122 E. E. Oliver —Decline of the Samanis and the Rise of the [No. 2, 
dinate part, and in all his father’s campaigns seems to have been 
ignored, but who was in Ohaznin when his father died, succeeded, 
and was dethroned by his brother Mahmud in 388, after an offer of the 
sovereignty of Balkh which he refused. Subsequently in 389* he was 
sent to the fortress of Juzjanan, and nothing further is heard of him. 
Mahmud was now recognised by the Khalifah, who in forwarding 
the robe of honour, added to his former titles that of Yamin-ud-daulat 
wa Amin ul-millat, ‘ right hand of the Empire and Guardian of the 
religion, and, the Tabakat adds, styled him “ Sultan.”f His sonMas’ud 
became another “ right hand of the Empire,” a “ defender of Orthodoxy,” 
a guardian of the true religion and of the true believers, the regulator of 
the Faith, and the friend of the Lord of the Faithful.” In the same 
year 389 H. Mahmud had also returned to Ediurasan. 
The chief events of his reign there have already been dealt with. 
His accession to the throne of Ghaznin marks his almost immediate rise 
to the supreme Muhammadan power in the East. “ During these days,” 
as A1 ’Utbi puts it, “the victories of the kingdom and royalty of Yamin- 
ud-daulat and Amin al Millat commenced, and subsequently as time 
advanced, the tablet of his kingdom was gladdened, and the flame of 
his Empire blazed, and the star of his prosperity rose to a degree of 
happiness and power, until the -pulpits of Islam became illuminated by 
the might of his august surnames, and his decree was current as destiny 
in all tracts and portions of the world; for God maketh royalty to 
come unto whom he willeth, and God is bounteous and wise.” 
* These are the dates given by Fasihi and may be accepted as most probable, 
t There is, however, no evidence that he ever adopted the titles. 
