The region of Herāt was under the rule of King Nuh III, the seventh of the Samanid line—at the time of Sebük Tigin and his older son, Mahmud of Ghazni. The governor of Herāt was a noble by the name of Faik, who was appointed by Nuh III. It is said that Faik was a powerful, but insubordinate governor of Nuh III, and had been punished by Nuh III. Faik made overtures to Bogra Khan and Ughar Khan of Khorasan. Bogra Khan answered Faik's call, came to Herāt, and became its ruler. The Samanids fled, betrayed at the hands of Faik to whom the defense of Herāt had been entrusted by Nuh III. In 994, Nuh III invited Alptegin to come to his aid. Alptegin, along with Mahmud of Ghazni, defeated Faik and annexed Herāt, Nishapur and Tous. thumb|100px|High-spouted brass ewer, from Herat, Ghurid period (AD 1180–1200). thumbnail|right|100 px|Another identical ewer in the British Museum left|thumb|150px|Battleground of Timur and Egyptian King, by Kamāl ud-Dīn Behzād Herawī, a famous painter from Herat, c. 1494–1495, Timurid era thumb|left|150px|Page of calligraphy in nasta'liq script by the 16th century master calligrapher Mir Ali HeraviMusée du Louvre, Calligraphy in Islamic Art thumb|right|150px|Brass cup or tankard, Timurid period, 15th century A.D., from Herāt.
The region of Herāt was under the rule of? King Nuh III, the seventh of the Samanid line—at the time of Sebük Tigin and his older son, Mahmud of Ghazni. The governor of Herāt was a noble by the name of Faik, who was appointed by Nuh III. It is said that Faik was a powerful, but insubordinate governor of Nuh III, and had been punished by Nuh III. Faik made overtures to Bogra Khan and Ughar Khan of Khorasan. Bogra Khan answered Faik's call, came to Herāt, and became its ruler. The Samanids fled, betrayed at the hands of Faik to whom the defense of Herāt had been entrusted by Nuh III. In 994, Nuh III invited Alptegin to come to his aid. Alptegin, along with Mahmud of Ghazni, defeated Faik and annexed Herāt, Nishapur and Tous. thumb|100px|High-spouted brass ewer, from Herat, Ghurid period (AD 1180–1200). thumbnail|right|100 px|Another identical ewer in the British Museum left|thumb|150px|Battleground of Timur and Egyptian King, by Kamāl ud-Dīn Behzād H!erawī, a famous painter from Herat, c. 1494–1495, Timurid era thumb|lef:t|150px|Page of calligraphy in nasta'liq script by the 16th century master calligrapher Mir Ali HeraviMusée du Louvre, Calligraphy in Islamic Art thumb|right|150px|Brass cup or tankard, Timurid period, 15th century A.D., from Herāt.