Kutlushah, Kutlusha or Qutlughshah (, , or Cotlesse in Franks sources), was a general under the Mongol Ilkhanate ruler Ghazan at the end the 13th century. He was particularly active in the Christian country of Georgia and especially during the Mongol invasion of Syria, until his ignominious defeat in 1303 led to his banishment. He was killed during the conquest of Gilan in 1307.
Early life
Kutlushah was a member of the Mongol
Manghud tribe.
His father Mangghudai Noyan
was one of leading generals of
Kublai Khan, whose grandfather Jedei Noyan was
Genghis Khan's
mingghan commander.
His uncle Hulqutu Qurchi was also a major
Kheshig emir of
Hulagu Khan and
Abaqa Khan.
He had two or three brothers who had died before his rise to prominence. Amir Timur Buqa was one of his brothers who commanded a
mingghan.
Nawruz's rebellion
He served Abaqa as his commander and became a companion of then prince
Ghazan in Khorasan when the prince was still a teenager after Nawruz's rebellion. However, he couldn't engage in military matters due to his illness in the winter of 1289, but joined Ghazan's expedition against Nawruz in the spring. Joined by Nurin Aqa and Amir
Sutay, he resisted Nawruz rather unsuccessfully. Ghazan sent Qutlughshah to the newly enthroned
Gaykhatu to inform him of developments in Khorasan in 1291, however Gaykhatu was little interested in sending reinforcements apart from several emirs. Seeing this, Ghazan appointed Kutlushah as his deputy in Khorasan and proceeded to Azerbaijan to meet Gaykhatu in person, but ilkhan repeatedly denied to see him. Kutlushah, meanwhile managed to overwhelm Nawruz and forced him to retire to
Nishapur. After a while Kutlushah was reported to be suffering from drinking alcohol heavily, after being treated, he stopped drinking.
He was present with Ghazan when Nawruz resubmitted to him November 1294.
Under Ghazan
After Gaykhatu's murder and
Baydu's enthronement, Ghazan marched against new ilkhan in 1295, accusing him of unjust murder of his uncle. Kutlushah commanded left wing of Ghazan's army and defeated Baydu, finally capturing him in Nakhchivan. After Ghazan's enthronement, he was given hand of
Arghun's daughter Öljai Timur Khatun on 30 May 1296. He grew closer to Ghazan and asked for investigation on Nawruz, suspecting of his treason.
Anatolian campaigns
A series of revolts were erupted in
Anatolia after
Taghachar's execution in 1296. First one was by Baltu (from
Jalairs tribe), who captured Taghachar and turned him over to Ghazan. Ghazan appointed Kutlushah to lead three tumens towards Anatolia to crush him.
After Baltu's defeat and subsequent flight, his accomplice
Mesud II surrendered himself to Kutlushah. After receiving his submission, Kutlushah left for
Herat to crush Nawruz in 1297 and executed him, meanwhile a new insurrection occurred by Kutlushah's subordinate, Sulamish in 1298. Kutlushah was forced to come back from Arran and won a victory against him, on 27 April 1299 near
Erzincan, causing Sulamish to flee to Mamluk Egypt.
Georgian campaigns
Kutlushah had an important role in the Kingdom of Georgia, where he owned lands, and his family was well known. He was often used as an intermediary and ambassador to negotiate with King David VIII who consistently opposed Mongol rule.
[Luisetto, p.141]
When David VIII required reassurances from the Mongols, in the shape of promises and hostages, Kutlushah provided his own son Shiba'uchi[Luisetto, p.142] In 1298 and 1300, Kutlushah led the repression against popular revolts in the lands of David VIII.[Luisetto, p.140]
He was involved in an incident, where Ghazan's vizier Sadr al-Din Zanjani incited him to act against Rashid-al-Din. However, after Qutlughshah's report, Zanjani was arrested and executed by Qutluqshah himself on 30 April 1298 with this brother Qutb al-Din by cutting him in half., to accompany Kutlushah on the 1303 attack on Damascus.[In "Le Royaume Armenien de Cilicie", p.74-75]]]
Syrian campaigns
In 1300 Ghazan had promised a major invasion of
Syria. However, he ended up sending a smaller force in February 1301, under Kutlushah. The force of approximately 60,000, did little else than engage in some raids around Syria. Kutlushah stationed 20,000 horsemen in the Jordan valley to protect Damas, where a Mongol governor was stationed.
[Jean Richard, p.481] Soon however, they had to withdraw. According to the medieval historian Templar of Tyre:
Kutlushah was given another princess of royal house on 7 August 1301, this time El Qutlugh Khatun, daughter of Gaykhatu, following death of Öljai Timur.
Kutlushah also led the 1303 Mongol offensive into Syria, with a strong force of about 80,000, plus troops from the Cilician Armenia.[Demurger, "Jacques de Molay", p.158] However Kutlushah, along with another Mongol general Mulay, were defeated with the Armenians at Homs on March 30, 1303, and at the decisive Battle of Shaqhab, south of Damas, on April 21, 1303.[Demurger, p. 158] Their invasion, decisively repelled by the Egyptian , is considered to be the last major Mongol invasion of Syria.[Nicolle, p. 80] According to the Mamluk historian Al-Maqrizi, Kutlushah barely escaped the death penalty for his defeat. Instead, he received the humiliation of being spat upon by all the people present at his judgement, and his generals all received baton strokes as a punishment. Kutlushah was then exiled to the region of Gilan.[Luisetto, p.226]
Under Öljaitü
Upon Ghazan's death in 1304, his brother Öljaitü was raised to the throne. Subsequently, Kutlushah was restored to favor and was named supreme commander of Ilkhanate forces. His son Qaranjuq was appointed to serve in
Anatolia as Öljaitü's 20th emir in rank. He led Öljaitü's campaign in
Gilan Province, starting from 1306. Departing from Khalkhal, he succeeded subduing Fuman and
Gasgareh whose ruled Dabbaj sent presents to Kutlushah's subordinate Amir Pulad Qiya.
However, his son Shiba'uchi convinced Kutlushah to push further and plunder Dabbaj's lands. Acting on his wishes, much of Fuman was plundered and Dabbaj's family arrested. Pulad Qiya was taken out of expedition and was replaced by Shiba'uchi, who was defeated during resistance from local armies from Tulim,
Rasht and Shaft. Qutluqshah was ambushed by Rikabzen, ruler of Tulim on 13 June 1307 and killed. Several other versions of his death, including his execution on avenge of Nawruz, exist. The Mamluk historian
Al-Yunini gave his death date as late as 3 July 1307.
His body was taken to
Tabriz and buried there. His subordinate
Chupan was raised as new supreme commander of Ilkhanate after his death.
Personality
According to al-Yunini, met
Ibn Taymiyyah on 18 February 1300 and had a conversation on nature of Islam.
According to Taymiyyah, Kutlushah was in 50s and had a yellowish skin color with beardless face.
Kutlushah converted to Islam alongside Ghazan in 1295. According to an anecdote, before his execution, Gilak ruler Rikabzen told him "Wasn't it him who delivered you from wearing chokha, drinking kumis and Doogh and working in hard jobs to robe of honor, tasbih and fur-coat, fed you sweets and sugar, made you amir ulus of the country of Iran?", posing as Nawruz's avenger.
He criticized Islam again in 1307, during the reign of Öljaitü:
He was described as "friend to Christians" by Stephen Orbelian in History of the Province of Syunik.
Family
He had numerous wives including two Ilkhanid princesses:
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Öljai Timur Khatun (married on 30 May 1296) — daughter of Arghun
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El Qutlugh Khatun (married on 7 August 1301) — daughter of Gaykhatu,
With other wives:
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Shiba'uchi — emir, later stripped of his titles by Öljaitü for causing his father's death
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Iqbalshah — Granted his possession in Georgia by Abu Sa'id
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Qaranjuq — Öljaitü's 20th emir in rank, stationed in Anatolia
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Sevinch Qutluq — married to Amir Sevinch on 15 February 1311
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A daughter — married to Emir Horqudaq
Notes
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Luisetto, Frederic Armeniens et autres Chretiens d'Orient sous la domination mongole, Editions Geuthner, Paris
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