   (), more commonly known as mahmud of ghazni (;&lrm; 2 november 971&nbsp;â 30 april 1030), also known as mahmÅ«d-i zÄbulÄ« (), was the most prominent ruler of the ghaznavid empire. he conquered the eastern iranian lands and the northwestern indian subcontinent (modern afghanistan and pakistan) from 997 to his death in 1030. mahmud turned the former provincial city of ghazna into the wealthy capital of an extensive empire which covered most of today's afghanistan, eastern iran, and pakistan, by looting the riches and wealth from the then indian subcontinent.saunders, kenneth. a pageant of india. h. milford, oxford university press pg. 162. t. a. heathcote, the military in british india: the development of british forces in south asia:1600-1947, (manchester university press, 1995), 6. he was the first ruler to carry the title sultan ("authority"), signifying the extent of his power, though preserving the ideological link to the suzerainty of the abbassid caliphate. during his rule, he invaded and plundered parts of hindustan (east of the indus river) 17 times.t. a. heathcote, the military in british india: the development of british forces in south asia:1600-1947, (manchester university press, 1995), 6. ==early life and origins=
1030_deaths 10th-century_rulers_in_Asia 11th-century_rulers_in_Asia 971_births Ghaznavid_rulers History_of_Pakistan History_of_medieval_India People_of_Iranian_descent Turkic_rulers