Mahmud Of Ghazni

Mahmud of Ghazni was the most prominent ruler of Ghaznavid empire. He conquered Eastern Iranian lands, Afghanistan and parts of North Western India. He was born on 2nd November in the year 971 CE.
His military career started when he participated in his father's campaigns. In 994 CE, he joined his father Sabuktigin in capturing Khorasan from the rebels of the Samanid empire. He took over his father's kingdom in 998 CE after defeating Ismail of Ghazni. He then captured Kandahar before turning his eyes towards India.
He is best known for invading India 17 times. He began his first campaign against India on 28 November 1001, when his armies defeated Raja Jayapal of Kabul at the battle of Peshawar. Jayapal's son, Anandapal, assembled a Confederate army of Indian chiefs. Mahmud defeated this army and captured Lahore and Multan. He captured Bhatinda and turned towards Thaneshwar. He led an unsuccessful campaign against Kashmir which failed. Later he defeated a coalition of Indian Rajas at Mathura. He beseiged Gwalior in 1023 CE and received a heavy tribute from it's Raja. He attacked the famous temple of Somnath in 1024 CE. He plundered the temple and destroyed the jyotirlinga. His final success in India was against the Jats. He looted an estimated 2 million dinars from the Somnath Temple alone. He destroyed Hindu temples and monuments to instill fear in the hearts of the Hindus. After capturing a kingdom, he would leave a reagent to look after it. In these campaigns, he defeated and conquered Thaneshwar, Kannauj, Multan, Lahore, Mathura, Kalinjar and Somnath. He died on 30 April, 1030 CE.