Hasan Buzurg
Encyclopedia
Shaikh Hasan, called "Buzurg" ("The Great"), was the first of several de facto independent Jalayirid
rulers of Iraq
and central Iran
. He was the son of Husain and Öljetey.
the daughter of Amir Coban. Coban later became the most influential person at the court of Abu Sa'id Mirza. However, the Ilkhan soon became enamored with Bagdad Katun, and sought to have her divorce Hasan Buzurg. Coban sent the two of them to Qarabagh
in an attempt to rid Bagdad Katun from Abu Sa'id's mind, but the effort failed, and Bagdad Katun was forced to marry the Ilkhan. After the murder of Coban in 1327, Bagdad Katun and the Grand Vizier Ghiyath al-Din Muhammad competed for influence over Abu Sa'id. Ghiyah al-Din spread a rumor that Bagdad Katun and Hasan Buzurg were plotting against the Ilkhan; Hasan Buzurg was arrested in 1332. His mother convinced the Ilkhan to spare his life, and he was imprisoned in the castle of Kamakh. In 1333, however, he was cleared and was sent to become governor of Rüm
. During Abu Sa'id's lifetime, Hasan Buzurg was also called upon by Ghiyas al-Din to help stop rampant tax abuses in eastern Persia.
Following the death of Abu Sa'id, several parties competed for the Ilkhanid throne. In 1336 Hasan Buzurg saw his chance and raised a child, Muhammad Khan
, to claim the position. On July 24 Hasan Buzurg and Muhammed met the forces of Musa Khan
and 'Ali Padshah in the Ala-Tagh area; Musa was defeated and 'Ali Padshah killed. Hasan Buzurg pursued Musa on his way to Baghdad
and created many losses for his enemy. He then proceeded to Tabriz
, where he married the granddaughter of Coban and the wife of Abu Sa'id, Delsad Katun
, who was pregnant with Abu Sa'id's daughter. Meanwhile, the amirs in Khurasan
adopted their own candidate for Ilkhan, Togha Temur
. Togha set off in 1337 to subdue western Persia. Azarbaijan and 'Iraq-i 'Ajam were taken. In March he arrived before Sultaniyeh, the former capital of the Ilkhans, and Hasan Buzurg withdrew to Arran
. Musa's forces, initially battling Togha's, now joined the invader. Togha and Musa met Hasan Buzurg at Soghurlug in the Maragheh area on June 15; Hasan defeated them, took Musa prisoner shortly after, and executed him. Togha gave up the campaign and withdrew to eastern Persia.
Shortly afterwards, however, several descendants of Coban united under his grandson Hasan Kucek, who used a slave to impersonate his father in order to legitimatize his cause. The Chobanids battled with Hasan Buzurg on July 16, 1338 at Naushahr in the Alataq area. Hasan Buzurg was defeated; his puppet khan, Muhammed, was killed. Shortly afterwards, the Chobanids conquered Azarbaijan. A peace was declared, but Hasan Buzurg sought to be rid of the Chobanid threat. He offered the Ilkhanid throne to Togha Temur, who invaded early in 1339. Hasan Kucek, however, offered the hand of Sati Beg in marriage, and when Togha responded warmly to the proposal, he forwarded the letters to Hasan Buzurg. The latter, enraged, halted his expedition to support Togha, who was forced to withdraw during the summer of that year.
Following his abandonment of Togha Temur, Hasan Buzurg recognized Jahan Temur, a grandson of Geikhatu, as Ilkhan. The conflict with the Chobanids again boiled over, and Hasan Buzurg and Jahan Temur met Hasan Kucek and his new puppet Suleiman Khan
in battle on the Jaghatu. There Hasan Buzurg was defeated on June 26, 1340. He fled to Baghdad; following which he declared Jahan Temur deposed. With the Chobanids continuing to press him, Hasan Buzurg again recognized Togha Temur’s suzerainty, and struck coins in his name. After he stopped recognizing Togha in 1344, he still did not proclaim himself independent, and ruled with the title of ulus beg, as a mere governor, simply leaving the Ilkhan throne unfilled. Nevertheless, this marks the beginning of effectively independent Jalayirid rule.
For the rest of his reign Hasan Buzurg attempted to deal with the Chobanids. He managed to form an alliance with Hasan Kucek’s uncle Surgan, as well as the governor of Diyarbakr and the Mamelukes, but Surgan was soon convinced to abandon the alliance, and the Mamelukes withdrew shortly after. He also offered assistance to another of Hasan Kucek’s uncles, Yagi Basti
, as well as to Mas’ud Shah of the Injuids
, in their attempt to expel Hasan Kucek’s cousin Pir Hosayn from Shiraz
. The murder of Hasan Kucek in 1343 did not provide much relief, for his brother Malek Asraf sent an army to conquer Baghdad in 1347. Jalayirid forces, however, inflicted heavy losses on the force, which was forced to retreat by the summer. While Malek Asraf and the Chobanids would survive until 1357, their threat to the Jalayirids was diminished. Hasan Buzurg continued to play an influential part in Persian politics; he assisted the Injuid Abu Ishaq against the Muzaffarids
, helping him restore his rule in Isfahan
in 1353. The latter, however, destroyed the Injuids in 1357.
Hasan Buzurg died in 1356. He was succeeded by his son, Shaikh Uvais
. In addition to Uvais, he was the father of Amir Zahid.
Hasan Buzurg is also remembered for his friendship with Shaikh Saf'i al-Din (d. 1334) of the Ardabil
order. Saf'i al-Din's descendents would found the Safavid dynasty of Persia, and later on many of Hasan Buzurg's accomplishments would be accredited to his friendship with the Shaikh. After Hasan Buzurg's death, the Jalayirids continued to maintain good relations with the Arbadil order.
Jalayirids
The Jalayirids were a Mongol Jalayir dynasty which ruled over Iraq and western Persia after the breakup of the Mongol Khanate of Persia in the 1330s....
rulers of Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
and central Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
. He was the son of Husain and Öljetey.
Shaikh Hasan-i Buzurg
Hasan Buzurg was married to Bagdad KatunBagdad Katun
Bagdad Katun was a Chobanid princess that gained a position of prominence in the closing years of the Ilkhanate. She was a daughter of Coban....
the daughter of Amir Coban. Coban later became the most influential person at the court of Abu Sa'id Mirza. However, the Ilkhan soon became enamored with Bagdad Katun, and sought to have her divorce Hasan Buzurg. Coban sent the two of them to Qarabagh
Qarabagh
Qarabagh may refer to:*Qarabagh District, Ghazni, in Ghazni Province, Afghanistan*Qarabagh District, Kabul, in Kabul Province, AfghanistanSee also:*Karabakh, region in Azerbaijan...
in an attempt to rid Bagdad Katun from Abu Sa'id's mind, but the effort failed, and Bagdad Katun was forced to marry the Ilkhan. After the murder of Coban in 1327, Bagdad Katun and the Grand Vizier Ghiyath al-Din Muhammad competed for influence over Abu Sa'id. Ghiyah al-Din spread a rumor that Bagdad Katun and Hasan Buzurg were plotting against the Ilkhan; Hasan Buzurg was arrested in 1332. His mother convinced the Ilkhan to spare his life, and he was imprisoned in the castle of Kamakh. In 1333, however, he was cleared and was sent to become governor of Rüm
Rûm
Rûm, also Roum or Rhum , an indefinite term used at different times in the Muslim world to refer to the Balkans and Anatolia generally, and for the Byzantine Empire in particular, for the Seljuk Sultanate of Rûm in Asia Minor, and referring to Greeks living outside of Greece or non-muslims...
. During Abu Sa'id's lifetime, Hasan Buzurg was also called upon by Ghiyas al-Din to help stop rampant tax abuses in eastern Persia.
Following the death of Abu Sa'id, several parties competed for the Ilkhanid throne. In 1336 Hasan Buzurg saw his chance and raised a child, Muhammad Khan
Muhammad Khan
Muhammad Khan may refer to:*Mohammad Khan Qajar , Shah of Persia*Muhammad Khan , claimant to the throne of the Ilkhanate...
, to claim the position. On July 24 Hasan Buzurg and Muhammed met the forces of Musa Khan
Musa Khan
General Muhammad Musa Khan Hazara H.Pk., HJ, HQA, MBE, IDC, psc , was the Commander in Chief of Pakistan's Army. He succeeded Field Marshal Ayub Khan, who assumed the Presidency of Pakistan.-Early Life and Military Career:...
and 'Ali Padshah in the Ala-Tagh area; Musa was defeated and 'Ali Padshah killed. Hasan Buzurg pursued Musa on his way to Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
and created many losses for his enemy. He then proceeded to Tabriz
Tabriz
Tabriz is the fourth largest city and one of the historical capitals of Iran and the capital of East Azerbaijan Province. Situated at an altitude of 1,350 meters at the junction of the Quri River and Aji River, it was the second largest city in Iran until the late 1960s, one of its former...
, where he married the granddaughter of Coban and the wife of Abu Sa'id, Delsad Katun
Delsad Katun
Delsad Katun, also Delshad Khatun , was a member of the Chobanid family during the mid-fourteenth century. She was the daughter of Demasq Kaja and a granddaughter of Coban....
, who was pregnant with Abu Sa'id's daughter. Meanwhile, the amirs in Khurasan
Greater Khorasan
Greater Khorasan or Ancient Khorasan is a historical region of Greater Iran mentioned in sources from Sassanid and Islamic eras which "frequently" had a denotation wider than current three provinces of Khorasan in Iran...
adopted their own candidate for Ilkhan, Togha Temur
Togha Temür
Togha Temür , also known as Taghaytimur, was a claimant to the throne of the Ilkhanate in the mid-14th century. Of the many individuals who attempted to become Ilkhan after the death of Abu Sa'id, Togha Temür was the only one who hailed from eastern Iran, and was the last major candidate who was of...
. Togha set off in 1337 to subdue western Persia. Azarbaijan and 'Iraq-i 'Ajam were taken. In March he arrived before Sultaniyeh, the former capital of the Ilkhans, and Hasan Buzurg withdrew to Arran
Arran (Azerbaijan)
Arran , also known as Aran, Ardhan , Al-Ran , Aghvank and Alvank , or Caucasian Albania , was a geographical name used in ancient and medieval times to signify the territory which lies within the triangle of land, lowland in the east and mountainous in the west, formed by the junction of Kura and...
. Musa's forces, initially battling Togha's, now joined the invader. Togha and Musa met Hasan Buzurg at Soghurlug in the Maragheh area on June 15; Hasan defeated them, took Musa prisoner shortly after, and executed him. Togha gave up the campaign and withdrew to eastern Persia.
Shortly afterwards, however, several descendants of Coban united under his grandson Hasan Kucek, who used a slave to impersonate his father in order to legitimatize his cause. The Chobanids battled with Hasan Buzurg on July 16, 1338 at Naushahr in the Alataq area. Hasan Buzurg was defeated; his puppet khan, Muhammed, was killed. Shortly afterwards, the Chobanids conquered Azarbaijan. A peace was declared, but Hasan Buzurg sought to be rid of the Chobanid threat. He offered the Ilkhanid throne to Togha Temur, who invaded early in 1339. Hasan Kucek, however, offered the hand of Sati Beg in marriage, and when Togha responded warmly to the proposal, he forwarded the letters to Hasan Buzurg. The latter, enraged, halted his expedition to support Togha, who was forced to withdraw during the summer of that year.
Following his abandonment of Togha Temur, Hasan Buzurg recognized Jahan Temur, a grandson of Geikhatu, as Ilkhan. The conflict with the Chobanids again boiled over, and Hasan Buzurg and Jahan Temur met Hasan Kucek and his new puppet Suleiman Khan
Suleiman Khan
Suleiman Khan was a Chobanid puppet for the throne of the Ilkhanate during the breakdown of central authority in Persia. He was the great-grandson of the Ilkhan Hülegü's third son Yoshmut....
in battle on the Jaghatu. There Hasan Buzurg was defeated on June 26, 1340. He fled to Baghdad; following which he declared Jahan Temur deposed. With the Chobanids continuing to press him, Hasan Buzurg again recognized Togha Temur’s suzerainty, and struck coins in his name. After he stopped recognizing Togha in 1344, he still did not proclaim himself independent, and ruled with the title of ulus beg, as a mere governor, simply leaving the Ilkhan throne unfilled. Nevertheless, this marks the beginning of effectively independent Jalayirid rule.
For the rest of his reign Hasan Buzurg attempted to deal with the Chobanids. He managed to form an alliance with Hasan Kucek’s uncle Surgan, as well as the governor of Diyarbakr and the Mamelukes, but Surgan was soon convinced to abandon the alliance, and the Mamelukes withdrew shortly after. He also offered assistance to another of Hasan Kucek’s uncles, Yagi Basti
Yagi Basti
Yagi Basti was a member of the Chobanid family and the ruler of Shiraz for a part of 1343. He was the son of Amir Chupan by his second wife.-Career:...
, as well as to Mas’ud Shah of the Injuids
Injuids
The House of Inju was a Mongol dynasty that came to rule over the Persian cities of Shiraz and Isfahan during the 14th century AD...
, in their attempt to expel Hasan Kucek’s cousin Pir Hosayn from Shiraz
Shiraz, Iran
Shiraz is the sixth most populous city in Iran and is the capital of Fars Province, the city's 2009 population was 1,455,073. Shiraz is located in the southwest of Iran on the Roodkhaneye Khoshk seasonal river...
. The murder of Hasan Kucek in 1343 did not provide much relief, for his brother Malek Asraf sent an army to conquer Baghdad in 1347. Jalayirid forces, however, inflicted heavy losses on the force, which was forced to retreat by the summer. While Malek Asraf and the Chobanids would survive until 1357, their threat to the Jalayirids was diminished. Hasan Buzurg continued to play an influential part in Persian politics; he assisted the Injuid Abu Ishaq against the Muzaffarids
Muzaffarids
The Mozaffarids were a family that came to power in Iran following the breakup of the Ilkhanate in the 14th century.-Rise to Power:The Mozaffaris were a family that settled in Khorasan from the beginning of Caliphal rule there. They stayed in Khorasan up until the Mongol invasion of that province,...
, helping him restore his rule in Isfahan
Isfahan (city)
Isfahan , historically also rendered in English as Ispahan, Sepahan or Hispahan, is the capital of Isfahan Province in Iran, located about 340 km south of Tehran. It has a population of 1,583,609, Iran's third largest city after Tehran and Mashhad...
in 1353. The latter, however, destroyed the Injuids in 1357.
Hasan Buzurg died in 1356. He was succeeded by his son, Shaikh Uvais
Shaikh Uvais
Shaikh Uvais, also known as Uways or Oways , was a Jalayirid ruler of Iraq and Azerbaijan . He was the son of Hasan Buzurg and the Chobanid Delsad Katun.-Life:...
. In addition to Uvais, he was the father of Amir Zahid.
Legacy
Hasan Buzurg seemed intent on restoring unity to the Ilkhanate. This is evidenced by the fact that he used the title of ulus beg all of his life, and raised several men as Ilkhans instead of ruling in his own name. Furthermore, he attempted to unify Persia; he had sent a Muhammad-I Mulai to act as governor of Khurasan, for example; the latter was later executed by Togha Temur’s military commander Arghun Shah. In attempting to maintain the Ilkhanate, he ultimately failed, and in some ways accelerated its disintegration, by preventing other forces such as the Chobanids from gaining more influence. However, he set up a strong state that would rule over Iraq and parts of Persia for over half a century, a state that would become even more powerful under his successor Shaikh Uvais.Hasan Buzurg is also remembered for his friendship with Shaikh Saf'i al-Din (d. 1334) of the Ardabil
Ardabil
Ardabil is a historical city in north-western Iran. The name Ardabil probably comes from the Zoroastrian name of "Artavil" which means a holy place. Ardabil is the center of Ardabil Province. At the 2006 census, its population was 412,669, in 102,818 families...
order. Saf'i al-Din's descendents would found the Safavid dynasty of Persia, and later on many of Hasan Buzurg's accomplishments would be accredited to his friendship with the Shaikh. After Hasan Buzurg's death, the Jalayirids continued to maintain good relations with the Arbadil order.