Page:A Comprehensive History of India Vol 1.djvu/90

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HISTORY OF INIMA.

[Book I.

A.I). ni'<

Uehram'.s treaoliery to tlif houxo of Ghor.

His exinilsion.

!

His

defeat 1)y Ala u-diii.

Extinction of Ghuzna- vide dyuasty

servcfl it even while Sulbiii Muliiiiood was extending lii.s eonqueHts on every side. Two generations after, it was treacherously seized by Modood, and became a dependency of Ghuznee. It was still, however, governed by its own princes, who lived almost on terms of equality with the Sultans of Ghuznee. One of these princes, called Kutb-u-din Sur, had married a daugliter of Sultan Behram. This affinity might have been supposed to bring the houses of Ghuznee and Ghor into the most friendly relations. It turned out otherwise. Differences arose; and Behram, having obtained poaseasion of the person of his son-in-law, sullied the reputation which he had acquired for jastice and humanity by poisoning him, or putting him to an open death. Kutb-u-din Sur had two brothers, Seif-u-din and Ala-u-din. The}'^ at once flew t^j arms to avenge his death ; and, advancing upon Ghuznee, obliged Behram to seek an asylum among the mountains of Kerman.

Seif-u-din, the elder brother, established him.self in Ghuznee, and .sent back most of his army, vmder Ala-u-din, to Feruz Coh, his former capital He thought he had gained the affections of the inhabitants, and only learned his mistake when it was too late to remedy it. A strong attachment was still felt to the dynasty to which Ghuznee owed all its prosperity and its splendour; and, as soon as the winter had set in so severely as to prevent all communica- tion with Ghor, Behram made his appearance at the head of an army. Seif- u-din, totally unprepared, was about to retire, when treacherous promises of support from tlie inhabitants induced him to march out and risk a battle. It was no sooner commenced than the greater part of his troops passed over to his enemy. For a time he was able, by the aid of a small body of his o^v•n people who remained stanch, to maintain an unequal contest, but was at length wounded, overpowered, and taken prisoner. Behram, instead of availing himself of the opportunity to wipe off the stain which he had brought on his reputation by the murder of the eldest brother, acted still more atrociously. Seif-u-din, after being ignominiously paraded round the city, and subjected to every species of indignity, was put to death by torture.

Ala-u-din, the third brother, still remained, and set out burning for ven- geance. In his eagerness, his preparations were imperfect ; and Behram, either in insult or because the blood already shed had satiated him, made an offer of peace. It was indignantly rejected, and the battle immediately began to rage. Behram's superiority of numbers made the issue for some time doubtful, but at last, when left almost alone, he turned his back and fled from the field.

The victor immediately advanced on Ghuznee, which cordd offer no resist- ance. Its doom was sealed. For three or seven days (for accounts varj") fire and sword continued the work of destruction, and all the proud monuments which attested the power, wealth, and splendour of the Ghuznavide kings were laid in ruins. Behram hastened to seek an asylum in India, but died before he had found it. His son Khosru was more fortunate, and reached Lahore, where