Ahmad Alaq

Ahmad Alaq (died 1503) (Uyghur: أحمد‎), was Khan of eastern Moghulistan (Uyghurstan) from 1487 to 1503. He was the second son of Yunus Khan. His mother was Shah Begum, fourth daughter of Badakhshan prince Lali, who was considered to be the descendant of Alexander the Great.

Life

During his father's lifetime Ahmad was behind several rebellions against him. When Yunus Khan took up residence in Tashkent in 1484, Ahmad and a large body of Moghuls fled to the steppes. In 1487, Ahmad's father died and was succeeded in the territory he still controlled by another son, Mahmud Khan.

Ahmad's reign was marked by conflicts with several of his neighbors. Conflict in the Ming Turpan Border Wars over Hami with the Ming Dynasty China resulted in an economic blockade of the region, which allowed the Chinese to eventually emerge victorious. A campaign against the Mirza Abu Bakr Dughlat, of the Dughlats of the South-West Tarim Basin, who were in theory vassals of the Moghul khans, resulted in the temporary acquisition of Kashgar in around 1499. In the same year he concluded Peace Agreement with Ming China that gave him opportunity to launch three expeditions against the Kalmyks in Northern part of Moghulistan ( Jettisu ), who occupied this region since reign of Esen Taishi and his son Amasanji Taishi . Ahmad twice completely defeated them. Because he slaughtered many Kalmyks during these expeditions he was nicknamed Alach , i.e. Slaughterer.

In the early 16th century, Ahmad and Mahmud decided to counter the growing power of the Uzbeks under Muhammad Shaybani. The two brothers united the forces and launched a campaign against the Uzbeks, but Muhammad Shaybani proved victorious in battle and took them both prisoner (Babur also was among his uncles' army and participated in this battle in Ferghana Valley, that had turned into disaster, but managed to flee south and hide in mountains with his mother, Kutluk Nigar Khanim, daughter of Yunus Khan, and few followers). They were soon released, but Ahmad died shortly afterwards, in 1503. He was succeeded in Uyghurstan by his eldest son Mansur Khan.

According to Mirza Muhammad Haidar, Dughlat he had 19 sons total, most prominent of whom were:

• Mansur Khan- ruler of eastern Moghulistan or Uyghurstan from 1503 to 1543 (included the cities Aksu, Uch Turpan, Bai, Kucha, Chalish or Karashahr, Turpan and Kumul).
• Sultan Said Khan- seized power from Dughlat Amirs' Dynasty of Yarkand state in 1514 (known at the time as Mamlakati Yarkand or Kashgar Emirate, included the cities of Kashgar, Yarkand, Yangihissar, Hotan and, for short periods, Aksu and Uch Turpan) in West Kashgaria. In 1516 the western and eastern parts of Kashgaria were united in one centralized state: Kashgar and Uyghurstan. Died in 1533 of asthma during a military expedition in Ursang ( Great Tibet ).
• Sultan Khalil Sultan- ruler of western Moghulistan from 1503 to 1508 (present Kyrgyzstan). He drowned in a river near Akhsi in the Fergana Valley after he was captured by Uzbek sultans.
• Chin Temur Sultan- was in the service of both Sultan Said Khan and Mansur Khan, but eventually fled to join Babur in India. He died of dysentery in Agra and was buried there.
• Yunus Temur Sultan - fled from the service of Sultan Said Khan and Mansur Khan and joined Babur in India.

Genealogy

Genealogy of Chughatai Khanates

In Babr Nama written by Babur, Page 19, Chapter 1; described genealogy of his maternal grandfather Yunas Khan as:

"Yunas Khan descended from Chaghatai Khan, the second son of Chingiz Khan (as follows,) Yunas Khan, son of Wais Khan, son of Sher-'ali Aughlon, son of Muhammad Khan, son of Khizr Khwaja Khan, son of Tughluq-timur Khan, son of Aisan-bugha Khan, son of Dawa Khan, son of Baraq Khan, son of Yesuntawa Khan, son of Muatukan, son of Chaghatai Khan, son of Chingiz Khan"

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^[2]

Chughtai Khanate

References

Mirza Muhammad Haidar Dughlat. Tarih-i-Rashidi ( History of Rashid ) or The history of Moghuls. Written in Kashmir in Chagatai language in 1541-February,1547. Translated by Edward Denison Ross. London, 1895. ISBN 81-86787-02-X, ISBN 81-86787-00-3
M.Kutlukov. About emergence of the Yarkand State. Almaty, 1990