Sack of Somnath
| Sack of Somnath | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Ghaznavid campaigns in India | |||||||
Ruins of Somnath as viewed in 1869 | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
| Ghaznavids | Chaulukya dynasty | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Mahmud of Ghazni | Bhima I | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
|
30,000 cavalry 1400 boats Unknown number of volunteers | 20,000 | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| Unknown | 50,000 | ||||||
The Sack of Somnath in 1025-1026 was a military campaign orchestrated by Mahmud of Ghazni, a ruler of the Ghaznavid Empire, directed against the Chaulukya dynasty of Gujarat. This is considered Mahmud's fifteenth invasion of India, which saw strategic captures and decisive battles and culminated in the destruction of the revered Somnath Temple. Facing staunch resistance, Mahmud's forces emerged victorious, resulting in significant casualties. Entering Somnath in mid-January, Mahmud looted and burned the temple, earning him the title “The Idol Breaker”.