Irinjin | |
|---|---|
| Viceroy ofAnatolia | |
| In office 27 June 1305 – 31 July 1314 | |
| Preceded by | Sulamish |
| Succeeded by | Timurtash |
| Viceroy ofDiyar Bakr | |
| In office 1316–1319 | |
| Preceded by | Sutay |
| Succeeded by | Sutay |
| Personal details | |
| Died | July 1319 (1319-08) |
Irinjin orIrenjin (Tibetan:རིན་ཆེན,fl. 1295 –c. 1319) was a powerfulKerait emir inIlkhanate and a viceroy of Anatolia.
He was a son of emir Sarija (his name could also be a misreading of George[1]) and a nephew ofDoquz Khatun, thus a great-grandson ofToghrul. His father arrived inIran withHulagu and was buried in Nestorian church ofMaragheh.[2] He also had a sister called Toqtani or Toqiyatai (d. 1292) who successively married toHulagu,Abaqa andQonqurtai.[3] Another sister of his was Uruk Khatun, who was married toArghun.[4] He emerged asBaydu's supporter when he released his son Kipchak fromGaykhatu's court in 1295.
After accession ofÖljaitü, he was appointed as the new viceroy of Anatolia in June 1305.[5] His headquarters was centered inNiksar. Öljaitü's vizier Sa‘d al-Daula Savaji appointed his nephew Sharaf al-Din Musafir as Irinjin's tax collector, Ahmad Lakushi as vizier[6] and emir Agacheri as his commander-in-chief. His monopolisation of duties and offices caused several officers and emirs to abandon their appointments, such as Ögedei, son of Shiktur Noyan ofJalairs.[5] He left his post in Anatolia temporarily in 1307 to join Öljaitü's campaign inGilan.[7]
His rule in Anatolia was widely disapproved. In one occasion, he besieged a Turkish bey called Ilyas inSultan Han with 20.000 Mongol soldiers, causing much damage. After end of battle, he demanded a compensation of 6000dirhams per soldier frommutawalli of AnatolianwaqfsKarim ul-Din Aqsarai.[8] His local proteges, for example, a Turkish bey called Shemgit-oglu was known to raid and murder shaykhs, nobles and notables inAksaray. Another protege of his,Taghachar's cousinBilarghu had Armenian kingsHetum II andLeo III executed in 1307. After Armenian insurrection, Bilarghu had to flee to Irinjin inSivas. After numerous complains from locals and his inability to answerKaramanid invasion ofKonya, Irinjin was recalled fromAnatolia in 1314.
He again gained favour whenAbu Sa'id inherited Ilkhanate throne in 1316. Abu Sa'id's new regent Sevinch appointed Irinjin to governorate ofDiyar Bakr, but this soon changed after Sevinch's death in 1318. New regentChupan while appointing his own sonTimurtash in Irinjin's former post in Anatolia, recalled AmirSutai to Diyar Bakr in 1318, leaving Irinjin out of Ilkhanate politics.
Irinjin's rivalry with Chupan, led to his adjoin ofQurumushi, another Kerait emir and commander of Mongol garrison inGeorgia. Apart being both Keraites, Qurumushi and Irinjin were both related to il-khanTekuder by marriage. Qurumushi revolted after his rebuke by Chupan, because of him not coming to aid of Abu Sa'id against invasion ofOzbeg ofGolden Horde.[9] Chupan's subordinate Toqmaq also defected to rebel side, because of his old rivalry withDemasq Kaja, son of Chupan. Irinjin's daughter Tursin's hand was sought by Toqmaq, but eventually was married to Demasq Khaja on the orders ofÖljaitü. Irinjin's son Shaykh Ali was Abu Sa'id's favorite and his falconer[10] since his governorate inKhorasan, which led some researchers to believe revolt was indeed orchestrated by Abu Sa'id himself who wanted to get rid of Chupan. Qurumushi's 40.000 strong rebel army caught Chupan with his two sons and 2000 strong entourage unguarded nearGeorgia and caused him to flee, this was when Irinjin openly joined the revolt.
When news of Chupan's defeat reached toSoltaniyeh, Irinjin's son and daughter agreed to plunder the belongings of Demasq Kaja, but was prevented from killing him by Ögrünch, Uyghur emir. Irinjin on his part, pillaged Timurtash's belongings in Anatolia. Rebel armies merged nearNakhchivan and set course to Abu Sa'id's main army soon later. Ilkhanate armies were commanded by Abu Sa'id himself on centre with Ögrünch and Chupan, while hisOirat unclesAli Padshah and Muhammad was positioned on left wing. Right wing was commanded by Mahmud b. Esen Qutluq and Shayk Ali b. Ali Qushchi. On their part, Irinjin was commanding center on rebel side with his wife Princess Könchek, emir Toqmaq and his brother Aras were commanding left, while Qurumushi commanded right flank. A last second peace attempt by Qutluqshah, Irinjin's wife was in vain. A decisive battle was fought on 20 June 1319 nearMianeh with Ilkhanate victory. Irinjin was captured in vicinity of Kaghazkunan, nearKhalkhal.
During trial at Soltaniyeh, Irinjin claimed that he was acting on Abu Sa'id's orders, a claim he rejected. He was executed in Soltaniyeh with a skewer driven up from his chin to brain. Irinjin's body was displayed for 2–3 days and his severed head was sent around Ilkhanate provinces. His 15-year-old son Vafadar were also decapitated, while his wife Könchek was trampled to death by horses. In total 36 emirs and 7 khatuns were executed, including Amir Toqmaq, Qurumishi, Princess Könchek (daughter ofTekuder) and Irinjin. Qutluqshah Khatun was spared and married off to Pulad Qiya, a brother of Amir Ordu Qiya. Shaykh Ali was already executed before battle.[11]
Irinjin was aNestorian and likewise, had Christian family. His family was interred at Mar Shalita church ofMaragheh, to which he donated a revenue of a village and prevented it from being converted to a mosque.[12] He was also reported to be a close friend ofMar Yahballaha III.
He was married toTekuder's daughter Könchek Khatun (d. 1319) and had more wives including a certain Sarijah with whom he had several offsprings:
Through his daughter Tursin Khatun, he became ancestor ofJalayirids on the maternal side.
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