Mahmud of Ghazni (Persian: ãÍãæÏ ÛÒäæی) (October 2, 971–April 30, 1030), also known as Yamin ad-Dawlah Mahmud (in full: Yamin ad-Dawlah Abd al-Qasim Mahmud Ibn Sebük Tigin), was the ruler of the Ghaznavid Empire from 997 until
his death. Mahmud turned the former
provincial city of Ghazni into the wealthy capital of an extensive empire which included modern-day Afghanistan, Pakistan, most of
Iran and parts of northwest
India. He was also the first ruler to carry the title
Sultan, signifying
his break from the suzerainity of the Caliph.
