Arghun Aqa was a governor in the Mongol-controlled area of Persia from 1243 to 1255, before the Ilkhanate was created by Hulagu.
15 Facts About Arghun Aqa
1.
2.
Arghun Aqa started his career as bitikchi during the reign of Ogedei.
3.
Arghun Aqa was appointed to oversee vast lands from Oxus to Anatolia with Sharaf al-Din Khwarazmi as his secretary, whom he had a distaste in.
4.
Arghun Aqa's position was reaffirmed by Guyuk Khan in 1246.
5.
Arghun Aqa visited Karakorum twice after his appointment in 1248 and 1251.
6.
Arghun Aqa made a census in Persia in accordance with the decree of Mongke in 1254 along with Najm al-Din Ali.
7.
Arghun Aqa participated in Hulagu's campaign against the Nizaris in Persia in 1256.
8.
Arghun Aqa was then sent to Khorasan to fight the Golden Horde.
9.
Arghun Aqa is described as faithful servant of the Qaghan in Persian sources while the Georgian and Armenian sources say he was cruel and violent overseer.
10.
Arghun Aqa had many political enemies at the headquarters, so he had to visit the ordo of the Qaghan in Mongolia often to prove his loyalty.
11.
Arghun Aqa mainted his administrative tasks under Hulagu and even punished underpaying vassals who owed them taxes, including Gvantsa Kakhaberidze, Hasan Jalal of Khachen, Zakare III Zakarian, Akhsitan II and others in 1261.
12.
Arghun Aqa accompanied Prince Abaqa in support of Alghu against his struggle with Golden Horde.
13.
Arghun Aqa continued to serve Ilkhanate after death of Hulagu in 1265.
14.
Arghun Aqa is thought to be buried in Radkan, Khorasan.
15.
Arghun Aqa had many wives, including a daughter of Yesu Mongke, to whom he married in 1249.