The Battle of Andkhud, also spelt as Battle of Andkhui was fought in 1204 on the bank of river
Oxus
The Amu Darya, tk, Amyderýa/ uz, Amudaryo// tg, Амударё, Amudaryo ps, , tr, Ceyhun / Amu Derya grc, Ὦξος, Ôxos (also called the Amu, Amo River and historically known by its Latin name or Greek ) is a major river in Central Asi ...
near
Andkhoy in present-day
Afghanistan
Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan,; prs, امارت اسلامی افغانستان is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central Asia and South Asia. Referred to as the Heart of Asia, it is bordere ...
. It was fought between the
Ghurid forces of
Muhammad of Ghor
Mu'izz ad-Din Muhammad ibn Sam ( fa, معز الدین محمد بن سام), also Mu'izz ad-Din Muhammad Ghori, also Ghūri ( fa, معز الدین محمد غوری) (1144 – March 15, 1206), commonly known as Muhammad of Ghor, also Gh ...
against the
Qara Khitai forces (as aid of
Khwarazmian Empire
The Khwarazmian or Khwarezmian Empire) or the Khwarazmshahs ( fa, خوارزمشاهیان, Khwārazmshāhiyān) () was a Turko-Persian Sunni Muslim empire that ruled large parts of present-day Central Asia, Afghanistan, and Iran in the appr ...
) led by Tayangu of
Taraz
Taraz ( kz, Тараз, تاراز, translit=Taraz ; known to Europeans as Talas) is a city and the administrative center of Jambyl Region in Kazakhstan, located on the Talas (river), Talas (Taraz) River in the south of the country near the borde ...
. The battle ended in a complete rout of the Ghurids, although Muhammad of Ghor managed to escape the debacle after the intervention by
Uthman of Qarakhanid.
The Ghurids, soon after the death of
Tekish of Khwarezm, invaded and annexed most of the
Khorasan
Khorasan may refer to:
* Greater Khorasan, a historical region which lies mostly in modern-day northern/northwestern Afghanistan, northeastern Iran, southern Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan
* Khorasan Province, a pre-2004 province of Ira ...
amidst the civil war among the successors of Tekish for the throne. However, the Ghurids conquests were recaptured by
Alauddin Shah who made diplomatic overtures to make peace with the Ghurids. Although, the Ghurids turned down his overtures.
Ghiyath al-Din Muhammad
Ghiyath al-Din Muhammad, also known as Ghiyath al-Din Ghori born Muhammad (c. 1140-1203 CE), was the Sultan of the Ghurid dynasty from 1163 to 1203. During his reign, aided by his brother, Muhammad Ghori's conquests in Northern India, the Ghurid ...
at this point, died in Herat (1203) and was succeeded by his brother
Muhammad of Ghor
Mu'izz ad-Din Muhammad ibn Sam ( fa, معز الدین محمد بن سام), also Mu'izz ad-Din Muhammad Ghori, also Ghūri ( fa, معز الدین محمد غوری) (1144 – March 15, 1206), commonly known as Muhammad of Ghor, also Gh ...
. Alauddin soon displaced the
Ghurid
The Ghurid dynasty (also spelled Ghorids; fa, دودمان غوریان, translit=Dudmân-e Ğurīyân; self-designation: , ''Šansabānī'') was a Persianate dynasty and a clan of presumably eastern Iranian Tajik origin, which ruled from the ...
governor from
Herat
Herāt (; Persian: ) is an oasis city and the third-largest city of Afghanistan. In 2020, it had an estimated population of 574,276, and serves as the capital of Herat Province, situated south of the Paropamisus Mountains (''Selseleh-ye Safēd ...
and relieved the city which lead to a full-scale invasion from Muhammad of Ghor who besieged Alauddin's capital of Gurganz. However, the Ghurids failed to press upon the siege and were forced to retreat when a large contingent of
Qara Khitai
The Qara Khitai, or Kara Khitai (), also known as the Western Liao (), officially the Great Liao (), was a Sinicized dynastic regime based in Central Asia ruled by the Khitan Yelü clan. The Qara Khitai is considered by historians to be an ...
and
Qarakhanid
The Kara-Khanid Khanate (; ), also known as the Karakhanids, Qarakhanids, Ilek Khanids or the Afrasiabids (), was a Turkic khanate that ruled Central Asia in the 9th through the early 13th century. The dynastic names of Karakhanids and Ilek K ...
forces come in aid of the Khwarazmians.
The Ghurids were chased in their retreat and in a decisive battle fought near the river of
Oxus
The Amu Darya, tk, Amyderýa/ uz, Amudaryo// tg, Амударё, Amudaryo ps, , tr, Ceyhun / Amu Derya grc, Ὦξος, Ôxos (also called the Amu, Amo River and historically known by its Latin name or Greek ) is a major river in Central Asi ...
, in
Andkhud, Muhammad's forces were completely routed by Qara Khitais who further chased him in his retreat as well. Muhammad was allowed to retreat safely to
Ghazna
Ghazni ( prs, غزنی, ps, غزني), historically known as Ghaznain () or Ghazna (), also transliterated as Ghuznee, and anciently known as Alexandria in Opiana ( gr, Αλεξάνδρεια Ωπιανή), is a city in southeastern Afghanistan ...
after paying heavy ransom to Tayangu.
The Catastrophe of Andhkhud lead to the loss of most of the
Khurasan
Greater Khorāsān,Dabeersiaghi, Commentary on Safarnâma-e Nâsir Khusraw, 6th Ed. Tehran, Zavvâr: 1375 (Solar Hijri Calendar) 235–236 or Khorāsān ( pal, Xwarāsān; fa, خراسان ), is a historical eastern region in the Iranian Plate ...
for the
Ghurids
The Ghurid dynasty (also spelled Ghorids; fa, دودمان غوریان, translit=Dudmân-e Ğurīyân; self-designation: , ''Šansabānī'') was a Persianate dynasty and a clan of presumably eastern Iranian Tajik origin, which ruled from the ...
and a number of their slave generals rebelled in the core Ghurid domain as well. Muhammad of Ghor, however successfully dealt with these rebellions and made preparations to avenge his defeat but was assassinated at
Damyak on 15 March 1206. His successor was forced to acknowledge the
suzerainty of Khwarazmians who overthrew the Ghurids by 1215 but were
themselves uprooted by Changez Khan in 1221.
Background
By close of the twelfth century, the
Ghurid
The Ghurid dynasty (also spelled Ghorids; fa, دودمان غوریان, translit=Dudmân-e Ğurīyân; self-designation: , ''Šansabānī'') was a Persianate dynasty and a clan of presumably eastern Iranian Tajik origin, which ruled from the ...
s under the
diarchy
Diarchy (from Greek , ''di-'', "double", and , ''-arkhía'', "ruled"),Occasionally misspelled ''dyarchy'', as in the ''Encyclopaedia Britannica'' article on the colonial British institution duarchy, or duumvirate (from Latin ', "the office of ...
of
Ghiyath al-Din Muhammad
Ghiyath al-Din Muhammad, also known as Ghiyath al-Din Ghori born Muhammad (c. 1140-1203 CE), was the Sultan of the Ghurid dynasty from 1163 to 1203. During his reign, aided by his brother, Muhammad Ghori's conquests in Northern India, the Ghurid ...
(c. 1163–1203) and
Muhammad of Ghor
Mu'izz ad-Din Muhammad ibn Sam ( fa, معز الدین محمد بن سام), also Mu'izz ad-Din Muhammad Ghori, also Ghūri ( fa, معز الدین محمد غوری) (1144 – March 15, 1206), commonly known as Muhammad of Ghor, also Gh ...
(c. 1173–1206) reached apogee of its glory. Muhammad of Ghor after uprooting the
Ghaznavids
The Ghaznavid dynasty ( fa, غزنویان ''Ġaznaviyān'') was a culturally Persianate, Sunni Muslim dynasty of Turkic ''mamluk'' origin, ruling, at its greatest extent, large parts of Persia, Khorasan, much of Transoxiana and the northwest ...
in 1186, achieved a landscape victory in 1192, against a coalition of Rajput rulers under
Prithviraja III
Prithviraja III (IAST: Pṛthvī-rāja; reign. – 1192 CE), popularly known as Prithviraj Chauhan or Rai Pithora, was a king from the Chauhan (Chahamana) dynasty who ruled the territory of Sapadalaksha, with his capital at Ajmer in present- ...
in
Taraori
Taraori, or Tarori or Tarawari, as it is sometimes called in the local dialect, is a town (Municipal committee) in Nilokheri Tehsil of Karnal district in the Indian state of Haryana. It is situated off NH-44, 14 km north of Karnal. The n ...
which opened the whole of Ganga valley which Muhammad and his slave generals pressed upon in subsequent years and reached as far as east in
Lakhawati in
Bengal
Bengal ( ; bn, বাংলা/বঙ্গ, translit=Bānglā/Bôngô, ) is a geopolitical, cultural and historical region in South Asia, specifically in the eastern part of the Indian subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal, predom ...
. After their conquests in Indian subcontinent, the Ghurids embarked upon the struggle with Khwarazm Empire for the supremacy of
Khorasan
Khorasan may refer to:
* Greater Khorasan, a historical region which lies mostly in modern-day northern/northwestern Afghanistan, northeastern Iran, southern Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan
* Khorasan Province, a pre-2004 province of Ira ...
.
Meanwhile,
Tekish died in 1200 and was succeeded by his son
Alauddin Shah. Taking advantage of the civil war between Alauddin and his nephew Hindu Khan for the throne, the Ghurids successfully captured
Nishapur
Nishapur or officially Romanized as Neyshabur ( fa, ;Or also "نیشاپور" which is closer to its original and historic meaning though it is less commonly used by modern native Persian speakers. In Persian poetry, the name of this city is wr ...
,
Merv
Merv ( tk, Merw, ', مرو; fa, مرو, ''Marv''), also known as the Merve Oasis, formerly known as Alexandria ( grc-gre, Ἀλεξάνδρεια), Antiochia in Margiana ( grc-gre, Ἀντιόχεια ἡ ἐν τῇ Μαργιανῇ) and ...
,
Tus
Tus or TUS may refer to:
* Tus (biology), a protein that binds to terminator sequences
* Thales Underwater Systems, an international defence contractor
* Tuscarora language, an Iroquoian language, ISO 639-3 code
Education
* Technological Univ ...
and reached right up to
Gorgan
Gorgan ( fa, گرگان ; also romanized as ''Gorgān'', ''Gurgān'', and ''Gurgan''), formerly Esterabad ( ; also romanized as ''Astarābād'', ''Asterabad'', and ''Esterābād''), is the capital city of Golestan Province, Iran. It lies appro ...
and
Bisṭām. Further, In Merv, the Ghurids stationed Alauddin's rival Hindu Khan on the throne. Thus, the Ghurids for a short while swept away most of the
Khorasan
Khorasan may refer to:
* Greater Khorasan, a historical region which lies mostly in modern-day northern/northwestern Afghanistan, northeastern Iran, southern Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan
* Khorasan Province, a pre-2004 province of Ira ...
for the first time. However, Alauddin soon ascended to the throne in August 1200 and recaptured his territories from the Ghurids after a series of incursion which began from September 1201 and recaptured Nishapur and other Ghurid conquests including
Herat
Herāt (; Persian: ) is an oasis city and the third-largest city of Afghanistan. In 2020, it had an estimated population of 574,276, and serves as the capital of Herat Province, situated south of the Paropamisus Mountains (''Selseleh-ye Safēd ...
. Despite this success, Alauddin tried to make cordial relations with the Ghurids (possibly to get rid from Qara Khitai supremacy) and wrote a letter to them to treat him as his son and offered to marry his mother
Turkan Khatun to Muhammad of Ghor. However, the overtures by Alauddin were turned down by the Ghurids and they continue to carry raids in Khorasan.
Around the same time, Ghiyath al-Din died in 1203 due to illness in
Herat
Herāt (; Persian: ) is an oasis city and the third-largest city of Afghanistan. In 2020, it had an estimated population of 574,276, and serves as the capital of Herat Province, situated south of the Paropamisus Mountains (''Selseleh-ye Safēd ...
and Muhammad succeeded him as the sole ruler of Ghurid dynasty. Taking advantage of Mu'izz absence from Herat, amidst death of his brother, Alauddin defeated the Ghurid garrison in Herat and recaptured the city. However, Muhammad drove back him from Merv and decisively defeated him east of his capital in Gurganz. Muhammad in order to give a decisive blow to the Khwazmians, besieged their capital Gurganz - possibly to completely annex their empire. Alauddin retreated, and requested aid from the
Qara Khitai
The Qara Khitai, or Kara Khitai (), also known as the Western Liao (), officially the Great Liao (), was a Sinicized dynastic regime based in Central Asia ruled by the Khitan Yelü clan. The Qara Khitai is considered by historians to be an ...
rulers who were themselves in hostile relations with the Ghurids after their invasion of
Balkh
), named for its green-tiled ''Gonbad'' ( prs, گُنبَد, dome), in July 2001
, pushpin_map=Afghanistan#Bactria#West Asia
, pushpin_relief=yes
, pushpin_label_position=bottom
, pushpin_mapsize=300
, pushpin_map_caption=Location in Afghanistan ...
. Thus, Qara Khitai's sent a large contingent of 40,000 soldiers under the command of Tayangu of Talas along with
Qarakhanid
The Kara-Khanid Khanate (; ), also known as the Karakhanids, Qarakhanids, Ilek Khanids or the Afrasiabids (), was a Turkic khanate that ruled Central Asia in the 9th through the early 13th century. The dynastic names of Karakhanids and Ilek K ...
ruler
Uthman ibn Ibrahim
Uthman ibn Ibrahim was a Karakhanid ruler in Transoxiana from 1204 to 1212.
Biography
Uthman was the son of the Karakhanid Ibrahim ibn Hussein (1178-1202/1203).Karev, Yury. "Qarakhanid wall paintings in the citadel of Samarqand: first report ...
of
Samarkand
fa, سمرقند
, native_name_lang =
, settlement_type = City
, image_skyline =
, image_caption = Clockwise from the top:Registan square, Shah-i-Zinda necropolis, Bibi-Khanym Mosque, view inside Shah-i-Zinda, ...
and his cousin Taj al-Din Bilge Khan.
Battle
Due to the hostile environment in Gurganz and on the encroachment of the Qara Khitai and Qarakhanid contingents, the Ghurids were forced to relieve the siege and start their retreat to Ghazna. The Qara Khitai troops albeit, stationed themselves near the river Oxus to overtake the Ghurids in their retreat.
Muhammad was chased by the forces of Alauddin until
Saifabad
Saifabad is one of the major suburbs in Hyderabad, Telangana, India.
The Ravindra Bharathi auditorium is located here.
Transport
TSRTC
Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (abbreviated as TSRTC) is a state-owned corporation that ...
(Alauddin inflicted significant losses on the Ghurids in Hazar Saf), before the aiding contingent of Khwarazm marching from Transoxania surrounded them. The Ghurids exhausted in their long march from Gurgānj started the battle with Muhammad in the rear of his army with 20,000 cavalry soldiers. Many of the Ghurid soldiers start retreating although, Muhammad continue to lead the vanguard. However, he got seriously wounded by an arrow and was taken by his slave general Aibak Yogi to safety inside a castle between
Merv
Merv ( tk, Merw, ', مرو; fa, مرو, ''Marv''), also known as the Merve Oasis, formerly known as Alexandria ( grc-gre, Ἀλεξάνδρεια), Antiochia in Margiana ( grc-gre, Ἀντιόχεια ἡ ἐν τῇ Μαργιανῇ) and ...
and
Balkh
), named for its green-tiled ''Gonbad'' ( prs, گُنبَد, dome), in July 2001
, pushpin_map=Afghanistan#Bactria#West Asia
, pushpin_relief=yes
, pushpin_label_position=bottom
, pushpin_mapsize=300
, pushpin_map_caption=Location in Afghanistan ...
. A large number of Ghurid soldiers were slain who covered his retreat to the castle. According to the chronicler
Hasan Nizami
Hasan Nizami was a Persian language poet and historian, who lived in the 12th and 13th centuries. He migrated from Nishapur to Delhi in India, where he wrote ''Tajul-Ma'asir'', the first official history of the Delhi Sultanate.
Early life
Lit ...
- "Only a few person from the army of Islam were left". The numerically superior forces of Qara Khitais and Qarakhanids eventually routed the Ghurids completely.
They victorious army advanced further and successfully breached the wall of the castle in which Muhammad of Ghor took shelter. At this time, Uthman who according to
Minhaj-i Siraj Juzjani
Minhaj-al-Din Abu Amr Othman ibn Siraj-al-Din Muhammad Juzjani (born 1193), simply known as Minhaj al-Siraj Juzjani, was a 13th-century Persian historian born in the region of Ghur.
In 1227, Juzjani migrated to Ucch then to Delhi. Juzjani was th ...
don't want the "Sultan of Islam to be captured by the
infidels
An infidel (literally "unfaithful") is a person accused of disbelief in the central tenets of one's own religion, such as members of another religion, or the irreligious.
Infidel is an ecclesiastical term in Christianity around which the Church ...
", intervened and asked Muhammad of Ghor to negotiate and surrender his possessions to escape alive. Muhammad agreed for the negotiations and paid heavy ransom to Tayangu. Thus, Muhammad routed completely was allowed to return to his capital safely.
Aftermath
The defeat in Andkhud turned out to be a disaster for prestige of the Ghurids, who lost their control over most of the
Khorasan
Khorasan may refer to:
* Greater Khorasan, a historical region which lies mostly in modern-day northern/northwestern Afghanistan, northeastern Iran, southern Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan
* Khorasan Province, a pre-2004 province of Ira ...
except
Herat
Herāt (; Persian: ) is an oasis city and the third-largest city of Afghanistan. In 2020, it had an estimated population of 574,276, and serves as the capital of Herat Province, situated south of the Paropamisus Mountains (''Selseleh-ye Safēd ...
and
Balkh
), named for its green-tiled ''Gonbad'' ( prs, گُنبَد, dome), in July 2001
, pushpin_map=Afghanistan#Bactria#West Asia
, pushpin_relief=yes
, pushpin_label_position=bottom
, pushpin_mapsize=300
, pushpin_map_caption=Location in Afghanistan ...
. Further, Muhammad was forced to conclude a peace treaty with Alauddin and Khwazmian Empire.
The Catastrophe of Andkhud, lead to a number of rebellions in the Ghurid empire. Aibak Beg, his general during the battle deserted him and seized
Multan
Multan (; ) is a city in Punjab, Pakistan, on the bank of the Chenab River. Multan is Pakistan's seventh largest city as per the 2017 census, and the major cultural, religious and economic centre of southern Punjab.
Multan is one of the List ...
after executing Mu'izz's governor of Multan Amir Dad Hasan. Hussain Kharmil as per Minhaj, also deserted him. Notwithstanding, within a year or so, Muhammad of Ghor curbed these rebellions and restored his empire to stability. He built boat bridge across the river
Oxus
The Amu Darya, tk, Amyderýa/ uz, Amudaryo// tg, Амударё, Amudaryo ps, , tr, Ceyhun / Amu Derya grc, Ὦξος, Ôxos (also called the Amu, Amo River and historically known by its Latin name or Greek ) is a major river in Central Asi ...
to launch a full-scale invasion of
Transoxania
Transoxiana or Transoxania (Land beyond the Oxus) is the Latin name for a region and civilization located in lower Central Asia roughly corresponding to modern-day eastern Uzbekistan, western Tajikistan, parts of southern Kazakhstan, parts of Tu ...
to avenge his rout at Andhkhud. The Ghurid governor of
Bamiyan was ordered to prepare for a "
holy war
A religious war or a war of religion, sometimes also known as a holy war ( la, sanctum bellum), is a war which is primarily caused or justified by differences in religion. In the modern period, there are frequent debates over the extent to wh ...
against the
infidels
An infidel (literally "unfaithful") is a person accused of disbelief in the central tenets of one's own religion, such as members of another religion, or the irreligious.
Infidel is an ecclesiastical term in Christianity around which the Church ...
of
Turkistan
Turkestan, also spelled Turkistan ( fa, ترکستان, Torkestân, lit=Land of the Turks), is a historical region in Central Asia corresponding to the regions of Transoxiana and Xinjiang.
Overview
Known as Turan to the Persians, western Turk ...
".
However, another rebellion occurred in his empire in
Punjab
Punjab (; Punjabi: پنجاب ; ਪੰਜਾਬ ; ; also romanised as ''Panjāb'' or ''Panj-Āb'') is a geopolitical, cultural, and historical region in South Asia, specifically in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent, comprising ...
by the Hindu
Khokhars who disrupted Muhammad's communication between
Lahore
Lahore ( ; pnb, ; ur, ) is the second most populous city in Pakistan after Karachi and 26th most populous city in the world, with a population of over 13 million. It is the capital of the province of Punjab where it is the largest city. ...
and
Ghazni
Ghazni ( prs, غزنی, ps, غزني), historically known as Ghaznain () or Ghazna (), also transliterated as Ghuznee, and anciently known as Alexandria in Opiana ( gr, Αλεξάνδρεια Ωπιανή), is a city in southeastern Afghanistan ...
which forced him to move towards India again. The Khokhars were defeated after a hotly contested battle. Subsequently, a general masscare of Khokhars was ordered after the battle and many were enslaved. On his way back, Muhammad was assassinated near the Indus by
Ismailis on 15 March 1206 whom he persecuted during his lifetime.
After his death, his successor
Ghiyath al-Din Mahmud
Ghiyath al-Din Mahmud ( fa, غیاث الدین محمود), was Sultan of the Ghurid Empire from 1206 to 1212. He was the nephew and successor of Mu'izz al-Din Muhammad.
Rise to power
Ghiyath was the son of Ghiyath al-Din Muhammad, who was t ...
was forced to acknowledge the suzerainty of Alauddin Shah. The Khwarazmian empire within a deacde or so, reached up to the
Indus
The Indus ( ) is a transboundary river of Asia and a trans-Himalayan river of South and Central Asia. The river rises in mountain springs northeast of Mount Kailash in Western Tibet, flows northwest through the disputed region of Kashmir, ...
and captured the Western frontier of Ghurids as well which included
Ghazni
Ghazni ( prs, غزنی, ps, غزني), historically known as Ghaznain () or Ghazna (), also transliterated as Ghuznee, and anciently known as Alexandria in Opiana ( gr, Αλεξάνδρεια Ωπιανή), is a city in southeastern Afghanistan ...
,
Qandhar
Qandhar ( fa, قندهار, also Romanized as Qandhār) is a village in Leylan-e Jonubi Rural District, Leylan District, Malekan County, East Azerbaijan Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 1,176, in 237 families.
References and
Kabul
Kabul (; ps, , ; , ) is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan. Located in the eastern half of the country, it is also a municipality, forming part of the Kabul Province; it is administratively divided into 22 municipal districts. Acco ...
. However, The Khwazmian empire, soon was
swept away by the Mongol conqueror Changez Khan in 1221.
Footnotes
Citations
Bibliography
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
{{refend
Andkhud
Andkhud
History of Afghanistan
History of Islam in Afghanistan