Ghaznavid War Elephant Corps

Timeline

1. 900–1000Punjab · Indian subcontinentAfter conquering northwestern India, Ghaznavid rulers obtained war elephants from local princes and formed elephant units, incorporating the Indian tradition of elephant warfare into the Turkic-Persian military system.
2. 1001–1030Northwestern India · IndiaOn Sultan Mahmud's many expeditions into India, elephant units fought in coordination with cavalry and archers and crossbowmen, playing assault and shock roles in battles such as those at Thanesar and Somnath.
3. 1021–1030Ghazni · AfghanistanAround the time of Mahmud's death, the Ghaznavid Empire still maintained a considerable reserve of war elephants, managed by specialized keepers for feeding and battlefield deployment, a symbol of the empire's military deterrent power.
4. 1050–1186Khurasan · Eastern IranWith the rise of Seljuk and Ghurid powers, the weaknesses of Ghaznavid elephant troops in mobility and logistical supply were increasingly exposed, and they dissolved with the dynasty's fall by the end of the 12th century.