Tekuder

Tekuder
Khan
Tekuder receives an ambassador
Reign	1282–1284
Predecessor	Abaqa
Successor	Arghun
Dynasty	Ilkhanate
Father	Hulagu
Religion	Islam

Tekuder and Shams al-Din Juvayni.

Tekuder leading his Mongol warriors.

Arghun and Tekuder.

Ahmed Tekuder (Mongolian: Төгөлдөр, Tögöldör, meaning “perfect”), also known as Sultan Ahmad (reigned 1282–1284), was the sultan of the Persian-based Ilkhanate, son of Hulegu and brother of Abaqa. He was eventually succeeded by his nephew Arghun Khan.

Early life

Tekuder was born Nikola (Nicholas) Tekuder Khan, and was baptized in his childhood as a Nestorian Christian. However, Tekuder later converted to Islam^[1] and changed his name to Ahmed.

Sultanate

When Tekuder assumed the throne in 1282, he turned the Ilkhanate into a sultanate. Tekuder zealously propagated his new faith and sternly required his ranking officers to do the same. However, his nephew Arghun, the governor of Khorasan, was a Buddhist; and asked Kublai Khan, the Great Khan of the Mongol Empire and the emperor of the Yuan Dynasty, for help. Although, Kublai was angry with the situation, Arghun had to overthrow Tekuder himself given that the Great Khan's empire was far away from Persia.

Tekuder sent a friendly letter to the Mamluk sultan and wished for peace. His conversion to Islam and his ties with the Mamluks were poorly viewed by Mongol nobles.

When Arghun received no reply, he declared war against Tekuder. Tekuder requested help from the Mamluk Sultan, but the Mamluks did not fully co-operate with Tekuder. Having a small and inferior army, Tekuder was defeated by Arghun's larger army, and he was eventually executed on August 10, 1284.

Family

Tekuder had eight consorts:

• Tokuz Khatun, a lady from the Qunqirat tribe;
• Armini Khatun, a lady from the Qunqirat tribe;
• Baytegin Khatun daughter of Husayn Agha;
• Todagu Khatun, daughter of Musa Kurkan;
• El Qutlugh Khatun, daughter of Kingshu;
• Todai Khatun (m. 6 April 1284), widow of Abaqa Khan;
• Qurquchin Agachi, mother of Noqachi;
• Qonqurchin Agachi, mother of Kalturmish Khatun;

Sons

Tekuder had three sons:

• Qaplanchi - with Armini Khatun;
• Arslanchi - with Armini Khatun;
• Noqachi - with Qurquchin Agachi;

Daughters

Tekuder had six daughters:

• Kuchuk Khatun - with Toquz Khatun, married to Alinaq;
• Konchak Khatun - with Armini Khatun, married to Irinjin, son of Sarucha Agha;
• Chechak Khatun - with Armini Khatun, married to Borachu, son of Durabai;
• Maynu Khatun - with Armini Khatun, married to Jandan, son of Garai Baurchi;
• Saylun Khatun - with Togadu Khatun, married to Qaracha;
• Kalturmish Khatun - with Qonqurchin Agahchi, married firstly to Shadai, son of Bughu, married secondly to Toghan, son of Shadai;

References

• Atwood, Christopher P. (2004). The Encyclopedia of Mongolia and the Mongol Empire. Facts on File, Inc. ISBN 0-8160-4671-9.
• David Morgan, The Mongols