Hurra-yi Khuttali

Hurra-yi Khuttali was a Ghaznavid princess, considered the most prominent woman in the Ghaznavid politics. She was the daughter of Sabuktigin, founder of the Ghaznavid dynasty, and was married to two Ma'munid rulers of Khwarazm, Abu Ali Hasan and Ma'mun II. Her marriages were a direct cause for the annexation of Khwarazm by her brother, Mahmud of Ghazni. In 1030, upon Mahmud's death, she wrote a letter to her favourite nephew, Mas'ud, urging him to claim the throne from his brother, Muhammad, who was deemed unfit to rule the empire. Without her insistence and literary competence in composing her letter, Mas'ud may have never claimed the throne. She is last mentioned in 1040, leaving Ghazna for India, her ultimate fate being unknown.

Name
Hurra is an Arabic word meaning "free woman". It was most likely an honorific laqab (agnomen) conferred to Ghaznavid princesses and not her actual name. She used two nisbas, Khuttali and Kaliji. According to British orientalist Clifford Edmund Bosworth, Khuttali may have referred to an earlier Ghaznavid marital alliance with the Principality of Khuttal, located in central Asia. Another variation of her name is Khuttali Khatun, recorded by Shabankara'i (c. 1298), a later historian.

Early life and marriages
Hurra-yi Khuttali was a daughter of Sabuktigin, Amir of Ghazna ((r. 977 – 997)) and the founder of the Ghaznavid dynasty. Distinguished from her sisters, Hurra was praised for her competence and intelligence. In an era when the education for women was restricted to only theology, she persuaded to learn other sciences. She had a good relationship with her brother, Mahmud ((r. 998 – 1030)), and repeatedly sent him luxurious gifts. Between 1005 and 1009, Hurra married Abu al-Hasan Ali, ruler of Khwarazm from Ma'munid dynasty. The reason for this marriage was Abu al-Hasan's fear of an invasion from the Ghaznavids.

Abu al-Hasan died at an uncertain date between 1006 to 1010 and was succeeded by his brother, Ma'mun II. The latter, with the same intent as his brother, married Hurra in 1015. Mahmud demanded his new brother-in-law to recognize him as his sovereign, which Ma'mun conceded to. However, a patriotist rebellion broke out in Khwarazm on March 1017 and the rebels killed Ma'mun for his submission. Furthermore, Hurra may have been taken hostage by them. Mahmud threatened the rebels to return Hurra. Only after she was safely returned that Mahmud invaded Khwarazm and sacked its capital, Gurganj. It is not known if Hurra had any children with her two husbands.

Mas'ud's ascension and later life
After her return to Ghazna, Hurra took on a more influential role in the court. She acted as a spy for her favourite nephew, Mas'ud, Mahmud's son, who was the governor of Herat. In 1030, after Mahmud's death, she was entrusted with the care of his wives and concubines from his harem. Per Mahmud's will, his other son, Muhammad succeeded him. Hurra-yi Khuttali, along with her younger brother, Yusuf ibn Sabuktigin and the Turkic military commanders considered Muhammad weak and unable to rule the Ghaznavid empire, which was dependent on the powerful leadership of the Sultan. Therefore, Hurra wrote a letter to Mas'ud (who was preoccupied in the west), informing him of his father's death and inviting him to take the throne. Mas'ud marched east to claim the throne, and continued to receive letters from Hurra and his mother regarding the situation in Ghazna. Upon arrival at Ghazna, Mas'ud imprisoned Ali b. Il-Arsalan Qarib, the al-hajib al-kabir (commander-in-chief) of the army, who had assumed total power in Ghazna, supporting Muhammad's succession. Furthermore, he reportedly blinded Muhammad.

Hurra must have maintained her influence on Mas'ud after his ascension. She constantly warned Mas'ud of the importance of Ghazna as the principal territory of the empire, with Khorasan on the second place. However, Mas'ud was more interested in India, and neglected Khorasan. As a result, Turkoman tribes migrated into the region and settled there, of which the Seljuqs rose to prominence and easily took Khorasan under their own control, mostly because the Ghaznavids were unpopular in the region. Mas'ud's attempt at suppressing the Seljuqs resulted in a catastrophic defeat at the Battle of Dandanaqan (1040). After his defeat, he retreated towards Ghazna, urging Hurra, his other aunts and his mother to leave Ghazna with him for India. Hurra-yi Khuttali is reported to have said: "Let anyone who wishes to fall into the enemies' hands remain in Ghazna." This is the last recorded mention of Hurra-yi Khuttali by Beyhaqi. Mas'ud's entourage was raided en route by rebels, Mas'ud himself was killed and his throne was usurped by Muhammad. Hurra's ultimate fate, however, is unknown.

Assessments
Hurra-yi Khuttali's interference in Mahmud's succession was the most prominent instance of a woman openly partaking in the politics during the Ghaznavid period. Without the zeal of Hurra and the royal Ghaznavid women in recalling Mas'ud, he possibly would not have returned to claim the throne from his brother. Her literary competence is shown in her letter to Mas'ud, in which, she provokes her nephew's emotions and urges him to return with speed. From a Feminist outlook, throughout her life, she displayed her authority as a woman without consideration of the intolerant society of her era.