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{{About|the sultan of the Ghaznavid Empire|the Ayyubid ruler of Baalbek|Bahramshah}}
{{Infobox royalty
|name=Bahram-Shah
|title=
|image=Coin of the Ghaznavid ruler Bahram-Shah, Kabul mint.jpg
|caption=Coin of Bahram-Shah, [[Kabul]] mint
| succession= [[Sultan]] of [[Ghaznavids|Ghazna]]
|birth_date=c.1084{{sfn|P. Hardy|1986|p=940}}
|birth_place=
|death_date=1152
|death_place=
|place of burial=
|full name='''[[Laqab]]''': Yamin ad-Dawlah wa Amin al-Milla<ref name="Iranica">[http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/bahramsah-b-1 "BAHRĀMŠĀH B. MASʿŪD (III)"] ''Encyclopædia Iranica''</ref><br>'''[[Kunya (Arabic)|Kunya]]''': Abul-Muzaffar<ref name="Iranica"/><br>'''[[Given name]]''': Bahram-Shah<br>'''[[Arabic name#Nasab نسب|Nasab]]''': Bahram-Shah [[wiktionary:ibn|ibn]] Mas'ud ibn [[Ibrahim of Ghazna|Ibrahim]] ibn [[Ma'sud I of Ghazni|Mas'ud]] ibn [[Mahmud of Ghazni|Mahmud]] ibn [[Sabuktigin|Sabuktegin]]
|father=[[Mas'ud III of Ghazni ]]
|mother= [[Gawhar Khatun]]
|spouse=
|issue=[[Khusrau Shah of Ghazna|Muizz ad-Dawlah Khusrau-Shah]]
|reign=25 February 1117 – 1152
|coronation=
|othertitles=
|predecessor=[[Arslan-Shah of Ghazna|Arslan-Shah]]
|successor=[[Khusrau Shah of Ghazna|Khusrau-Shah]]
|house=[[Ghaznavids|House of Sabuktegin]]
|religion=[[Islam]]
}}

'''Bahram-Shah''' ([[full name]]:''Yamin ad-Dawlah wa Amin al-Milla Abul-Muzaffar Bahram-Shah'') (1084 - 1157) was [[Sultan]] of the [[Ghaznavids|Ghaznavid empire]] from 25 February 1117 to 1152.{{sfn|C. E. Bosworth|1977|pp=96, 119}} Son of [[Mas'ud III of Ghazni|Mas'ud III]] and [[Gawhar Khatun]], sister of [[Ahmad Sanjar|Sanjar]], sultan of the [[Great Seljuq Empire|Great Seljuq empire]].{{sfn|C. E. Bosworth|1977|p=93}} During his entire reign, his [[Ghaznavids|empire]] was a [[Tributary state|tributary]] of the [[Great Seljuk Empire|Great Seljuq empire]].

==Removes Arslan Shah==
Following the murder of [[Shir-Zad of Ghazna|Sultan Shirzad]] by [[Arslan ibn Mas'ud|Arslan Shah]] in 1116 and the latter's usurpation of the Ghaznavid throne, Bahram marched an army from Zamin-Dawar to assert his claim to the throne. Arslan and Bahram's forces met at Tiginabad, whereupon Bahram was defeated and fled to the Seljuk court in Khurasan.{{sfn|C. E. Bosworth|1977|p=93}} Gaining support from Sanjar, sultan of the [[Great Seljuk Empire|Great Seljuq empire]], Bahram returned with a Seljuq army and defeated Arslan Shah's army at the [[Battle of Ghazni (1117)|Battle of Ghazni]]. A decisive battle occurred just outside Ghazna on the plain of Shahrabad, again resulting in Arslan's defeat and he fled to the Ghaznavid territories in northern India.{{sfn|C. E. Bosworth|1977|pp=96-97}} Bahram entered Ghazna, in the company of Sanjar, and was formally installed as sultan in 1117, but as a vassal of the Great Seljuq empire.{{sfn|C. E. Bosworth|1977|p=97}} Bahram saw Ghazna, his capital, subjected to 40 days of occupation and ransacking by the Seljuq army. After Sanjar's departure, Arslan Shah advanced towards Ghazna and Bahram fled from the capital city to the fortress of Bamian.<ref>al-Badā ʾunī ʻAbd al-Kadir ibn Mulūk-Shāh, ''Muntakhabu-t-tawārīkh'', Vol.1, transl. George S.A. Ranking,(Calcutta, 1898), 56</ref> At Bahram's request, Sanjar sent another army to retake Ghazna. Arslan fled into the Ughnan mountains but was captured by the commander of Sanjar's army and was strangled on Bahram's orders.{{sfn|C. E. Bosworth|1977|pp=97-98}}

==Bahram's reign==
Bahram's court was accompanied by a Seljuq ''amil'' or tax collector{{sfn|C. E. Bosworth|1977|p=97}} and the sending of his eldest son, Daulat Shah, to the Seljuq court at Merv as a hostage.{{sfn|C. E. Bosworth|1977|p=99}} It is believed that Bahram raided India once, attacking Sapadalaksha or eastern Rajputana.{{sfn|C. E. Bosworth|1977|p=101}}

Faced with a rebellious faction led by Muhammad b. 'Ali, Bahram marched an army to Multan in 1119.{{sfn|P. Hardy|1986|p=940}} Bahram asked for Muhammad's obedience but was refused. The ensuing battle in western Punjab resulted in Muhammad's death and the deaths of most of his sons.{{sfn|C. E. Bosworth|1977|pp=102-103}} Bahram appointed Salar Husain b. Ibrahim 'Alawi as his governor in India.

In 1135, Bahram stopped paying tribute to Sanjar. In response, Sanjar marched an army to Ghazna, and Bahram, seeing the size of Sanjar's army, fled to Lahore. After sending diplomatic entreaties, Bahram was assured of his throne, his position as a tributary of the Seljuq empire and returned to Ghazna. Between 1143 and 1146, [[Abu'l-Ma'ali Nasrallah]] translated the [[Arabic]] translated Indian fable story [[Panchatantra|Kalila wa Dimna]] to [[Persian language|Persian]], and dedicated it to Bahram.

In an attempt to strengthen his hold over the [[Ghurid dynasty|Ghurids]], Bahram invited Qutb ad-Din Muhammad b. Husain, his son in law, to court. Believing that Qutb and his brother [[Sayf al-Din Suri]] had come to court to scout the city for a future raid, Bahram had Qutb poisoned, though Sayf al-Din Suri escaped. By 1148, Sayf al-Din Suri returned with an army, scored a victory at the [[Battle of Ghazni (1148)|Battle of Ghazni]] while Bahram fled to Kurram.{{sfn|C. E. Bosworth|1977|pp=113-114}} Building an army, Bahram marched back to Ghazna. Sayf al-Din Suri fled, but the Ghaznavid army caught up with him and a battle ensued at Sang-i Surakh. Sayf al-Din Suri and Majd ad-Din Musawi were captured and later crucified at Pul-i Yak Taq.

In response, [[Ala al-Din Husayn]], younger brother of Sayf al-Din Suri and chief of the Ghurids,{{sfn|P. Hardy|1986|p=940}} launched a campaign against Bahram in 1150. The Ghaznavid and Ghurid armies met at Tiginabad and through the heroic efforts of Kharmil Sam-i Husain and Kharmil Sam-i Banji the Ghaznavid army was routed. Bahram rallied elements of his army at the hot springs, Jush-i Ab-i Garm, but was again routed and fled back to Ghazna.{{sfn|C. E. Bosworth|1977|pp=115-116}} Bahram again rallied the remaining elements of his army with the addition of the city's garrison, but again his army [[Battle of Ghazni (1151)|was routed]] and the city was burned by the Ghurids. Following this defeat, Bahram fled to the Ghaznavid territories in India. Ghazna was then subjected to seven days of pillage and rapine, in which 60,000 of the city were killed. All the tombs of the Ghaznavid rulers, with the exception of [[Mahmud of Ghazni|Mahmud]], [[Mas'ud I of Ghazni|Mas'ud]] and Ibrahim, were broken open and the remains burned. From these events, Ala al-Din Husayn gained the nickname, ''World-Incendiary''(i.e. ''World Burner'').{{sfn|C. E. Bosworth|1977|pp=116-117}}

Bahram stayed in northern India for over a year, rebuilding his army. After the defeat and capture of Ala al-Din Husayn at Herat by Seljuq forces, Bahram returned to Ghazna and removed the Ghurid governor. Bahram spent his remaining days in Ghazna, died in 1157 and was succeeded by his son, Khusrau Shah.{{sfn|C. E. Bosworth|1977|p=120}}

==Raids on Indian kingdoms==

Bahram Shah is said to have conducted two "holy wars" in India.{{sfn|Peter Jackson|2003|p=7}} The 13th century historian [[Minhaj-i-Siraj]] states that Bahram Shah made several expeditions to India but was defeated.{{sfn|R. B. Singh|1964|p=131}}

According to Mihaj's ''[[Tabaqat-i Nasiri]]'' and [[Firishta]]'s ''Tarikh-i-Firishta'', Muhammad Bahlim or Bahalim (Bahram Shah's governor in India) had captured the [[Nagaur]] fort. After Bahlim died, Salar Hussain succeeded him as the governor of Ghaznavid territories in India.{{sfn|Dasharatha Sharma|1959|p=40}} Nagaur was under the control of the [[Chahamanas of Shakambhari|Chahamana]] king [[Ajayaraja II|Ajayaraja]] at least until 1121 CE, as attested by ''[[Prabhavaka Charita]]'' (the text calls him Alhadana, which appears to be a Sanskritized form of his alias Alhana). This suggests that Bahram Shah's forces captured Nagaur from Ajayaraja.{{sfn|Dasharatha Sharma|1959|p=40}} The ''[[Prithviraja Vijaya]]'' states that Ajayaraja defeated the ''Garjana Matanga''s ("[[Ghazna]] Muslims"). This is probably a reference to Ajayaraja's repulsion of a raid by either Bahlim or Salar Hussain.{{sfn|Dasharatha Sharma|1959|p=40}} The ''Prabandha Kosha'' also claims that Ajayaraja defeated "Sahavadina" (Sanskritized form of Shahab-ud-Din). This probably refers to his repulsion of invasions by Ghaznavid generals as well.{{sfn|R. B. Singh|1964|p=131}}

Ajayaraja's son [[Arnoraja]] also seems to have repulsed some Ghaznavid raids. According to his [[Ajmer]] ''[[prashasti]]'' inscription, Arnoraja adorned Ajmer with the blood of [[Turkic peoples|Turushkas]] (Turkic people).{{sfn|R. B. Singh|1964|p=138}}{{sfn|Dasharatha Sharma|1959|p=44}} The ''[[Prithviraja Vijaya]]'' also states that Arnoraja repulsed a Muslim invasion. According to the text, these invaders came through the desert, and had to drink the blood of their horses in absence of water. After defeating these invaders, Arnoraja purified the place of their death by commissioning a lake, which is identified with the modern [[Ana Sagar]]. The lake was filled with the water of the Chandra river, identified with the modern [[Bandi River]].{{sfn|R. B. Singh|1964|p=138}} Historian H. C. Ray theorized that the Muslim invaders defeated by Arnoraja were the Ghaznavid (Yamini) generals of [[Lahore]].{{sfn|R. B. Singh|1964|p=138}} However, historian R. B. Singh identifies the invader as Bahram Shah himself. The ''Tabaqat-i Nasiri'' states that Bahlim revolted against his master Bahram Shah, who marched towards India to defeat the rebel. Bahlim also set out from Nagaur with his army, and the two armies met at [[Multan]], where Bahlim was defeated and killed. Bahram Shah then left for Ghazna to fight the [[Ghurids]]. R. B. Singh speculates that after revolting against Bahram Shah, Bahlim sought asylum with the Chahamanas, and Arnoraja granted him the fief of Nagaur. After defeating Bahalim, Bahram Shah may have attempted to subdue Arnoraja, but was defeated. The Muslim chronicles probably omitted this event to avoid recording Bahram Shah's defeat.{{sfn|R. B. Singh|1964|pp=139-140}}

==Fall of the Ghaznavid empire==
According to Bertold Spuler, a German Orientalist, Bahram's treachery, personal cowardice and desertion of his subjects directly contributed to the disintegration of the Ghaznavid empire.{{sfn|C. E. Bosworth|1977|p=120}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

=== Bibliography ===

{{ref begin}}
* {{cite book|author=C. E. Bosworth|title=The Later Ghaznavids: Splendour and Decay : the Dynasty in Afghanistan and Northern India, 1040-1186|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=E17HQgAACAAJ|year=1977|publisher=ColumbiaUniversity Press|isbn=978-0-231-04428-8}}
* {{cite book|author=Dasharatha Sharma|title=Early Chauhān Dynasties|publisher=S. Chand / Motilal Banarsidass|year=1959|isbn=9780842606189|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=n4gcAAAAMAAJ}}
* {{cite book|author=P. Hardy|chapter=Bahram Shah|title=The Encyclopaedia of Islam|volume=I|editor1=H.A.R. Gibb|editor2=J.H. Kramers|editor3=E. Levi-Provencal|editor4=J. Schacht|year=1986|publisher=Brill}}
* {{cite book|author=Peter Jackson|author-link=Peter Jackson (historian)|title=The Delhi Sultanate: A Political and Military History |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lt2tqOpVRKgC&pg=PA7|year=2003|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-0-521-54329-3}}
* {{cite book|author=R. B. Singh|title=History of the Chāhamānas|publisher=N. Kishore|year=1964|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TKs9AAAAIAAJ|oclc=11038728}}
{{ref end}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-hou|[[House of Sabuktegin]]||1084||1157}}
{{s-reg|}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Arslan-Shah of Ghazna|Arslan-Shah]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Ghaznavid Empire#List of rulers|Sultan of the Ghaznavid Empire]]|years=1117-1157}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Khusrau Shah of Ghazna|Khusrau Shah]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{Ghaznavid sultans |state=autocollapse}}

[[Category:Ghaznavid rulers]]
[[Category:1157 deaths]]
[[Category:Medieval India]]
[[Category:Year of birth unknown]]

Bahram-Shah of Ghazna - Revision history

>Citation bot at 15:12, 11 April 2021