Arghun Aqa | |
|---|---|
 Arghun Aqa (damaged) inTārīkh-i Jahān-Gushā 'The History of The World Conqueror", dated 1290. Bibliothèque Nationale de France (Suppl. Pers. 205).[1][2] | |
| Darughachi ofPersia,Georgia andAnatolia | |
| In office 1243–1275 | |
| Preceded by | Korguz |
| Succeeded by | Buqa |
| Deputy Governor ofKhorasan | |
| In office 1265–1275 | |
| Governor | Prince Tubshin |
| Personal details | |
| Born | c. 1210 |
| Died | June 17, 1275(1275-06-17) (aged 64–65) Khorasan |
Arghun Agha, alsoArghun Aqa orArghun the Elder (Persian:ارغون آقا;Mongolian:ᠠᠷᠭᠤᠨ;fl. 1220 - 1275) was aMongol noble of theOirat clan in the 13th century. He was a governor in the Mongol-controlled area ofPersia from 1243 to 1255, before theIlkhanate was created byHulagu.[3] Arghun Agha was in control of the four districts of eastern and central Persia, as decreed by the great khanMöngke Khan.
According toRashid al-Din, when he was young, his father sold his son Arghun to Qadan of theJalayir, tutor ofÖgedei[4] who passed him to his son Ilüge,[5] while according toJuvayni his father was amingghan commander.[6] During his years with theOgedeyid family, he gained reputation among the members of the ruling blood because he was well educated and versed inOld Uyghur language. Arghun started his career asbitikchi (secretary) during the reign of Ögedei. Later on, the latter's consort,Toregene Khatun, appointed him as then governor of Transoxiana -Korguz'sbasqaq and ultimately overall civil governor afterKorguz's execution inc. 1242.
He was appointed to oversee vast lands fromOxus toAnatolia with Sharaf al-Din Khwarazmi as his secretary, whom he had a distaste in.[7] His position was reaffirmed byGüyük Khan in 1246.Ascelin of Lombardia might have met him while he was at the court ofBaiju inc. 1247. He visitedKarakorum twice after his appointment in 1248 and 1251. On his third voyage, he was upheld byHulagu in Transoxiana and was released after a while. His employees included the famousJuvayni family, Fakr al-Din Bihishti (d. 1256), Husam al-Din Bihishti, Najm al-Din Ali, Turumtai, Naimadai, etc. He made a census in Persia in accordance with the decree ofMöngke in 1254 along with Najm al-Din Ali.[7] He participated in Hulagu'scampaign against the Nizaris in Persia in 1256.
In 1259-61 he directed punitive operations against rebels inGeorgia. When in 1260Hulegu Khan requested the presence ofGeorgians andArmenians for theMongol invasions of the Levant,David Ulu, king of theEastern Kingdom of Georgia rebelled, remembering the losses of his troops in the 1258Siege of Baghdad.[11] A large Mongol army led by Arghun Aqa invaded Georgia from the south, inflicted a heavy defeat on David andSargis I Jaqeli in a battle nearAkhaldaba, and then brutally plundered the country. The Mongol campaign continued during the winter, and the following year king David Ulu was forced to flee toImereti, which the Mongols failed to conquer.[12] David's family was captured, and his wifeGvantsa was killed.[13] Peace with the Mongols was achieved in 1262, when David Ulu returned toTbilisi to reclaim his crown as a Mongol vassal, pledging allegiance toHulegu, while David Narin nominally recognized Mongol rule in Imereti. Hulegu tolerated the rebel because since 1261, the Il-kan was at war with theBerke ofGolden Horde, which was on a larger scale.[12]
Arghun Aqa was then sent toKhorasan to fight theGolden Horde. He is described as faithful servant of the Qaghan inPersian sources while theGeorgian andArmenian sources say he was cruel and violent overseer. However, one Georgian chronicle says he was a friend of equity, trustful in his language, a deep thinker, and profound in counsel. It also says Arghun conducted the empire-wide census inRussia,Arctic,Alania,Pontic steppe, Georgia, Armenia, andAnatolia.[14] Arghun had many political enemies at the headquarters, so he had to visit theordo of the Qaghan inMongolia often to prove his loyalty. Although, Möngke appointed him to his former position after his accession in 1252, the Emperor summoned Arghun to answer a charge of treason. TheArmenian noble,Sempad Orpelian, justified Arghun completely and charged his enemy, aKhorazmi lieutenant, with being the real offender.[15] Arghun was released and they returned together.
He mainted his administrative tasks under Hulagu and even punished underpaying vassals who owed them taxes, includingGvantsa Kakhaberidze,Hasan Jalal of Khachen,Zakare III Zakarian,Akhsitan II and others in 1261. He accompaniedPrince Abaqa in support ofAlghu against his struggle withGolden Horde.
Arghun continued to serve Ilkhanate after death of Hulagu in 1265. His new post was inKhorasan, as deputy of Prince Tubshin. New Chagatai khanBaraq threatened to invade Ilkhanate until they leaveAfghanistan to them in 1270. Arghun Aqa fought in left flank underPrince Yoshmut in Battle of Herat on 22 July 1270 which resulted in a decisive victory. He served in Khorasan till his death on 17 June 1275.
He appears to have fundedPir Huseyn Khanqah inQubalıbalaoğlan, modernAzerbaijan. He is thought to be buried inRadkan, Khorasan.[4]
He had many wives, including a daughter ofYesü Möngke, to whom he married in 1249. Another wife of his was Sürmish, who gave birth to Nawruz.[4] He had at least 14 sons and 4 daughters:[4]
Juvaini's depiction of Arghun Aqa The picture painted of the Mongol amir in theTārīkh-i Jahān-Gushā dates from this period.