Amir Qazaghan

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Qazaghan (d. 1358) was the leader of the Qara'unas tribe (1345 at the latest – 1358) and the effective ruler of the Chagatai ulus (1346 – 1358).

In 1345 he revolted against Qazan Khan, but was unsuccessful. The following year he tried again and succeeding in killing the khan. With this the effective power of the Chagatai khans came to an end; the khanate devolved into a loose confederation of tribes that respected the authority of Qazaghan, although the he primarily commanded the loyalty of the tribes of the southern portion of the ulus. He did not claim the khanship, but instead contented himself with his title of amir and conferred the title of khan on puppets of his own choosing: first Danishmendji (1346-1348) and then Bayan Quli (1348-1358).

Following the example of the khans before him, Qazaghan raided northern India. He also sent several thousand troops to aid the Sultan of Delhi, Muhammad bin Tughluq, against rebels in his country in 1350 or 1351. Following complaints from the Arlat and the Arpardi, two tribes which were loyal to him, of raids by the Kartids under Mu'izzu'd-Din, Qazaghan launched a punitive expedition. Herat was sacked and much plunder was gathered.

In 1358 Qazaghan was assassinated by the son of Borolday, one of the rulers of the Qara'unas before Qazaghan. He had aroused the anger of his murderer by denying him the tumen of Borolday. He was succeeded as leader of the Qara'unas by his son, ‘Abdullah.

[edit] References

• Manz, Beatrice Forbes, The Rise and Rule of Tamerlane. Cambridge University Press, 1989, ISBN 0-521-34595-2.