The Brave Warrior - Prithviraj Chauhan - 1149-1192 AD

Peter

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Yeah, I think we should stop at this. Prithivi was a Brave and Valiant Warrior of India. And discussing Losers like nehru and Pakistanis here would not do justice to him.


Cant stop admiring the bravery of this Guy. if we had atleast one more person like Prithvi and in one Generation nobody would have dared put its eye on India.
Yes brother.We not only need brave warriors like Prithviraj but also clever tacticians and loyal men.If only traitorous people like Jaychand had seen beyond their own interests disaster could have been averted.Also I think we require the latest technology and weapons.The fact that Prithviraj lacked in
so many factors and yet put up such a strong fight is a testimony to his greatness.Jai Jai Prithvi.
 

shinoj

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yes brother.we not only need brave warriors like prithviraj but also clever tacticians and loyal men.if only traitorous people like jaychand had seen beyond their own interests disaster could have been averted.also i think we require the latest technology and weapons.the fact that prithviraj lacked in
so many factors and yet put up such a strong fight is a testimony to his greatness.jai jai prithvi.
har har mahadev....
 

Virendra

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Sometime in the 1170s, the young princess Kuramdevi (she could not have been much over 13 years of age, the age considered maturity at the time), became wife of Samar Singh Deva, the Rawal of Chittorgarh, a Sonagira Rajput. Samar Singh was a Chauhan Rajput, a descendant of the heroes who had captured Chittorgarh, probably the most famous fortress in all India, sometime in the middle of the 12th century.
I believe Rawal of Chittor were Guhilot Rajputs but @Virendra will know better.
Chittor was a seat of Guhilots since early 8th century, in a very consistent manner. It was ruled by Samant Singh (not Samar Singh) between 1172 and 1179 A.D. The only ruler of Chittor named Samar Singh reigned between 1273 and 1302 A.D.
Neither of them was a Chauhan. Though there were events of Chuahan - Guhilot rivalry in the 12th century, that also watered down after the PRC-Ghori chapter.
The Chauhan ruler who captured Chittor from Samant singh, for a short period in 1170s was Kirtipal Chauhan (head of Nadol branch).
I am yet to see a Chauhan ruler use the term 'Rawal'. It is mostly found among Guhilot-Sisodia rulers of Mewar and in few Jaisalmer rulers too.

As for the rest of this thread and its topic. I will try to put up something which will dispel most of the confusion. It is work in progress.

Regards,
Virendra
 
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shinoj

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Chittor was a seat of Guhilots since early 8th century, in a very consistent manner. It was ruled by Samant Singh (not Samar Singh) between 1172 and 1179 A.D. The only ruler of Chittor named Samar Singh reigned between 1273 and 1302 A.D.
Neither of them was a Chauhan. Though there were events of Chuahan - Guhilot rivalry in the 12th century, that also watered down after the PRC-Ghori chapter.
The Chauhan ruler who captured Chittor from Samant singh, for a short period in 1170s was Kirtipal Chauhan (head of Nadol branch).
I am yet to see a Chauhan ruler use the term 'Rawal'. It is mostly found among Guhilot-Sisodia rulers of Mewar and in few Jaisalmer rulers too.

As for the rest of this thread and its topic. I will try to put up something which will dispel most of the confusion. It is work in progress.

Regards,
Virendra
Will Look forward to the story of Prithivi, if that is what you are intending.
 

shinoj

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Just got to know this Vital piece of information about the Vital Second Battle of Tarain

The sufi followers of Kwajah Moinuddin Chisti had poisoned this lake , causing the horses , camels and elephants of King Prithviraj Chauhan's army to fall sick , before the war in 1192 AD ( Second Battle of Tarain ) with Muslim invader Shahabuddin Mohammed Ghori.


Of COurse None of this will be there in Wikipedia, the so called Geetha of Information.:mad:
 

shinoj

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I got information about this, Almost all about Prithvi's story is true, The Swayamvar, his Romance with Samyukta, The Jealousy of his Father-in-law towards him, which led him to bribe Ghauri to invade Ajmer/Delhi to take revenge for Prithvi taking his daughter .

The so called Great Saint Moinuddin Chishti acted like a Spy for ghauri and what more his followers poisoned the lakes of Ajmer, the camp where Prithvi's Cavalry stationed which severely hampered Prithvi. And after he was defeated, Prithvi was bought in chains to Ghauri and Ghauri asked him to lower his eyes but Prithvi being a Proud Rajput said a Rajput doesnt lower his eyes before anybody and then Ghauri put Hot Coals in his eyes and Blinded him. And he insulted Prithvi for a number of days before his eventual Death at the hands of Ghauri.

Ghauri managed to capture Samyukta and did unmentionables things to her before she actually committed suicide. And that Shabd Bhedi story doesnt seem to be true , that was supposedly made to preserve rajput Pride, but i can understand that. Prithvi was as brave as they come and nothing can lower his everesteque respect for him in my eyes.

Ghauri, though was eventually killed by a Hindu priest Near a River in Jhelum who challenged him on a one-on-one fight with Ghauri. He wanted to take revenge on Ghauri for destroying so many temples in India and eventually he did so.

And most of these things would not be mentioned in Wikipedia or by Western-Wannabe Historians or Mughal Historians. They do not have much fault because our whole system is so inclined to believe what the West or the Mughals Say. They obviously were exteremely jealous about the Proud and Rich Hindu civilization and try to do everything possible to negate our achievements. But those Indian Western- Wannabes are the Biggest fools,IMO.
 

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Pithora Rai (Prithviraj Chauhan) Vs Ahllaha and Udal (The famous Banafar Rais);


 
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Bhadra

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Gentlemen,

Here is the Chapter pf the book by Sir Jaddunath Sarkar :

Digital Library of India: ERNET India

Barcode : 99999990266567
Title - Military History Of India (1960)
Author - Sarkar SirJadunath.
Language - English
Pages - 189
Publication Year - 1960
Barcode EAN.UCC-13

CHAPTER V
SHIIIABUDDIN GHORI VS. PRITIIVIRAJ


By the time that the Ghori Sultan began his invasion of
Hindusthan, a great change had taken place in the social organisation
of this country. We now find a peculiar race, called
Rajputs (i.e., sons of Rajas) and Kshatriyas by caste, holding
the rulers~ place all over the country from the Satlej to the Son
river. Near the close of the 12th century, their clans' were thus
distributed: -

TIle Chauhan Raja of Sambhar, with Ajmer as his chief
town, had recently conquered Delhi (formerly held by a Tomar
chief) and formed a large kingdom which stood as the first
western barrier to the advance of the Turks. East of him lay
the large kingdom of Kanauj under a Raja of the Gaharwar
clan (later to be called Rathor) and embracing all the country
south-eastwards up to Benares. South of the centre lay the
hinds of the Chandel clan in what came later to be called
Bundelkhand, with their chief forts Mahoba and Kalinjar. But
within this area there were constant feuds between clan and clan,
king and king, and the Hindu Powers could offer no united
opposition to the foreign invaders, except on a few rare occasions,
and even then their confederated forces were too ill-knit
and too slowly mobilised to win decisive success.

The gallant Prithviraj Chauhan, lord of Ajrner and Delhi,
had fought a long war with Paramardi, the Chandel Raja, and
captured his city of Mahoba. Later, he had mortally offended
Jaychand, the Raja of Kanauj by defeating his ambition to
declare himself Paramount Sovereign by the ceremony of Horse sacrifice,
(ashwa-medh) and carrying off his daughter at a
"Bride's choice" (Stvayartnba). But most Rajas of North India
flocked to his side when he first stood up to oppose the Muslim
invaders. The bone of contention between the two Powers was
the fort of Bhatinda, 100 miles south of Lahore and 180 miles
north-west of Delhi, which had once been the last capital of the Hindu kings of North Panjab and now stood as the border fortress of the kingdom of Ajmer-Delhi. Shihabuddin Ghori took it in 1190, left a garrison of 1,200 horses in it under Qazi
Zia-ud-din, and set out on his return home. But he was soon called back from the way by the news that Prithviraj at the head of a vast allied force was advancing to recover it. Shihabuddin, without waiting for reinforcements turned back at once
with what forces he had with himself to anticipate the enemy
and rapidly advanced to Taraori, 125- miles south-east of
Bhatinda and twelve miles south of Thaneswar.

[ Prithviraj "defeated Md. Bin Sam Ghori at Naraina! seven miles from
Kamal and three from Taraori. This village is situated on the Nai Nadi.
Next year the Sultan return.ed and defeated and killed Prithviraj. on the
same spot." "Tiraori (sic). Here Azarn Shlsh, son of Aurangzlb, was
born. In memory of him the place was named Azhnabad. A wall around
the town, a mosque, and a tank, said to have been built by Aurangzih are
still in existence. The old highway ran through Tiraori, and there is a
well"¢ preserved old royal sarai here. ('KartuU Dist. Gazetteer, 1884! pp.
27 and 264). Taraori is a railway station 9miles north of Kamal city
and 12 miles south of Thaneswur station. Nai Nadi flows in two branches
close on the west of the walled village of Taraori. Indian Atlas,
Sheet"¢IS S.W.]
 

Bhadra

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Gentlemen,

Here is the Chapter pf the book by Sir Jaddunath Sarkar :

Digital Library of India: ERNET India

Barcode : 99999990266567
Title - Military History Of India (1960)
Author - Sarkar SirJadunath.
Language - English
Pages - 189
Publication Year - 1960
Barcode EAN.UCC-13

CHAPTER V
SHIIIABUDDIN GHORI VS. PRITIIVIRAJ


By the time that the Ghori Sultan began his invasion of
Hindusthan, a great change had taken place in the social organisation
of this country. We now find a peculiar race, called
Rajputs (i.e., sons of Rajas) and Kshatriyas by caste, holding
the rulers~ place all over the country from the Satlej to the Son
river. Near the close of the 12th century, their clans' were thus
distributed: -

TIle Chauhan Raja of Sambhar, with Ajmer as his chief
town, had recently conquered Delhi (formerly held by a Tomar
chief) and formed a large kingdom which stood as the first
western barrier to the advance of the Turks. East of him lay
the large kingdom of Kanauj under a Raja of the Gaharwar
clan (later to be called Rathor) and embracing all the country
south-eastwards up to Benares. South of the centre lay the
hinds of the Chandel clan in what came later to be called
Bundelkhand, with their chief forts Mahoba and Kalinjar. But
within this area there were constant feuds between clan and clan,
king and king, and the Hindu Powers could offer no united
opposition to the foreign invaders, except on a few rare occasions,
and even then their confederated forces were too ill-knit
and too slowly mobilised to win decisive success.

The gallant Prithviraj Chauhan, lord of Ajrner and Delhi,
had fought a long war with Paramardi, the Chandel Raja, and
captured his city of Mahoba. Later, he had mortally offended
Jaychand, the Raja of Kanauj by defeating his ambition to
declare himself Paramount Sovereign by the ceremony of Horse sacrifice,
(ashwa-medh) and carrying off his daughter at a
"Bride's choice" (Stvayartnba). But most Rajas of North India
flocked to his side when he first stood up to oppose the Muslim
invaders. The bone of contention between the two Powers was
the fort of Bhatinda, 100 miles south of Lahore and 180 miles
north-west of Delhi, which had once been the last capital of the Hindu kings of North Panjab and now stood as the border fortress of the kingdom of Ajmer-Delhi. Shihabuddin Ghori took it in 1190, left a garrison of 1,200 horses in it under Qazi
Zia-ud-din, and set out on his return home. But he was soon called back from the way by the news that Prithviraj at the head of a vast allied force was advancing to recover it. Shihabuddin, without waiting for reinforcements turned back at once
with what forces he had with himself to anticipate the enemy
and rapidly advanced to Taraori, 125- miles south-east of
Bhatinda and twelve miles south of Thaneswar.

[ Prithviraj "defeated Md. Bin Sam Ghori at Naraina! seven miles from
Kamal and three from Taraori. This village is situated on the Nai Nadi.
Next year the Sultan return.ed and defeated and killed Prithviraj. on the
same spot." "Tiraori (sic). Here Azarn Shlsh, son of Aurangzlb, was
born. In memory of him the place was named Azhnabad. A wall around
the town, a mosque, and a tank, said to have been built by Aurangzih are
still in existence. The old highway ran through Tiraori, and there is a
well"¢ preserved old royal sarai here. ('KartuU Dist. Gazetteer, 1884! pp.
27 and 264). Taraori is a railway station 9miles north of Kamal city
and 12 miles south of Thaneswur station. Nai Nadi flows in two branches
close on the west of the walled village of Taraori. Indian Atlas,
Sheet"¢IS S.W.]
 

Bhadra

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The first great battle for the lordship of Hindustan followed.
The Hindus greatly outnumbered the Turks, and this superiority
enabled them to overlap their enemy's line of battle on the two
flanks. The battle joined as the Hindus gave the signal for attack
by blowing councshells' from the backs of elephants, while the
Muslims struck their kettledrums carried on camels and sounded
their trumpets. The impetuous charge of the Rajputs scattered
like a cloud the Muslim vanguard, composed of "Afghan and
Khokar braggarts".

Advancing further, they turned both wings of the Turkish
army and inclining inwards dispersed their opponents and
threatened the centre, where the Sultan commnanded in person.
Large numbers of his horsemen began to slip away, not during
to face the roaring tide of Rajput cavalry rushed with victory.
The Sultan was urged to save himself by flight as he had no
supporter left. But scon1ing such cowardly counsel, he made a
reckless charge into the body of Rajputs before him, hewing
his way with his sword, and followed by a small body of devoted
companions. Govind Rai (the Governor of Delhi), who led the
vanguard of his brother Prithviraj, on sighting Shihabuddin from a distance, drove his elephant towards him. The two leaders met in single combat. The Sultan's lance knocked out two of Govind Raj's front teeth, while the Hindu Chief
hurled a javelin which inflicted a severe wound on the upper
arm of Shihabuddin and forced him to turn his horse's head
round in agony and weakness. However, he was saved from
falling down, by a Khalj youth who leaped upon his horse from
behind, kept him on the saddle with his arms, and urging the
horse on by word of mouth, carried him away to the base in
safety. The rout of the Turkish army was complete, but such a
victory did not yield its full fruits as the Rajputs were incapable
of making a relentless pursuit, and their ponies were outpaced
by the Khurasani horses of the Muslim army. Prithviraj merely
followed up his victory by laying siege to Bhatinda, which held
out for thirteen months and at last capitulated. (probable date
September 1192).

Sultan Shihabuddin set himself to avenge this defeat.
Arrived at home he publicly disgraced and cashiered all his
captains who had shown such cowardice at Taraori. In a
year and a half he raised for the next Indian expedition a vast
force of Turki and Afghan military adventurers, estimated by an
eye-witness at "120,000 cavalry clad in armour" (Tabaqat-iNasi';',
i. 4(5). When he reached Peshawar he had the wisdom
of pardoning his lately dismissed captains and summoning them
to his side for a chance of wiping out their disgrace. They
gladly joined him with their contingents. The day after their
arrival, with his strength now raised to his utmost) he began his
march towards Delhi.
 

Bhadra

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The HIindu army this time was much smaller than in the
first battle. Prithviraj had delayed in mobilising his force; many
of his former allies were too lazy or indifferent to fight again for
him and his domestic enemy. The Raja of Kanauj held off in
unpatriotic pride. With what forces could be readily collected
Prithviraj took his stand near the old battle-field of Taraori on
the bank of the Saraswati.

Shihabuddin, avoiding Bhatinda, now in enemy hands, on
his way, arrived some ten miles in front of the Hindu army.
I-Iere he received a friendly warning from Prithviraj, asking him
to save his soldiers' lives by going back without fighting, as the Hindu army, whose valour he had tested before, was large and
was daily receiving reinforcements; at the same time the Raja
swore by his gods that he would allow a safe passage to the
Turki army without attacking it during the disorder of
retreat.

Shihabuddin, "following the Prophets words that war is
a kind of deception (al harb khada), played a cunning trick.
He replied, It is very generous and friendly of you to make
this offer of peace. I am sending a messenger to my brother,
who is the reigning Sultan, urging him to agree to make peace
with you on the condition of Bhatinda, the Panjab and Multan
remaining. with the House of Ghor and the rest of Hindusthan
under the Rajas. Pending the arrival of his reply, I beg you
to suspend hostilities". (Firishtah).

The ruse proved a complete success. The simple trustful
Rajputs swallowed the bait, and believing the invader's pacific
tone to be due to his fear of their valour and a sense of his
own weakness in numbers, they made no preparation for action
and even neglected the common alertness necessary in the face
of an enemy. Shihahudin, on his part, lost no time. He
matured his plan for attacking the Hindus the very next morning,
because, while his army was now at its fullest strength,
every day's delay meant some addition to his enemy's ranks
and the consumption of his own provisions in idleness. He,
therefore, set his army in motion some hours before day-break,
covered the intervening miles unmolested and secured a lodgment
in front of the Hindu camp before they could take the
alarm.

It was the early dawn of a winter's day. The deluded
Hindus were totally off their guard. Most of their soldiers had
come out of their quarters into the waste land around for
answering the call of nature or taking their morning bath. But
so vast and sprawling was the Hindu camp that the surprise
caused no disaster to it, especially as Shihabuddin held his men
in hand instead of dispersing them by dashing attacks. The
aggressor, however, gained two great advantages;

(1) He seized the tactical initiative and forced the Hindus
to fight on the ground and in the manner of the TurKs own
choosing, instead of the defenders delivering any attack planned and prepared for before. In fact, all day long the Rajputs had
to dance exactly as Shihabuddin played the tune.

(2)The Hindus had to fight on empty stomachs.

This last needs explanation today. It was the Hindu practice
to prepare for a pitched battle by waking at 3 0 clock in
the morning, performing the morning wash and worship, eating
the cooked food (pakwan) kept ready beforehand, putting on
arms, and marching out to their appointed places in the line of
battle at sunrise. (See Mahadji Sindhia's preparations before
setting out for the battle of Tunga or Lalsot, 1787). But in
the second battle of Taraori, the Rajputs could take no breakfast;
they had to snatch up their arms and form their lines as
best as they could in a hurry.
 

Bhadra

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Shihabuddin's plan of battle was to give the Rajput cavalry
no chance for their shock tactics which had proved irresistible
in his first encounter with them, but to make them move as he
willed. He had left his heavy baggage, stores, elephants and
non-combatants in his camp, ten miles behind, and advanced
in light kit with his fighters only. His cavalry, all archers, were
placed in four divisions of about 10,000 men each, who formed
his vanguard, right and left wings, and rear (by which last
term I understand the advanced reserve, called iltmish in the
Turki language, whose duty it was to support the van or any
wing from behind, when hard pressed). They were ordered
to advance turn by turn and keep the Rajputs in play by shooting
at them from a distance, but when the Indians advanced
to engage them they were to feign fright and retreat beyond a
I horse's course, so' as not to be entangled in combat. The real
striking force of Shihabuddin was a corps of 12,000 steel-clad
warriors, select men mounted on superb horses, kept under his
personal command, as "strength in reserve", in the centre, a
short distance behind the front line of attack. They were to
be launched at the right moment to decide the issue.

These Parthian tactics bewildered and baffled the Hindus.
They spent all their energy and time in the futile game of chasing
and trying to catch up the elusive Central Asian horsemen
before them. In this fashion the battle, or rather the series of
skirmishes, raged from 9 o'clock in the morning till 3 o'clock in
the afternoon, at the end of which the Hindus were utterly dispirited by the futility of their exertions and exhausted from hunger and thirst. Their rigid caste rules prevented them from being readily refreshed with food and drink in the battle front.

After such an unconquerable lassitude had seized the Hindu
ranks, Shihabuddin gave the signal. His 12,000 choice heavy
cavalry advanced like a solid ,wedge smashing their way through
the loose-knit wavering Rajput ranks. Nothing could stand before
such shock tactics. In a twinkle of the eve the battle was
over. The Hindus broke into a hopeless flight in which tens
of thousands of them were cut down unresisting. Govind Rai,
the leader of the van had been killed earlier, and now Prithviraj
himself, who had changed his elephant for a horse, was swept
away by the tide of fugitives, captured on the bank of the Saraswati,
and put to death in cold blood, to appease Shihabuddin's
wrath. With him fell many others of the 150 Hindu Rajas
who had joined the national confederacy. Legend and song
have preserved the names of only some of these martyrs of
liberty, such as Malesi, the Kachhwa chief.
 

Bhadra

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Prithviraj Chauhan was a great warrior but sadly he lacked foresight other wise he would not leave Ghuri after the first battle of Terrain.

Barcode : 99999990075382
Title - From Mahmud Ghazni To The Disintegration Of Mughal Empire
Author - Owen, Sidney
Language - english
Pages - 311
Publication Year - 1987
Barcode EAN.UCC-13



More than three centuries of Muslim rule at Delhi had not succeeded in converting a substantial section of the population of the country, it is this that requires explanation when we are dealing with the contact of Islam with India.

We see no easy, swift and complete conquest of the country as we find elsewhere in the world. India was not easily conquered by the virile races from the northwest. As a map would show, none of the Invaders came from the north west of the Punjab, the area they had to enter at first. Soldier to soldier, a Rajput, a Punjabi warrior or a Gujarati horseman was a match against his opposite number in the armies of Islam. Muslim domination was not established In India because Hindu soldiers of a warmer climate were any the less hardy than their opponents. Hindu armies were not defeated either because all the classes of the country did not feel It their duty to fight for the defense of their country. For aught we know, Mahmud in 1008 had to fight in the Punjab against what looks like a mass resistance movement. The Hindu women who are said to have sold their ornaments to furnish the sinews of war do not seem to have been all Rajputs. But what is plainly obvious in the stories of the various battles, except probably in 1193 at Taraori. The Hindus armies were seldom outnumbered by the invaders.

 

Bhadra

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Was Caste system Culprit ?

In the eleventh and the twelfth centuries war was not, in any part of the world, a matter of popular concern .Thus the caste system does not seem to have played any large part in weakening the resistance that could have been offered to the invaders. Nor could the existence of several states, big and small by itself have provided a 'Cause for the defeat of the home forces. It is arguable that that invaders might have found it difficult to establish themselves if the whole country had been under the sway of a single ruler. But the story of the Mongol Invasions
of the thirteenth and the fourteenth century easily disproves the contention that a central government of Dehli would have necessarily defended the country any better.
 

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The Famous Elephants ?


It is again necessary to eliminate certain other causes' which are usually offered as an explanation. Howsoever badly elephants may have behaved in particular battles, their value is an engine of destruction was never in doubt. The Invaders soon set themselves the task of employing them as plentifully as had the Indian rulers.. They were too good. a weapon to be hastily discarded. As yet there was no artillery to frighten them off the field and lead to-slaughter among their owners. The weapons of defence and offence which were used by the Invaders and the home forces were again almost the same, Spears, swords and daggers were used by both the sides. Bows and arrows seem to have been used by the defenders alone. The defensive armor was only worn by men of high birth. In this probably the Indian side had the advantage. The Rajput warrior was high-caste and therefore easily entitled to all that nature and artifice could provide him with for fighting in safety The descriptions of the contemporary defensive armour do not concede any superiority to the invaders.
 

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It was the Horse !

The Invaders had one advantage over the home forces. Their horses were much better adapted to warfare and were more useful as mounts, adding by their speed more the weight of the attack by their riders. The decisive superiority of foreign horses resulted in their continuous import during all these centuries, if it had not started even earlier. The central Asian breed continued to remain much in demand on both sides of the Indian frontier.

 

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It Was not Islamic Zeal but Fat Rewards

Another factor that made for the success of the invaders was the inspirations which motivated the early Muslim soldiers. Like soldiers of Islam everywhere, they were fired by their iconoclastic and missionary zeal. India did not Yield much fruit in conversions to Islam. But would have necessarily defended the country any the better. But rich plunder was as good a substitute, particularly when it could be combined with the destruction of shrines The Hindu rulers of India bad discovered that temple forts provided the best means of preserving their riches from greedy bands Their sanctity would keep all Rivals away Naturally, these temple fortresses at Kangra, Somnath and elsewhere became sure magnets to draw the attacks of the invading forces as they richly rewarded them The early Muslim practice of dividing all the spoils of war between the soldiers and keeping only one fifth of the booty for the commander may probably have further encouraged the soldiers to follow leaders who could easily promise them fat rewards. The very difficulties and dangers of 'the early expeditions resulted In a natural selection which must have placed only the toughest of the soldiers on the early expeditions to India.
 

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The Offensive Spirit


It should be further remembered that in India as elsewhere, the invaders could choose their time of attack not so the defenders The invaders felt no compulsion to be always on the march the defenders had to fight whenever they were attacked in many battles fought, early and late.
during the establishment and expansion of the Turkish and Pathan rule in India the offensive was taken by them only when they seem to have been previously assured of a smooth passage for their arms.
 

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