Muhammad Ghori
Muiz-ud-din Muhammad bin Sam, also known as Muhammad of Ghur, Muhammad Ghori, or Shihabud Din Muhammad Ghori, is known as the true founder of the Muslim Empire in India. Even though Muhammad bin Qasim was the first Muslim invader to invade India, followed by Mahmud of Ghazni, neither of them was able to establish a true Muslim empire in India. However, after a series of invasions, Muhammad Ghori successfully established a secure and powerful Muslim kingdom in India and is credited with being the true founder of Muslim rule in India.
MORE ABOUT MUHAMMAD GHORI:
Muhammad Ghori was of Persian descent, and his ethnicity is still a point of contention. He is considered one of the most illustrious generals in Islamic and Indian history, despite being defeated in numerous battles, including the First Battle of Tarain in 1191 CE by Chahamana ruler Prithviraj III (r. 1178-1192 CE), the Gujarati Chalukya ruler Mularaja II c. 1178 CE, and the rulers of the Khwarazm Empire. Nevertheless, he persevered and established a vast empire. However, he was unable to consolidate his empire before his assassination in 1206 CE. As a cunning general, he used religion to motivate his troops whenever necessary, and his main goal was to annex more provinces.
Muhammad Ghori was a Sunni Muslim who played a vital role in establishing Islamic supremacy in the Indian subcontinent. Since he did not have an heir, he realised that he would need capable courtiers to help manage his realm and take control of his empire once he died. It was also common practice among Islamic rulers to nurture their slaves, who grew up to become some of the sultans' closest confidants. Muhammad Ghori chose a few of his most talented slaves and provided them with special training typically reserved for princes. His favourite and most trusted slave, Qutb al-Din Aibak, succeeded him as the first emperor of the Delhi Sultanate, gaining control of the most prized regions of the rich Indian plains (1206-1526 CE). Taj al-Din Yildiz became ruler of Ghazni, Nasiruddin Qabacha of a region centred on Multan, and Muhammad Bakhtiyar Khalji of Bengal.
Muhammad Ghori was a Sunni Muslim who played a vital role in establishing Islamic supremacy in the Indian subcontinent. Since he did not have an heir, he realised that he would need capable courtiers to help manage his realm and take control of his empire once he died. It was also common practice among Islamic rulers to nurture their slaves, who grew up to become some of the sultans' closest confidants. Muhammad Ghori chose a few of his most talented slaves and provided them with special training typically reserved for princes. His favourite and most trusted slave, Qutb al-Din Aibak, succeeded him as the first emperor of the Delhi Sultanate, gaining control of the most prized regions of the rich Indian plains (1206-1526 CE). Taj al-Din Yildiz became ruler of Ghazni, Nasiruddin Qabacha of a region centred on Multan, and Muhammad Bakhtiyar Khalji of Bengal.
INDIAN CAMPAIGN:
After assisting his brother in several campaigns that secured their positions, Muhammad Ghori turned his attention to India. They were constantly under siege from the Khwarazm Empire in the west, and Mahmud of Ghazni had already established a precedent for raiding India's fabled rich lands. As a result, after ascending to the throne of Ghazni in 1173 CE, Muhammad Ghori conquered Multan and Uchch in the northwest of the Indian subcontinent via the Gomal Pass. Then, in 1178 CE, he crossed the Thar Desert and attacked the Solankis of Gujarat. However, he was completely routed by the Gujarati ruler, forcing Ghori to change his mind and tactics. He quickly gave up on the romanticism of a trans-desert invasion and focused his attention on Lahore as a secure base in the Punjab region from which to launch his campaigns into India. By 1190 CE, he had driven the Ghaznavids out of Punjab, conquering Sialkot, Lahore, and finally Peshawar. He then set his sights on Delhi and the Ganga-Yamuna Doab's fertile lands.
THE REASONS THAT LED TO THE INVASIONS
Muhammad Ghori was an ambitious leader who desired to expand his empire to gain more power and control. He was appointed as the ruler of Ghazni in 1173 AD by his elder brother Ghais-ud-Din, the ruler of Gaur, but he was not content with ruling over Ghazni alone. He aimed to conquer India, as he was well aware of its political, religious, social, and military weaknesses, as well as its vast wealth and gold reserves. His goal was to increase his power and wealth and spread Islam throughout the country by conquering India's Hindus. Therefore, he launched a series of invasions to achieve his objectives.
Muhammad Ghori launched as many as seven major invasions against India, most of which he won. Here are the details of his invasions:
In 1175 AD, he attacked Multan, defeated the ruling Ismailian Heretics, and successfully captured Multan. In 1178 AD, he captured Uch in Upper Sindh and built a fort there from Multan. Later, he also conquered Lower Sindh.
In 1178, he invaded Gujarat but was defeated by Gujarat ruler Bhimdev at the Battle of Kayadara. It was his first invasion against a Hindu ruler in India.
Muhammad Ghori realised that Punjab was the most important place to conquer in India, and therefore, he conquered Peshawar in 1179 AD. In 1181 AD, he attacked Khusrau Malik, who did not fight back and instead compensated him with gifts and his son as a hostage. Ghori invaded Punjab once more in 1185 AD, looting the countryside and occupying the fort of Sialkot. Khusrau Malik attempted to take over Sialkot with the help of the Khokhars but was unsuccessful. Muhammad Ghori attacked Punjab again in 1186 AD, this time besieging Lahore.
In 1191, Ghori marched towards Delhi to capture all of India and captured Sirhind. Prithvi Raj Chauhan, the Rajput King of Delhi and Ajmer, led his soldiers in a valiant battle against Ghori in Tarain, which is now part of the Haryana state of India. Ghori was badly injured and defeated in the first battle of Tarain, and he had to retreat.
In 1192 AD, Muhammad Ghori invaded India once more, this time with a force of 1,20,000 soldiers that included Turks, Afghans, Persians, and other foreigners. Prithvi Raj Chauhan was unable to hold off the strong army of Ghori on the second battlefield of Tarain. Prithvi Raj was defeated by Muhammad Ghori, who was captured and killed. As a result, Ghori was able to take Delhi and Ajmer.
Jai Chand Rathor, the king of Kanuaj, had a strained relationship with Prithvi Chauhan and was relieved when he was captured and killed. When Muhammad Ghori invaded India again in 1194 AD, he attacked Kannauj and defeated Jai Chand Rathor on the Chandawar battlefield. Qutab-ud-Din Aibak became Muhammad Ghori's viceroy after the invasion. Qutab-ud-Din Aibak continued his conquests in India while Ghori returned to the west to complete his conquests on the western frontiers.
Bhindev, the Gujarati king, was attacked by Qutab-ud-Din Aibak. Ghori's army initially suffered defeat, but later, they defeated Bhimdev and conquered Gujarat. Bundelkhand, ruled by the Chandel Rajputs, was his next target. He also defeated them and took over Bundelkhand. Muhammad Khilji, a slave of Muhammad Ghori, launched attacks on Bihar in 1197 and Bengal in 1202. Ghori took control of Bengal and Bihar, and Khilji was appointed viceroy of Bengal and Bihar.
In 1205, Ghori returned to India, and this time, the Khokhars revolted against him. However, he emerged victorious.
Finally, Ghori was killed by someone in the Dhamyak district of Jhelum in 1206, while on his way to Ghazni (now in Pakistan). Some believe that this act was carried out in retaliation for the massacres that occurred in India as a result of Ghori's invasions.
Muhammad Ghori launched as many as seven major invasions against India, most of which he won. Here are the details of his invasions:
In 1175 AD, he attacked Multan, defeated the ruling Ismailian Heretics, and successfully captured Multan. In 1178 AD, he captured Uch in Upper Sindh and built a fort there from Multan. Later, he also conquered Lower Sindh.
In 1178, he invaded Gujarat but was defeated by Gujarat ruler Bhimdev at the Battle of Kayadara. It was his first invasion against a Hindu ruler in India.
Muhammad Ghori realised that Punjab was the most important place to conquer in India, and therefore, he conquered Peshawar in 1179 AD. In 1181 AD, he attacked Khusrau Malik, who did not fight back and instead compensated him with gifts and his son as a hostage. Ghori invaded Punjab once more in 1185 AD, looting the countryside and occupying the fort of Sialkot. Khusrau Malik attempted to take over Sialkot with the help of the Khokhars but was unsuccessful. Muhammad Ghori attacked Punjab again in 1186 AD, this time besieging Lahore.
In 1191, Ghori marched towards Delhi to capture all of India and captured Sirhind. Prithvi Raj Chauhan, the Rajput King of Delhi and Ajmer, led his soldiers in a valiant battle against Ghori in Tarain, which is now part of the Haryana state of India. Ghori was badly injured and defeated in the first battle of Tarain, and he had to retreat.
In 1192 AD, Muhammad Ghori invaded India once more, this time with a force of 1,20,000 soldiers that included Turks, Afghans, Persians, and other foreigners. Prithvi Raj Chauhan was unable to hold off the strong army of Ghori on the second battlefield of Tarain. Prithvi Raj was defeated by Muhammad Ghori, who was captured and killed. As a result, Ghori was able to take Delhi and Ajmer.
Jai Chand Rathor, the king of Kanuaj, had a strained relationship with Prithvi Chauhan and was relieved when he was captured and killed. When Muhammad Ghori invaded India again in 1194 AD, he attacked Kannauj and defeated Jai Chand Rathor on the Chandawar battlefield. Qutab-ud-Din Aibak became Muhammad Ghori's viceroy after the invasion. Qutab-ud-Din Aibak continued his conquests in India while Ghori returned to the west to complete his conquests on the western frontiers.
Bhindev, the Gujarati king, was attacked by Qutab-ud-Din Aibak. Ghori's army initially suffered defeat, but later, they defeated Bhimdev and conquered Gujarat. Bundelkhand, ruled by the Chandel Rajputs, was his next target. He also defeated them and took over Bundelkhand. Muhammad Khilji, a slave of Muhammad Ghori, launched attacks on Bihar in 1197 and Bengal in 1202. Ghori took control of Bengal and Bihar, and Khilji was appointed viceroy of Bengal and Bihar.
In 1205, Ghori returned to India, and this time, the Khokhars revolted against him. However, he emerged victorious.
Finally, Ghori was killed by someone in the Dhamyak district of Jhelum in 1206, while on his way to Ghazni (now in Pakistan). Some believe that this act was carried out in retaliation for the massacres that occurred in India as a result of Ghori's invasions.
LEGACY OF MUHAMMAD GHORI
He founded Muslim rule in India and conquered a significant portion of Hindu territories. Qutub-ud-Din Aibak, his slave and viceroy, and his successors successfully expanded Islam's dominance in India, establishing a Muslim dynasty in Delhi. Muhammad Ghori, with the help of Qutub-ud-Din Aibak, was able to establish a permanent settlement in India. As a result, the Hindu states eventually disintegrated, and the Hindu Rajput rulers were not united. Ghori's invasions opened India's doors to foreign rulers.
Muhammad Ghori had a humble beginning but left a deep impression in India. He conquered India but did not declare himself the King of India, instead remaining loyal to his brother, Ghiyasuddin. After returning to Ghazni, Ghori attempted to quell the revolts in the more strategically important western provinces for the survival of the Ghori Dynasty. Following his assassination, the Ghor Dynasty faded into obscurity. However, his triumph in India was not wasted, and subsequent rulers further strengthened it. Until 1857, there was always a Muslim ruler on the throne of Delhi, even though India was not a nation that could be conquered in a single generation.
Muhammad Ghori had a humble beginning but left a deep impression in India. He conquered India but did not declare himself the King of India, instead remaining loyal to his brother, Ghiyasuddin. After returning to Ghazni, Ghori attempted to quell the revolts in the more strategically important western provinces for the survival of the Ghori Dynasty. Following his assassination, the Ghor Dynasty faded into obscurity. However, his triumph in India was not wasted, and subsequent rulers further strengthened it. Until 1857, there was always a Muslim ruler on the throne of Delhi, even though India was not a nation that could be conquered in a single generation.