Sufi dynasty
The Sufid dynasty was a
Origins
The progenitor of the Sufid dynasty was Naghday Biy, a Mongol noble and a member of the
History
Husain Sufi
After the annexation of Khwarezm into the Mongol Empire in the early 13th century, it had become divided into two parts. The northern half went to the khans of the White Horde, while the southern half fell into the hands of the ulus of Chagatai. This division remained in place until the 1350s, when the Sufid dynasty took power in Khwarezm.[1]
The first Sufid ruler Husain Sufi, a son of Naghday,
This encroachment on what was considered to be Chagatai territory ultimately led to conflict with the amir Timur. At the time of the seizure of Kath and Khiva Transoxiana had lacked a ruler who could respond, but by 1369 Timur had unified the region under his rule. Timur, who maintained a puppet Chagatai khan, felt strong enough to demand the return of Kath and Khiva from Husain Sufi in the early 1370s.[9]
Husain Sufi's refusal to return southern Khwarezm caused Timur to go to war against him in 1372. Kath was quickly overrun; Husain Sufi decided to fortify Urgench and remain there. Urgench was surrounded by Timur's army and Husain Sufi died during the siege.[9]
Yusuf Sufi
Husain Sufi was succeeded by his brother, Yusuf Sufi, who concluded a peace with Timur in which Timur received Kath and Khiva.[9] Timur's army left northern Khwarezm; in the following year, however, Yusuf Sufi provoked Timur by invading his territories and trying to retake Kath and Khiva. This led Timur to undertake a second campaign against him in 1373, but Yusuf Sufi quickly sent his apologies[10] and gave his daughter Khanzada Begum in marriage to Timur's son Jahangir in exchange for peace.[11]
Yusuf Sufi's continuing incursions into Timur's territory prompted another invasion in 1379.[1] This time Urgench was besieged; Yusuf Sufi died in the middle of the siege and Timur demanded the city's surrender. The city refused; as a result when Timur's army finally did capture it by force, a general massacre followed and the city was burned.[12]
Suleiman Sufi
The Sufids' defeat at the hands of Timur did not shake their desire to retain their hold on Khwarezm. Suleiman Sufi allied with the khan of the Golden Horde, Tokhtamysh, and in 1387 revolted in concert with the khan's invasion of Transoxiana. Timur immediately took action against Suleiman Shah, overrunning Khwarezm and crushing the rebellion.[13]
Later Sufids
Despite their loss of independence, the Sufids continued to play an influential role in the Timurid Empire. In the late 14th century one Yayïq Sufi is mentioned; a probable member of the Sufid line, Yayïq Sufi obtained a high position in Timur's army. He rebelled in 1393/4, but was defeated and imprisoned.[14]
In the 15th century Khwarezm was usually controlled by the Timurids, although it on occasion fell into the hands of the khans of the
Rulers
- Aq Sufii (1359–1361)
- Husain (1361–1372)
- Yusuf (1372–1379)
- Balankhi (1380)
- Maing (1380)
- Sulayman (1380–1388)
See also
Notes
- Hulagu Khan. They were the parents of Noqay Noyan, whose son Aghaday was Naghday's father.[6]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g Bosworth 1978, p. 1064.
- ^ Bregel, Yuri (1982). "Tribal tradition and dynastic history: The early rulers of the Qongirats according to Munis". Asian and African Studies. 16 (3): 387.
- ^ Manz, p. 11
- ^ Bregel 1982, p. 387.
- ^ Bregel (1982, pp. 362, 365)
- ^ Bregel (1982, pp. 362, 365, 369)
- ^ Bregel (1982, p. 387)
- ^ Bregel (1982, p. 387)
- ^ a b c Manz 1989, p. 11; Hildinger 1997, p. 328; Ashrafyan 1999, p. 328
- ^ Manz 1989, p. 69; Hildinger 1997, pp. 176–177; Ashrafyan 1999, p. 329
- ^ Hildinger 1997, pp. 176–177.
- ^ Hildinger 1997, p. 177.
- ^ Manz 1989, p. 71; Bosworth 1978, p. 1064; Ashrafyan 1999, p. 329
- ^ Manz 1989, p. 102.
Sources
- ISBN 81-208-1595-5.
- Bosworth, Clifford Edmund (1978). "Khwarazm". The Encyclopedia of Islam. Vol. IV. Leiden: E. J. Brill. ISBN 90-04-05745-5.
- DeWeese, Devin A. (1994). Islamization and Native Religion in the Golden Horde. Pennsylvania State University. ISBN 0-271-01073-8.
- Hildinger, Erik (1997). Warriors of the Steppe: A Military History of Central Asia, 500 B.C. to 1700 A.D. Da Capo.
- Manz, Beatrice Forbes (1989). The Rise and Rule of Tamberlane. Cambridge University. ISBN 0-521-63384-2.