Abdurashid Khan

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[edit] Reign

Abdurashid Khan was the ruler of Yarkand Khanate in Uyghurstan (Eastern Turkestan) between 1533 and 1560 years A.D.

Khan was a descendant of the first moghul khan-Tughluk Timur Khan (1347-1363 AD) and was born in 1508. He came to power in 1533 when his father and predecessor Sultan Said Khan died of asthma during a military expedition in Tibet.

[edit] Achievements

[edit] Treaties

In 1538, Khan concluded the Treaty of Peace and Alliance with Shaybanid Ubaid Ullah , who ruled in West Turkestan at the time (1533-1539). He also completed the same treaty with the moghul Empire in India. During negotiations with Shaybanid Ubaid Ullah a famous Naqshbandi Sufi teacher Ahmad Kasani (1462-1542), known as Makhdum-i ' Azam (the Great Master) came to Kashgar from Samarkand and was granded big possessions there. His descendants, known as Makhdum Zadas and bearing title " Khoja ", played an important role in Eastern Turkestan history in XVI-XIX centuries. The descendants of his eldest son- Muhammad Amin (died in 1598) or Ishan Kalan, founder of branch Ishkiya of sufi order (tariqa) Naqshbandi khojagan, established themselves in Kashgar and became known as " Aq Taghliks ", those of " White Mountains" ,i.e. Tangri Tagh (Tian Shan). The descendants of his second son- Ishaq Wali (died in 1599), founder of branch Ishakiya of sufi order Naqshbandi khojagan, established themselves in Yarkand and became known as " Kara Taghliks " , those of " Black Mountains ", i.e. Pamir, Karakorum and Kunlun. The activities of both branches of Makhdum Zadas had ultimate and sudden success and very soon the whole population of Eastern Turkestan (including Khans) was divided into followers(murids) or opponents of one of two rival branches.

Abdurashid Khan was succeeded in Yarkand state after his death in 1560 year by his second son Abdul Karim Khan (1560-1591).

The historian and ruler of Kashmir, on behalf of Babur's descendants, Mirza Muhammad Haidar Dughlat wrote in 1541-1546 the book "Tarih-i-Rashidi" (The history of Rashid). He devoted it to Abdurashid Khan, despite the fact that he himself was expelled by the Khan, with many of his relatives from Kashgaria. It had been under the rule of his ancestors, the Dughlat Amirs, for about 300 years (1219-1514), beginning from Dughlat Amir Babdaghan (Tarkhan), who was granted the country "Mangalai Suyah" (Faced to Sun) by Chagatai Khan, second son of Chengiz Khan.