Ahmad Fanakati
Encyclopedia
Ahmad Fanākatī was a Muslim
financial minister of Kublai Khan
's Yuan Dynasty
.
in Central Asia
. Trusted by Chabui Khatun, Kublai's favorite wife, he was entrusted with state finances in 1262. He was successful in managing the financial affairs of Northern China
and brought huge tax revenues to Kublai's new government.
In 1270 he assumed the full power of the new financial department named Shangshusheng (Chinese
: 尚書省, "Department of State Affairs"), which had equal status with the administrative department named Zhongshusheng (Chinese: 中書省, "Central Secretariat"). After the conquest of the Song Dynasty
in 1276, he entered the financial matters of Southern China
. He prepared a state monopoly in salt, which came to account for a large portion of state income. In his 20-year term of office, he created his strong faction with his clan and Muslims from Central Asia. Ahmad's tax system gained a bad reputation from the Chinese because it was ruthlessly operated and considerably differed from traditional Chinese systems.
In 1271 the new financial department (Shangshusheng) was absorbed into Zhongshusheng. While holding the financial affairs, he started intervening in state administration. It heightened tension with the rival faction that included Crown Prince
Zhenjin
, Antong
, the head of Zhongshusheng and other Mongol aristocrats, and Chinese bureaucrats. The death of his political patron Chabui Khatun in 1281 made the situation critical; Ahmad was assassinated in the next year and his faction fell from power.
positively evaluates his assistance to Kublai's administration. The recent Mongolian studies also tend to make positive reference to his role in establishing the dynasty's unique financial system.
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
financial minister of Kublai Khan
Kublai Khan
Kublai Khan , born Kublai and also known by the temple name Shizu , was the fifth Great Khan of the Mongol Empire from 1260 to 1294 and the founder of the Yuan Dynasty in China...
's Yuan Dynasty
Yuan Dynasty
The Yuan Dynasty , or Great Yuan Empire was a ruling dynasty founded by the Mongol leader Kublai Khan, who ruled most of present-day China, all of modern Mongolia and its surrounding areas, lasting officially from 1271 to 1368. It is considered both as a division of the Mongol Empire and as an...
.
History
He came from Fanakat (Banakat), a town on the upper Syr DaryaSyr Darya
The Syr Darya , also transliterated Syrdarya or Sirdaryo, is a river in Central Asia, sometimes known as the Jaxartes or Yaxartes from its Ancient Greek name . The Greek name is derived from Old Persian, Yakhsha Arta , a reference to the color of the river's water...
in Central Asia
Central Asia
Central Asia is a core region of the Asian continent from the Caspian Sea in the west, China in the east, Afghanistan in the south, and Russia in the north...
. Trusted by Chabui Khatun, Kublai's favorite wife, he was entrusted with state finances in 1262. He was successful in managing the financial affairs of Northern China
North China
thumb|250px|Northern [[People's Republic of China]] region.Northern China or North China is a geographical region of China. The heartland of North China is the North China Plain....
and brought huge tax revenues to Kublai's new government.
In 1270 he assumed the full power of the new financial department named Shangshusheng (Chinese
Chinese language
The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
: 尚書省, "Department of State Affairs"), which had equal status with the administrative department named Zhongshusheng (Chinese: 中書省, "Central Secretariat"). After the conquest of the Song Dynasty
Song Dynasty
The Song Dynasty was a ruling dynasty in China between 960 and 1279; it succeeded the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period, and was followed by the Yuan Dynasty. It was the first government in world history to issue banknotes or paper money, and the first Chinese government to establish a...
in 1276, he entered the financial matters of Southern China
Northern and southern China
Northern China and southern China are two approximate regions within China. The exact boundary between these two regions has never been precisely defined...
. He prepared a state monopoly in salt, which came to account for a large portion of state income. In his 20-year term of office, he created his strong faction with his clan and Muslims from Central Asia. Ahmad's tax system gained a bad reputation from the Chinese because it was ruthlessly operated and considerably differed from traditional Chinese systems.
In 1271 the new financial department (Shangshusheng) was absorbed into Zhongshusheng. While holding the financial affairs, he started intervening in state administration. It heightened tension with the rival faction that included Crown Prince
Crown Prince
A crown prince or crown princess is the heir or heiress apparent to the throne in a royal or imperial monarchy. The wife of a crown prince is also titled crown princess....
Zhenjin
Zhenjin
Zhenjin was the second son of Kublai Khan, founder of the Yuan Dynasty. He was designated as the Crown Prince by Kublai Khan in 1273, and became the head of Zhongshusheng .The North Chinese Buddhist monk Haiyun gave him the name, Zhenjin , when he was born in 1243...
, Antong
Antong
Antong was a prominent official of Kublai Khan, the Great Khan of the Mongol World. As a great-grand son of Muqali of the Jalayir clan, one of the greatest generals under Genghis Khan, he became an influential administrator in the administration of the Yuan Dynasty.He was well educated in...
, the head of Zhongshusheng and other Mongol aristocrats, and Chinese bureaucrats. The death of his political patron Chabui Khatun in 1281 made the situation critical; Ahmad was assassinated in the next year and his faction fell from power.
Influence
Ahmad is portrayed as an evil man in traditional Chinese records: his corruption and tyranny are emphasized. In contrast, the Jami al-TawarikhJami al-Tawarikh
The Jāmiʿ al-tawārīkh, , or Universal History is an Iranian work of literature and history written by Rashid-al-Din Hamadani at the start of the 14th century.-The author:...
positively evaluates his assistance to Kublai's administration. The recent Mongolian studies also tend to make positive reference to his role in establishing the dynasty's unique financial system.