Mahmud Ghazan

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Mahmud Ghazan (original Mongol name: Ghazan Khan, b. November 5, 1271 – d. May 11, 1304), was the seventh ruler of the Mongol empire's Ilkhanate division in Iran from 1295 to 1304.

Ghazan was the son of Arghun Khan and a Christian mother^{[citation needed]}. During his youth, together with his brother Oljeitu, he converted to Buddhism, which was the dominant religion in the Mongol empire during its early times.

In 1292, however, under the advice of the Rashid al-Din^{[citation needed]}, Ghazan converted to Sunni Islam. Along with his conversion, Ghazan changed his first name to the Arab name Mahmud.

Prior to his time, under the harsh reign of the succeeding emperors after Hulegu, the Muslim majority were oppressed under the Buddhist emperors, who encouraged the flourishing of Tibetan Buddhism and Nestorianism. However, with the conversion of Ghazan, Islam rose once again, and the Buddhist and Christian counterparts were severely harassed.

After annexating power from Baydu in 1295, Ghazan mercilessly destroyed Buddhist temples and chased Buddhists out of his dominion or converted them to Islam. The Christians were also severely affected. Yet despite his conversion, due to his cultural roots, Ghazan encouraged the original archaic Mongol culture to flourish. He tolerated the Shiites as well.

Ghazan died in 1304 and was succeeded by his brother Oljeitu, who continued the adoption of Islam, and later by his nephew Abu Sa'id and niece Sati Beg. His principal wife during his lifetime was Kökechin.