Demasq Kaja facts for kids

Demasq Kaja or Dimashq Khwāja (Mongolian: ᠳᠢᠮᠢᠱ ᠬᠣᠵᠠ, romanized: Dimiš Qoǰa; Persian: دمشق خواجه, romanized: Demašq Ḵᵛājā, born 1300 – died August 24, 1327) was an important person in the Ilkhanate, a powerful Mongol empire. He was a member of the Chobanid family, which held a lot of influence during the 14th century. Demasq Kaja even served as a vizier, a top advisor, for the Ilkhanate ruler, Abu Sa'id Bahadur Khan.

Life of Demasq Kaja

Demasq Kaja was born around the year 1300. This was during a time when Ghazan Khan was leading Mongol armies in Syria. His father, Chupan, was a very powerful general. Chupan named his son after the city of Damascus, possibly because Demasq Kaja was born during a siege of that city.

Rise to Power

Demasq Kaja became important because his father, Chupan, gained a lot of influence. After a key official named Amir Sevinch died in 1318, Chupan became very powerful. At just 18 years old, Demasq Kaja took control of the Shabankara district in the Fars province. He then shared parts of this land with his supporters.

In 1319, some of his lands were attacked during a revolt by Irinjin and Qurumishi. After this revolt was defeated, Chupan became even more powerful. He was technically serving the Ilkhanate ruler, but he was the real power behind the throne. Chupan then divided the Ilkhanate into areas of influence for himself and his sons. Demasq Kaja became the governor of Azerbaijan and Iraq.

Meeting a Holy Man

According to a book called Safvat as-safa, Demasq Kaja met Safi-ad-din Ardabili in 1320. This meeting happened in Karabakh. Safi-ad-Din Ardabili was a respected religious leader. Demasq Kaja later signed an important document about Safi-ad-Din Ardabili's family.

Serving as Vizier

In 1325, Demasq Kaja took over the powers of the vizier, Rukn al-Din Sa'in. A vizier was like a prime minister or chief minister. They helped the ruler manage the government. Some historians have called Demasq Kaja the first Mongol vizier of the Ilkhanate, though there were others before him.

Downfall and Death

In 1326 and 1327, Chupan and Rukn al-Din went on a military campaign. They were fighting against a ruler named Duwa in Khurasan. With his father away, Demasq Kaja was in charge back at the Ilkhanate capital, Sultaniya.

The ruler, Abu Sa'id Bahadur Khan, had grown tired of Chupan and his family having so much power. He planned to remove them. Demasq Kaja was seen as the most immediate threat. He was also known for being arrogant. Abu Sa'id found a reason to act against him. Demasq Kaja tried to escape from Sultaniyah, but he was caught by an emir named Misr Khwaja. He was killed on August 25, 1327. Other stories suggest he was killed because of Narin Taghay, who had been banished from the court.

Demasq Kaja was the first of the Chobanid family to be killed in this way. Others from his family soon followed. He was buried in Tabriz in a neighborhood that was later named Dimashqiyya after him. His sister, Baghdad Khatun, ordered a school (madrasa) to be built in his memory.

Family Life

Demasq Kaja had one wife, Tursin Khatun. She was the daughter of Irinjin. Tursin Khatun was killed in 1324. Demasq Kaja and Tursin Khatun had several daughters:

• Dilshad Khatun (died 1351): She first married Abu Sa'id Bahadur Khan. Later, she married Shaikh Hasan Buzurg.
• Sultan Bakht Khatun: She first married Amir Ilkhan. Later, she married Masud Shah Inju.
• Dendi Shah Khatun: She married Shaikh Ali Khushji. She was the mother of Misr Malik.
• Alam Shah Khatun: She married Sultan Shah.