Vlad Tepes "The Impaler" (1431 AD - 1476 AD)

Full Name: Vlad Tepes
Born: December 1431 AD at Sighisoara, Transylvania (modern day Romania)
Died: December 1476 at Wallachia (now Bucharest)
Also know as: The Impaler, Vlad III, Dracula
Rank: Prince/Ruler of Wallachia
Famous for: Torturing, Boiling and impaling his victims and then drinking their blood, Resistance against the advance of Ottoman Turks into Europe
Religion: Christianity
Father: Vlad Dracul (Vlad II)
Mother: Cneajna of Moldavia
Wives: 2 (Ilona Szilagyi and a Transylvanian noblewoman)

Read more...

Sultan Mahmud Ghaznavi (971 AD - 1030 AD)

Full name: Yamin al-Dawla Abul-Qasim Mahmud ibn Sebuktegin
Father: Sebuktegin
Also known as: 'Mahmud ghaznavi' or 'Mahmud of Ghazni'
Known for: His era of rule as 'Sultan' of Ghaznavid Empire during which he carried out his famous campaigns in the Indian subcontinent
Predecessor: Ismail of Ghazni
Successor: Mohammad Ghaznavi (his son)
Born: 2 October 971 at Ghazna (which is now part of Afghanistan)
Died: 30 April 1030 at Ghazna
Spouse: Kausari Jahan
Religion: Islam

Sultan Mahmud Ghaznavi was one of the most famous rulers of Ghaznavid Empire in the medieval era. He is known for his extensive campaigns in the region of central asia and indian subcontinent.
Sultan Mahmud Ghaznavi softened the Indian subcontinent for later afghan rulers who carried on the legacy of Ghaznavi. During his campagins Hindushahi Kingdom, Arab kingdoms of Multan & Mansurah and Pratihara kingdom of Kannauj disappeared and the whole region came under the authority of Ghaznavi Empire.

17 invasions of Mahmud Ghaznavi
1. Ghaznavi started his expeditions in year 1000 AD when he attacked the north western frontiers of India and captured some frontier forts.
2. In 1001 AD Ghaznavi defeated Jaipal in Battle of Peshawar (1001 AD), took him a prisoner and released him after payment of huge amount.
3. In 1004 AD Ghaznavi defeated Raja of Bhera in Jhelum region.
4. In 1005-1006 Ghaznavi defeated Anandpal (the son of Jaipal) in Bhatinda region. Anandpal retreated into Kashmir valley. In the same year muslim ruler of Multan 'Fateh Daud' rebelled against Ghaznavi. The rebellion was crushed and Jaipal's grandson Sukhpal was appointed the ruler of Multan after he converted to Islam.
5. In 1007 AD Sukhpal renounced Islam and rebelled against Ghaznavi. He was defeated and imprisoned for life bringing Multan again under the authority of Ghaznavi.
6. In 1008 AD Anandpal came with a confederacy of Hindu rulers. The combined force was defeated in the battle of Waihind. Forts of Nagarkot and Narayanpur were also captured. Anandpal retreated to Dehli.
7. In 1009 AD Ghaznavi marched against Anandpal and defeated him at Dehli.
8. In 1011 AD a rebellion was crused again in the region of Multan.
9. In 1014 AD Ghaznavi defeated Trilochanpal (son and successor of Anandpal). This was a decisive victory and the end of the Hindushahi kingdom.
10. In 1014 AD he annexed the region of Thanesar.
11. In 1015 AD Ghaznavi made an unsuccessful attempt to annex Kashmir and Transoxiana.
12. In 1018 AD he captured Mathura and Kanary by defeating the Hindu ruler Rajyapal.
13. In 1021 AD Ghaznavi led a successful expedition against Chandella prince Vidhyadar.
14. In 1021 - 1022 AD he led and expedition against Kashmir capturing some frontier forts.
15. In 1022 AD Ghaznavi marched against Chandellas successfully capturing Kalinjar and Gawalior fort.
16. In 1025 - 1026 AD Ghaznavi carried out his last expedition which resulted in the famous battle of Somnath. He started from Ghazni and came through Multan. He then passed through Ajmer and Anhilwara defeating the Raja of Gujrat. Battle of Somnath was fought near the temple of Somnath.
17. In 1027 AD during the return from Somnath his army was attacked by Jats. His last campaign was to punish them.

Death
Sultan Mahmud died on 30 April 1030 of Malaria. His tomb is located in Ghazni.

Related events:
Battle of Peshawar (1001 AD)
Battle of Waihind (1008 AD)

Read more...

Manhattan Project (1942–1946)

Start: 1942
End: 1946
Countries: United States of America, United Kingdom, Canada
Nature of project: Production of weapons of mass destruction (Top Secret)
Leaders: Kenneth Nichols, Major General Leslie Groves, Franklin D. Roosevelt
Cost of project: USD 2 billion (about USD 20+ billion today)
Total manpower: 130,000+
Location: Oak Ridge (Tennessee), Hanford (Washington), Los Alamos (New Mexico)

Read more...

Battle of Zafar (632 AD)

The battle of Zafar was fought by Rashidun muslims against the apostate rebels during the anti-apostasy campaign of Rashidun caliphate.

Date: Late October 632 AD (Late Rajab, 11 AH)
Location: Zafar, Ha'il, Saudi Arabia
Rashidun Leaders: Khalid ibn al-Walid
Apostate Leaders: Salma a.k.a Umm Zhiml (KIA)
Rashidun Losses: Negligible
Apostate Losses: Heavy
Result: Rashidun Victory

Background
After the action against the Bani Sulaim at Naqra, Khalid stayed at Buzakha for three weeks, receiving the submission of the tribes and punishing the murderers. His next objective was Zafar which was ruled by a tribal mistress from Bani Ghatfan who was known as Salma or Umm Zhiml. Salma was from a royal family and her mother Umm Qirfa, her father Malik bin Hudaifa and her cousin Uyaina were all tribal chieftans. After the death of her parents she rose in stature, inherited their authority and also a splendid camel which was the symbol of her stature. Salma had become a main leader of the rebellion against Islam and posed a serious threat to the authority of Islam.

The battle
Khalid arrived at Zafar where Salma was waiting for the battle. The battle begin with a fierce clash in which muslims were able to drive back the wings but center stood firm. Salma was directly commanding the army in the battlefield from her camel in the center of army surrounded by hundreds of loyal guards. Soon Khalid realized that without denting the morale of the enemy it might prove a costly engagement. Salma had to be killed to assert a psychological blow on the enemy. Khalid picked a group of warriors and sallied through the enemy ranks towards Salma. After some vicious fighting he was able to get close enough. The royal camel was down after a few slashes and with it the tribal mistress. With the death of Salma all the resistance collapsed and the apostates began to flee in all directions. Hundreds of apostates were slain in this battle. Muslim losses were minimal but this was first serious resistance any enemy had given to Khalid in his campaigns of anti-apostasy.

Aftermath
Khalid rested his men for a few days and then marched on towards Butah. His next objective was the subjugation of Malik bin Nuwairah's Bani Yarbu.

Read more...

Battle of Autas (630)

Location: Autas, Arabia
Date: 630 AD
Bedouin Leaders: Malik bin Auf
Muslim Leaders: Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), Abu Amir, Abu Musa, Zubair bin Awwam, Khalid bin Waleed
Result: Decisive Muslim victory

The Battle of Autas was fought by muslims against the remaining force of Hawazin and Thaqeef that retreated from the battle of Hunain.

Background
Muslims were initially trapped in a successful ambush and scattered but recovered soon repelling the enemy attack and launching a counter-attack. Bedouin force was driven to Autas while some of it fled and was besieged in Taif.

The Battle
Prophet Muhammad sent a strong cavalry group under Abu Amir to Autas. On the arrival of muslims a fierce clash took place. Abu Amir killed nine men and then was killed during the course of battle. Battle continued untill Hawazin force was totally routed and driven away. The bedouin camp fell into muslim hands and with it all the children, women and cattle.

Primary sources
Sahih Muslim mentions the battle of Autas in following words:
"Abu Sa'id al-Khudri reported that at the Battle of Hunain Allah's Messenger sent an army to Autas and encountered the enemy and fought with them. Having overcome them and taken them captives, the Companions of Allah's Messenger seemed to refrain from having intercourse with captive women because of their husbands being polytheists. Then Allah, Most High, sent down regarding that:" And women already married, except those whom your right hands possess (Quran 4:24)" (i.e. they were lawful for them when their 'Idda period came to an end)

Aftermath
After a decisive muslim victory at Hunain and Autas in the battlefield, remaining force fled to the walled city of Taif where it was besieged. Siege was not successful but muslims achieved their objectives ultimately when Taif later submitted peacefully to the authority of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and Malik bin Auf accepted Islam. The children and women were returned shortly before the submission of Taif.

Read more...

Ibn Battuta (1304 AD - 1369 AD)

Complete name: Abu Abdullah Muhammad ibn Abdullah Allawati Attangi ibn Batutah
Born: February 25, 1304 at Tangier, Morocco
Died: 1369 (aged 64–65) in Morocco
Occupation: Scholar, Jurist, Judge, Explorer, Geographer
Religion: Islam
Known for: Travelling across most of the known world at that time
Works: Ar-Rihla (The journey)
Places travelled: North Africa, Horn of Africa, West Africa, Eastern Europe, Middle East, South Asia, Central Asia, Southeast Asia and China

Ibn Battuta was one of the greatest travellers of all time. Over his lifetime Ibn Battuta traveled over 73,000 miles (117 500 km) and visited the equivalent of 44 modern countries.

List of Places

Northwest Africa - Tangier, Fes, Marrakech, Tlemcen (Tilimsan), Miliana, Algiers, Djurdjura Mountains, Bgayet, Constantine, Annaba (Bona), Tunis, Sousse (Susah), Sfax, Gabes (Qabis), Tripoli

Middle East - Ajloun, Al Karak, Cairo, Alexandria, Damietta, Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Hebron, Damascus, Latakia, Egypt, Syria, Medina, Jeddah, Mecca, Najaf, Rabigh, Oman, Dhofar, Hajr, Bahrain, Al-Hasa, Strait of Hormuz, Yemen, Qatif

Spain - Granada, Valencia

Byzantine Empire and Eastern Europe - Konya, Antalya, Bulgaria, Azov, Kazan, Volga River, Constantinople

Central Asia - Khwarezm, Khorasan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Balochistan, Afghanistan, Bukhara, Samarqand

South Asia - North India, Sindh (Pakistan), Multan Delhi, Present day Uttar Pradesh, Present day Gujarat, Maharashtra, Kozhikode, Malabar, Pandiyan Kingdom, Bengal, Brahmaputra River, Meghna River near Dhaka, Sylhet, Maldives, Sri Lanka (Serendip),

China - Quanzhou, Hangzhou,  Beijing

Southeast Asia - Burma (Myanmar), Samudera Pasai Sultanate, Aceh, Northern Sumatra, Indonesia, Malacca, Malay Peninsula Malaysia

Somalia - Mogadishu, Zeila

Swahili Coast - Kilwa, Mombasa

Mali Empire and West Africa - Timbuktu, Gao, Takedda,

Mauritania - Oualata (Walata)

Read more...

Battle of Naqra (632 AD)

Battle of Naqra was fought by muslims of Rashidun Caliphate against the rebels of Bani Sulaim during his camapaign against the apostasy.

Date: October 632 AD
Location: Naqra, Arabia
Rashidun Leader: Khalid bin Al-Waleed
Bani Sulaim Leader: Amr bin Abdul Uzza (Abu Shajara) (POW)

Background
Bani Sulaim tribe did not learn from the defeat of Tulaiha and remained defiant and rebellious. Bani Sulaim decided to resist against Islam under the banner of the tribal chief named Amr bin Abdul Uzza (Abu Shajara). He was a poet and composed following lines to boost the morale of his men.
My spear shall play havoc
With the regiments of Khalid.
And I trust thereafter
It shall also crush Umar
Bani Sulaim before the rebellion had served under the command of Khalid bin Al-Waleed in conquest of Makkah, battle of Hunain and seige of Taif. Now they had apostatised and deserved no mercy from Khalid.

Battle
Khalid bin Waleed and Abu Shajara formed up the armies at Naqra and a sharp clash begin. Bani Sulaim gave a stubborn resistance but soon broke up and were routed by the army of Khalid bin Al-Waleed. While most were slaughtered and some managed to flee, their leader Abu Shajara was taken prisoner.

Aftermath
Abu Shajara pleaded mercy from the caliph and was forgiven. Khalid marched off for his next objective towards Zafar to punish the next stronghold of rebels.

Sources
A.I. Akram, The Sword of Allah: Khalid bin al-Waleed, His Life and Campaigns Lahore, 1969
Wikipedia

Read more...