In 1018, Mahmud sacked Mathura. He was awestruck by its architectural beauty, stating it would take 200 years and millions of dinars to build such a city.

Mahmud died in Ghazni in 1030 AD.

While there was a religious dimension, the primary objective was to plunder India's vast wealth to finance his Central Asian campaigns and beautify his capital, Ghazni.

Vidyadhara, the Chandela king of Khajuraho, is one of the few rulers who offered strong resistance to Mahmud and was not decisively defeated.

The dynasty is often referred to as the Yamini dynasty.

The Second Battle of Waihind (1008 AD) was a decisive victory for Mahmud against Anandapala and a confederacy of rulers from Ujjain, Gwalior, Kalinjar, etc.

His final expedition was a punitive campaign against the Jats who had harassed his army during the return journey from Somnath.

The Abbasid Caliph Al-Qadir Billah recognized Mahmud's authority and conferred upon him the titles Yamin-ud-Daula and Amin-ul-Millat.

Al-Utbi was the court historian of Mahmud and wrote 'Kitab-ul-Yamini' (or Tarikh-i-Yamini), recounting the history of Sabuktigin and Mahmud.

Firdausi wrote the 'Shahnameh' (Book of Kings), the national epic of Greater Iran. He famously fell out with Mahmud over payment for the work.