Isra’il the Seljuq at the Court of Mahmud of Ghazna
Isra’il the Seljuq at the Court of Mahmud of Ghazna
Fol. 130v from a manuscript of the Nigaristan of Ahmad Ghaffari
Iran, Shiraz, 1573-1574
Opaque watercolour, ink, and gold on paper
AKM272
A large section of the Nigaristan focuses on the reign of Sultan Mahmud (r. 999–1030) of the Ghaznavid dynasty, often described as a strategic thinker as well as a powerful commander. This illustration depicts a meeting between Mahmud and a leader from the Seljuq tribe, Isra’il, in which the sultan aims to gauge the tribe’s strength. He asks how many soldiers Isra’il could provide if the Ghaznavids were in need. Handing Mahmud an arrow, Isra’il responds, “Send me this, and I’ll supply 100,000 cavalry.” Mahmud asks, “What if we need more?” Handing him a bow, Isra’il replies, “Send me this, and you can have however many you want.” Realizing that the Seljuqs’ vast forces were in fact a threat, Mahmud imprisons Isra’il in a fort in India, where he eventually dies.