The Matriarch Messiah chapters with El Qutlugh and Asefeh were based on the limited historical records of the Mongols invasion of Syria. Ghazan Khan’s forces reached to 45 miles of Jerusalem with one historical record indicated a raiding party may have made it to Jerusalem. Hence, is crafted the story of El and Asefeh. The lore of the Golden Gate being removed by Ghazan is fictional, but his great grandfather Hulagu Khan did remove those gates.
The Mongols, during their westward expansions in the 13th and 14th centuries, came very close to Jerusalem—but historical evidence suggests they never actually occupied or controlled the city. However, their presence in the region had major consequences.
- The Mongols Under Hulagu Khan (1260) – The First Near Miss
In 1260, after destroying Baghdad (1258), Hulagu Khan led the Mongols into Syria, capturing:
- Aleppo (January 1260)
- Damascus (March 1260)
Mongol scouts reportedly raided near Jerusalem, but they did not enter the city. Why?
- The Battle of Ain Jalut (September 1260) – The Mamluks of Egypt crushed the Mongols, forcing their retreat.
- Hulagu’s Withdrawal – News of the Great Khan’s death pulled Hulagu back east, leaving only a small force in Syria.
Verdict: No evidence suggests Mongol troops entered Jerusalem itself.
During this time period, the Mongols removed and took the “Golden Gate” (also known as the “Gate of Mercy” or “Sha’ar Harachamim”) from Jerusalem to Damascus during their invasion in 1260 CE.
Why Did They Do This?
- Symbolic Conquest – The Golden Gate held deep religious and strategic significance. It was believed by some Jewish traditions to be the gate through which the Messiah would enter Jerusalem. By dismantling it, the Mongols (or their allies) may have sought to assert dominance over the city and undermine its spiritual importance.
- Military Strategy – The Mongols, led by Kitbuqa (a Nestorian Christian general under Hulagu Khan), were fighting the Mamluks for control of the Levant. Removing the gate could have been a tactic to weaken Jerusalem’s defenses or to transport valuable materials (like metals) for reuse elsewhere.
- Retaliation or Superstition – Some accounts suggest the Mongols (or the Khwarezmian allies who sacked Jerusalem earlier in 1244) feared prophecies linked to the gate, leading them to dismantle it to prevent any divine intervention favoring their enemies.
The Mongols were soon defeated by the Mamluks at the Battle of Ain Jalut (1260), ending their advance into the region. The Golden Gate was later sealed by the Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent in the 16th century, and it remains closed to this day due to both historical and religious reasons.
- Ghazan Khan’s Invasion (1299–1300) – The Closest Approach
Decades later, Ghazan Khan (a Muslim convert) invaded Syria and defeated the Mamluks at Wadi al-Khazandar (1299). His forces:
- Took Damascus (January 1300)
- Reached Gaza, just 45 miles from Jerusalem
Did they enter Jerusalem?
- Some sources (like the Armenian historian Hayton of Corycus) claim Mongol patrols raided near the city, but no contemporary Arab or Persian chronicles confirm they entered.
- Ghazan lacked the manpower to hold Syria long-term and withdrew by spring 1300.
Verdict: Possible skirmishes nearby, but no occupation.
- Later Attempts (1301, 1303) – Failed Follow-Ups
Ghazan launched two more invasions:
- 1301 – Failed due to bad weather.
- 1303 – Crushed by the Mamluks at Marj al-Suffar, ending Mongol hopes in Syria.
After this, the Ilkhanate never seriously threatened Jerusalem again.
Why Didn’t the Mongols Take Jerusalem?
- Logistics – Holding Syria required a permanent army; the Mongols were stretched thin.
- Mamluk Resistance – The Egyptians were a formidable enemy.
- No Religious Priority – Unlike the Crusaders, the Mongols saw Jerusalem as a strategic, not sacred, target.
Ghazan Khan: The Reformer Who Revived the Ilkhanate
The Ilkhanate, the Mongol state ruling Persia and the Middle East, reached its peak under Mahmud Ghazan Khan (r. 1295–1304). Unlike his predecessors, Ghazan was not just a conqueror—he was an administrator, reformer, and visionary who sought to stabilize and expand his realm through military strength, economic restructuring, and cultural patronage. His reign marked a turning point for the Ilkhanate, blending Mongol traditions with Persian governance and Islamic influence.
This blog post explores Ghazan Khan’s rise to power, his military campaigns, domestic reforms, and the lasting impact of his rule on the Mongol Empire and the broader Islamic world.
- Ghazan’s Rise to Power
Ghazan was born in 1271, the son of Arghun Khan and a Christian mother. Raised as a Buddhist, he later converted to Islam in 1295, a decision that reshaped the Ilkhanate’s identity. His conversion was both political and personal—it helped him secure the loyalty of Persia’s Muslim majority while distancing himself from his predecessors’ failed policies.
Overthrowing Gaykhatu
Before becoming Ilkhan, Ghazan served as governor of Khorasan. When his cousin Gaykhatu (r. 1291–1295) proved incompetent—famously bankrupting the treasury with a failed paper currency experiment—Ghazan led a revolt. In 1295, he defeated Gaykhatu’s successor, Baydu, and seized the throne.
- Military Campaigns: Expansion and Defense
Ghazan inherited an Ilkhanate weakened by financial crisis, Mamluk threats, and internal rebellions. His military strategy focused on:
War Against the Mamluks
The Mamluks of Egypt had long been the Ilkhanate’s greatest enemy. Ghazan launched multiple invasions of Syria:
- 1299–1300 Campaign: Ghazan crushed the Mamluks at the Battle of Wadi al-Khazandar, briefly capturing Damascus. However, supply shortages forced a retreat.
- 1301 & 1303 Invasions: Both failed due to logistical issues and fierce Mamluk resistance.
Despite not securing permanent gains, Ghazan kept the Mamluks on the defensive, proving the Ilkhanate was still a formidable power.
Suppressing Revolts
Ghazan faced rebellions from:
- Nawruz, a former ally who turned against him.
- Disloyal Mongol factions resisting his Islamic policies.
Through decisive action, Ghazan crushed these uprisings, consolidating his rule.
- 3. Ghazan’s Revolutionary Reforms
Ghazan’s greatest legacy was not conquest but governance. He implemented sweeping reforms to stabilize the economy and administration:
- Land & Tax Reforms
- Ended arbitrary taxation by introducing fixed rates.
- Redistributed land to peasants to boost agriculture.
- Punished corrupt officials, restoring trust in the government.
- Monetary & Trade Policies
- Standardized coinage to combat inflation.
- Encouraged Silk Road trade, revitalizing commerce.
- Legal & Religious Policies
- Upheld Sharia law while respecting Mongol traditions.
- Patronized scholars, artists, and historians, including Rashid al-Din, his vizier and chronicler.
These reforms revived the Ilkhanate’s economy and strengthened its administration, setting a model for future Islamic empires.
- Cultural & Scientific Patronage
Ghazan was a renaissance ruler who fostered intellectual growth:
- Built mosques, schools, and observatories.
- Commissioned the Jami al-Tawarikh (Compendium of Chronicles), one of history’s first world histories.
- Encouraged Persian as the court language, blending Mongol and Persian culture.
His reign marked the beginning of a Persian-Mongol synthesis that influenced later dynasties like the Timurids and Safavids.
Why Ghazan Matters
- Saved the Ilkhanate from collapse through reforms.
- Pioneered Islamic-Mongol fusion, shaping Persia’s future.
- His military campaigns kept the Mamluks in check, delaying their dominance.
Though the Ilkhanate fragmented after his death, Ghazan’s influence endured. His reign proved that even a nomadic conqueror could become an enlightened ruler—one who valued law, culture, and stability as much as war.