STRUGGLE FOR SOVEREIGNTY IN HORASAN AFTER THE ILKHANATE: TOGHAY TIMURIDS

Abstract

The Ilkhanate, which was founded by Hulagu Khan, who was the grandson of Cengiz Khan, was officially founded in Tabriz in 1256, following Mönke Khan’s seizure of Iran, Iraq, Syria, Egypt, Caucasia and Anatolia and a Congress Decree on the appointment of his brother Hulagu as Khan of these regions. It became independent in 1295 and its name was derived from Hulagu’s title “Ilkhan”.

After Hulagu, Abaka Khan, Ahmet Tekuder, Argun Khan, Geyhatu, Baydu, Gazan Khan, and Olcaytu Khan ruled the region, respectively, and the death of Ebu Said Khan without appointing a successor led to the fall of the Ilkhanate. Following the fall of the Ilkhanate, local emirates such as Toghay Timuris and Serbedaris struggled for sovereignty and among them Toghay Timuris dominated the region, efficiently even though for a short period. It is known that Toghay Timur, a Mongolian Khan, came from the sixth gebneratıon of a brother of Genghis Khan. As a matter of fact, Baba Bahadır came to the service of Olcaytu Khan by coming to Khorasan with his Division consisting of approximately 10,000 families around 705 (1305-1306). After the attack on the Harizm region in 715 (1315-1316), Baba and his son Suri were executed by Olcaytu upon the complaint of Garbi Kipchak Han Özbek. According to Kadi Ahmed Gaffari, in 725 (1324-1325). Baba Bahadır, grandfather of Toghay Timur, with his 10 thousand cavalry, went to by turning away from Baydu b. Vasik, he came to Sultan Mohammed in Iran with his family and was killed by the Sultan's edict. Toghay Timur, who was brought to the sultanate with the alliance of Khorasan’s orders, elder, and notables, organized two unsuccessful expeditions to Iraq as his first actions when he came to power.

This paper will examine the struggle of the founder of this emirate, Toghay Timur, for sovereignty and his activities in this region.