| After
him, his general, Sabuk-tigin, came to the throne in A.D. 977. He continued his master's
policy and made a determined effort to destroy the confederacy of Indian kings which
Jayapala of the Punjab led in de fence of his motherland. When Sabuk-tigin died in A.D., 997, his son, Abu-I-Qasim Mahmud, born in A.D.
971, was only the governor of Khorasan. Even when fifteen, he had surprised the veteran
warriors of his father's court by his ability; so Sabuk-tigin, on his death-bed, nominated
Mahmud's younger brother Ismail as his successor.
A war of succession followed. Mahmud soon captured Ghazni
and sent his brother into exile, and by his personality, will and genius, soon built up a
marvellous striking power. |
