Qutlughshah | |
|---|---|
| Supreme Commander ofIlkhanate | |
| In office 1297–1307 | |
| Appointed by | Ghazan |
| Preceded by | Nawruz |
| Succeeded by | Chupan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | c. 1250 |
| Died | June 13, 1307(1307-06-13) (aged 56–57) Gilan |
| Military service | |
| Battles/wars | Battle of Wadi al-Khaznadar Battle of Marj al-Saffar (1303) |
Kutlushah,Kutlusha orQutlughshah (Mongolian:Кутлугшах,Persian:قتلغشاه,Armenian:Խութլուշահը orCotlesse inFrank sources), was a general under theMongolIlkhanate rulerGhazan at the end the 13th century. He was particularly active in the Christian country ofGeorgia and especially during the Mongol invasion of Syria, until his ignominious defeat in 1303 led to his banishment. He was killed during the conquest of Gilan in 1307.
Kutlushah was a member of the MongolManghud tribe.[1] His father Mangghudai Noyan[2] was one of leading generals ofKublai, whose grandfather Jedei Noyan wasGenghis Khan'smingghan commander.[3] His uncle Hulqutu Qurchi was also a majorkeshig emir ofHulagu andAbaqa.[4] He had two or three brothers who had died before his rise to prominence. Amir Timur Buqa was one of his brothers who commanded amingghan.
He served Abaqa as his commander and became a companion of then princeGhazan inKhorasan when the prince was still a teenager afterNawruz's rebellion. However, he couldn't engage in military matters due to his illness in the winter of 1289, but joined Ghazan's expedition against Nawruz in the spring. Joined by Nurin Aqa and AmirSutai, he resisted Nawruz rather unsuccessfully. Ghazan sent Qutlughshah to the newly enthronedGaykhatu to inform him of developments in Khorasan in 1291, however Gaykhatu was little interested in sending reinforcements apart from several emirs. Seeing this, Ghazan appointed Kutlushah as his deputy in Khorasan and proceeded toAzerbaijan to meet Gaykhatu in person, but ilkhan repeatedly denied to see him. Kutlushah, meanwhile managed to overwhelm Nawruz and forced him to retire toNishapur. After a while Kutlushah was reported to be suffering from drinking alcohol heavily, after being treated, he stopped drinking.[5] He was present with Ghazan when Nawruz resubmitted to him November 1294.
After Gaykhatu's murder andBaydu's enthronement, Ghazan marched against new ilkhan in 1295, accusing him of unjust murder of his uncle. Kutlushah commanded left wing of Ghazan's army and defeated Baydu, finally capturing him inNakhchivan. After Ghazan's enthronement, he was given hand ofArghun's daughter Öljai Timur Khatun on 30 May 1296. He grew closer to Ghazan and asked for investigation on Nawruz, suspecting of his treason.
A series of revolts were erupted inAnatolia afterTaghachar's execution in 1296. First one was by Baltu (fromJalair tribe), who captured Taghachar and turned him over to Ghazan. Ghazan appointed Kutlushah to lead three tumens towards Anatolia to crush him.[6] After Baltu's defeat and subsequent flight, his accompliceMesud II surrendered himself to Kutlushah. After receiving his submission, Kutlushah left forHerat to crush Nawruz in 1297 and executed him, meanwhile a new insurrection occurred by Kutlushah's subordinate, Sulamish in 1298. Kutlushah was forced to come back from Arran and won a victory against him, on 27 April 1299 nearErzinjan, causing Sulamish to flee toMamluk Egypt.
Kutlushah had an important role in theKingdom of Georgia, where he owned lands, and his family was well known. He was often used as an intermediary and ambassador to negotiate with KingDavid VIII who consistently opposed Mongol rule.[7]
When David VIII required reassurances from the Mongols, in the shape of promises and hostages, Kutlushah provided his own son Shiba'uchi[8] together with the sons of other Mongol princes, and brought the Ghazan's ring. These reassurances help establish more confident relations between the Georgians and the Mongols, as the Georgians were key in maintaining the northern defenses of theIl-Khan realm against theGolden Horde.[9] In 1298 and 1300, Kutlushah led the repression against popular revolts in the lands of David VIII.[10]
He was involved in an incident, where Ghazan's vizier Sadr al-Din Zanjani incited him to act againstRashid-al-Din. However, after Qutlughshah's report, Zanjani was arrested and executed by Qutluqshah himself on 30 April 1298 with this brother Qutb al-Din by cutting him in half.
In 1300 Ghazan had promised a major invasion ofSyria. However, he ended up sending a smaller force in February 1301, under Kutlushah. The force of approximately 60,000, did little else than engage in some raids around Syria. Kutlushah stationed 20,000 horsemen in theJordan valley to protect Damas, where a Mongol governor was stationed.[12] Soon however, they had to withdraw. According to the medieval historianTemplar of Tyre:
"That year [1300], a message came to Cyprus from Ghazan, king of the Tatars, saying that he would come during the winter, and that he wished that the Franks join him in Armenia (...)Amalric of Lusignan,Constable of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, arrived in November (...) and brought with him 300 knights, and as many or more of the Templars and Hospitallers (...) In February a great admiral of the Tatars, named Cotlesser ([Kutlushah]), came to Antioch with 60,000 horsemen, and requested the visit of the king of Armenia, who came withGuy of Ibelin,Count of Jaffa, andJohn, lord of Giblet. And when they arrived, Cotlesse told them that Ghazan had met great trouble of wind and cold on his way. Cotlesse raided the land fromHaleppo toLa Chemelle, and returned to his country without doing more."
— Le Templier de Tyre, Chap 620-622[13]
Kutlushah was given another princess of royal house on 7 August 1301, this time El Qutlugh Khatun, daughter ofGaykhatu, following death of Öljai Timur.
Kutlushah also led the 1303 Mongol offensive intoSyria, with a strong force of about 80,000, plus troops from theArmenians.[14] However Kutlushah, along with another Mongol generalMulay, were defeated with the Armenians at Homs on March 30, 1303, and at the decisiveBattle of Shaqhab, south of Damas, on April 21, 1303.[15] Their invasion, decisively repelled by the EgyptianMamluks, is considered to be the last major Mongol invasion of Syria.[16] According to the Mamluk historianAl-Maqrizi, Kutlushah barely escaped the death penalty for his defeat. Instead, he received the humiliation of being spat upon by all the people present at his judgement, and his generals all received baton strokes as a punishment. Kutlushah was then exiled to the region ofGilan.[17]
Upon Ghazan's death in 1304, his brotherÖljaitü was raised to the throne. Subsequently, Kutlushah was restored to favor and was named supreme commander of Ilkhanate forces. His son Qaranjuq was appointed to serve inAnatolia as Öljaitü's 20th emir in rank. He led Öljaitü's campaign inGilan, starting from 1306. Departing fromKhalkhal, he succeeded subduingFuman andGaskareh[18] whose ruled Dabbaj sent presents to Kutlushah's subordinate Amir Pulad Qiya.[19] However, his son Shiba'uchi convinced Kutlushah to push further and plunder Dabbaj's lands. Acting on his wishes, much of Fuman was plundered and Dabbaj's family arrested. Pulad Qiya was taken out of expedition and was replaced by Shiba'uchi, who was defeated during resistance from local armies from Tulim,Rasht andShaft. Qutluqshah was ambushed by Rikabzen, ruler of Tulim on 13 June 1307 and killed. Several other versions of his death, including his execution on avenge ofNawruz, exist. The Mamluk historianAl-Yunini gave his death date as late as 3 July 1307.[19] His body was taken toTabriz and buried there. His subordinateChupan was raised as new supreme commander of Ilkhanate after his death.
According to al-Yunini, metIbn Taymiyyah on 18 February 1300 and had a conversation on nature of Islam.[20] According to Taymiyyah, Kutlushah was in 50s and had a yellowish skin color with beardless face.
Kutlushah converted toIslam alongsideGhazan in 1295. According to an anecdote, before his execution, Gilak ruler Rikabzen told him "Wasn't it him who delivered you from wearingchokha, drinkingkumis andayran and working in hard jobs to robe of honor,tasbih and fur-coat, fed you sweets and sugar, made you amir ulus of the country of Iran?", posing as Nawruz's avenger.[19][21] He was described by reliable sources as a vehement supporter ofYassa and a critic of Islam. In one occasion, he supported a rival shaykh ofZahed Gilani, who unlikeAllah-fearing Gilani, was afraid of Ghazan.[22]
He criticized Islam again in 1307, during the reign of Öljaitü:[23]
What is this that we have done, abandoning the newYassa and yosun ofGenghis Khan, and taking up the ancient religion of theArabs, which is divided into seventy-odd parts? The choice of either of these two rites would be a disgrace and a dishonourable act, since in the one, marriage with a daughter is permitted and in the other, relations with one's mother or sister. We seek refuge in God from both of them! Let us return to the Yasa and yosun of Genghis Khan!
He was described as "friend to Christians" byStephen Orbelian inHistory of the Province of Syunik.[8] Several people in Armenian history, includingGregory of Tatev (his secular name was Kutlushah)[24] andPrince Khutlushah of Erzincan (d. 1386) also bore his name.
He had numerous wives including two Ilkhanid princesses:
With other wives:
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