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Sykes' History of Persia Vol 2 (pdf) - Heritage Institute

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DECAY OF THE CALIPHATE 97<br />

A <strong>Persia</strong>n courtier explained to his furious master that<br />

the omission <strong>of</strong> the allf or " A " conveyed a delicate<br />

request from the Caliph's Vizier for a thousand gold<br />

coins, the symbol for which is a/if.<br />

The money was sent<br />

and a new decree was obtained, in which Mahmud was<br />

styled Amir. The prestige <strong>of</strong> the Caliph and the craving<br />

for recognition by him constituted practically<br />

all that was<br />

left <strong>of</strong> his power, but it was a force that had to be<br />

reckoned with and was doubtless <strong>of</strong> material assistance<br />

in maintaining the Caliphate. Soon after the death or<br />

Mahmud the western provinces <strong>of</strong> this extensive empire<br />

were annexed by the Seljuks, with the result that the<br />

dynasty looked eastwards for compensation and became<br />

thenceforth so much identified with India that Lahore<br />

was selected as the capital <strong>of</strong> the later Ghaznavid princes.<br />

VOL. H<br />

H

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