Jalayirid Court of the Sultanic Khanate

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The Grand Sultanic Court
of the
Jalayirid Khan​

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Baghdad, Capital of the Jalayirid Dominions
and Grandest Cultural and Scholarly Capital
of the Islamic World

Realm: Jalayirids
Head of State: Sultan 'Ahmad' Ghiyath al-Din Khan
Player: Jeffg006
Religion: Sunni
Culture: Arabic (Mongolic)
Provinces: 5
Regions Owned: Baghdad(5), Basrah(3), Euphrates(3), Iraq(3), Kowayt(2).
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A History
of the Jalayrid Khans:​

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The Great Jalayirid Khans:

1336 - 1356 Tajuddin Hasan Buzurg (Ex-administrator of Anatolia)

1356 - 1374 Uwais I ('Uvais')

1574 (Two months) Hasan I

1374 - 1382 Jalaluddin Hussein I

1382 - 1410 Ghiyathuddin 'Ahmad' Hussein I

The original Jalayirids were a Mongol tribe that supported the great Il-Khan Hülegü's rise to power and eventually provided the successors to the Il-Khan dynasty as rulers of Iraq and Azerbaijan. A Jalayirid dynasty made its capital at Baghdad (1336-1432).

Hasan Buzurg, founder of the dynasty, had served as governor of Anatolia (Rum) under the Il-Khan Abu Sa'id (reigned 1317-35). Following the death of Abu Sa'id, Hasan Buzurg competed for real control of the empire with his rival, the Chupanid amir Hasan Kücük ("the Small," so designated to distinguish him from Hasan Buzurg, "the Great"); they set up rival khanates. Soon afterward the empire broke down into local dynasties in Anatolia, Iran, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Armenia.

Baghdad, Capital of the Khanate
and Sultanate​

Hasan Buzurg had, meanwhile, established his line in Baghdad, from which he conducted his agitation against the Chupanid Princes, old enemies of the Jalayirid tribe and rivals for power in the lands. Hasan Buzurg's son, The most prominent of the Jalayirids, Sheikh Uways (1356-74) finally wrested control of Azerbaijan from the Süldüz Chupanids in 1360, creating a polity based on Arabian Iraq and Azerbaijan. He enlarged Jalayirid domains by seizing Azerbaijan (1360) and placing the Mozaffarid principality of Fars under his suzerainty (1361-64). In addition to this and other military exploits, he fostered trade and commerce and won renown as patron of poetry, painting, and calligraphy. He also undertook a number of architectural projects in Baghdad.

Expansion of the Golden Horde​

The dynasty, however, was beset by the westward migrations and invasions of various Turkic and Mongol tribes. The khans of the Golden Horde, successors of Batu, unsuccessfully attempted the conquest of Azerbaijan in 1356-59. ​

The Wars of the Two Princes:
Buzurg of the Jalayirids and Kucek Hasan of the Chupanids​

After Hasan Buzurg, or “Ulus Beg” married the daughter of Amir Coban, Bagdad Katun. Coban later became the most influential person at the court of Abu Sa'id. However, the Ilkhan soon became enamored with Bagdad Katun, and sought to have her divorce Hasan Buzurg.

Hasan Buzurg ~ 'Ulus Beg'
Founder of Jalayirid Power​

Coban sent the two of them to Qarabagh in an attempt to rid Bagdad Katun from Abu Sa'id's mind, but the effort failed, and Bagdad Katun was forced to marry the Ilkhan. After the murder of Coban in 1327, Bagdad Katun and the Grand Vizier Ghiyath al-Din Muhammad competed for influence over Abu Sa'id.

Grand Vizier Ghiyah al-Din,
Schemer and Plotter​

The Vizier Ghiyah al-Din spread a rumor that Bagdad Katun and Hasan Buzurg were plotting against the great Ilkhan; Hasan Buzurg was arrested in 1332. Hasan's mother, holding a great deal of influence at the time used her tears and womanly pleas and convinced the Ilkhan to spare his life, and he was imprisoned in the castle of Kamakh. In 1333, however, Hasan was cleared and was sent to become governor of Rüm. During Abu Sa'id's lifetime, Hasan Buzurg was also called upon by the plotting Grand Vizier Ghiyas al-Din to help stop rampant tax abuses in eastern Persia, which were rampant at the time.

Abu Sa'id
of the Ilkhanids​

Following the death of Abu Sa'id of the Ilkhanids, several powerful tribes and clans of different factions competed for the Ilkhanid throne. In 1336 Hasan Buzurg, always adept to devise victory in political situations, saw his chance and raised a child, Muhammad Khan, to claim the Khan's position. On July 24 Hasan Buzurg and Muhammed met the forces of their rivals for the throne, Musa Khan and the powerful 'Ali Padshah in the Ala-Tagh area in a most bloody battle; Musa was defeated and 'Ali Padshah killed. Sensing complete victory, Hasan Buzurg hastily pursued Musa on his way to Baghdad and slaughtered many of the fleeing foe's soldiers, causing so many losses for his enemy. He then proceeded to Tabriz, where he married the granddaughter of Coban and the wife of Abu Sa'id, Delsad Katun, who was pregnant with Abu Sa'id's daughter. Meanwhile, the amirs in Khurasan adopted their own candidate for Ilkhan, Togha Temur. Togha set off in 1337 to subdue western Persia. Azarbaijan and 'Iraq-i 'Ajam were taken. In March he arrived before Sultaniyeh, the former capital of the Ilkhans, and Hasan Buzurg withdrew to Arran. Musa's forces, initially battling Togha's, now joined the invader. Togha and Musa met Hasan Buzurg at Soghurlug in the Maragheh area on June 15; Hasan defeated them, took Musa prisoner shortly after, and executed him. Togha gave up the campaign and withdrew to eastern Persia.

Shortly afterwards, however, several descendants of Coban united under his grandson Hasan Kucek, who used a slave to impersonate his father in order to legitimatize his cause. The Chobanids battled with Hasan Buzurg on July 16, 1338 at Naushahr in the Alataq area. Hasan Buzurg was defeated; his puppet khan, Muhammed, was killed. Shortly afterwards, the Chobanids conquered Azarbaijan. A peace was declared, but Hasan Buzurg sought to be rid of the Chobanid threat. He offered the Ilkhanid throne to Togha Temur, who invaded early in 1339. Hasan Kucek, however, offered the hand of Sati Beg in marriage, and when Togha responded warmly to the proposal, he forwarded the letters to Hasan Buzurg. The latter, enraged, halted his expedition to support Togha, who was forced to withdraw during the summer of that year.
Following his abandonment of Togha Temur, Hasan Buzurg recognized Jahan Temur, a grandson of Geikhatu, as Ilkhan. The conflict with the Chobanids again boiled over, and Hasan Buzurg and Jahan Temur met Hasan Kucek and his new puppet Suleiman Khan in battle on the Jaghatu. There Hasan Buzurg was defeated on June 26, 1340. He fled to Baghdad; following which he declared Jahan Temur deposed. With the Chobanids continuing to press him, Hasan Buzurg again recognized Togha Temur’s suzerainty, and struck coins in his name. After he stopped recognizing Togha in 1344, he still did not proclaim himself independent, and ruled with the title of ulus beg, as a mere governor, simply leaving the Ilkhan throne unfilled. Nevertheless, this marks the beginning of effectively independent Jalayirid rule.

For the rest of his reign Hasan Buzurg attempted to deal with the Chobanids. He managed to form an alliance with Hasan Kucek’s uncle Surgan, as well as the governor of Diyarbakr and the Mamelukes, but Surgan was soon convinced to abandon the alliance, and the Mamelukes withdrew shortly after. He also offered assistance to another of Hasan Kucek’s uncles, Yagi Basti, as well as to Mas’ud Shah of the Injuids, in their attempt to expel Hasan Kucek’s cousin Pir Hosayn from Shiraz. The murder of Hasan Kucek in 1343 did not provide much relief, for his brother Malek Asraf sent an army to conquer Baghdad in 1347. Jalayirid forces, however, inflicted heavy losses on the force, which was forced to retreat by the summer. While Malek Asraf and the Chobanids would survive until 1357, their threat to the Jalayirids was diminished. Hasan Buzurg continued to play an influential part in Persian politics; he assisted the Injuid Abu Ishaq against the Muzaffarids, helping him restore his rule in Isfahan in 1353. The latter, however, destroyed the Injuids in 1357.
Hasan Buzurg died in 1356. He was succeeded by his son, Shaikh Uvais. In addition to Uvais, he was the father of Amir Zahid.

Hasan Kucek ~ Chopanid Prince
and Great Rival to Hasan Buzurg​

Hasan Kucek - (c. 1319-December 15, 1343) was a Chobanid prince during the 14th century. He is credited with setting up a nearly independent Chobanid state in northern Persia during the struggles taking place in the aftermath of the Ilkhanate. He was a son of Timurtas.

Hasan's father had been executed by the Mamelukes in 1328. His rise to power began three years after the death of the last powerful Ilkhan, Abu Sa'id. The Jalayirids under Hasan Buzurg had recently mastered western Persia, putting a puppet Muhammed Khan on the Ilkhan throne in 1336. Hasan attempted to unify the fragmented Chobanid family. Claiming his father was alive, he used a slave named Qara Jari (a possible offspring of Hasan's grandfather Coban) to impersonate him. Timurtas' widow was even married to him. Mameluk Sultan Al-Nasr Muhammad, who had ordered Timurtas' execution, attempted to expose the fraud, but without much success. The Chobanids rallied to him; several of them (such as Pir Hosayn) defected from Hasan Buzurg's service. Together, they defeated Hasan Buzurg in Alataq on July 16, 1338. Muhammed Khan was executed, and the region around Tabriz was occupied.

At this point, Qara Jari attempted to get rid of Hasan Kucek and take power for himself, but fled when the effort failed. Following this, Hasan raised Sati Beg, sister of Abu Sa'id and widow of Coban, to the Ilkhanid throne in the summer of 1338. When Togha Temur, another claimant to the throne, invaded from Khurasan in the winter of 1339 at the behest of Hasan Buzurg, the Chobanid offered Sati's hand to him in marriage. Using this to receive letters of assurance from Togha Temur, Hasan Kucek forwarded these to the Jalayirids. Hasan Buzurg, feeling betrayed, stopped his advance in support of Togha, and the latter was forced to retreat in July 1339.

In the meantime, Hasan Kucek found a new suitable puppet in the form of Suleiman Khan, whom he forced Sati Beg to marry in May of 1339. Hasan decided to march against the Jalayirids again. Supported by Pir Hosayn, as well as his uncle Surgan, he defeated the Jalayirids on June 26, 1340, in the Zarrinarüd valley near Maraga. Surgan was made governor of Iraq.

During Hasan Kucek’s reign, not all of the Chobanid Princes remained loyal, as they had been taken under Jalayirid power. One such Prince, Surgan, unhappy with the treatment of Sati Beg (who was his mother), defected to Hasan Buzurg. An alliance was formed between the two, soon joined by the ruler of Diyarbakr, as well as Sultan Al-Nasr. Hasan Kucek, however, managed to lure him out of the alliance, and the Mameluks soon abandoned their support. Still, Surgan began to plot with Togha Temur, who sent his brother Amir Shaikh 'Ali Kavon to invade Iraq. These forces were defeated by Hasan Kucek's brother Malek Asraf in the latter half of 1341, and Surgan was soon imprisoned.

Around the same time, several of the Chobanids became embroiled in a conflict concerning Fars. Malek Asraf, along with his cousin Pir Hosayn and his uncle Yagi Basti, were involved in a conflict that also included the Injuids, the owners of the area, and the Jalayirids. The conflict split the Chobanids, and Pir Hosayn was arrested and executed in Tabriz in 1342. Yagi Basti and Malek Asraf met up in Baghdad; realizing the danger of the two individuals, Hasan Kucek caused Malek Asraf to flee to Georgia, and then convinced Hasan Buzurg to abandon his support for him. Still, the two were back in Fars in the following year. Meanwhile, Hasan Kucek was murdered by his wife near the end of 1343, ostensibly because she feared that her marital infidelity would be discovered. As Hasan Kucek left no successor, Malek Asraf and Yagi Basti, along with Surgan, split the Chobanid lands, though Malek would eventually become sole ruler.

Peace Restored to the Lands:
Uwais the East Taker​

Shortly after Uvais succeeded his father, the old enemy of the Jalayirids, the Chobanids, were overrun by the forces of the Blue Horde under Jani Beg in 1357. Malek Asraf was executed, and Azerbaijan was conquered. Following Jani Beg’s withdrawal from Azerbaijan, as well as his son Berdi Beg’s similar abandonment of the region in 1358, the area became a prime target for its neighbors.

Uwais I ~ Conqueror​

Shaikh Uvais, who at first had recognized the sovereignty of the Blue Horde, decided to take the former Chobanid lands for himself, even as a former amir of Malek Asraf’s named Akhichuq attempted to keep the region in Mongol hands. Despite a campaign that ended prematurely, as well as the brief conquest of Azerbaijan by the Muzaffarids, Uvais conquered the area in 1360. In addition to Baghdad, he could now boast Tabriz as a large city under his control.

During his reign, Shaikh Uvais sought to increase his holdings in Persia. He became involved in the power struggles of the Muzaffarids, supporting Shah Mahmud in his efforts against his brother Shah Shuja. Shah Mahmud married one of Uvais’ daughters, and received support around 1363 in his conquest of Shiraz. In 1364 Uvais campaigned against the Shirvan Shah Kai-Ka’us, but a revolt begun by the governor of Baghdad, Khwaja Mirjan, forced him to return to reassert his authority. In 1366 Uvais marched against the Black Sheep Turkmen, defeating their leader, Bairam Khwaja, at the battle of Mush. Later, he defeated the Shirvan Shah, who had attacked Tabriz twice in the meantime. In an effort to extend further east, he fought against Amir Vali, who ruled in Astarbad, and defeated him in Ray. When his brother Amir Zahid died in Ujan, however, he was forced to turn back. The governorship of Ray was trusted in the hands of a Qutlugh Shah, who was followed two years later by ‘Adil Aqa.

Uwais I Campaigns in Persia​

Due to his campaigns, Uvais spent much time in Persia, and he died in Tabriz in 1374; Baghdad, however, remained his capital. During his lifetime, the Jalayirid state reached its peak in power. In addition to his military adventures, which were considerable, he was known for his attempts to revive commercial enterprise, which had suffered heavily in the past years, in the region, as well as his patronage to the arts. His chronicler, Abu Bakr al-Qutbi al Ahri, wrote of Uvais’ deeds in the Tarikh-i Shaikh Uvais. Shaikh Uvais was succeeded by his son Hasan.

The Corrupt Amirs and the New Khan:
Hasan and Husain​

After his father Uwais died, the dim-minded Hasan succeeded him, but he had never been a popular individual among the general people. Shortly after he began his reign, he began to demand much of his nobility and vassals, and complete power to his hand. This was unacceptable to the clans and Amirs whom had always excercised their own rights within their territories, and quickly a civil war was started against him, that resulting in Hasan being captured, and was executed by his Amirs, who then put his brother Husain on the throne.

Following the execution of his brother Hasan, the Amirs placed Jalaludin Husain on the throne. Almost immediately he had to deal with an invasion by his brother-in-law Shah Mahmud of the Muzaffarids. The rich Shah Mahmud, who was the son-in-law of Shaikh Uvais, advanced a claim on Tabriz and took the city. Illness, however, forced him to abandon the region. This was followed by an invasion by the leader of the Muzaffarids, Shah Shuja, but despite taking the city, he was also forced to retreat due to a rebellion in Qazvin. It was only in the summer of 1376 that Husain took up residence in Tabriz. In the following spring, he undertook a successful campaign against the Black Sheep Turkmen under Bairam Khwaja, who had been raiding from the west.

Jalaludin Husain ~ the Greedy
Executed by his Brother​

Husain's reign was marred by conflict with his surviving brothers; namely, Shaikh 'Ali, Ahmad, and Bayazid. Husain also lost his popularity among many Amirs who disliked his support of the powerful 'Adil Aqa, the governor of Ray. Husain was faced with a series of uprisings, hostility among his brothers, and troubles with his external enemies. When 'Adil Aqa turned on him, Husain lost his last powerful supporter.

Ahmad Husain ~ Current Khan
and Sultan​

Ahmad advanced from Arbadil and occupied Tabriz near the end of April 1382; he ordered Husain's execution. Ahmad would then himself take the throne, but conflict between him and 'Adil Aqa and Bayazid meant that the state fell into a period of disunity.

Khan Ahmad immediately made his boundaries clear, as his vassal and chiefs are called to Baghdad to swear loyalty to him in 1384, and so began a period of internal organization, to ensure that the Jalayirid Khanatate and Sultanate was well protected, and made allies of it's more useful neighbouring states, as well as gain revenge on those whom had stolen it's northern and eastern lands...


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Dramatis Personae:​

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~ Sultan 'Ahmad' Ghiyath al-Din Khan
Sultan and Khan of all the Jalayirid dominions, the at first wiley yet ambitious Ahmad has grown up in a climate of treachery, pacts, broken bonds and blood. He has been toughened throughout his life as a warrior, as all of his clan are, and has been raised in a time when the strongest survive. After leading an uprising against his own brother, whom had been deemed unfit to rule, his youth vanished when he ordered his own brother's execution - and from such, he has proven to his family and the Amirs of the Jalayirid dominions that he is truly the strongest to rule.Seeing the ambitions of his old enemies of the north, the Mamelukes of the west, and the Ilkhanate's successors, He has ambitions of regaining the lands lost in the north, yet he is still young and feels he must marry a true political and secure his own rule first.

~ Prince Bayazid
Prince Bayazid is next in line to rule after Ahmad as well as his brother, and is adamant in his destiny to do so. Loyal to his brother in all ways, he even supported Ahmad with against their dim witted older brother Jalaludin Husain, yet he has a great wanting for one thing and one thing only - the throne he seeks. Gathering information across the dominions, Bayazid schemes to find his own way into power, amidst the cooperation of his brothers.

~ Prince Shaikh 'Ali
Youngest brother to the Khan and Sultan Ahmad, Shaikh 'Ali is ferverently loyal to Ahmed whom he had ridden alongside with to many battles. While many of his own family plot for their own power, Shaikh 'Ali works with his brother, to further their family and has inventive ideas for the Khanate, and it's permanant place on the world's map.

~ Princess Füsun 'al-Shria'
Sister of Ahmad and a personal advisor to him all his life, the Princess is a woman veiled in mystery. It is rumored that while she is openly a Muslim, she has a dangerous advocation to the Buryat arts, the black and old Shamanism, a belief steeped in the early history of the Jalayirid clans of Mongolia. She also refuses to marry as of yet, and while she was almost forced to when her older brother Husain ruled, under Ahmad's reign she has been granted substansially more power and freedom within the Sultanic and Khanate courts. She also reads many languages and studies many books within the libraries of the palaces of Baghdad.

~ Abu Bakr al-Qutbi al Ahri
Loyal yet dark and scheming, Abu al-Qutbi al Ahri is Vizier of the Sultan and Khan and Chronicler of the Court, the knowledgeable Vizier, half Arab and half Persian by birth, is wise in the ways of the Jalayirid lands, peoples and cultures. A ferverent Muslims and something of a mystic, he has a belief that the divine touch of Allah has shown him a mission of peace and that while it his lord's duty to break peace outside the realm, it is his own mission to ensure peace within the realm, and the seeking out and execution of any rulers or vassals under the Jalayirid rule that is at all disloyal. Abu has a keen knowledge of the history and families of the lands, and has a nose for political intrigues that might be taken advantage of. The Vizier also acts as a hand in governing the Jalayirid lands while the Khan is on campaign.

~ Amir Nasir al-Bihnami
A local Amir of Basrah in northeast Arabia, Nasir has seen his homelands fall into decay under the irresponsible Mongol rule. Loyal to his Sultan, he has committed himself to ensuring that Basrah once again becomes a great center of power and learning, and that he might find the prestige and favour to lead the Jalayirid armies to expand his own lands, in the name of his Sultan or for himself.

~ Amir 'Adil Aqa
The Governor and self appointed Amir of Rey, a city and region bordering Kurdistan, 'Adil was a heavy supporter of the deposed Hasan and through his treachery ensured the oldest of the Jalayirid ruling clan fell and was executed. Hoping to gain personal power and perhaps some sort of independance from the Jalayirids, a onetime enemy and ally of the current Khan and Sultan Ahmad, 'Adil Aqa's greed and ambition leads him to build begin to his own personal armies of the local Syrians, Arabs, and Kurds, north of the Euphrates river.


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Diplomacy and Politics of the Khan's Dominions:​

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A Map of the Middle East and Jalayirid Dominions​

Ambassadors of the Khan:​

- Muhammad Batu: Acting Ambassador to Khan Toqtamish of the Golden Horde.

- Adhar Çingiz: No assignment as of yet.

- Kasim Tegus: No assignment as of yet.

- Abdul Qutlugh: No assignment as of yet.

- Farid al-Unegen: No assignment as of yet.

- Abdallah Nasan: No assignment as of yet.

Ambassadors to the Dominions:

~ None as of yet.​

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The Armies of the Warrior Khan:​

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The Khan's Great Armies​

The Jalayirid Horde:
1,000 Lance Horsemen
1,000 Horse Archers
1,000 Foot Spearmen (Armed with bows, sabres)
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A Description of the Jalayirid Warriors:​

Until the present day, no military force could compete with that of the Mongols in terms of effectiveness and certainly it's powerful mobility. Through the use of a well disciplined and trained army, that focused on mobility and careful planning, the Mongols carved out the largest contiguous empire in history, and these armies were passed on and 'localized' under the later Jalayirid rulers. Often their armies fought on several fronts at once, a difficult enough task in modern history and practically unheard of during the medieval period.

All males between the ages of 15 to around 60 who were capable of bearing arms were eligible for military service. The rigors of daily living in the harsh climate of Mongolia prepared the nomads well in terms of endurance and fortitude. Trained from youth to be expert horsemen and archers, the local Arabs, Persians, and Kurds being trained as lance bearing horsemen, of Persian tradition - a quickly and bold cavalry force, following Mongol tradition.
Each trooper had a string of three to five horses. This allowed him to exchange mounts when one tired. If one was slain, the Mongol trooper had replacements. In sedentary armies, this simply was not possible. Horses were expensive to maintain to allow each cavalryman to have more than one, especially the large horses necessary to carry an armored warrior, and therefore warriors not only supply themselves on campaign, but also their horses.

The Mongols themselves, in order to maintain their mobility, were lightly armored compared to many of the armies they faced. Their armor, for the most part, consisted of lacquered or boiled leather, which mainly covered the upper body. A helmet was also part of their accoutrement. Other types of armor, such as chain mail, did appear, but it was not as widespread among the Mongols due to the weight. The armament of the Mongols focused on the bow. This was a double recurve composite bow, made of layers of sinew, horn, and wood. Each warrior had more than one, probably attached, in a special quiver, to their saddles on each horse in addition to quivers of arrows. The bow itself possessed an incredible amount of penetrating power, often consisting of pull weights of over one hundred pounds. The Mongols used a wide variety of arrows, many with specialized purposes, such as armor piercing, blunt stun arrows, and even whistling arrows for signaling purposes. In addition, the soldiers carried sabres, maces, axes, and sometimes a short spear with a hook at the bottom of the blade. Other supplies, such as rope, rations, files for sharpening arrows, etc., were also carried. This made the soldiers of the Mongol army a self-sufficient unit able to function independently of supply lines. Thus, they were not hampered by a slow moving baggage train, allowing them to make the rapid marches that so characterized Mongol warfare.
Ther Jalayirid successors employed armies of these Mongol traditions, but also combined them with the effectiveness of the local soldierys of their lands - Persian heavy horsemen, medium infantry and effective battlelines.

The organization of the Mongol army was also an old tradition of the steppe: the decimal system. The army was built upon a squad of ten (arban). Ten of these would then compose a company of a hundred (jaghun ). The next unit was a regiment of a thousand (mingghan). Most of the commanders listed in the contemporary sources were leaders of a mingghan. The equivalent of the modem division was a unit consisting of ten thousand (tumen).

The Jalayirid organization was simple, but sensible. The system could also easily be applied to new conscripts from conquered lands or vassals, or even forcibly conscripted troops from among the recently conquered. Yet, it is one thing to have organized units, but quite another to have them operate with any amount of efficiency. This is why the discipline of the Jalayirid army was such a key factor. The tactics that the Mongol army used, such a caracole technique in which the soldiers advanced, shot, then wheeled back in order for the next rank to fire, demanded unit integrity. Unit integrity was achieved through the battue, or hunt. During the battue, the army would form lines which often stretched for miles. These ranks would then begin to envelope an area, forcing the game into the ring. The Jalayirid clans would then tighten their ranks, so that the circle continued to shrink. The objective of this was not to allow any animal to escape. An incredibly high degree of organization, communication, and cooperation was necessary for this task. Without it, points of rendezvous could not be established, gaps would eventually appear in the ranks, and inevitably, confusion would result. Only a disciplined army, with a high degree of unit integrity and command structure could accomplish this task.





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The Khan and Sultan is ready for Audience now...

(Court Open)​

 

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The Young Khan's Demand
of Loyalty​

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The Sultan Ahmad at his Palace near Baghdad
with his brother Prince Shaikh 'Ali​

"If only duty might forbid me the pleasures of gambling and drinking... I would rule all of the Khanates combined by now Ali!" The Sultan and Khan, Ahmad laughed haughtily as he spoke the words. His brother returned a mischevious grin, for the two had just returned from a bout of thick wine drinking, making loveless passion to the Sultan's whores, and of course hashish smoking and gambling. Both the Sultan and the Prince were in light spirits after such events, and as they slowely rode on horseback to a more private location other than the old Abbassid Palace that the Jalayir Court was usually so tediously held at.
And yet within the next few days some of the most important events of his early reign would occur, as nobles from Kurdistan to Arabia, from Syria to Persia travelled to Baghdad - Amirs, vassals, tribes and Khans, all alike under the Jalayir rule were being summoned to declare their loyalty to the Sultan and Khan, Ahmad.

And so as the two travelled the warm and sunny roads to Baghdad, they discussed things they relished in - hunting, family, women... yet politics could not find it's way out of Sultan Ahmad's mind.

Sultan Ahmad Khan​

"'Ali.... what will I do if tomorrow, when I hold this planned Court in the old Abbasid palace, and none of them show up?"

His eyes showed a look of utter seriousness. Shaikh 'Ali laughed aloud, to calm his brother's fears and paranoias..

"Ahah! Come now Ahmad, you and I both know they respect us, as they respected our father. The Amirs are picky, but they favour you and your wise policies. I am sure, my brother, that together we will manage to contain the Turkmen and Mongol Amirs easily.."

The Sultan and Khan Ahmad smiled, and sighed for a moment. Perhaps he was becoming paranoid... Still, the local peoples certainly did not love the Mongol rule, which had cost Baghdad dearly in the past. Yet it was well known the Jalayirid Dynasty had done much to repair and advance the city once again, still, not all people were so civilized to be greatful for such things.

He then turned again, "And what of the Arabs?"

Shaikh 'Ali replied,

Prince Shaikh 'Ali​

"The Arabs are a disunited flock of sheep, awaiting to be lead into our pens, and under our rule..."

Ahmad sighed, "I have already heard rumours that the Amir of Basrah, Nasir, is unhappy with the rule placed upon his lands..."

Shaikh 'Ali spoke then, slapping his hand hard upon the Sultan's shoulders as he rode beside him, "Yet we shall be patient, my brother... what I think you must worry about is the northern vassals, and the Chupans... this Arab will cause you little animosity.
Wait and see if he shows tomorrow, with all the other loyal Amirs and vassals."

... and what if he does not? Was all the still young Sultan and Khan thought, but said nothing.

'Ali finished the conversation, as the bright rooftops of Baghdad could be seen in the distance, the sun now high in the sky,

"My brother, have you not already learned? The Arabs bow to Baghdad, and that we rule. Let us go, you have many responsibilities to carry out, and I cannot be seen heckling you like this in public! Sit straight!"

Ahmad could not help but smirk at his brother's jesting, but could not get that awful feeling out of his stomach - was it the same feeling his older brother Hasan had, before the Amirs declared him unfit and cut off his head?

He swallowed hard.

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The Young Khan's Demand
of Loyalty II​

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The Khan's court and nobility gathers at Baghdad...​

Hashish smoke withered and toppled itself over in the air, dancing above the heads of men who were just as light, and others, with drink, which was being offered around the room - much to the offense of many of the more faithful Muslim and Arab Amirs who were present or gathering.

Baghdad itself was a city of the great gathering of the nobility from across all the Jalayirid domains, from the Persian Gulf to the Syrian deserts and Kurdish borders, Arabia to Persia. Turkmen vassals alongside Arabian and Persian nobles, their standards raised and riding elegant and beautiful horses and camels, streamed into the city periodically, and much to the delight of the Khan and Sultan Ahmad, who knew it meant that these men continued to pledge their loyalty to him.

Yet there was another man watching from another room within the old Abbassid Palace, a man who loomed upon the groups of nobility passing through the streets with narrow eyes.
He was Prince Bayazid, oldest of the Khan's heirs.

Prince Bayazid​

"All those Amirs only come to pay homage because they fear the arrows of the Shaikh 'Ali's horsemen! All of my brothers are fools, it is obvious why one by one they are executed after they come to rule...

If I ruled I might take control of the nobles, and wretch away their power. I would not hide behind my rich clad cities.. Ahmad is a fool."

Muttering the last words, he turned from the window impatiently. He did not care for the way his brother ruled, nor the way the Khanate was being divided. If only he might find some way to convince the Amirs not to trust Ahmad...

He dwelled on these thoughts as a great call was made over the city, and the Khan and Sultan's Court was called into session. He would find his way to that room, filled with hash smoke and cowards, and see what he might find to his use...

Vassals of the Khan pay homage
in the Court of the Palace of Baghdad ~ 786 A.H.​

And so, in the year 22 Safar 786 AH, or the 14th of March, 1384 AD by the Christian calendar, the second grand court of the rule of Khan Ahmad was held, since his ascention to rule.

Many nobles were present within the room, from across the Jalayirid lands. Muttering and whispering, amongst coughing and laughing could be heard as these nobles met and spoke, and barked orders to servants. All was silenced as the Vizier of the Khan and Sultan, Abu Bakr al-Qutbi al Ahri stepped forth, and looked over the room. Many had shown... yes, but not all.

He cleared his throat and spoke in Mongolian, an attendant speaking in Arabic after every sentence to clear things up for some of the more locally bred nobles...

Abu Bakr al-Qutbi al Ahri
Vizier to the Khan​

"I present his splendid and mighty greatness, the Great Khan of Jalayirids and the Sultan of Baghdad, Ahmad Ghiyath al-Din Khan, the great Ulus Beg!"

The Khan's Syrian musicians started to play their strange and artfully detailed instruments as Ahmad Khan entered the room, walking slowely and ignoring the eyes upon him as he stood the first step, and then turned, sitting upon his throne. His sister, a dazzling woman with strange eyes and dressed in all purple, seemed to make eye contact with him for a moment, and she smirked at him... she had warned and insisted to her brother the Khan that the key to ruling these men was their beliefs.

And so, thinking of this for only a moment, he spoke,

"Amirs and Governors, nobles and brothers, what a joy it brings to my lips to see your arrival here in our grand capital of Baghdad!”

Immediately different vassals began to ask questions, and shout their anger on subjects.

Nasir al-Bihnami, Amir of Basrah​

“Perhaps it is too hasty for your magnificent Sultan to send out his armies, when some of our most promising cities begin to fall into decay and disrepair…?”

Subjects, tedious as this dominated the early afternoon. The Amirs and nobles discussed policies with the north, internal disputes of borders, money currencies, and other things that mostly bored Ahmad, but he knew it was all necessary to maintain his position as Khan and Sultan.
As the evening wore on and food was served, the Khan spoke on;

”..It is well known to you all that after the righteous execution of my brother, Jalaludin Husain -"

Hear! Hear! There were many voices that uttered in approval.
Ahmad paused, feigning a smile for the bloody deed he had ordered under the pressure and support of the Amirs, and his other brother Shaikh 'Ali, whom always seemed to know best...
Still, he had felt a tinge of guilt for. But such were politics of the hordes...

Ahmad Khan of the Jalayirids
Great West Khan and Sultan of Baghdad​

Continuing after silence arose in the drowsy but grand and comfortable court chamber, the Khan continued, "- After his execution, a period of disunity erupted among us, over disputes of the support to my dim brother's disasterous reign! And yet when these vassals, like all men to accept their place under Allah, are called forth to pay homage or show their loyalties, where are they to be found? I speak of the Governor of Ray, Amir 'Adil Aqa! Where is he today, do any of you see him present?
Of course not.”

More shouting. Some sounded hostile, others seemed to offer support. There were so many hollering, only the presence of the Vizier again quieted the noble masses.

Speaking on, the Khan said, “The Governor of Ray, Amir ‘Adil Aqa is a man rooted in treachery, and we have all seen it. He works for himself, raising armies of his own, in the north, the combat us for the supremacy he gained under my brother."

There was some muttering in agreement, and while sitting on the sideline of all this Prince Bayazid frowned, and flamed on the inside… he was even more disgusted that these men, supposed of education or intelligence, were swayed so easily and foolishly. When his time came, he would dominate the court and lands…

Still, Ahmad spoke.

“I say as your homage, we ride and execute this traitor, who failed to appear today to reindicate his position of vassal under our lands!”

Kill the wretch!

Shackle him!

Death to the Amir of Ray!

A cheer seemed to form from the shouting within the court.
Even his brother Prince Shaikh ‘Ali had told him, an enemy had to be made an example of.
​

 

[Elias Tarfarius]

Sons of the Iron King

Baghdad...

Three figures rode toward the once great city. They went unnoticed by the people as the citzens of Baghdad were quite busy with the meeting of the amirs and all that went with that (entertaining and feeding the lot). The three were men, dust covered for their long ride across Persia. They had been to Baghdad before, but it had only been a rest stop on the way to Samarkand. "I cannot believe the great Timur failed us!" said the youngsest one, who was bearly tall as his pony. "He is a man of great designs, boy, and he did not have time for us currently. That is why we have come back here. Times have changed and this Khanate seems to be stable once more. With the Khan's aid, we shall regain our birthright from the damned usurper!" the eldest respond, thrusting his fist in the air for emphasis. As they approached the palace, he rode ahead of the other two and called to the guards.

"I, Temur Qutlugh, with my brothers, Shadi Beg and Pulad, the true Princes of the White Horde and the Blue Horde, do request entry and an audience with Ahmad Khan. We pledge ourselves his most humble servants, but we must speak to him soon."

 

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Proclamation of the Caliphate​

Upon the arrival of the victorious armies of the Caliph into Egypt, the princes of the Mameluks surrendered on the condition of being allowed to retain their possessions and families and not come under persecution.The Caliph, being a man of foresight, agreed and immediatly he was ganted access to Al-Qahirah.The Al-Azhar, being the foremost authority in the Muslim world has legitimized his rule and declared his proclamation of the Khilafah throughout the Islamic Alam(World)

All praise is due to Allah, the one and only Creator and Sustainer of all that exists. He is the Absolute Authority, Whose law is timeless, Whose verdicts are final, and Whose Wisdom is supreme. May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon the last Prophet, the Chief (sayyid) of the believers, our leader (mawla), our commander (amir), the bearer of the light of Islam, Muhammed, and may be the peace be upon his noble family, his righteous successors, his devout companions, and all the believers.

When the verses of revelation had concluded, and when the Message of Islam was complete, it had long since become clear to the Muslims that Islam was their independence and methodology for living. Through it, they maintained freedoms and also responsibilities that no other nation before or after ever enjoined. Because of this, the (khilafah) became an essential part of Islam.

It is then necessary that the Islamic state be revisited by all Muslims and non-Muslims alike so that an accurate picture can be painted of what is beneficial not only to Muslims but to the salvation of humanity as a whole. It is said by Allah, highly glorified and exalted:

But no, by the Lord, they can have no (real) Faith, until they make you judge in all disputes between them, and find in their souls no resistance against your decisions, but accept them with the fullest conviction. (4:65)

The ultimate test for the Muslims after accepting belief in Allah and the prophethood of Muhammed, through persecution and tyranny, was to struggle with their own selves (nafs) to accept the commands of their leader, Muhammed, unconditionally. In this verse (ayat), Allah gives full authority to the Noble Prophet (saaws) so that there would be no doubt in the mind of the believers that his verdicts were final. Every Muslim must struggle with himself to accept this, for Islam cannot be established within ourselves until we can totally submit our affairs over to Allah, and we cannot establish Islam as a state if we have not established it within our own selves.

"Because Allah will never change the grace which He has bestowed on a people until they change what is in themselves: and verily Allah is He Who hears and knows (all things)." (8:53)

So, until they change what is in themselves (yughayyiru ma bi-anfusihim), Allah will not change the grace (ni'mah) that he has bestowed upon us. When we understand this reality, we can put our situation into perspective. Allah bestows His grace on whom He wills, and we will not taste but a small portion of it until we submit ourselves completely to Him and obey what has been revealed to His Messenger.

Only Allah is your Wali (guardian, protecting friend) and His Messenger and those who believe, those who keep up prayers and pay the poor-rate while they bow. (5:55)

To truly establish Al-Islam on earth, Muslims must fully accept the wilayah (sovereignty) of Allah, His Messenger, and those who have been given authority by Allah. Anything short of this will only result in failure. If we say that Allah is our Lord and that Muhammed is our Prophet, then we cannot accept any system or ideology as legitimate to the exclusion of the Islamic system. How can we reconcile this contradiction in our minds? I forth say the words of Allah may he be praised "Let there arise out of you an Ummah inviting to all that is good; enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong, they are the ones who are successful." (3:104)

I ,Caliph Al-Wathiq son of Bani Abbas, I invite all those who call Allah the lord and master to come forth and endorse their loyalty to the Khilafah, for the Mamelukes lie vanquished.He the lord has granted me victory with the death of Sultan Barquq.Give me your baya so Allahs Ummah can unite under one flag.

Signed, Caliph Al-Wathiq billah al-Abbasi

 

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The Dark Barakah of the Sorceress I​

​

​

The Khan invests time in his sister's mysticism......​

After Ahmad Khan had retired from the Court for a time after several days of discussing issues and loyalties with his vassals and Khans, he walked the old Abbassid Palace halls as the sun slowely dimmed on the horizon. Many things overcame his mind as he worried for his Khanate, and his own power.

Was his future ruling the Khanate certain? Would the Amirs truly ride with him to execute the Governor of Ray? What did this "Caliph's" rising mean? And what of the rumoured sons of Timur Lengh he had so far tried to ignore at his court, until he had learned more... what was to be their fate?

While he was truly a Muslim, like all Mongols her certainly was not devout, nor were many within his family, though they swore by the Koran officially... he knew his sister delved into more mysterious arts. Ahmad Khan immediately decided to pay her a visit and seek out his sister the Princess Füsun al-Shria's advices, for he had not seen her for many weeks. Walking alone through the palace, he approached the upper wings of the palace, and found the Princess within her private chambers, below her garden upon the roof of part of the palace. Reading a book written in some language the Khan certainly did not recognize featuring strange, blocky letters, she slammed it shut upon hearing his entrance into her chambers;

Princess Princess Füsun 'al-Shria',
Rumored Siher Practitioner and Grand Pir​

"Salam, how good it is to see one's kin and clan during these lonely times. Welcome home again, brother." She stood, a beautiful woman in a dress speckled with flower designs and jewels... a gown the Khan knew the Princess kept a thin, long and jewelled dagger tightly under. The two embraced each other in a hug, before Khan Ahmad began to speak,

"My sister, I am glad to see you too. I hear you still refuse the proposals of marriage you recieve, yet it brings laughter and joy to my spirit." He stepped side to side, a bit uneasily.

"What troubles your mind then, I know most well something is, my Khan." his sister's eyes looked him over sharply. She always seemed to know unrevealed things...
And she had enjoyed such a strange and unique ability since she was a child, hence giving her the name Fusun, or, sorceress, a Turkish word.

"... Or is it that you seek my advices?" She winked.

Exactly the words I thought!
Ahmad's eyebrow raised, but he only smiled thinly to his sister and nodded. He hardly knew her well, as he had been raised much apart from her being a woman, although he had approached her once before for her aid in advising him. She had warned him of their older brother Hasan's will to murder Ahmad, even before Hasan himself had thought to do so...
It had also scared Ahmad so much he ignored how he had been warned, and ignored his sister's practices altogether.

Sultan Ahmad Ghiyath al-Din​

Returning to the moment, Ahmad spoke, "While I doubt the... harmony of your practices, sister, I know you speak true to your word always. I am placing my trust in you again."

Fusun smiled mischeviously, and took Ahmad's hand. She lead him across he beautifully decorated and pillowed room, to a thickly-locked wooden door on the other side of her chamber and to what Ahmad believed lead to her private baths. When she opened the door, he realized he was wrong. It was a room, full of jars and tables, books and strange items and stones, organized in different orders. Princess Fusun immediately began to scour the room, walking to a table and opening a dusty book, as Ahmad slowely and curiously walked the room, looking at strange things. A shelf with books revealed, Hymns of the Chaldaea, Art of the Magi, First Volume and his brow raised when he saw Incantations of Ahraman and other such strange works of literature. The rest were in strange Christian languages, and others in languages of the south and east.
Fusun flipped through a book, slamming it down hard on a table as the opened one of her strange jars, full of a strange herb. It smelled strong, it's odour filling the room as the jar was unsealed.

Seeing her brother the Khan look at her oddly as she dumped out some of the jar's contents, the Princess simply said, "Blessed garlic from wildlands around the ancient Persian temple of Pir eh Naraki." She then gathered a handfull and began to crush it into dust in a mortar. She spoke as she crushed it up, "I am known among some of these practices as a Pir or Mashrid, though I once was an apprentice myself. I performed my first true keramat when I was twelve... although, it made me sick for days."

Ahmad nodded to her explanation, yet dumbfounded on the inside, and he continued to watch as she opened the seal of a jar she claimed was filled with the blood of a slaughtered wolf, and mixing the two together.

She then poured the contents of a third jar, what lookedl ike dust, into the odd mixture, and placed it over a small fire she lit under a small cooking cauldron.

"Crushed haoma seeds from the same flower."

She then tore a part of the book out, and handed it to Ahmad. Looking it over, he could see that it contained a written passage in Arabic...

~ Audhu bi wajhi'llahi' l-karim wa bi kalimati'llahi't-tammati. Allati la yujawazu hunna barra wa la fajir, min sharri ma yanzil min as-sama, wa sharri ma yaruju fiha, wa sham ma dhara' fi'l-ard, wa sharri ma yakhruju minha, wa min fitani'l-layli wa'-nahar, wa min tawariqi'l-layli wa'n-nahar illa tariqan yatruq bikhayr ya Rahman ~

Sultan Ahmad
Khan of the Jalayir​

He read it to himself...

'I seek refuge with the Noble Face of Allah and with the complete words of Allah which neither the good person nor the corrupt can exceed, from the evil of what descends from the sky and the evil of what ascends in it, and from the evil of what is created in the earth and the evil of what comes out of it, and from the trials of the night and day, and from the visitations of the night and day, except for one that knocks with good, O Merciful!'

Ahmad then asked,
"What is this...?"

She frowned,

"I do not pretend for you to understand, but it is the recorded spell given to man by the Angel Jibril, to ward off the power of Djinns and Demons, in situations of extremnity..."

Extremnity?! Ahmad gulped. Truly, he had killed many a man with his own weapons and hands on the battlefield, and shed blood himself, and feared no man alone he had met so far... yet he was most nervous to interact with these... dark subjects.

He turned to her again as she stood, mixing her strange ingredients together inside the metal basin of the bowl sized cauldron, "And then what is that which you prepare in that cauldron?"

"My brother, come with me to the garden, and I shall explain all." Emptying the cauldron into a large wine vase, she took it in hand.

And so together, with his passage and her strange potion, the two of them walked to the garden outside her main chambers, and taking a cup, she poured the vile mixture into a it and handed it to Ahmad. She then poured one for herself.

Ahmad looked unsure as he looked the drink within his cup, he knew was partly blood.

"In order to learn things from the realm of the Djinni and the Underworld, we must be able to see it, as it exists among us, yet apart from us. Do you understand? We shall not be able to communicate our questions, nor learn our answers without these proper ingredients becoming us... it is an ancient formula, used by ancient Magi of Persia to contact the Gins. What I have given you on that passage, dear brother, is an incantation to protect us, should something go wrong, or when we are finished our contact with the Djinni...
You see the ancients knew how to speak with the Djinns and summon them, but they had no true protection from their havoc and wraith, and that is how their empires fell so quickly to the Arabs so long ago."

Ahmad thought this all a bit superstitious, but he said nothing as he watched his sister lift the cup to her lips and she drank it whole, only a drop leaking out of the side of her mouth. Ahmad cringed as he followed suit, the disgusting mix pouring down his throat... only once before, on campaign had he drank animal blood. This was even worse than that. Still he took it, and swallowed hard.​

 

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The Dark Barakah of the Sorceress II​

​

​

Ahmad Khan and his sister drink the ancient formula...​

After his sister Princess Fusun had seen that he had drank her potion, she smiled. And so there the two of them stood, and she looked over the sky. The sun was setting, and it was getting dark... Fusun took Ahmad's hand with her strange book in her other hand, and lead Khan Ahmad back into her chambers, bringing a torch from outside, and lit a candle, of which she used to light many candles on an altar containing a small indoor poor, normally used to smell of sweet flower scents. She lit many candles, all floating upon the water.

Princess Fusun then sat in front of it, opposite Ahmad, with the book lying open in front of her. Ahmad had the written passage she had given him on his lap...
Read it aloud in case anything goes wrong, her voice seemed to remind him in his mind.

She spoke a few last words to him, "Now concentrate brother, make sure you say nothing of Allah during this time. Be sure not to speak until you are told the time for questioning has arrived... do you understand?"

Ahmad rarely took instructions from women, but he somehow trusted his sister. He nodded in agreement.

As he did so the Princess wasted no time in reading a part of the boook over, and then she began her incantation.
Princess Fusun began to speak in an old language Ahmad did not even recognize, though it sounded of a Persian sort.
The words flowed from her lips in a sort of singing chant, as she closed her eyes and repeated the forbidden words and verses...

Princess Fusun 'al Shira'
Rumoured Siher Practitioner

"Shraotah gaush-aish vahishta
Ah vaenatah souhha mananhja avaenay vizibahya
Nahraem nahraem zvahyai tanouyeh parah mazhai ouainhu
Akhmai neh sazdyaih baodantu paityieh."​

As she repeated these ancient verses over and over, Ahmad began to feel strange. The room seemed to grow cold, and very cold at that... so much so he wanted to hold himself for warmth, for a moment. Fusun's words echoed throughout the silent room, she kept speaking, repeating the ancient Persian words of invocation...

Ahmad recieved a terrible shiver then, as something tweaked within his mind. He could feel something strange... terribly strange.

And as his sister kept speaking, his eyes grew in fear, of what he now knew... he could understand what she was saying. It was as if the true words were being repeated within his mind!

'Listen with your ears to the best things said
And observe with your mind radiant,
The two alternatives of your choosing, each man for himself
Being careful to announce us to Him before the great retribution'​

It was only then that his sister's voice seemed to become a bit more hoarse...
She then suddenly spoke different words, Ahmad still miraculously understand.

"Ayah mainivah varatah yah Daeva akistah vehrehzyu...
Zshabra jasaid, Aka Manah!"​

Of these two spirits, the one possessed of the Lie chose to execute...
Aka Manah, come to us!

Though the candlelight in the room was fully lit, it seemed to grow dark around them. Stranger and stranger, the atmosphere became, and while the potion he had drank prepared by Fusun made his stomach feel upset, Ahmad knew he was truly feeling much different now - to see something he had not seen before. He could not describe it... yet then and at that moment, he watched as Fusun's eyes lashed wide open, black as night. Ahmad gasped at the sight of her then, no colour to be seen anywhere in her eyes...

Her mouth opened, and once again that old Persian language spilled out, though miraculously - or perhaps through some sort of magical trickery, Ahmad could understand the words perfectly.

"By what perilous cause is Aka Manah called forth not by such name in so many of your lifetimes?"

It was a man's voice, a deep and intimidating man's voice, and it seemed to come from her mouth, behind him, and all around the room, as well as within his mind. Shaking his head, he winced at the sound of the horrible voice.
Ahmad was truly scared now... he paused. He leaned forward and looked at his sister's face, which was now stone pale, and empty, her blackened eyes staring forth not blinking once.

Ahmad studdered for a moment, and then said nothing. He was almost paralyzed with fear... and he was so cold too, he thought for a moment he almost saw his breath.

Clearing his throat and looking directly into her now wretchid black eyes, Ahmad spoke, "I... I, Sultan Ahmad Ghiyath al-Din Khan want to recieve the answers for questions that concern me." He spoke in Arabic. Fusun blinked then, but it was truly not her blinking at all.

The horrible and dark voice sounded from her mouth once again..

"Then you are truly a fool to call me forth on such excuse, for I am the very liege of falsehood! Tremble possessed, for I shall leave you no more!"

Ahmad watched in horror as his sister leaned forward towards him, and he closed his eyes for a moment, a terrible image flashing through his mind only for a moment;

It dissapeared the moment he opened them again, and saw his sister looking at him, shaking a bit.

It looked like her again, for a second then.
"Ahmad, it is the wrong...... Now you have seen with your own eyes..! Read the..." Her voice! Normal then not again...

Ahmad went to grab her shoulders with his hands but let go as he felt a sting burn inflict his palms, yet he held her anyway, crying out as he felt his hands but at the touch of her possessed skin. She wirthed and wretched violently, her eyes blackening once more. Then Ahmad realized what she was trying to tell him. He looked to where he had put it down, and began reading the passage she had given to him aloud,

"Audhu bi wajhi'llahi' l-karim wa bi kalimati'llahi't.." she ripped the paper out of his hand and tore it in half... no, it was whatever was inside her. Ahmad made to pick up it's torn pieces, yet as he did so Ahmad suddenly felt a terrible pain in his face, which knocked him back. She had punched him, right in the eye.
He was shocked. This certainly wasn't his sister, standing before him.

"Fusun! Hear me... come out of it! Fusun!"

She stood back, angry like a beast, and laughing mailiciously enough to make him shudder. Ahmad, in his fear and confusion, ran to the chamber door and out of it, slamming it hard behind him. A terrible crying and gurgling could be heard behind it, and Ahmad's face was bruised once again as he in his panic tried to hold it shut, calling for his guards, who barricaded the Princess within her room.
If it was the Princess at all.

When asked what had happened by his advisors and Vizier, Ahmad refused to speak of it. While he looked badly battered, no one knew why the Sultan and Khan was so disturbed for the next many hours.

He only ordered,

"Send out the Jalayir Riders to every corner of these lands, and find the holiest of men whom know of Shaytan and his demons."

They asked, "Of course your highness... but, why?"

"Do not question me, JUST DO IT! I do not care how many swords you must point at their throats or how you might bribe them, but bring me a Holy man of healing, AND NOW!"

The Khan's courtroom was cleared as the orders were quickly carried out, none questioning his anger or motives...



​

 

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The Dark Barakah of the Sorceress III​

​

​

The eastern Sage of Persia is summoned to Baghdad...​

Outside Kerman, Persia...

The sun shone high in the sky and the clouds flowed uneasily across the barren sky as the three lone riders, armed with sabres and their written words of their Khan, caused a great trail of dust on the southwestern roads of Persia. One of the riders was a man of importance, an Amir of the Sultan and Khan Ahmad, and the others were armed paladins of the Khanate, to protect him on his mission... They were on a most important mission for the Khan, to find a man.

It was not long ago that the Khan's sister is whispered to have gone completely mad, and the Khan, seeking any cure he could for her sent out a search for any physical or spiritual healer who could claim to cure her. So far, the Khan had had one beheaded for being a fraud, and the other two only seemed to employ strange herbs and drugs to relax her, and failed to cure her, and were dismissed. No one seemed to know how to cure what afflicted her, and worse, she was growing more vapid, violent and sickly by the day.
Yet the Amir Nasir truly knew what was wrong with her... in his distress and confidance for the mission, the Khan and Sultan had told him.
All this talk of demons and djinn made the Amir most uneasy, for he himself had a strange experience as a child, and would never forget it. And even worse now, he had to travel through the deserts of central Persia - the called 'Dead Lands', a place many said the evil Djinn on Earth inhabitted.

The Dead Lands of Persia...
Said to be a place of Djinn Inhabitance​

The wind blew thickly through his hair as he shook these superstitious thoughts off.
Amir Nasir al-Bihnami, Governor of Basrah's and his riders spoke nothing to each other, knowing full well that they needed to complete this appointed mission... the Khan seemed most distressed at these events, in any case. For not the Amir would ignore his own initiatives in his land until he had properly helped his Khan and Sultan... and perhaps gained some more influence in the process. He could hear his horse breathing heavily as it strode forth across the brown and encrusted Persian plains at full gallop.
Passing through the dry plains of Awhaz, thirst bothered the Amir's throat and those of his men as well, yet within a few hours they had reached their goal... the old city of Kerman in Persia. Truly, the old Persian city had a mystical air about it... a place were great ancients rose and fall, and where the armies of demons and angels of Allah, and other such events were said to occur across this land. And a grand city all the same... the Amir Nasir and his men all seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. Entering the city and speaking Farsi (except of course for his Islamic greeting), and then the Amir asked a local merchant,

Nasir al-Bihnami ~ Amir of Basrah
On a Mission for his Khan​

"Salaam, friend, where might I find the most famed Jameh Mosque...? Myself and my friends are on... a pilgrimage of a sort."

The old merchant nodded, almost toothless, and replied back,

"Follow this street up five blocks, and turn right... you shall see it's towers from there. May Allah guide you, my friend!"

Tossing him a coin, the Amir Nasir and his men follow his direction's through the city's great bazaar, follow of merchants selling their trinkets, perfumes, fruits and vegetables, and catching the eye of some of the patrolling guards, who were of a Mongolic stock indeed - the malevolent and infamous Tumir Lengh's city guard. Nasir made a note in his mind to avoid all possible instances with these men...

Jameh Mosque, one of the oldest in Persia​

And then they saw it, where the man they were looking for was known to commonly be seen at... the Jameh Mosque. Approaching it and removing his shoes, and disarming his sabre as well as those of his men (to ensure their peaceful intentions were known), the Amir and his party entered the mosque.

Walking through the interioir, smoke was in the air and silence about as the Imams and other holy men prayed, some even to local saints! Truly these Persians were of a strange sort. The Amir thought this, but kept his peace as he walked some stairs silently to an upper level, near the roof.

When he reached the top of the stairs, he looked at a Holy man who was passing him,

"Salaam, might you be so courteous as to inform me of where I might find the great Sage, Zalchan Khalil-Shen?"

The holy man said nothing, but pointed to an open doorway nearby...

The Amir nodded to the holy man and then walked into this upper chamber of the beautiful Jameh Mosque, a building dedicated to spreading the light of Allah, then saw the famed man; a renown Sage and Mystic, and Imam as well, Zalchan Khalil-Shen, whom was bowing deep in prayer.

"Your faithful grace?"​

The man continued to pray for almost a minute before he stood and turned to Nasir.

Nasir then looked the man over - he was indeed old, and his eyes seemed to glimmer in a way Nasir could not describe. The was famed for his knowledge of Islam, the mysticism of it and even furthermore his knowings of the ways of Fire and Zoroastor and other eastern things... and he was even more well known among the Magi groups and clans.. Nasir indeed had found his man.

The Sage put his hands together and bowed his head in a priestly way,

Zalchan Khalil-Shen
Sage and Mystic of Persia​

Ah, Salam my friend.. and what brings you se far north and east as this Jameh Mosque, hm? You seem of Arab stock, true enough."

Nasir was surprised by how keen the man's senses were, and thus replied to him, "I am the Amir of Basrah, Nasir al-Bihnami. I have come to see your grace on a most delicate mission, and ask humbly for your aid in a terrible situation within Baghdad."

The Sage Zalchan frowned... and looked at the Amir's men, who were listening to the whole thing.

Switching his language into Arabic, the Sage asked, "And what kind of mischief would to Khan of the Jalayir summon be for, pray?" his eyebrow raised, skeptically.

Nasir continued, looking desperate, "It is the Sultan's sister... she is possessed."

His sister?! The Sage looked distressed at this, but said nothing for a moment. Nasir noticed this... did the Sage know who the Sultan's sister was?

The men with the Amir who had accompanied him however were shocked to hear this - not even they were privy to this information yet.

And yet in understanding, the Sage nodded to him immediately and within an hour, they were on fresh horses with food and supplies, to ride west, to Baghdad.
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The Heirs of Temur and the Baghdad Audience​

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Temur Qutlugh, Shadi Beg and Pulad are Granted Audience...​

The Princes of the White and Blue horde were granted audience within the grand old Abassid Palace of Ahmad Khan, and to be recieved later within the afternoon. When offered explanation for their wait, the Princes were informed that the Khan was in a most distressed state, and that his sister was very ill. Still, within minutes the Princes were stood in front of the Khan and Sultan, Ahmad, who looked them over.

Ahmad Khan of the Jalayirids
Great West Khan and Sultan of Baghdad​

"Welcome to Baghdad, mighty Princes...
I am a little curious to know of what that brings you, Princes of the White and Blue horde to my court at this time? To say I am pleased is true of your coming, although the terrible circumstances of my family right now... still, the Jalayirid Horde is within most order now. What might I be able to do for you three then?"

The Princes must have knoticed his left eye was a bit blacked from a blow from a fist, and that his although tanned skin was indeed most pale, although a harsh look from the Khan turned attention to his current state away.





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The Dark Barakah of the Sorceress IV​

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The Persian Mystic and Sage
Zalchan Khalil~Shen investigates...​

Within the Abbas Palace, Baghdad...

With all his books relevant to the subject in order in a chamber granted to him by the Khan to study his cure, the Persian mystic and Sage Zalchan Khalil-Shen marvelled at something he had not had experience with, well, in years. Djinn exorcisms were just not common, not real ones anyway... he knew well of the mental disorders that some of these 'victims' in the past had come to him with claiming their power of evil had overcome them... but the look in the Sultan's eyes when he met Zalchan and asked him personally to cure his sister - now it was a look real fear.

And so left some time to study alone beforehand, Zalchan opened his book, Allah's Miracle of the Djinni, and look at the total information and references he he compiled from it

Turning open the book he saw a fanciful drawring within the cover...
Much imaginative, he thought.

Allah's Mircale of the Djinn (Jinn)

The jinn are not fallen angels. They were created from a smokeless flame of fire. The first recorded jinn to be disobedient is Iblis. Disbelieving, disobedient jinn and humans are known as shayateen (satans).

The Noble Qur'an - Ar-Rahmaan 55:15, 15​

He created man (Adam) from sounding clay like the clay of pottery.

And the jinns did He create from a smokeless flame of fire.

The Noble Qur'an - Al-Hijr 15:26-42​

26. And indeed, We created man from sounding clay of altered black smooth mud.

27. And the jinn, We created aforetime from the smokeless flame of fire.

28. And (remember) when your Lord said to the angels: "I am going to create a man (Adam) from sounding clay of altered black smooth mud.

29. "So, when I have fashioned him completely and breathed into him (Adam) the soul which I created for him, then fall (you) down prostrating yourselves unto him."

30. So, the angels prostrated themselves, all of them together.

31. Except Iblîs (Satan), - he refused to be among the prostrators.

32. (Allâh) said: "O Iblîs (Satan)! What is your reason for not being among the prostrators?"

33. [Iblîs (Satan)] said: "I am not the one to prostrate myself to a human being, whom You created from sounding clay of altered black smooth mud."

34. (Allâh) said: "Then, get out from here, for verily, you are Rajîm (an outcast or a cursed one)." [Tafsîr At-Tabarî]

35. "And verily, the curse shall be upon you till the Day of Recompense (i.e. the Day of Resurrection)."

36. [Iblîs (Satan)] said: "O my Lord! Give me then respite till the Day they (the dead) will be resurrected."

37. Allâh said: "Then, verily, you are of those reprieved,

38. "Till the Day of the time appointed."

39. [Iblîs (Satan)] said: "O my Lord! Because you misled me, I shall indeed adorn the path of error for them (mankind) on the earth, and I shall mislead them all.

40. "Except Your chosen, (guided) slaves among them."

41. (Allâh) said: "This is the Way which will lead straight to Me."

42. "Certainly, you shall have no authority over My slaves, except those who follow you of the Ghâwîn (Mushrikûn and those who go astray, criminals, polytheists, and evil-doers, etc.).

Solomon's Experience with the Jinn​

Allah made all the jinn subservient to the Prophet Sulaimaan (Solomon), a gift from Allah, swt, that will never be granted to another after him.

The Noble Qur'an - Saad 38:35-39​

35. He said: "My Lord! Forgive me, and bestow upon me a kingdom such as shall not belong to any other after me: Verily, You are the Bestower."

36. So, We subjected to him the wind, it blew gently to his order whithersoever he willed,

37. And also the Shayâtin (devils) from the jinns (including) every kind of builder and diver,

38. And also others bound in fetters.

39. [Saying of Allâh to Sulaimân (Solomon)]: "This is Our gift, so spend you or withhold, no account will be asked."

The Noble Qur'an - Saba' 34:12-14​

12. And to Solomon (We subjected) the wind, its morning (stride from sunrise till midnoon) was a month's (journey), and its afternoon (stride from the midday decline of the sun to sunset) was a month's (journey i.e. in one day he could travel two months' journey). And We caused a fount of (molten) brass to flow for him, and there were jinns that worked in front of him, by the Leave of his Lord, and whosoever of them turned aside from Our Command, We shall cause him to taste of the torment of the blazing Fire.

13. They worked for him what he desired, (making) high rooms, images, basins as large as reservoirs, and (cooking) cauldrons fixed (in their places). "Work you, O family of Dâwud (David), with thanks!" But few of My slaves are grateful.

14. Then when We decreed death for him [Sulaimân (Solomon)], nothing informed them (jinns) of his death except a little worm of the earth, which kept (slowly) gnawing away at his stick, so when he fell down, the jinns saw clearly that if they had known the unseen, they would not have stayed in the humiliating torment.

The Noble Qur'an - An-Naml 27:17-19​

17. And there were gathered before Sulaimân (Solomon) his hosts of jinns and men, and birds, and they all were set in battle order (marching forwards).

18. Till, when they came to the valley of the ants, one of the ants said: "O ants! Enter your dwellings, lest Sulaimân (Solomon) and his hosts crush you, while they perceive not."

19. So he [Sulaimân (Solomon)] smiled, amused at her speech and said: "My Lord! Inspire and bestow upon me the power and ability that I may be grateful for Your Favours which You have bestowed on me and on my parents, and that I may do righteous good deeds that will please You, and admit me by Your Mercy among Your righteous slaves."

Fortune-tellers/Soothsayers

Hadith - Al-Bukhari 7.657, Narrated 'Aisha, r.a.​

Some people asked Allah's Apostle (saaws) about the foretellers. He said. -They are nothing." They said, -O Allah's Apostle! Sometimes they tell us of a thing which turns out to be true." Allah's Apostle said, "A Jinn snatches that true word and pours it into the ear of his friend (the foreteller) (as one puts something into a bottle). The foreteller then mixes with that word one hundred lies."

Shaytaan​

The shaytaan (satan) can be human or jinn...

The Noble Qur'an - Al-An'aam 6:112​

And so We have appointed for every Prophet enemies - Shayâtin (devils) among mankind and jinns, inspiring one another with adorned speech as a delusion (or by way of deception). If your Lord had so willed, they would not have done it, so leave them alone with their fabrications.


Know your enemy...

The Noble Qur'an - Faatir 35:6​

Surely, Shaitân (Satan) is an enemy to you, so take (treat) him as an enemy. He only invites his Hizb (followers) that they may become the dwellers of the blazing Fire.

The Noble Qur'an - Az-Zukhruf 43:62​

And let not Shaitân (Satan) hinder you (from the right religion, i.e. Islâmic Monotheism), Verily, he (Satan) to you is a plain enemy.


Shaitaan tells you to fear people instead of Allah, swt...

The Noble Qur'an - Az-Zukhruf 43:62​

It is only Shaitân (Satan) that suggests to you the fear of his Auliyâ' [supporters and friends (polytheists, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allâh and in His Messenger, Muhammad so fear them not, but fear Me, if you are (true) believers.

The jinn's power is to Whisper/Deceive

The Noble Qur'an - An-Naas 114​

1. Say: "I seek refuge with (Allâh) the Lord of mankind,

2. "The King of mankind,

3. "The Ilâh (God) of mankind,

4. "From the evil of the whisperer (devil who whispers evil in the hearts of men) who withdraws (from his whispering in one's heart after one remembers Allâh),

5. "Who whispers in the breasts of mankind,

6. "Of jinns and men."

The Noble Qur'an - Al-An'aam 6:128​

And on the Day when He will gather them (all) together (and say): "O you assembly of jinns! Many did you mislead of men," ...

The Noble Qur'an - Al-'Anaam 6:112​

And so We have appointed for every Prophet enemies - Shayâtin (devils) among mankind and jinns, inspiring one another with adorned speech as a delusion (or by way of deception)....

The Noble Qur'an - An-Nahl 16:99-100​

Verily! He has no power over those who believe and put their trust only in their Lord (Allâh).

His power is only over those who obey and follow him (Satan), and those who join partners with Him (Allâh) [i.e. those who are Mushrikûn - polytheists - see Verse 6:121].

The Noble Qur'an - Ibrahiim 14:22​

And Shaitân (Satan) will say when the matter has been decided: "Verily, Allâh promised you a promise of truth. And I too promised you, but I betrayed you. I had no authority over you except that I called you, so you responded to me. So blame me not, but blame yourselves. I cannot help you, nor can you help me. I deny your former act in associating me (Satan) as a partner with Allâh (by obeying me in the life of the world). Verily, there is a painful torment for the Zâlimûn (polytheists and wrong-doers, etc.)."

The Noble Qur'an - Al-Israa' 17:61-65​

And (remember) when We said to the angels: "Prostrate unto Adam." They prostrated except Iblîs (Satan). He said: "Shall I prostrate to one whom You created from clay?"

[Iblîs (Satan)] said: "See? This one whom You have honoured above me, if You give me respite (keep me alive) to the Day of Resurrection, I will surely seize and mislead his offspring (by sending them astray) all but a few!"

(Allâh) said: "Go, and whosoever of them follows you, surely! Hell will be the recompense of you (all) an ample recompense.

"And Istafziz [literally means: befool them gradually] those whom you can among them with your voice (i.e. songs, music, and any other call for Allâh's disobedience), make assaults on them with your cavalry and your infantry, mutually share with them wealth and children (by tempting them to earn money by illegal ways usury, etc., or by committing illegal sexual intercourse, etc.), and make promises to them." But Satan promises them nothing but deceit.

"Verily! My slaves (i.e the true believers of Islâmic Monotheism), you have no authority over them. And All-Sufficient is your Lord as a Guardian."

After closing the book, Zalchan was not satisfied.

Zalchan Khalil-Shen
Sage and Mystic Holy Man​

"By Allah, still only Qu'ranic passages the misleading information... no one truly has a graps on what the evil Djinn are, other than the Angels of course..."

He then was silent for a moment in thought, as he often was... it was true, he had known the Princess as a student when he stayed in Baghdad, he was an Imam and he and some other associates of his had introduced the most willing to learn Princess to the knowledge of mysticism and the ancients, something forbidden in much of the Islamic world. It was why he felt it was his duty to cure her, for he had introduced her to these most forbade of arts.

The Angels..! Of course!

He opened his Qu'ran and flipped through it, until he found the proper passage...

Running his finger down the pages of the holy text of his personal copy, he found the words - the words the Angel Jibril had passed down unto man.

'I seek refuge with the Noble Face of Allah and with the complete words of Allah which neither the good person nor the corrupt can exceed, from the evil of what descends from the sky and the evil of what ascends in it, and from the evil of what is created in the earth and the evil of what comes out of it, and from the trials of the night and day, and from the visitations of the night and day, except for one that knocks with good, O Merciful!'

Taking his Qu'ran in hand, he also turned to his right, looking over the other item he required in his exorcism...

His staff. But he knew that according to the Holy words of Allah, after the Djinn was removed, the possesed host would be left unharm from any beatings incurred during the exorcism.

His face red, he decided he was ready. Walking down the hall to the Princess's chambers, he motioned to the guards to let him inside the barricaded door.

They looked at each other uneasily, and moved aside, pulling away the wood that was binding the door shut. A faint growling could be heard from the inside...

Zalchan Khalil-Shen
Sage and Mystic Holy Man​

"Do not fear for me, noble guard, for I shall be ensured safe in the light of Allah. Peace be with you."

The guard nodded, and opened the door. Taking a torch in hand, the Sage Zalchan was disgusted by the hot smell that flowed from the room. Bringing his torch inside, as it was pitch black, he could see ripped material everywhere... she had torn the entire room up. But he could not see the Princess. Just then the guards closed the door behind him, as agreed.

"Princess Fusun...? Allah guides and watches over you, you have no need to..." He heard a rustling sound, and looked to the far corner of the room... and there he saw her. A pale white face, and reddened eyes, and hissing, spitting teeth... and what was worse, was that she was hanging upside down, beside his face..!

It only took a moment before his screaming was heard.
"ARGH!!" He cried out, and the guards were curious to hear a terrible screaming for almost a minute. When they ripped open the door and as quickly as they could, pulled the Sage out of the room, they could see he had two broken arms - snapped clean at his forearms! He was sweating a crying... the guards did not know what exactly happened, but all he could mutter was,

"Ba... ba... Ballim... Ballim..."
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[Elias Tarfarius]

Sons of the Iron King

Baghdad...

Three brothers kowtowed before the Khan. When they rose, Temur Qutlugh drew his sword and held it up before the Khan. His brothers followed and did the same. He then spoke.

"Great Khan, we have come far so that we might pledge our swords to your service. We, the sons of the Khans of the Hordes of Rus, are now cast out of our inheritance and are but paupers, especially in this most opulent of courts. Thus, we shall indeed fight for you if you wish it, so that we might have some pleasure and valor in our days upon this earth. All that we ask in return is that you, oh Great Khan, might one day aid us in reclaiming our inheritance from the blood covered usurper, Toqtamish."