As we read in the previous chapter, there were many Rajput kings in North India who constantly fought among themselves. This led to the lack of a central authority. Meanwhile, many Muslim invaders arrived in India.
The first Muslim ruler to invade India was Muhammad bin Qasim (an Arab). He attacked northwestern India in 712 CE. At that time, Sindh was ruled by Dahir. Muhammad bin Qasim conquered Sindh and Multan.
Later, the Turkish commander Alptigin established an independent Turkish state in Ghazni. In 986 CE, Subuktigin captured Ghazni and attacked northwestern India. This was the first Turkish invasion of India.
Mahmud of Ghazni was the son of Subuktigin. He became the ruler of Ghazni in 997 CE. Between 1001 and 1027 CE, he invaded India 17 times. His main objective was to plunder wealth.
In 1001 CE, Jayapala, the ruler of the Hindu Shahi dynasty, faced Mahmud’s invasion. In the battle near Waihind, Jayapala was defeated and committed suicide.
In 1006 CE, Mahmud attacked Multan, which was then ruled by Abdul Fatah Daud. In 1009 CE, he attacked Peshawar, which was under Anandpal of the Hindu Shahi dynasty
Scholars like Al-Biruni, Firdausi, Utbi, and Farukhi lived in Mahmud’s court. In 1025 CE, Mahmud attacked Somnath. His final invasion in 1027 CE was to suppress a rebellion by the Jats.
Mahmud sent a life-sized bronze idol of Chakraswamin from Thanesar to Ghazni and placed it in the arena. He died in 1030 CE. Al-Biruni (from Khiva), Baihaqi (author of *Tarikh-i-Subuktigin*), and Utbi accompanied Mahmud to India.
Muhammad Ghori first attacked Multan in 1175 CE. In 1178 CE, he was defeated by Bhima II, the ruler of Gujarat.
In 1191 CE, the First Battle of Tarain took place, where Muhammad Ghori was defeated by Prithviraj Chauhan.
In 1192 CE, the Second Battle of Tarain occurred, in which Prithviraj Chauhan was defeated. Ghori captured him and took him to Afghanistan. After this victory, Ghori captured Delhi and Ajmer, laying the foundation of Muslim rule in India.
In 1194 CE, Ghori defeated Jayachand, the Gahadavala ruler of Kannauj, in the Battle of Chandawar.
His general, Bakhtiyar Khilji, led campaigns in eastern India and destroyed Nalanda and Vikramshila universities.
Historians differ on the details of Ghori's death. Some attribute it to a battle with the Khokhars, while others attribute it to Prithviraj Chauhan's piercing arrow.