Mu'in al-Din Parwana facts for kids

Muʿīn al-Dīn Sulaymān Parwāna, often known simply as Parwāna (died August 2, 1277), was an important Persian statesman. He played a key role in the politics of Anatolia (modern-day Turkey) for many years, especially between 1261 and 1277. He was involved with three powerful groups: the Seljuk Sultanate of Rûm, the Mongol Ilkhanate, and the Mamluks led by Baybars.

The front of the Gök Medrese in Tokat. Parwana helped build this school around 1270.

Who Was Parwana?

Mu'in al-Din Suleiman was the son of Muhadhdhab al-Din Ali al-Daylami. His father was a Persian from Kashan and worked as a top advisor (called a vizier) for the Seljuk Sultan Kaykhusraw II. This was around 1243, during the time of the Battle of Köse Dağ.

Parwana grew up during a difficult time after this battle. He received a good education. He became a commander in Tokat and later in Erzincan. The Mongol commander Bayju suggested that Parwana become a chamberlain (a high-ranking official) at the palace in Konya. This palace belonged to the Seljuk sultans of Rûm, who were then under Mongol rule.

Parwana married Gurju Khatun, who was the widow of Sultan Kaykhusraw. He became very powerful in the Seljuk state, which was starting to decline. He was known for being very clever in politics. His title, parwana, means "personal aide of the sultan."

Rise to Power

After Sultan Kaykhusraw died, his sons argued over who should be the next ruler. Parwana supported Kilij Arslan IV and helped him become the new sultan. Around this time, Parwana also took Sinop and twelve nearby castles from the Empire of Trebizond. This area was given to him and his family to control.

Parwana's power grew so much that he worried Sultan Kilij Arslan IV might try to remove him. So, Parwana acted first and arranged for the sultan to be killed in Aksaray in 1265. After this, Kilij Arslan IV's young son, Kaykhusraw III (1265–1283), became the new sultan.

Dealing with Powerful Empires

During the war between the Mamluks and the Ilkhanate, Parwana tried to stay on good terms with everyone. He wanted to keep all his options open. A historian named Ibn Shaddad wrote that when the Mamluk leader Baybars came to Syria in 1275, Parwana played a big part. He convinced Baybars not to invade Anatolia directly. Instead, he suggested Baybars attack the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia. Parwana persuaded Baybars to wait until the next year to invade the Seljuk lands.

However, Parwana did not have the full trust of the Ilkhan Abaqa. Also, Baybars's successes made some Seljuk leaders, especially the governors of Diyarbekir, Harput, and Niğde, start to feel against Mongol rule.

Parwana's Final Days

In 1277, Baybars entered the Seljuk sultanate. On March 18, he defeated the Mongol army in Elbistan. Parwana, who was supposed to lead the Seljuk army, fled to Tokat with the young sultan. Baybars then entered Kayseri triumphantly on April 23, before returning to Syria.

When Abaqa heard about his army's defeat, he quickly came to Anatolia in July 1277. He severely punished the Seljuk Turks, and many people were harmed or killed. Abaqa believed Parwana was responsible for Baybars's invasion of Anatolia. Because of this, Abaqa had Parwana killed on August 2, 1277.

Parwana's son, Mehmed Bey, took control of the family's lands around Sinop. He wisely chose to remain loyal to the Mongols. His son, Mesud Bey, also followed this policy. Later, Mesud Bey was captured by the Genoese in 1298 and had to be ransomed for a large sum of money. The last known leader from Parwana's family was probably Gazi Chelebi. He was a famous pirate who ruled Sinop in the early 1300s.

Important Buildings

Many buildings founded by Parwana still exist today.

In Sinop, the Alaeddin Camii stands where an old cathedral used to be. This cathedral was turned into a mosque by Kayqubad I after 1214. The mosque we see today was built by Parwana in 1267-68. The nearby Alâiye Medrese, sometimes called the Pervâne Medrese, was finished in the same year.

In Tokat, Parwana built the Gök Medrese in 1277. It was first a hospital and a medical school. Today, it is a museum. A nearby Seljuk-style bathhouse (hamam) is also thought to be built by him, even though there is no inscription to prove it. There is another mosque built by Parwana in Merzifon.

Recently, the remains of a medrese (an Islamic school) founded by Parwana were found in the old market area of Kayseri. Parts of this school were dug up by archaeologists in 2002.

See also

• Pervâneoğlu