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Muhammad Ghori (aka Shahabuddin Muizuddin Muhammad bin Sam) was appointed Governor of Ghazni (which his elder brother Ghiyasuddin had captured from the weak successors of Mahmud of Ghazni in 1163) in 1173. He decided to extend the boundary of his kingdom and also gain wealth, through conquests. To realize his ambition, he made his first incursion into India in 1175. After subduing the Ismaili Muslim heretics of Multan, he made an unsuccessful advance into Gujarat in 1178.Nevertheless he became successful in seizing Peshawar and building a fort at Sialkot in 1181. With the help of the ruler of Jammu, Jaidev he put an end to the rule of Ghaznavids in Punjab and captured Lahore in 1186 A.D. With this the way was opened for him to push his conquests further into India. But he now had to face the formidable Rajputs led by the enigmatic Prithviraj Chauhan, ruler of Delhi and Ajmer. For the defense of the country's north-west frontiers and what may be called the "Gateway" of India, the Chauhan ruler had strongly fortified the bordering towns of his kingdom. Muhammad Ghori first attacked Bhatinda and laid siege to the city in 1189. Historical evidences show that Prithviraj Chauhan was not prepared for this attack made in a sudden and deceitful manner. Hence the army defending the city was defeated and it laid down its arms after the defeat. Muhammad Ghori left a garrison under the command of Ziauddin to defend the fort, and he himself prepared to back when the Chauhan ruler arrived at the head of a huge army to recapture the fort. So Ghori had to stay his departure in order to face Prithviraj. The rival armies met at Tarain, near Thaneshwar. The forces of Prithviraj inflicted a crushing defeat on Ghori's army. Muhammad Ghori himself was critically wounded and captured. But Prithviraj pardoned Ghori as a goodwill gesture, which Ghori repaid in a most contemptible manner. next page >> |
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