The Ismailia leader of Peshawar had come to the camp of the Shayhi, to meet the new Shayhi king, Anandapala, literally joy of the people. Anandapala took over the reign of his father Jayapala. They conceded the rule of Kabul to the Gaznavides.
Anandapala came out of his camp and invited the Ismailia leader. Both of the men walked to the center of the camp and greeted eachother. Peshawar was previously paying tributes to the Shayhi, but now the Shayhis were under their protection.
The Ismailia leader presented Anadapala with a sack of gold coins all bearing the standard of the Gaznavides. Anadapala was shocked to see this. After retreating from Kabul, the Shayhis had signed a non aggression treaty with the new rulers.
The Gaznavides had set forth a stream of refugees to the sub continent, although the Ismailis themselves were worshippers of the One, they were against the current regimen in Baghdad, which had taken over the Middle East.
The Gaznavides trying to bribe Peshawar was a causus belli for war. Anandapala gave orders to fortify the city of Peshawar, and raise a new army. The next war with the Gaznavides was about to start and Anandapala called on his men to stand by him.
It was two years ago, when Mehmud had captured Jayapala after the Kabul war at Ghazni. All over Afghanistan people gave their gold up to the Gaznavide conqueror in the hope he will return their King.
But Jayapala was broken; he stood on a pyre of burning wood and charcoal, with his son and his army watching. The sounds of murder, torture and death ringed in his ears. With the heavy heart of sadness and defeat he jumped into the fire.
On the fields near to the city of Peshawar, Mehmud had setup his army. In front of them there was a village, abandoned, this could well be a trap setup for them. Beyond this village lays the armies of the Indians.
The villagers in yellow took up arms and waited east of the battle field. The defenders of Peshawar in cyan were formed up at the center of the battlefield. The army of Anandapala Shayhi in orange were protected their leader in the cart at their center.
Peshawar’s defenses were strong, although they were not completed for the onslaught of the Ghaznavides. The keep was strengthened by a mout and only one entrance in and out of the city.
Mehmuh led the first attack by circumnavigating the village and attacking the Shayhi troops. Upon seeing the approaching hoard, the Shayhi army moved away from the field in an orderly fashion to retreat to the safety of Peshawar.
The Shayhi leader reached Peshawar in his cart and began to reinforce the defences there. After the unsuccessful attempt to dislodge the enemy troops Mehmud now attacked the town with a portion of his troops. The Indians responded accordingly.
The battle in the town lasted for a few hours, Mehmud cleverly used his saboteurs to destroy the town center and kill the people holding up there. The destruction of the town was visible from the enemy lines and should morally weaken them.
Once the destruction of the village was complete the armies of the victorious Gaznavides drew their lines against the Ismailia leader who was sitting atop his horse on the hill leader his men dressed in cyan colored uniforms.
Ghaznavide army now used the horse archers like the way the Indians have never seen it before, they attacked in numbers but instantly withdrew as the enemy came closer. This created panic within the Indian ranks.
The hopes for the Indian army were lost at the fields of Peshawar. The ismailia general stood atop the hillock in the treeshade watching the carnage. Mehmud rode upto him to ask for his surrender. But the rajput pride didn’t let him bow down.
The Ismailia general challenged Mehmud for a fight, but Mehmud knew of better ways. He has learnt of better ways to dispose of his enemies. For him true bravery lies in leading an army of thousands and frontal combat.
As the general lay dying he asked Mehmud why he did not engage him one to one. Mehmud replied by saying he must fled with his army and regrouped and then attacked. Showing useless courage doesnot make you a great general.
Now Mehmud marched his army on the city of Peshawar. It seemed to the Shayhias now, that the universe had conspired against them to defeat them on this ground.
Facing little resistance on the way, Mahmud pillaged the country side, before setting up his camels for an assault on city primary line of defense was its towers. He knew this will stir the defenders and make them flock at their unfinished gate.
After breaking the archers of the city, the Ghaznavi camels rushed to kill the Shayhi defenders. But their fate was sealed. The camels were afraid of the elephants that began to charged them, the camels broke rank and we mowed down.
Mahmud now was angry seeing his army unable to breach the Peshawar defenses. He sent his horse archers again to lure the elephants into a trap. Then he positioned his pikesmen and archers to bring down these massive beasts.
Lo! And behold, the Shayhi were now defeated! Could Mehmud of Ghaznavi now bring down the castle, can he conquer Peshawar? His victorious horsemen now flung open the city gates. Destroying an army is one thing, but this is different.
The horsemen looked as if they were going to be defeated, the horses were easy targets on the plain and his plan to scale the wall began to fall apart. Just then Mehmud sent in his reserves, throwing everything he had got.
The gamble worked, now their castle began to fall apart. As the castle collapsed, the sultans ordered his men to rape and pillage the city and ensure that no one with a head is left standing. His men gladly followed his orders.
With the destruction of the Solar temple at Peshawar, the end of the old gods were near and Mahmud were happy to have done it himself. But the Ismailias were no where to be seen, Bagdadh had ordered him to erase these heretics.
A pyrrhic victory
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