Muhammad of Ghor

Muhammad of Ghor (Persian,Urdu: محمد شہاب الدین غوری), also Muhammad Ghori or Mohammad Ghauri, originally named Mu'izz-ad-din, b.1162 - d.1206, was an emperor under the Ghorid dynasty. He was also the governor of Ghazni (province in modern Afghanistan) from 1173 to 1206. His ethnic background was most likely of Persian-speaking Eastern-Iranian Tajik stock or he may have been a Turk from Europe.

Muhammad was the brother of the Sultan Ghiyas-ud-din Muhammad of Ghor (province in modern Afghanistan). Ghor lay on the western boundary of the Ghaznavid. Before 1160, the Ghaznavid empire covered an area running from central Afghanistan to the Punjab, with capitals at Ghazni and Lahore.

In 1160, the Ghorids conquered Ghazni from the Ghaznavids, and in 1173 Muhammad became governor of the province. In 1186-7 he conquered Lahore, ending the Ghaznavid empire and bringing the last of Ghaznavid territory under his control.

Coin of Mu'izzuddin Muhammad Bin Sam , circa 1173 AD - 1206 AD , Issued from Lahore.
Obv: Simple rendition of recumbent bull facing left. Sarada Legends : ' Sri Mahamada Sama ' in arc.Rev: Rider bearing lance on caparisoned horse facing right.Devnagari Legends : Sri /hamirah'. Crescent moon below horse.

Muhammad attacked the north-western regions of the Indian subcontinent many times. The first time he was defeated in the Battle of Tairan in present-day Punjab by Prithviraj Chauhan. After this defeat, Sultan went back and regrouped and again attacked India and defeated, Prithvi Raj. Prithvi Raj was captured and taken to Ghor. Muhammad of Ghor was killed.

In Ghori province , there also exists grave of Ghori and Prithiviraj in the same vicinity.

Coin of Mu'izzuddin Muhammad Bin Sam , circa 1173 AD - 1206 AD , Issued from Delhi following coin typology of Prithviraja.
Obv: Rider bearing lance on caparisoned horse facing right.Devnagari Legends : Sri /hamirah'. Rev: Simple rendition of recumbent bull with long snout facing left, Devnagari Legends : ' Sri Mahamada Same ' in arc .

Sultanate of Delhi

Upon his death, Qutb-ud-din Aybak, Muhammad Ghori's most capable general, took control of Muhammad's Indian conquests and declared himself the first Sultan of Delhi thus establishing Sultanate of Delhi. Muhammad's former territory in Afghanistan was conquered by the Mongols.

See also

• Ghurids
• History of Iran
• History of Afghanistan

References and footnotes

• John Keay (2001). India: A history. Grove Press; 1 Grove Pr edition. ISBN 0-8021-3797-0. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)

Further reading

• Elliot, Sir H. M., Edited by Dowson, John. The History of India, as Told by Its Own Historians. The Muhammadan Period; published by London Trubner Company 1867–1877. (Online Copy: The History of India, as Told by Its Own Historians. The Muhammadan Period; by Sir H. M. Elliot; Edited by John Dowson; London Trubner Company 1867–1877 - This online Copy has been posted by: The Packard Humanities Institute; Persian Texts in Translation; Also find other historical books: Author List and Title List)