The Early History of India, from 600 B.C. to the Muhammadan Conquest, including the Invasion of Alexander the Great c31.s5.39

c31.s5.39

At Kanauj, Vijayapāla had been succeeded by his son Rājyapāla, who took his share in opposing the foreign invader. A few years later (A. D. 997) the crown of Sabuktigīn descended, after a short interval of dispute, to his son, the famous Sultan Mahmūd, who made it the business of his life to harry the idolaters of India, and carry off their property to Ghaznī. He is computed to have made no less than seventeen expeditions into India. It was his custom to leave his capital in October, and then three months' steady marching brought him into the richest provinces of the interior. Early in January, A. D. 1019, he appeared before Kanauj. Rājyapāla made no serious attempt to defend his capital, and the seven forts which guarded it all fell into Mahmūd's hands in a single day. The conqueror plundered the forts but seems to have spared the city, and quickly returned to Ghaznī laden with booty. Rājyapāla made the best terms that he could obtain, abandoned Kanauj, and retired to Bārī on the other side of the Ganges.¹