Abstract

The Ghaznavids, relying on widespread expeditions and religious wars until the reign of Soltān Mahmud, created a powerful dynasty. Among these structural resources was to engage in large-scale developmental battles, combine them with ghazva and jihad, and set up a considerable court with educated scholars and thinkers. Attention to scholarly studies, including historiography and the Persian language, were other critical structural resources used by the Ghaznavids. The divisions in the power structure and the removal of key agents, including the military and the bureaucrats, and their replacement by immature and ignorant agents led to the decline of the Ghaznavid dynasty and the establishment of the Saljuq Empire.

Keywords: Ghaznavid dynasty, Soltān Mahmud, Soltān Masʿud

When Amir Hamid died, allegiance was sworn to Amir Rashid, who was ten years old when he ascended the throne. When the news of the death of Amir Hamid arrived in the provinces, everyone coveted a district. The amir sent Ashʿas ibn Mohammad to Khorāsān. He had to fight many times in Harāt and Esfahān. He subdued the provinces and was engaged in that and fighting battles when Amir Rashid fell from his horse and died the same night. That night was Wednesday; eight days of the month of Shawwāl had passed of the year 350 AH [20 November 961 AD].