Detail of “Isra’il the Seljuq at the Court of Mahmud of Ghazna”

back to illustration

In addition to his notorious conquests and pillaging, Mahmud of Ghazna is also remembered for being a staunch proponent of orthodox Sunnism. Nonetheless, the Nigaristan—composed for the education of kings and princes of the Safavid dynasty, which established Twelver Shi’ism as Iran’s state religion in the 16th century—offers an impartial, and arguably favourable, view of Mahmud’s character.