Uwais Khan

 ( Chagatai Khans ) 

Uwais and his band of loyalists took to plundering in and around the territory of Sher Muhammad, especially in the neighborhood of Lop Desert (Lob), Kuruktag Desert (Katak) and Yugur people region possibly present day Gansu in China. But finding little scope for activity in that country, Uwais Khan went to Turkestan. At that time Amir Shaikh Nur-ud-din, son of Sar Bugha Kipchak, one of Amir Timur's generals, was Governor of Turkestan. With him Sher Muhammad had some conflict, and since Uwais Khan was at enmity with Sher Muhammad, Amir Shaikh Nur-ud-din gave his daughter Daulat Sultan Sakanj, in marriage to Uwais Khan. He also gave Uwais Khan much assistance in his attacks on Sher Muhammad, and for a long time there was continual conflict between Uwais Khan and his uncle, the latter being as a rule, victorious. One of these encounters took place at a spot in Moghulistan called Karang Kaingligh.

Finally, Uwais Khan, after a long and rapid march, surprised Sher Muhammad in his camp at midnight in one of these confrontations. The assailants were four hundred strong. When the alarm was raised, Sher Muhammad threw himself into a ditch, while Uwais Khan, surrounding the camp, searched till dawn for Sher Muhammad, slaying all whom he met. Yet, notwithstanding their search and the violence they used towards the people in the camp, no trace of Sher Muhammad was to be found. When day broke Uwais Khan left. Then Sher Muhammad came out of the ditch, and his men having again collected round him, he set out in pursuit of Uwais Khan, who managed to save himself after many narrow escapes. In fine, this hostility continued between them until the natural death of Sher Muhammad, whereupon Uwais Khan succeeded as Moghul Khan of Moghulistan.

• He had given his horse to the Khán and had himself remained on foot.
• He had seized the Oirats Officer.
• He had used him as a shield for a whole farsakh or approximately 3 miles.
• He had brought the Khan fully armed and mounted across the River Ailah.
• Although he had hold of the Khan, he twice stretched out his hand to save drowning men.

In consideration of these five actions, he gave the Amir five Aymāqs as a reward.

• Turkát.
• Hibat Shirá Sut.
• Uzbeg, a tribe of Khotan.
• Darugha, also a tribe of Khotan.
• Kukanit, also a tribe of Khotan.

There being no help for it, Makhtum Khanim was given to him, and the Khan was set at liberty. It is commonly reported that the Khan had sixty-one engagements with the Oirats, only once was he victorious; on every other occasion he was put to rout.

Khidmat Maulana told Mirza Muhammad Haidar Dughlat the following story of his uncles, who used to say:

Although Uwais Khan eventually made Turfan his main base of residence he was forced to leave this city under attacks of Oirats, who previously captured Jimsar County and Hami City, and move to Ilibalik in Ili River Valley. He had two sons: eldest Yunus Khan, who was 13 years old during his death, and youngest Esen Buqa Khan. He also had a daughter, who was married to the Timurid dynasty Abdul Aziz Mirza, son of Ulugh Beg.Vasilii Vladimirovitch Barthold, Four Studies on the History of Central Asia, Vol. 2 (1959), p. 142

He was a disciple of Maulana Muhammad Kashani, who in turn was a disciple of Khwaja Hasan, and Khwaja Hasan was a disciple of Qutb-i-Masnad Arshad Khwaja Baha-ud-Din Naqshband Bukhari. Being a king did not prevent Uwais Khan from passing his time in such studies as theology. His reign was fairly prosperous. It was during his reign that Amir Khudaidad went on a pilgrimage to Makkah. Moghul records state that Amir Khudaidad performed coronation of six Moghul Khans, from Khizr Khoja to Uwais Khan. After the departure of Amir Khudaidad for Makkah, the accession of Mir Muhammed Shah to his father's rank and titles was achieved.