Sultan Husayn Bayqara facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sultan Husayn Bayqara |
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A portrait of Sultan Husayn Bayqara, from an early illustrated manuscript.
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| Amir of the Timurid Empire | |||||
| Reign | 24 March 1469 – 4 May 1506 | ||||
| Predecessor | Abul-Qasim Babur Mirza Abu Sa'id Mirza |
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| Successor | Badi' al-Zaman Mirza & Muzaffar Husayn Mirza | ||||
| Born | June 1438 Herat, present-day Afghanistan |
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| Died | 4 May 1506 (age 68) Baba Ilahi, Khurasan |
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| Burial | Musalla Complex, Herat, present-day Afghanistan | ||||
| Spouse | Bega Sultan Begum Chuli Begum Shahr Banu Begum Payanda Sultan Begum Khadija Begi Agha Zainab Sultan Begum Afak Begum Zobeida Sultan Aghacha Baba Aghacha Latifa Sultan Aghacha Mangeli Bi Aghacha Begi Sultan Aghacha |
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| Issue | Badi' al-Zaman Mirza Muzaffar Husayn Mirza Shah Gharīb Mirza Abul Hassan Mirza Muhammad Muhsin Mirza Abu Tarab Mirza Muhammad Husayn Mirza Feridun Husayn Mirza Haider Mirza Muhammad Maasum Mirza Farrukh Husayn Mirza Ibrahim Husayn Mirza Ibn Husayn Mirza Muhammad Qasim Mirza Sultanim Begum Ak Begum Kechek Begum Bega Begum Agha Begum Fatima Sultan Begum Nizhad Sultan Begum Sa'adat Bakht Begum Aisha Sultan Begum Maryam Sultan Begum Munawar Sultan Begum |
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| House | Timurid | ||||
| Dynasty | Timurid dynasty | ||||
| Father | Mansur Mirza | ||||
| Mother | Firuza Sultan Begum | ||||
| Religion | Islam | ||||
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Sultan Husayn Bayqara Mirza (Persian: سلطان حسین بایقرا Husayn Bāyqarā) was an important ruler of the Timurid dynasty. He ruled the city of Herat from 1469 until 1506. His time as ruler was very special for art and learning.
Sultan Husayn Bayqara was known for supporting artists, writers, and scholars. His rule is often called the "second Timurid Renaissance". This means it was a time when art, science, and culture grew a lot. Even his cousin, the Mughal emperor Babur, admired his court. Sultan Husayn Bayqara was the last major Timurid ruler in the region of Khorasan.
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Who Was Sultan Husayn Bayqara?
Husayn Bayqara was born in Herat in June or July 1438. His father was Ghiyas ud-din Mansur Mirza. His mother was Firuza Sultan Begum. His family was part of the Turco-Mongol Barlas tribe.
Husayn's father was a great-grandson of the famous conqueror Timur. His mother, Firuza, was also a great-granddaughter of Timur. Both his parents were also related to the Mongol Emperor, Genghis Khan. This made him connected to very powerful and important families.
When Husayn was young, his father passed away. He decided to use the name Bayqara to honor his famous grandfather, Bayqara Mirza I. In 1452, he started working for his older cousin, Abul-Qasim Babur Mirza, who ruled Herat.
Early Challenges and Adventures
Life was not easy for Husayn Bayqara at first. Abul-Qasim Babur Mirza was not a strong ruler. Husayn tried to join another ruler, Abu Sa'id Mirza, but was arrested for a short time. After being freed, he went back to Abul-Qasim Babur Mirza until his cousin died.
After Babur's death in 1457, the region of Khurasan became very chaotic. There was no strong central government. Different leaders fought for control. During this time, Husayn Bayqara became a mercenary. This means he was a soldier who fought for money. He joined Sultan Sanjar Mirza of Merv.
Husayn Bayqara even tried to take power in Merv while Sanjar was away. This attempt failed, and he had to escape with only a few horsemen. But he soon gathered more fighters. He was chased across the Karakum Desert and ended up in Khwarazm.
Becoming the Ruler of Khurasan
The region of Herat was still very unstable. Different groups, like the Kara Koyunlu, invaded and took control. But Abu Sa'id Mirza eventually took Herat back.
Husayn Bayqara gathered a force of 1,000 men. He took the city of Jurjan in 1458. However, Abu Sa'id Mirza attacked Jurjan, and Husayn had to leave. Later, when Abu Sa'id Mirza was busy with another rebellion, Husayn Bayqara attacked Jurjan again. He won a battle in May 1461.
He tried to capture Herat, but Abu Sa'id Mirza returned, and Husayn had to retreat again. For about 8 to 10 years, Husayn Bayqara faced many difficulties. He moved from place to place, sometimes struggling greatly.
A New Opportunity
A big change happened when Abu Sa'id Mirza went to war against the Aq Qoyunlu group. Abu Sa'id was defeated and captured. He was then executed by a young Timurid prince named Yadgar Muhammad Mirza.
When Abu Sa'id died, the Timurid Empire became very weak. Husayn Bayqara took this chance. He entered Khurasan again and captured Herat on March 24, 1469. This made him the new ruler of Khurasan.
Securing His Empire
After taking Herat, Husayn Bayqara still faced challenges. The Aq Qoyunlu leader, Uzun Hasan, sent Yadgar Muhammad Mirza to conquer Khurasan. Husayn defeated Yadgar in a battle in September 1469. But Yadgar received more soldiers.
Husayn had to flee Herat for a short time in July 1470. But just six weeks later, he gathered new forces and took the city back. He captured Yadgar and had him executed.
With these victories, Husayn's empire became secure. The Aq Qoyunlu stopped attacking him. The other Timurid rulers were too weak to challenge him. His empire stretched from the Caspian Sea to Lake Hamun. He also respected his border with the Oxus River.
How Sultan Husayn Bayqara Ruled
Husayn Bayqara was seen as a "good king" who loved peace and fairness. He built many important structures, including a famous school. However, he suffered from a health condition for twenty years of his rule.
He had to deal with several rebellions. For example, in 1490, his son Ibrahim Husain's guardian plotted with Sultan Mahmud. Mahmud attacked Balkh, where Ibrahim lived, and Husayn had to fight back. Later, his eldest son, Badi' al-Zaman, rebelled. Husayn defeated him but later made peace. However, the peace did not last, and Badi' even attacked Herat in 1499.
Sultan Husayn Bayqara also made some rules about behavior. He banned drinking wine and shaving beards. He believed his rule made the laws of Islam very strong.
The Uzbek Threat and End of an Era
In 1501, a new threat appeared: the Uzbeks. Led by Muhammad Shaybani, the Uzbeks conquered lands near Husayn's empire. They started raiding his kingdom.
Husayn was getting old and sick. At first, he did not act against the Uzbeks, even when Babur advised him to. Finally, he decided to march against them. But he passed away in 1506, just as he began his advance.
After his death, his sons, Badi' and Muzaffar Husain, fought over who would rule. Babur, who had come to help Husayn, saw this fighting and decided the area was too hard to defend. The next year, Muhammad Shaybani conquered Herat. This ended the Timurid rule in Khurasan.
Culture and Arts Under His Rule
Sultan Husayn Bayqara was a great supporter of arts and literature. This led to a wonderful time for culture in Herat. The most important poets at his court were Jami and Ali-Shir Nava'i. Jami is known as one of the last great classical Persian poets. Ali-Shir Nava'i is famous for starting Chagatai Turkic literature.
Husayn Bayqara supported both Turkish and Persian languages and cultures. This showed how the two cultures blended during his time. However, Persian remained the main language used in his kingdom.
Family Life
Sultan Husayn Bayqara had many wives and children.
- Wives
He had twelve wives, including:
- Bega Sultan Begum
- Chuli Begum
- Shahr Banu Begum
- Payanda Sultan Begum
- Khadija Begi Agha
- Zainab Sultan Begum
- Afak Begum
- Zobayda Sultan Aghacha
- Latifa Sultan Aghacha
- Mangeli Bi Aghacha
- Baba Aghacha
- Begi Sultan Aghacha
- Sons
He had eighteen sons, including:
- Badi' al-Zaman Mirza
- Muzaffer Hussain Mirza
- Shah Gharib Mirza
- Abul Hassan Mirza
- Muhammad Muhsin Mirza
- Abu Tarab Mirza
- Muhammad Hussain Mirza
- Feridun Hussain Mirza
- Haidar Muhammad Mirza
- Muhammad Ma'asum Mirza
- Farrukh Hussain Mirza
- Ibrahim Hussain Mirza
- Ibn Hussain Mirza
- Muhammad Qasim Mirza
- Afrasiyab Mirza
- Masum Ali Mirza
- Sultan Jahangir Mirza
- Jahangir Husain Mirza
- Daughters
He had eighteen daughters, including:
- Zainab Sultan Begum
- Ak Begum
- Kechek Begum
- Bega Begum
- Agha Begum
- Fatima Sultan Begum
- Maryam Sultan Begum
- Sultan Nizhad Begum
- Sa'adat Bakht Begum
- Munawar Sultan Begum
- Aisha Sultan Begum
- Khanum Sultan Begum
- Sa'adat Nizhad Begum
- Salima Sultan Begum
- Badi-al-Mulk Begum
- Umm Salima Begum
- Munisa Sultan Begum
- Khurshid Bakht Begum
Images for kids
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This painting shows Sultan Husayn Bayqara in battle against Sultan Masʿud Mirza.
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Sultan Husayn Bayqara
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| Preceded by Yadigar Muhammad |
Timurid Empire (in Herat) 1469–1506 |
Succeeded by Badi' al-Zaman |
