Gazneli Sultan Mahmut, was the greatest ruler of
Gazneli State and conqueror of India. He was born on 2 November 971. He had a good
education. He was brought up by major scholars. He was a stouthearted and brave person. Gazneli Mahmut's father Sebüktekin
was the governor of Horosan for Samanoğulları State. Sebüktekin was a brave and strong
person. He proclaimed his independence from Samanogullari.
Gazneli Mahmut, the
son of the founder of Gazneli State, took part in state governance as from his youth. He
served as Horasan governor when his father was alive.
When his father died, his younger brother Ismail had succeeded to the throne. Gazneli
Mahmut became the ruler by eliminating his younger brother.
Mahmut, who ascended
Gazne Throne in 998, took Buhara, Horasan, Herat, Belh, Bust and Kabil from Samanis. Then,
he captured whole Maveraunnehir from today's Afghanistan and Belujistan and Harezm. After
that, he took Rey, Isfahan, Save, Kazvin, Zencan and Ebher and dominated over most of Iran
territories.
Sultan Mahmut, who
started out for his first Indian expedition in September 1000, conducted seventeen big
expeditions on India until 1027. Gazneli sultan Mahmut, who constructed several mosques
and placed scholars to teach Islam in India during these expeditions, ensured
dissemination and acceptance of Islam religion in India. Sultan Mahmut, who was a scholar
as well as a conqueror, had scholars and poets have conversations and discussions on
various issues in his palace. He turned his palace into a science academy. He loved
science and art. Persian culture reached the top in his period. Many famous Iran scholars
such as Biruni and Firdevsi were protected in Mahmut's palace.
Several books of his
period including famous Şehname of Firdevsi were presented to Gazneli Sultan Mahmut.
Turkish language was spoken in his palace. If he had ensured dissemination and improvement
of Turkish language, Turkish cultural history would have gained immortal works. However,
he attached importance to Persian culture being influenced by his environment and his
period, served Persian language's gaining powerful books.
Gazneli Sultan Mahmut,
who was one of the greatest rulers of Turkish Islam world, fought against pervert Batıni-Rafizi
trends inclined to be disseminated in Islam world too. Sultan Mahmut, who attached much
importance to public improvement activities, rendered important cities such as Belh and Nişabur
prosperous besides Gazne.
Sultan Mahmut, who
ruled for 33 years, passed away in Gazne in 1030 and was buried there.
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