The Nāṣirī Generations 44: I. AMIR-UL-GHAZI, NASIR-UD-DIN-ULLAH, SABUK-TIGIN.
Tabakat-i-Nasiri 44
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I. AMIR-UL-GHAZI, NASIR-UD-DIN-ULLAH, SABUK-TIGIN.
44.1
Imam Abu-l-Fazl-i-Baihaki states that, during the reign of Abd-ul-Malik-i-Nuh, the Samani, there was a merchant named Nasr, the Haji [pilgrim], who purchased Sabuk- Tigin and brought him to Bukhara. Perceiving in his countenance evident signs of capacity and energy, the Amir-i-Hajib [Lord Chamberlain], Alb-Tigin, purchased him. He accompanied his master into Tukharistan when the government of that territory was entrusted to him; and subsequently, when the government of Khurasan was made over to Amir Alb-Tigin, Sabuk-Tigin attended him thither also. After some time had passed away, Alb-Tigin, through the vicissitudes of fortune, retired towards Ghaznin, and subdued the territory of Zawulistan, and wrested Ghaznin out of the hands of Amir Abu-Bikr-i-Lawik. Eight years subsequently to these events Amir Alb-Tigin died, and his son, Is-hak, succeeded to his father's authority. He entered into hostilities against Lawik, but was defeated, and retired to Bukhara, to the court of Amir Mansur, son of Nuh, Samani, and there continued until that ruler directed that aid should be afforded to him, when Is-hak came back again to Ghaznin and regained possession of it. After a year Is-hak died when Balka- Tigin, who was the chief or commander of the Turkish troops, was raised to the government. He was a just and pious man, and one of the greatest warriors of his time. He exercised the authority for a period of ten years, and died. Sabuk-Tigin was in his service.
44.2
After the death of Amir Balka-Tigin, Pirey succeeded to the authority. He was a great villain; and a body of people wrote from Ghaznin to Abu ’Ali-i-Lawik, and invited him to come there. Abu ’Ali-i-Lawik acceded to their request, and brought along with him the son of the Shah, or king, of Kabul to assist him. When they reached the vicinity of Charkh, Sabuk-Tigin, with a body of five hundred Turks, suddenly fell upon them, and defeated them, killed a great number of their followers, took them captive also, and slew them. He also captured ten elephants, and brought them to Ghaznin. Such a great success having been gained by Sabuk-Tigin, and all having become quite sated with the villainies and misdeeds of Pirey, with one accord, they raised Sabuk-Tigin to the direction of affairs. On Friday, the 27th of the month of Sha’ban, 366 H., Amir Sabuk-Tigin, with a scarlet canopy held over him, and attended by a large following with standards, came down from the citadel, and proceeded to the Jami' Masjid, or Great Mosque, and the administration of the government and the sovereignty of that province was settled upon him.
44.3
Soon after, he put his forces in motion and marched from Ghaznin towards the adjacent parts, and took possession of the districts of Bust, Zamin [district] of Dawar, the Zamin of Kusdar, and Bamian, all Tukharistan, and Ghur. On the side of Hind, he overthrew Jai-pal, with numerous elephants and a host of troops, and he rid the Samani family of Bughra Khan of Kashghar, and marched to Balkh, and sent back the Amir of Bukhara to take repossession of his throne. During the time that Amir Sabuk-Tigin held the government, great deeds were performed; and he completely put an end to the iniquitous heresy of the Batiniah schismatics in Khurasan. In the month of Shawwal, 384 H., his son, Amir Mahmud, was made captain-general of the forces of Khurasan, and received the title of Saif-ud-Daulah, while Amir Sabuk-Tigin himself received that of Nasir-ud-Din-ullah. Abu-l-Hasan-i-Simjur they defeated and repulsed, and Khurasan became cleared of their enemies.
44.4
Amir Sabuk-Tigin was a man of great valour and intrepidity, just and pious, faithful, true to his word, not avaricious of other men’s goods, kind and compassionate to his people, and a discerner between right and wrong; and, in fact, every sign and indication of all such virtues and accomplishments as are desirable in kings and nobles, the Almighty had amply endowed him with. He ruled for a period of twenty years; and was fifty-six years old when he died. His decease took place on the frontier of Balkh, at the village of Madru-mue in the year 387 H. His sons were Ismail, Nasr, Mahmud, Husain, Hasan, and Yusuf.