Ismail of Ghazni

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Ismail of Ghazni was the second ruler and Amir of the Ghaznavid Empire. He succeeded his father Amir Sabuktigin, who died of sickness acquired in Balkh during a campaign in the Samanid civil war. Ismail was designated his successor by Sabuktigins on his death-bed, while Mahmud, the older brother who was involved in the Samanid civil war, was stationed in Nishapur.

Upon receiving these news Mahmud contested Ismail's right to the throne and divested his charge of Nishapur to his uncle Borghuz, and younger brother, Nur-ud-Din Yusuf and marched upon Ghazni.

Mahmud captured Ghazni and took the crown from Ismail. Ismail spent the rest of his life confined to a fort in Joorjan. Historians have extrapolated that Sabuktigin chose Ismail because his other two sons were both also brone by a slave, from Ferdowsi's later satirization of Mahmud for being descended from slaves on both maternal and paternal side.

[edit] References

Ferishta, History of the Rise of Mohammedan Power in India, Volume 1: Section 15 [1]

Preceded by: Sabuktigin

Ghaznavid Ruler 997–998

Followed by: Mahmud of Ghazni