Akbash Khan (Chagatai: اقباش خان literallyWhite Head Khan), bornMuhammad Mumin (Chagatai andPersian: محمد مؤمن) of theYarkent Khanate was a Central Asian Khan in the beginning of 18th century. He was the last Khan of Yarkent Khanate.[1] He is known as one of the "later Chagatai princes" (察合台後王) in China.
Akbash Khan's name was Muhammad Mumin. He descended from the second son ofGenghis Khan,Chagatai. He was a member of theBorjigin clan by blood. His father wasSaid Baba Khan of Eastern Khanate (Uyghurstan) and his grandfather wasIsmail Khan. He had two brothers who were also at one point Khans of Yarkent Khanate (Abd ar-Rashid Khan II andMuhammad Imin Khan respectively).
In 1678,Galdan Boshugtu Khan ofDzungar invaded Yarkent Khanate on the invitation ofAfak Khoja, who previously was exiled from the country byIsmail Khan, conquered eastern part ofYarkent Khanate, captured Ismail Khan inYarkand and set upAbd ar-Rashid Khan II as a puppet. Instead ofAfaq Khoja of theNaqshbandi order, Galdan appointed Rashid. This arrangement of power caused the later conflicts between the Moghuls and Khojas.
Akbash was never supposed to inherit the title of Khan since his brothers were already rulingYarkand Khanate. However, Abd ar-Rashid was captured by Oirats upon complaint of Afaq Khoja and Muhammad Imin died during the conflict with Afaq Khoja. Afaq then set his sonYahya Khoja as the Khan of Yarkent Khanate in 1692. In 1694, Afaq Khoja was poisoned and died. His son Yahya also died ofOirat riots. Muhammad Imin's sister Khanum Padshah took power in 1695 but was killed in the same year.
After these incidents, Akbash was the only legitimate successor of the title of Khan. In 1695, he was installed as a Khan byYarkentBegs. On the other hand, Begs in Kashgar had different ideas, they invitedKirghiz tribes and installed Akbash's sonMahmud as a Khan. Kashgar and Kirghiz joint forces attacked Yarkent and captured it, making Akbash a captive. The Yarkent Begs sought the help of Oirats. The Oirats successfully took back Yarkent city but Akbash lost his title permanently.
During his reign, Akbash Khan was not able to effectively control the city of Kashgar since most of the followers of Afaq Khoja were centered in Kashgar. His influence was limited in Yarkent and the cities that lie eastward.[2]
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