishta, vol. i.

p. 29.

The conduct of the latter prince, on this contempt of his claims, may either have arisen from the consciousness of a weak title, or from natural or assumed moderation. He professed the strongest attachment to his brother, and the utmost readiness to give way to him if he had been of an age to undertake so arduous a duty; and he offered that, if Ismael would concede the supremacy to his superior experience, he would repay the sacrifice by a grant of the provinces of Balkh and Khorásán. His offers were immediately rejected; and, seeing no further hopes of a reconciliation, he resolved to bring things to an issue by an attack on the capital. Ismáel, who was still at Balkh, penetrated his design, and, interposing between him and Ghazni, obliged him to come to a general engagement. It was better contested than might have been expected from the unequal skill of the generals, but was favourable to Mahmúd: Ghazni fell, Ismael was made prisoner, and passed the rest of his life in confinement, though allowed every indulgence consistent with such a situation.

These internal contests, which lasted for seven months, contributed to the success of E'lik Khán, who had now established his own influence over Mansúr II., by compelling him to receive Fáik as his minister, or, in other words, his master.

Dissembling his consciousness of the ascendancy of his old enemies, Mahmúd made a respectful application to Mansúr for the continuance of his government of Khorásán. His request was ab

CHAP.

III.

BOOK ruptly rejected, and a creature of the new administration appointed his successor.

V.

But Mahmud was not so easily dispossessed; he repelled the new governor, and although he avoided an immediate conflict with Mansúr, who was brought in person against him, he withheld all appearance of concession, and remained in full preparation for defence; when some disputes and jealousies at court led to the dethronement and blinding of Mansúr, and the elevation of Abdulmelek as the instrument of Fáik. On this, Mahmúd ordered the name of the Sámánis to be left out of declares his the public prayers; took possession of Khorásán in his own name; and, having soon after received an investiture from the calif (the dispenser of powers which he himself no longer enjoyed), he declared himself an independent sovereign, and first assumed the title of Sultan, since so general among Mahometan princes.*

A.D. 999,

A.H. 389.
Mahmúd

independ

ence.

E'lik Khán, not to be shut out of his share of the spoil, advanced on Bokhára, under pretence of supporting Abdulmelek; and, taking possession of all Transoxiana, put an end to the dynasty of Sámáni, after it had reigned for more than 120 years.

Mahmud, now secure in the possession of his dominions, had it almost in his own choice in which direction he should extend them. The kingdoms on the west, so attractive from their

*Though not before adopted by the Mussulmans, it is an old Arabic word for a king.

III.

connection with the Mahometan religion and their CHAP. ancient renown, were in such a state of weakness and disorder that a large portion ultimately fell into his hands without an effort; and the ease with which the rest was subdued by the Seljúks, who were once his subjects, showed how little obstruction there was to his advancing his frontier to the Hellespont.

But the undiscovered regions of India presented a wider field for romantic enterprise. The great extent of that favoured country, the rumours of its accumulated treasures, the fertility of the soil, and the peculiarity of its productions, raised it into a land of fable, in which the surrounding nations might indulge their imaginations without control. The adventures to be expected in such a country derived fresh lustre from their being the means of extending the Mahometan faith, the establishment of which among a new people was in those times the most glorious exploit that a king or conqueror could achieve.

These views made the livelier impression on Mahmud, from his first experience in arms having been gained in a war with Hindús; and were seconded by his natural disposition, even at that time liable to be dazzled by the prospect of a rich field for plunder.

Influenced by such motives, he made peace with E'lik Khán, leaving him in possession of Transoxiana; cemented the alliance by a marriage with the daughter of that prince; and, having