The Ghaznavid campaigns in India refer to a series of military expeditions lasting over two centuries launched by the Ghaznavid Empire, a prominent empire of the 10th and 11th centuries. They went to the Indian subcontinent, led notably by Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni (), leaving a profound impact on the region's history and culture. Conflicts continued until the fall of Ghaznavids in late 12th century.
Beginning in the late 10th century, these incursions marked a significant chapter in the history of South Asia, with Ghaznavid forces penetrating deep into the Indian subcontinent, including the Punjab region and northern India. The primary objectives of these campaigns included the acquisition of wealth, the propagation of Islam, and the establishment of Ghaznavid rule in the region.
By the end of the 10th century, the Ghaznavid ruler Sabuktigin captured the region between Laghman and Peshawar from the Hindu Shahi ruler Jayapala. This laid the foundation for the Ghaznavids to establish their dominance over parts of present-day Afghanistan and India. The Ghaznavid campaigns in India serve as a crucial historical backdrop to the later Islamic empires that would shape the subcontinent's destiny.
Campaign timeline This list details the military conflicts between the Ghaznavids and Indian kingdoms. +Name of Conflict (Time) Ghaznavid commanderOpponent OutcomeBattle of Charkh(977)SabuktiginLawik dynasty and Hindu Shahis Abu Ali LawikGhaznavid victory Abu Ali Lawik was killed in battle.First Battle of Laghman(988)SabuktiginHindu Shahis JayapalaGhaznavid victorySecond Battle of Laghman(991)SabuktiginHindu Shahis and Rajput confederacy JayapalaGhaznavid victoryBattle of Peshawar (1001)Mahmud of GhazniHindu Shahis JayapalaGhaznavid victory Jayapala taken as prisoner and who self-immolated himself. Much of Gandhara was annexed into Ghaznavid EmpireBattle of Hund (1002)Mahmud of GhazniHindu Shahis UnknownGhaznavid victory Hindu Shahi capital Hund annexed into the Ghaznavid EmpireSiege of Bhatia (1004)Mahmud of GhazniKingdom of Bhatia Baji RaiGhaznavid victory Baji Rai committed suicide. "… he was surrounded but, preferring death to the humiliation of captivity, the high-spirited Raja stabbed himself with a sword."Battle of the Indus River(1006)Mahmud of GhazniHindu Shahis AnandapalaGhaznavid victorySiege of Multan(1006)Mahmud of GhazniLodi dynasty of Multan Fateh DaudGhaznavid victory Fateh Daud surrenders.Battle of Multan(1008)Mahmud of GhazniHindu Shahis SukhapalaGhaznavid victory Sukhapala was captured as prisoner.Battle of Chach(1007)Mahmud of GhazniHindu Shahis AnandapalaGhaznavid victory Gandhara annexed to Ghaznavid empire.Capture of Narayanpur(1009)Mahmud of GhazniRajputs of Narayana and Hindu Shahis King of Narayana AnandapalaGhaznavid victory Narayanpur annexed to Ghaznavid empire.Recapture of Multan(1010)Mahmud of GhazniLodi dynasty of Multan Fateh DaudGhaznavid victory Fateh Daud taken as prisoner. Rebellion suppressed.Battle of Sutlej(1012)Mahmud of GhazniChief of Dera RamaGhaznavid victory Mahmud proceeds towards Thanesar.Sack of Thanesar(1012)Mahmud of GhazniTomara dynasty (offered no resistance)Ghaznavid victory Ghaznavids plunders Thanesar, obtains booty and returns to Ghazni. 200,000 captives taken as prisoner.Battle of Nandana(March 1014)Mahmud of GhazniHindu Shahis Bhimapala Lohara dynasty TungaGhaznavid victorySiege of Nandana(March 1014)Mahmud of GhazniHindu Shahis UnknownGhaznavid victory Fort of Nandana captured by Ghaznavids Trilochanapala retreat.Battle of River Tausi (March 1014)Mahmud of GhazniHindu Shahis Trilochanapala Lohara dynasty TungaGhaznavid victory Territories up to Jhelum annexed by the GhaznavidsSiege of Lohkot (1015)Mahmud of GhazniLohara dynasty Sangramaraja Lohara victory Mahmud withdraws from Kashmir because of heavy casualties and Winter storm.Siege of Bulandshahr (1018)Mahmud of GhazniKingdom of Bulandshahr King HardatGhaznavid victory King Hardat fled from the fort.Siege of Mahaban(1018)Mahmud of GhazniKingdom of Mahaban KulchandGhaznavid victory Kulchand commits suicide.Plunder of Mathura(1018)Mahmud of GhazniTomara dynasty (offers no resistance)Ghaznavid victory Ghaznavids plunder Mathura. The 50,000 Hindus were killed by drowning or by using swords, the massacre was accompanied by the destruction of 1,000 temples in the district.Ghaznavid invasion of Kannauj(1018)Mahmud of GhazniGurjara-Pratihara dynasty (Rajputs) RajyapalaGhaznavid victory Rajyapala surrenders Gurjara Pratihara accepts nominal suzerainty of Ghaznavids.Capture of Munjhawan(1018)Mahmud of GhazniBrahminsGhaznavid victory Munjhawan captured by Ghaznavids.Capture of Asi Fort(1018)Mahmud of GhazniCandrapala bhur Ghaznavid victory Asi fort successfully captured by Ghazni. Candrapala fled to hills.Capture of Sirsawa(1019)Mahmud of GhazniHindu Chief of Sirsawa Chand RaiGhaznavid victory Sirsawa plundered Chand Rai was captured.Battle of the Rahib River(1021)Mahmud of GhazniHindu Shahis and Rajput confederacy Trilochanapala VidyadharaGhaznavid victory Hindu Shahis and Rajputs retreats. Trilochandapala was killed in the battle.Siege of Gwalior(1021)Mahmud of GhazniKachchhapaghata dynasty KirthirajaGhaznavid victory Kirthiraja surrenders Kachchhapaghata accepts the nominal suzerainty of Ghaznavids.Siege of Kalinjar(1021)Mahmud of GhazniChandelas (Rajputs) VidhyadaraPeace treaty. (Nanda) Vidhyadara submitted and offered valuable gifts to Mahmud.Siege of Lohkot(1021)Mahmud of GhazniLohara DynastyLohara victory Mahmud retreats due to heavy casualties and Winter storm. Ghaznavids invasions halted in Kashmir.Capture of Lahore(1021)Mahmud of GhazniHindu Shahis
TrilocanapalaGhaznavid victory "He invaded Lahore (1021-22) during his fourteenth expedition and gave yet another defeat to Trilochanpal. Lahore fell into the hands of the invader as also 270 war elephants. The whole of Punjab up to the banks of the Sutlej was declared annexed to the Ghazni empire."
Punjab up to Sutlej annexed to the Ghaznavids.Siege of Lodhruva(1025)Mahmud of Ghazni Bhati Kingdom of Rajasthan Devraj IIGhaznavid victory "Later, in the course of an expedition against Somnath in Gujarat in year 414 of the Muslim Hijri calendar (AD 1024-25), Mahmud Ghazni marched across the desert through Multan, attacked the Bhati-held Lodrava"Siege of Sambhar (1025)Mahmud of GhazniChahamanas of ShakambhariGhaznavid victory "These precautions enabled his army to cross the desert without mishap, and on its reaching Ajmer, or rather the Chauhan capital of Sambhar, for the modern city of Ajmer was not then built, the raja fled and the invaders plundered the city and slew many Hindus, but did not attempt the reduction of the fortress."Capture of Delvada (1025)Mahmud of GhazniUnknownGhaznavid victory "Two days' march from Somnath stood the town of Dewalwara, the inhabitants of which, secure in the protection of the god, had refused to seek safety in flight and paid for this misplaced confidence with their lives."Battle of Kathiawar (1025)Mahmud of GhazniChaulukya dynastyGhaznavid victory "From Sambhar the army marched towards Anhilvara, now known as Patan, in Gujarat, capturing on its way an unnamed fortress which furnished it with water and supplies. … On his way thither Mahmüd captured several small forts and in the desert of Kathiawar encountered a force of 20,000, apparently part of Bhimdeo's army, which he defeated and dispersed"Sack of Mansura (1026)Mahmud of GhazniSoomra dynastyGhaznavid victorySack of Somnath(1026)Mahmud of GhazniAbhira dynasty MandalikaGhaznavid victory "From Modhera, Mahmud marched on Prabhasa Patan looting Delvada on the way. On January 6, 1026, he invested the fort of Somanatha. It was in charge of Mandalika, the descendant of the Abhira Gruharipu with whom Mularaja had fought." Somanath temple plundered. 50,000 Rajputs were killed in the battle.Battle of the Indus River(1027)Mahmud of GhazniJatsGhaznavid victorySiege of Sarsuti (1033) Mas'ud I Unknown Ghaznavid victory Mas'ud captures the fortress of Sarsuti or Sarwasa which Mahmud had been unable to take.Sack of Benares (1034) Mas'ud I Ahmad Niyaltigin Kalachuris of Tripuri Gangeyadeva Ghaznavid victoryKalachuri invasion of Kangra (1034)Mas'ud I Ahmad NiyaltiginKalachuris of Tripuri GangeyadevaKalachuri victory Kangra valley annexed by Kalachuris from Ghaznavids.Siege of Hansi (1037) Mas'ud I Unknown Ghaznavid victory Hansi captured by Mas'udSiege of Sonipat (1037) Mas'ud I Dipal HarGhaznavid victorySiege of Lahore (1041) Mawdud of Ghazni Faqih SaltiIndian coalition (Rais, Ranas, Thakurs) SandanpalGhaznavid victory "A battle took place at Q.d.r.j.w.r (?) in which the Faqïh Salïtï’s army routed the infidels and in which Sandanpäl was killed" Sandanpal, grandson of Kabul Shah (Hindu Shahi dynasty) killed in action.Siege of Hansi (1043)unknownTomara DynastyParamara Dynasty Mahipala Tomar Raja BhojaTomara victory Hansi annexed into Tomara dynastySiege of Thanesar (1043)unknown Tomara DynastyParamara Dynasty Mahipala Tomar Raja BhojaTomara victory Thanesar annexed into Tomara dynastySiege of Nagarkot (1043)unknownTomara DynastyParamara Dynasty Mahipala Tomar Raja BhojaTomara victory Nagarkot annexed into Tomara dynastySiege of Lahore (1043) Mawdud of Ghazni Faqih SaltiTomara DynastyParamara DynastyKalachuris Mahipal Tomar Raja Bhoja LakshmikarnaGhaznavid victory Rajput forces repelled by Ghaznavids.Siege of Mahitah(1048) Abu Ali Hasan Unknown Ghaznavid victoryReconquest of Nagarkot (1052) Nushtigin HajibTomara dynastyGhaznavid victory Nagarkot retaken by the GhaznavidsHejim-ud-din Invasion of IndiaHejim-ud-dinChahamana dynasty Chamundaraja Chahamana victory Ghaznavid invasion haltedIbrahim of Ghazni's campaigns in India (1079)Ibrahim of GhaznaIndian kingsGhaznavid victory Ghaznavids capture Sirhind, Burya in Ambala, Dhangan, Jalandhar, Pakpatan, Rupal, Fort of Darah.Conquest of Agra (between 1070 and 1086) Mahmud of Punjab Rashtrakutas of Kannauj GopalaGhaznavid victorySiege of KannaujMahmud of Punjab Rashtrakutas of Kannauj Ghaznavid victory Ghaznavids capture KannaujInvasion of UjjainMahmud of PunjabParamara dynasty LakshmadevaParamara victoryNajm ad-Din Zarir's Raid against Malwa (1088–1092)Najm ad-Din ZarirParamara dynasty LakshmadevaParamara victory Ghaznavid army turned its focus towards Kalinjar following difficulties in Malwa.Mahmud's invasion of Kalinjar(Before 1090)Mahmud of PunjabChandelas KirtivarmanChandela victory Kalinjara was successfully defendedExpedition of Hajib Taghatigin into Chahamana Kingdom Hajib Taghatigin Imad-uddaulah Baguli ShahChahamanas of Shakambhari Prithviraja IChauhan victory Ghaznavid Expansion haltedConquest of Nagaur(1112)Muhammad BahlimChahamanas of Shakambhari Ajayaraja IIGhaznavid victory Nagaur captured by Ghaznavids "… Muhammad Bahlim, whom Bahram Shah of Ghazni had appointed the Governor of his dominions in Hindustan in A.D., captured and fortified the town of Nagor …"Battle of Multan(1119)Bahram-Shah of GhaznaGhaznavid rebelsIndian chiefsGhaznavid victoryAjayaraja's Conflict with the GhaznavidsSalar HussainChahamanas of Shakambhari Ajayaraja IIChauhan victorySiege of Hansi(before 1167)unknownChauhan Dynasty Vigraharaja IIIChauhan victory Hansi annexed by Chauhan dynasty.Capture of Bhatinda(post 1167)unknownChauhan Dynasty Prithviraja IIChauhan victory Chauhan territory extended as far as Firozpur
Under Sabuktigin Sabuktigin was one of the slaves of Alptigin, the Governor of Ghazni. Alptigin was succeeded by his son Abu Ishaq and his slave, Bilgetigin, respectively. Following Bilgetigin's death in 972, another of Alptigin's slaves, named Boritigin, ascended to the throne.
As a Ghazni subordinate
Battle of Charkh (973)