Ghaznavid campaigns in Persia

Ghaznavid campaigns in Persia

Western territories of the Ghaznavid Empire after Persian campaigns
Date1012, 1026–34
Location
Persia (modern-day Iran)
Result Ghaznavid victory
Territorial
changes
Ray, Hamadan, Isfahan, Tabaristan, Jibal annexed by the Ghaznavids. See § Aftermath
Belligerents
Ghaznavids
Supported by:
Ziyarids (from 1012)
Buyids
Kakuyids
Sallarids
Ziyarids (until 1012)
Rawadids
Ma'danids
Commanders and leaders
Mahmud of Ghazni #
Arslan Jadhib
Mas'ud I
Hajib 'Ali
Marzuban bin Hasan
Abu Sahl Hamdawi
Yariq-Toghmash
Tash-Farash 
Qabus
Majd al-Dawla (POW)
Abu Dulaf
Manuchihr 
Isa of Makran
Ala al-Dawla Muhammad
Ibrahim bin Marzuban
Bahram b. Mafinna
Strength
1029: 8,000 cavalry
1030: 4,000 cavalry; 3,000 infantry
1034: 4,000 cavalry; 2,500 infantry; 5 elephants
1037: 1,500
1030: 20,000 infantry; 6,000 cavalry; 10 elephants
1034: 10,000

The Ghaznavid campaigns in Persia, (modern-day Iran) was a series of expeditions and conquests led by Ghaznavid dynasty based in Ghazni. The Ghaznavids under Mahmud of Ghazni and Mas'ud, expanded their empire into Persia, targeting regions of Makran, Ray, Hamadan, Ishfahan, Tabaristan, Jibal, Fars, Kurdistan adjoining land of Sistan, Khorasan and parts of northern Persia. The conquests mostly occurred between 1026-1033 except Tabaristan which was subdued in 1012 AD. These campaigns were driven by ambitions of territorial expansion and spread of Sunni Islam, often at the expense of local Persian dynasties like the Buyids, Kakuyids, Ziyarids and Sallarid dynasty also secured regions through diplomacy.