HULAGU KHAN (ILHAN)         

        

       Hulagu was born in 1217. He is the founder of Ilhanli State which ruled in Iran. He is the famous Turkish-Mongol warrior and ruler who caused collapse of Abbasi Caliphate by seizing Baghdad.

 

       His elder brother Mengu Khan became the Khan in lieu of his father and charged Hulagu for Iran affairs in 1253. "Ilhan" means the State Khan linked to Khan. Therefore, he was entitled as "Ilhan" and the rulers from his generation were called Ilhans.

 

       Hulagu had decided to eliminate East Ismailiye State after having occupied Iran and Caucasus. He took Elmut Castle, the center of Ismailis, who killed any ruler they wanted by means of their bouncer dervishes and who had a secret and terrifying organization like the anarchists of our times. He killed their last ruler, Rukneddin. He eliminated this state in 1256. He saved Nasıruddin et-Tusi, the famous scholar imprisoned by them and took with him.

 

       Hulagu grudged Baghdad Caliph due to inducements of Shiite Nasır and one of his Christian wives. He sent a message to last Abbasi Caliph Musta'sım-Billah to obey. Musta'sım was not strong but proud. He wanted to resist. The Shiite vizier of the Caliph, İbni Alkami, informing Hulagu that the situation was available for attack, and invited him secretly. So, Hulagu besieged Baghdad in 1258 for about fifty days.

 

       At last, the caliph got helpless and went to the headquarters of Hulagu to seek forgiveness with his sons and retinue. Hulagu put him into a sack and made his horsemen run over. He killed his whole family and burned Baghdad. He put the whole people who were approximately eight hundred thousand people to the sword. Then he returned to Syria. He took Aleppo and Damascus. However, this invasion was stopped by Sultan Baybars, the Turkish sultan in Egypt. His army routed badly one of the commanders of Hulagu and obliged Ilhanli state leave Syria.

 

       Hulagu was getting prepared to succeed to the throne being informed of the death of his elder brother before that. He remained in Iran and engaged himself in the affairs of his state. The historians see him as a ruler who shed much blood. This is true, but he was the founder of a state. He respected science and art.

 

       Hulagu gathered scholars in his palace and protected them. He was curious of knowledge. He used to study astronomy and chemistry. He built a observatory in Merage. He established science academies gathering scientists. He constructed mosques in Huy.

 

       Tabriz became a city of science in his period. Students went there to learn cosmography and other sciences from Byzantium. Hulagu, who died in 1266, was a harsh and brave commander and a well-informed ruler respecting science and art.