CORE 5 UNIT 2 CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF EARLY TURKISH INVASIONS

With the rise of the Turks in Central Asia and subsequent invasions of India in the 11th and 12th centuries, they were
able to gain a foothold on the northwestern frontiers. Islam could enter India as a result of the plundering raids of
Mahmud Ghazni and Muizzuddin Mohammad Ghor. Invasion by Muslim Turks began in the early 11th century with mere
plunder and loot by Mahmud Ghazni. It culminated in the late 12th century with the establishment of India's first
Muslim state by Muizzuddin Mohammad Ghori.

MAHMUD OF GHAZNI (971 - 1030 AD)

Muhammad Bin Qasim: Muhammad ibn Qasim (December 31, 695 – July 18, 715) was an Arab military commander in
the service of the Umayyad Caliphate who led the Muslim conquest of Sindh during the Umayyad campaigns in India.
His military exploits resulted in the establishment of Arab Sind and the annexation of the region from the Sindhi
Brahman dynasty and its ruler, Raja Dahir, who was later decapitated and his head sent to al-Hajjaj ibn Yusuf in Basra.
With the capture of Aror, the then-capital of Arabia, by Arab forces, Qasim became the first Muslim to successfully
capture Hindu land, ushering in Muslim rule in India.He was the Umayyad general who had led the conquest of Sindh at
the age of 17. This adolescent conqueror followed in Alexander's footsteps by bringing a new faith and culture to the
Indus basin. He is mentioned in the ChachNama between 709 and 711 CE, when Hajjaj, the governor of Iraq, appointed
him to lead an expedition against Sindh. Qasim was Hajjaj's nephew, and because he was a capable commander, his
uncle appointed him as the commander of Makran's frontier district. He was assigned a conquest mission in the
direction of Sindh. Qasim's expedition against Sindh was meticulously planned. Following the Arab invasion of Sindh, it
was the Turks who made inroads into India in the 11th century. The Turks are credited with establishing Muslim rule in
India. In 963, Alptigin, a Trukish slave of Samanid king Amir-Abu-Bakr Lawik, established the Ghaznivid dynasty. He
conquered the kingdom of Jabul, with Ghazni as its capital. His son-in-law, Subuktigin, a capable and ambitious ruler,
took his place. He was successful in capturing all of the territories between Lamghan and Peshawar from Hindushahi
ruler Jayapala. As a result, the Hindushahi kingdom was unable to contain the Ghaznavids' growing power to the east.
His raids, however, had no long-term impact. Subuktigin was succeeded by his son Ismail, who was deposed by his
brother Mahmud in 998. He is best known in history as Mahmud Ghazni.
Motive Behind Mahmud’s Invasion
He was drawn to India's enormous wealth. As a result, he raided India on a regular basis. He also included a religious
component to his invasion of India. He earned the moniker Idol Breaker by destroying the temples of Somnath, Kangra,
Mathura, and Jwalamukhi.
End of Ghazni’s Rule in India
In 1030, Ghazni died and Muhammad Ghori appeared Sultan Mahmud died on April 30, 1030, in Ghazni, at the age of 58.
Sultan Mahmud had contracted malaria during his previous invasion. Malaria complications had resulted in lethal
tuberculosis. For 157 years, his successors ruled the Ghaznavid Empire. The Seljuk empire absorbed the majority of
Ghaznavid territory in the west. The Ghorids took Ghazni in 1150, and Mu'izz al-Din (also known as Muhammad of Ghori)
took Lahore, the last Ghaznavid stronghold, in 1187. Despite his genius as a military commander, Mahmmud was unable
to consolidate his empire's conquests with subtle authority. During his reign, Mahmmud also lacked capable
administration and was unable to establish long-lasting institutions in his state.

Muhammad Ghori
Muhammad Ghori (1149 - 1206 AD) About Muhammad Ghori
Mu'izz ad-Din Muhammad (1149 – March 15, 1206), also known as Muhammad of Ghor, was the Sultan of the Ghurid
Empire from 1173 to 1202, and then as the sole ruler from 1202 to 1206. He is credited with establishing Muslim rule in
the Indian subcontinent, which lasted for centuries. He ruled over parts of modern-day Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Iran,
Northern India, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan. Though the Ghurid empire was short-lived, and Ghori states
remained in power until the Timurids arrived, Mu'izz's conquests laid the groundwork for Muslim rule in India.
In 1206 Qutbuddin Aibak, a former Mu'izz slave (Mamluk), became the first Sultan of Delhi. Though the Ghurid empire
was short-lived, and Ghori states remained in power until the Timurids arrived, Mu'izz's conquests laid the groundwork
for Muslim rule in India. In 1206 Qutbuddin Aibak, a former Mu'izz slave (Mamluk), became the first Sultan of Delhi.
1. The First Battle of Tarain (1191 A.D.)
In 1189 A.D., he attacked the fortress of Bhatinda and then made his way into the kingdom of Prithviraj Chauhan.
Muhammad of Ghori was defeated by Prithviraj in the First Battle of Tarain (near Tanewar) in 1191 A.D., and Bhatinda
was recovered.
2. The Second Battle of Tarain (1192 A.D.)
In the second battle of Tarain, Muhammad of Ghori defeated the combined forces of Rajput rulers led by Prithviraj.
Qutb-ud-din Aibak was assisted in the battle and defeated Prithviraj as a prisoner, later putting him to death. For the
first time in Indian history, Turkish rule began with the conclusion of the Second Battle of Tarain. Muhammad of Ghori
appointed Qutb-ud-din Aibak as commander.
Rajput Uprisings
Between 1193 and 1198 A.D., many Rajput mutinies were formed, and Qutb-ud-din-Aibak crushed them and took
control of those areas. Muhammad of Ghori declared Delhi to be the capital.

#Death of Muhammad of Ghori

Muhammad of Ghori returned from India after handing over territories to Qutb-ud-din-Aibak. On March 25, 1206 A.D.,
he was assassinated in Central Asia by Shia rebels and Khokhars. Because of his large invasions and destruction of Rajput
territories in North India, he was considered the true founder of the Turkish Empire in India. Following the death of
Muhammad of Ghori, Qutb-ud-din-Aibak established the Slave Dynasty. After the invasion of Muhammad of Ghori, the
foundation of Islamic rule began in India. One of the main reasons that the Turks came knocking at India's door was the
lack of political unity among the Indian kings, particularly the Rajputs.