| Baydu | |
|---|---|
 Negotiations between representatives ofGhazan and Baydu. Miniature from the manuscript ofJami' al-tawarikh. 15th century,Herat | |
| Ilkhan | |
| Reign | 24 March 1295 – 4 October 1295 |
| Predecessor | Gaykhatu |
| Successor | Ghazan |
| Vizier | Jamal ud-Din Dastgerdani |
| Born | 1255 or 1256 Mongolia |
| Died | (1295-10-04)4 October 1295 OutsideTabriz[1] |
| Dynasty | Borjigin |
| Father | Taraqai |
| Mother | Qaraqcin[2] |
Baydu (Mongolian script:ᠪᠠᠶᠢᠳᠤ;Mongolian:Байду) (died 1295) was the sixth ruler of theMongol empire'sIlkhanate division inIran. He was the son of Taraqai, who was in turn the fifth son ofHulagu Khan.[3] He succeeded his cousinGaykhatu askhan of the Ilkhanate in 1295.
He was born inMongolia to Taraqai and Qaraqcin.[4] His father was Hulagu's fifth son and was killed bylightning strike on his way to Iran. Baydu and his mother arrived in Iran with Qutui Khatun's camp alongsideTekuder and other princes in 1269. Reportedly, he never commanded an army and was considered to be easily controlled by Mongol emirs.[5] He participated inAbaqa Khan'sinvasion of Syria in 1281.[6] During his predecessors reigns, he was a viceroy inJazira.[7]
He was considered one of candidates to theIlkhanid throne after death ofArghun. Nobles likeTaghachar, Qoncuqbal, Toghan and Tuqal supported Baydu. However he refused the throne, stating throne belongs to the brother or a son according toyassa,[8] while Mahmud Aqsarai simply states that when Baydu didn't appear at thekurultai,Gaykhatu was enthroned instead.[9] Baydu stood stationed inBaghdad and even travelled to the coronation feast of the new khan Gaykhatu. However, after getting drunk Gaykhatu insulted Baydu telling one of his servants to hit Baydu. This grew a resentment in Baydu towards him. Baydu left hastily towards to his appanage nearBaghdad leaving his son Qipchak as a hostage in Gaykhatu's court. He was supported byOirat emir Chichak (son of Sulaimish b. Tengiz Güregen), Lagzi Küregen (son ofArghun Aqa), El-Temur (son of Hinduqur Noyan) and Todachu Yarquchi, who followed him to Baghdad. He was also aided by his vizier Jamal ud-Din Dastgerdani. According toHamdullah Qazwini, Baydu's main motivation on moving against Gaykhatu was his sexual advances against Qipchak.[10]
When son-in-law Ghurbatai Güregen brought him news of treachery, Gaykhatu ordered arrest of several amirs including his personalkeshig Tuladai, Qoncuqbal, Tukal, Bughdai, including Kipchak and put into jail inTabriz. While his followers Hasan and Taiju demanded their executions,Taghachar advised against it. Baydu on his side, moved to kill Muhammad Sugurchi, governor of Baghdad and arrested governor Baybuqa ofDiyarbakir. Gaykhatu sent his father-in-law Aq Buqa and Taghachar against Baydu on 17 March 1295, himself arriving at Tabriz 4 days later. Little he knew that Taghachar already shifted allegiance to Baydu who left for his encampment at night. While he wanted to flee to Anatolia, his councillors advised to fight against Baydu. Nevertheless, Gaykhatu fled to Mughan. Arriving in Tabriz, Taghachar set Qoncuqbal and Tuladai free, while Gaikhatu desperately begged for mercy. Despite his appeal, he was strangled by a bowstring so as to avoid bloodshed on 21 March 1295. However, some sources put this event on 5 March or 25 April.[8]
Baydu was considered easygoing and controllable, and under him, the Ilkhanate was divided among the co-conspirators.[4] However, Gaykhatu's death wasn't without consequences, especially PrinceGhazan in Khorasan grew restless. Baydu explained the fact that Ghazan was away during events leading to Gaykhatu's fall, therefore nobles had no choice but to raise him to throne.[5] Nevertheless,Amir Nowruz encouraged Ghazan to take steps against Baydu, because he was nothing but a figurehead under grips of nobles.Mar Yahballaha III also noted Baydu being a weak khan.[11] Conspirators divided the empire between themselves:Taghachar took governorate ofAnatolia, Tuladai gainedPersian Iraq andLorestan, while Qoncoqbal tookShiraz andShabankara to himself Tukal went back to his ancestral lands inGeorgia. Meanwhile, his mother-in-lawKurdujin Khatun was installed as governor ofKerman and hadPadishah Khatun executed. Aq Buqa Jalair, chief commander of Gaykhatu was also killed[12] on demands of Qoncuqbal.[13]
Ghazan started to move against Baydu towards his headquarters in Azerbaijan. Baydu's forces commanded by Ildar Oghul (his cousin and Prince Ajay's son) met him nearQazvin. First battle was won by Ghazan but he had to fall back after realising Ildar's contingent was just a fraction of whole army, leaving Nowruz behind. After a short truce, Baydu offered Ghazan co-ruling of Ilkhanate and Nowruz the post of sahib-i divan to which as a counter-condition Ghazan demanded the revenues of his father's hereditary lands inFars,Persian Iraq andKerman. Nowruz denied conditions, which led to its arrest. According to an anecdote, he promised to bring Ghazan back tied-up on condition of his release. Once he reached Ghazan, he sent back acauldron to Baydu; a word play on the Turkish wordkazan.
Amir Nowruz promised him the throne and his help on a condition of Ghazan's conversion toIslam. Nowruz entered Qazvin with 4000 soldiers and claimed an additional number of 120.000 on his way towards Azerbaijan which caused panic among masses which was followed by defections of Taghachar's subordinates and other powerful emirs like Qurumishi andChupan. Seeing imminent defeat, Baydu fled to Tukal in Georgia. Baydu attempted to escape and flee fromAzerbaijan toGeorgia, but was taken prisoner nearNakhichevan[3][14] he was taken toTabriz and executed on the 5 October 1295, ending the civil war with his successor.[6] Relatives, including his son Qipchaq (d. 26 September 1295) and Ildar Oghul were also executed.
Baydu had strong sympathies toChristianity,[15][16] but was required to act outwardly as aMuslim.[17][18] Some sources state he didn't act even as Muslim.[19] According to Saunders inMongol Conquests, Baydu allowed churches on hisordo and wore a cross around his neck.[20] He was urged by his followers to rid himself ofGhazan, the son ofArghun Khan, but refused out of affection.
Baydu had three consorts, two of them fromQutlugkhanid dynasty:
| Regnal titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Ilkhan 1295 | Succeeded by |