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122 ,<br />
. NOTES<br />
l<br />
ON THE SECOND DISCOURSE<br />
<<br />
XVII. Npt l<br />
e on Anecdote XIV.<br />
t (Text, pp! 34-6 ; Persian notes, rf5i-2.)<br />
'Ah' ibn Qarib, known as "the Great Chamberlain" (Hdjib-i-Buzurg)<br />
was one of the principal nobles of Sultan Mahmdd of Ghazna. On the (<br />
death of this monarch, he raised his younger .son the Amir Abti Ahmad<br />
Muhammad to the throne. A quarrel (<br />
shortly arose between him and his<br />
brother Sultan Mas'iid, who was then at Isfahan. The latter marched on<br />
Ghazna, and when he reached Herat 'All ibn Qarib deposed Abu<br />
Ahmad 'Muhammad and imprisoned him in the Castle of Kuhshir<br />
near Ghazna. On Dhu'l-Qa'da 3, A.H. 421 (Nov. 2, 1030) he waited at<br />
Herat on Sultan Mas'rid, who, however, seized him and his brother the<br />
Chamberlain Mankitarak and cast them both into prison, after which<br />
they were no more heard of. * r<br />
XVIII. Note on the House of Muhtaj of Chaghaniyan.<br />
(/Text, p. 36; Persian notes, pp. 163-6.)<br />
The noble and influential House of Muhtaj, which had its home at<br />
Chaghaniyan in Transoxiana, produced many notable men during tl.e<br />
Samani and Ghaznawi periods. Concerning some of the most famous bf<br />
these Mirza Muhammad has collected from various sources the following<br />
particulars.<br />
(1) Abti Bakr Muhammad ibnu'l-Muzaffar ibn Muhtaj was given the<br />
chief command of the armies of Khurasan by the Amir Nasr II ibn<br />
Ahmad the Samani in A.H. 321 (A.D. 933), which position he held until<br />
the latter part of his life, when, being attacked by a chronic illness,<br />
he resigned in favour of his son Abii 'Ali Ahmad, died in A.H. 329<br />
(A.D. 941), and was buried at Chaghaniyan.<br />
(2) This son, A bit 'Ali Ahmad, defeated and killed Makan ibn<br />
Kakiiy the Daylami in A.H. 329 (A.D. 941), and it was on this occasion<br />
ttyat the celebrated despatch of his secretary Abu'l-Qasim Iskafi (alluded<br />
to in Anecdote III, pp. 16-18 supra) was penned. He extended the<br />
Sa'manid authority over Jurjan, Tabaristan, Zanjan, and Kirmanshah.<br />
In A.H. 333 (A.D. 944-5) the Amir Niih I ibn Nasr II ibn Ahmad<br />
dismissed him from the Government of Khurasan, whereupon he rebelled,<br />
/deposed the Amir (who fled to Samarqand), overran Khurasan, 'and<br />
captured Bukhara. Finally in A.H. 344 (A.D. 955-6^ he fell a victim to<br />
the plague at Ray and was buried with his father at Chaghaniyan.<br />
(3) Abu'l-'Abbas Fadl ibn Muhammad, brother of the above, who<br />
appointed him in A.H. 333 (A.D. 9445) Governor of the Jaftal province<br />
(modern 'Iraq-i-'Ajam). He subdued Dinawar and Nihawand. When his'<br />
brother rebelled against the Samanids, as abowe mentioned, he supported<br />
them, in spite of which he incurred their suspicion in A.H. 336 (A.D. 947-8)<br />
and was imprisoned at Bukhara, after which all future trace of him<br />
disappears.<br />
(4) Abu'l-Muzaffar 'Abdu'llah ibn Ahmad, son of Ne. 2, who, in<br />
A-H. 337 (A.D. 948-9), when his father made peace with Amir Nuh I<br />
the Samanid, was sent as a hostage to Bukhara, where he dw.elt as<br />
an honoured guest until he was killed by a fall from his horse in A.H. 340<br />
(951-2), and was buried at Chaghaniyan.