Masʽud I facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mas'ud Iمسعود |
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Gold dinar possibly of Mas'ud I
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| Sultan of Ghaznavid Empire | |
| Reign | 1030 – 1040 |
| Predecessor | Mohammad Ghaznavi |
| Successor | Mohammad Ghaznavi |
| Born | c. 998 Ghazni, Ghaznavid Empire |
| Died | 17 January 1040 (aged 41–42) Giri, Ghaznavid Empire |
| Consort | Daughter of Abu Kalijar |
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| Dynasty | Ghaznavid dynasty |
| Father | Mahmud of Ghazni |
| Religion | Sunni Islam |
Mas'ud I was a powerful ruler of the Ghaznavid Empire. He was a sultan, which is like a king, and he ruled from 1030 to 1040. His full name was Mas'ud ibn Mahmud ibn Sabuktigin.
Mas'ud became sultan by taking the throne from his younger twin brother, Muhammad. Their father, Mahmud, had chosen Muhammad to be the next ruler. But Mas'ud was a strong military leader. Later, when Mas'ud lost control of some of his lands, his own soldiers turned against him. They put his brother Muhammad back on the throne.
Contents
Early Life and Rise to Power
Mas'ud was born around 998 in Ghazni. This city was the capital of the Ghaznavid Empire. He had a twin brother named Muhammad. Their father, Mahmud, was the sultan.
Early Military Adventures
In 1015, Mas'ud was chosen by his father to be the next ruler. He also became the governor of Herat. Five years later, he led a military trip into Ghur. This area was still following old, non-Islamic religions.
Mas'ud also helped his father in battles in a region called Jibal. They took over the area of Ray. This place was ruled by a group called the Buyid Emirate.
After his father left, Mas'ud was in charge of the Ghaznavid armies in western Iran. He continued fighting and defeated a ruler named Muhammad ibn Rustam Dushmanziyar. This ruler agreed to accept Ghaznavid control.
However, Muhammad often broke his promises. In 1030, he took Ray back from the Ghaznavids. Around the same time, Mas'ud's father, Mahmud, changed his mind about who should rule next. He chose Muhammad, even though Muhammad had less experience in government and war. Soon after, Mahmud died, and Muhammad became the sultan.
Fighting for the Throne
Even though Muhammad was chosen, many important people supported Mas'ud. His uncle, Yusuf ibn Sabuktigin, and many army officers, like Ali Daya, wanted Mas'ud to be sultan. Mas'ud was known for his successful military campaigns.
Mas'ud also got help from his former assistant, Abu Sahl Zawzani. This person became very important and powerful. To make his army even stronger, Mas'ud hired a group of Turkmens. These were skilled warriors led by chiefs like Yaghmur and Qizil.
Mas'ud's Rule as Sultan
Taking Control and Facing New Enemies
Mas'ud marched to Ghazni, where he defeated his brother Muhammad. He put Muhammad in prison and became the new Sultan of the Ghaznavid Empire.
Mas'ud then freed an important leader named Ahmad Maymandi from prison. He made him his vizier, which is like a chief minister. He also made Ali Daya the main commander of the army in a region called Khorasan. Another general, Ahmad Inaltigin, became the army commander in India.
Mas'ud was a great military leader, but he sometimes ignored advice from his officers. This would cause problems later. He also didn't trust many of his father's officers. He even put his own uncle Yusuf in prison.
In 1032, Ahmad Maymandi died. Ahmad Shirazi took his place as Mas'ud's vizier. Later, Mas'ud's governor in Khwarazm, Altun Tash, was sent to fight a ruler named Ali Tigin Bughra Khan. Altun Tash was killed in battle. His son, Harun, took over as governor.
Wars in Western Iran and Against Nomads
In 1033, Mas'ud captured a fortress called Sarsut. He then invaded Kerman, which was ruled by Abu Kalijar. Mas'ud conquered Kerman, but the people there preferred Abu Kalijar's rule. They fought back and took Kerman again.
Around the same time, Ahmad Inaltigin, the commander in India, rebelled. He defeated an army sent by Mas'ud. Mas'ud then sent another army led by an Indian leader named Tilak. Tilak defeated Ahmad Inaltigin, who drowned while trying to escape.
In 1033, Mas'ud married the daughter of Abu Kalijar. This Abu Kalijar was a relative of the Ziyarid ruler Anushirvan Sharaf al-Ma'ali. To keep control over his vassal, the Kakuyid ruler Muhammad, Mas'ud appointed Abu Sahl Hamduwi as governor of Jibal.
In 1034, Harun, the governor of Khwarazm, declared himself independent from the Ghaznavids. He teamed up with the Kara-Khanid ruler Ali Tigin. However, Mas'ud managed to have Harun killed. Ali Tigin also died soon after. Harun's brother, Ismail Khandan, became the new governor and continued the alliance with the Kara-Khanids.
Meanwhile, a group called the Seljuk Turks, led by Tughril, asked Mas'ud for protection. But Mas'ud thought these Turkic nomads were dangerous. He sent an army to fight them. The Seljuks defeated Mas'ud's army. This forced Mas'ud to give them some lands in return for them recognizing his rule. In 1034, Mas'ud's army attacked Amul, taking its riches for four days and then burning it down.
In 1035, Mas'ud invaded western Iran again. He defeated the rebellious Abu Kalijar. Mas'ud then went to Jibal and defeated the Kakuyid ruler Muhammad again. Muhammad ran away and gathered a new army. In 1037 or 1038, while Mas'ud was fighting in India, Muhammad took Ray again. Another Kara-Khanid ruler, Böritigin, also invaded Ghaznavid lands. He took over some areas and forced the local rulers to leave.
War with the Seljuks and His Downfall
The Seljuks started taking over cities in Khorasan. When they captured Nishapur, Tughril declared himself the ruler of Khorasan. Mas'ud returned to Khorasan and tried to take back the lands Böritigin had conquered, but he was defeated. However, he did manage to push the Seljuks out of Herat and Nishapur.
Mas'ud then marched towards Merv to completely remove the Seljuk threat. His army was huge, with 50,000 men and many war elephants. He was joined by his vizier, Ahmad Shirazi, and other important generals.
A big battle happened near Merv, known as the Battle of Dandanaqan. Mas'ud's large army was defeated by a much smaller Seljuk army. This loss meant Mas'ud permanently lost control of all of western Khorasan.
Even though Mas'ud still had his capital, Ghazni, he decided to leave the city. He planned to set up a new capital in India. Mas'ud blamed his generals, like Ali Daya, for the defeat. He had them put in prison in Lahore. However, Mas'ud's own army, which used to respect him greatly, rebelled against him. They put his brother Muhammad back on the throne.
Death and What Happened Next
Muhammad had Mas'ud imprisoned at Giri. Mas'ud was killed there on January 17, 1040. He was either killed by Muhammad's orders or by Muhammad's son, Ahmed. Mas'ud became known as amir-i shahid, which means "the martyr emir."
Mas'ud had a son named Mawdud. Mawdud later got revenge for his father's death by killing Muhammad. Mawdud then became the new ruler of the Ghaznavid Empire. Mas'ud also had other sons: Sa'id, Izadyar, Mardanshah, Majdud, Ibrahim, Ali, and Farrukhzad. Some of these sons also ruled the Ghaznavid Empire later on.
Images for kids
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Map of Khurasan, Transoxiana and Tokharistan
| Preceded by: Mohammad Ghaznavi |
Sultan of the Ghaznavid Empire 1030–1040 |
Followed by: Mohammad Ghaznavi |
