حبیب السیر 6: Account of the friendship and enmity between I'lak Khan and Sultan Mahmud, and of the victory which Yaminu-d daula gained by the favour of God.
Habíbu-s Siyar of Khondamír (extracts) 6
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Account of the friendship and enmity between I'lak Khan and Sultan Mahmud, and of the victory which Yaminu-d daula gained by the favour of God.
6.1
In the Rauzatu-s Safa it is written, that when the cities of Mawardu-n nahr were possessed by I'lak Khan, and when the victorious standard of Sultan Mahmud had obtained the path of superiority in the sovereignty of Khurasan, I'lak Khan sent despatches announcing his victory with congratulations to the Sultan, and manifested affection and intimate friendship. The Sultan also, having reciprocated like messages of friendship, their intimacy and trust in one another became confirmed. At that time, Sultan Mahmud sent Abu-t Tib Sahl bin Sulaiman Sa'luki, who was one of the illustrious men learned in the traditions of the Prophet, with gifts from Hindustan and presents from Khurasan and Zabulistan to I'lak Khan, in order that he might ask in marriage for his son a princess from among the virgins of the royal family. Abu-t Tib hastened to Turkistan. I'lak received him in a most respectful manner at Uzgand, and the envoy having executed his commission, returned to the service of the Sultan in company with I'lak Khan's daughter, who was provided with a handsome retinue and equipage. Upon this, for some time, the carpet of friendship and unanimity was spread between those two mighty kings. In the year 396 A.H. (1015-16 A.D.), Yaminu-d daula led his army into India, and subdued the cities of Bhatia and Multan, and in that expedition put to flight Jaipal, the king of the kings of India, and Abu-l Fath, the governor of Multan, and slaughtered many of his infidels.
6.2
During that time, when the neighbourhood of Multan was the place where the standard of victory of Mahmud was fixed, I'lak Khan rebelled, and sent the leader of his army, Siashitigin, to govern Khurasan, and appointed Ja'fartigin viceroy of Balkh. When Arslan Jazib, who had been exalted by Yaminu-d daula to the government of the great city of Hirat, obtained intelligence of the direction in which the Turks had turned their steps, he left Khurasan, and hastening to Ghaznin, he despatched a swift messenger with the intelligence to Multan. The Sultan came to Ghaznin like the lightning and wind: from that place he turned the reins of his desire towards Balkh, the tabernacle of the faithful. Siashitigin and Ja'fartigin fled like weak flies before a hurricane, and saved their lives by a precipitate retreat. I'lak Khan then craved help from the king of Khutan, Kadr Khan, who, with 60,000 men capable of breaking the ranks of their enemies, joined him, and those two chiefs, with their countless army, prepared for battle with Yaminu-d daula.
6.3
The Sultan, with his army, the symbol of victory, and elephants like mountains, encamped at a distance of four parasangs from Balkh, and when I'lak Khan and Kadr Khan crossed over the river Oxus, the Sultan turned his attention towards distributing the commands of his army. He assigned the centre thereof to his brother Amir Nasr, and to the governor of Juzjan Abu Nasr Farighuni and Abu 'Abdu-llah Tai, and placed 100 elephants in their front; he sent his chamberlain Altuntash to the right wing, and he gave the command of the left wing to Arslan Jazib. The centre of I'lak Khan's army was commanded by himself, while the wings were held by Kadr Khan and his generals. Arslan Jazib. I'lak Khan also having arranged his army, placed himself in the middle, and sent Kadr Khan to the right wing; he ordered that Ja'fartigin should exalt the standard of glory in the left wing. Then the troops of both armies, brave men of both countries, hastened into the field of battle, commenced fighting furiously, and with the aid of well-tempered swords, and flame-exciting spears, they mingled the blood of one another with the dust of the field of battle. When the Sultan saw the excessive bravery of the fearless Turks, he turned his face towards the court of God, and, standing on a mound of earth, rubbed the forehead of humility and submission on the ground, and asked for victory and assistance; thinking offerings incumbent on him, he ordered alms to be distributed.
6.4
After he saw that his prayers had been heard, having mounted an elephant, he himself made an attack on the centre of the army of I'lak. The elephant seized Alamdar Khan, and threw him up in the air, and trampling under his feet many others, slaughtered them also. After this, Mahmud's army, the symbol of victory, at once rushed upon the enemy, and testified their perfect bravery and military ardour. The army of Mawarau-n nahr fled, and I'lak Khan and Kadr Khan, with extreme difficulty, escaped safe from that place of slaughter, and crossing over the Jihun, never again entertained the idea of subduing Khurasan. I'lak Khan died in the year 403 H. (1012-13 A.D.), and his brother Tughan Khan succeeded him. I am able to assert with correctness, that the victory which Sultan Mahmud gained over I'lak Khan happened during the year 397 A.H. (1006-7 A.D.). During this year also the Sultan turned his attention towards Hindustan, in order that he might punish Nawasa Shah, who had turned an apostate from the religion of the faithful, and had rebelled against Yaminu-d daula. Immediately on hearing of the approach of the Sultan, Nawasa Shah was overcome, and Mahmud, turning the reins of his desire towards the dwelling-place of his generosity, returned to Ghaznin.