スルタン・マスウード時代のMahmadiyanとMas'udiyan

Abstract

There appear the words "Mahmudiyan" and "Mas'udiyan" in Abu al-Fadl Baihaqi's very detailed chronicle, Ta'rikh-i Baihaqi. Obviously, they mean two groups of men in the political ruling class of Ghaznavids. But the activity, the character and the role of them have not been clarified sufficiently. So, making clear the existence of those two, I've tried to reconsider the political history of the time of Sultan Mas'ud (1030-41), son of Sultan Mahmud of Ghazna. In this paper the following three points are emphasized: 1) "Mahmudiyan" and "Mas'udiyan" were those who had been promoted by Mahmud and Mas'ud respectively, and, holding personal relationships with their masters, they were to form the upper part of the government of their lords. 2) But in the government of Mas'ud, "Mahmudiyan" still played an important part, because they were needed to deal with internal and external problems. 3) In the course of Mas'ud's reign, "Mas'udiyan" gradually gained power and took higher posts, which made a deep schism between Sultan and "Mahmudiyan". During the struggle with Seljuqs in Khurasan, this schism became irreparable and finally resulted in the crushing defeat of Ghaznavids at Dandanaqan in 1040.