Abu Sa'id Bahadur Khan

Who was Abu Sa'id Bahadur Khan?

Abu Sa'id Bahadur Khan also spelled Abusaid Bahador Khan, Abu Sayed Behauder, was the ninth ruler of the Ilkhanate state in Iran.

In 1306 and 1322, after defeating the Golden Horde army and Kerait Rinchin's rebellion, the Mongols gave him, then infant heir apparent of Öljaitü, the title of Baghatur meaning "hero". During his early rule, the distinguished Judeo-Muslim scholar and Vizier Rashid-al-Din Hamadani was beheaded; emir Chupan became de facto the ruler of the country. In 1325 Chupan defeated another force led by Muhammad Üzbeg Khan of the Golden Horde and even invaded their territories again.

Abu Said fell in love with Bagdad Katun, a daughter of Chupan. The emir's efforts to keep Abu Sa'id from marrying his daughter, who was already married to Hasan Buzurg, another powerful kingmaker of the era, did not help the situation. In August 1327 Abu Sa'id had a son of Chupan, Demasq Kaja, killed, ostensibly for his activities with a former concubine of Öljeitü's. Later Chupan himself was killed by the Kartids, lords of Herat. In the meantime the Mamluks beheaded Timurtash, son of Chupan, who as a governor had revolted against the Ilkhanate in earlier times, being shown an unusual mercy.