Kurdujin Khatun

Kurdujin Khatun (prior to 1273–1338) was an Ilkhanid princess who ruled Kerman in 1295 and 1296, and Shiraz between 1319 and 1338.

Life
Kurdujin Khatun was born to Abish Khatun and Möngke Temür, the son of Hulagu Khan.

First Marriage
Kurdujin's marriage to Suyurgatmish of Kerman, a Khitan ruler, helped her new husband gain many allies, including Suqunjaq Noyan (governor of Iraq), Khuzestan, and Qutui Khatun, the mother of Tekuder. Suyurgatmish was confirmed as the new ruler of Kerman by Tekuder in 1282.

Kurdujin further extended her influence when she inherited her mother's estate in 1286. However, after Gaykhatu's coronation, the political climate suddenly changed, and Padishah Khatun, who became the ruler of Kerman, imprisoned Suyurgatmish. Kurdujin helped her husband to escape, but he was captured and executed on August 21, 1294.

Struggle against Padishah Khatun
Kurdujin Khatun got revenge when Baydu, the son-in-law of Suyurgatmish, ascended to the throne. Baydu demanded that Padishah Khatun come to his coronation ceremony. After gathering allies, Kurdujin invaded Kerman and besieged the city. Around the same time, some of Padishah Khatun's emirs changed loyalties to Kurdujin. These included Emir Timur, Emir Shadi, Emir Mubarek, and her nephew, Nasrat al-Din Yulukshah.

Padishah Khatun finally surrendered the city and sent the keys to Kurdujin. Padishah was imprisoned and later accused of treason. Kurdujin Khatun obtained the order to execute Padishah Khatun from Baydu, thanks to her stepdaughter, Shah Alam. Padishah was executed near Kushk-e Zar in June or July 1295.

After her victorious entrance, Kurdujin Khatun ruled Kerman. However, she was soon replaced by Muzaffar al-Din Mohammad, Muzaffar al-Din Hajjaj's son, in 1295, on order of Ghazan, the new Ilkhan.

Later life
Khatun lived a quiet life in Shiraz for some time.

She gave refuge to her stepson Qutb al-Din Shah Jahan in 1306, when he was depraved of ruling Kerman by Öljeitü.

In 1319, she ruled Shiraz in her own right on the order of Abu Said.

She died in 1338 and was succeeded by her niece, Sultan Khatun, in Shiraz.

Marriages
Khatun married 4 times in her life as detailed below.


 * 1) Suyurgatmish (ended in 1294): Ruler of Kerman
 * 2) Amir Taj al-Din Satilmish, formerly a supporter of Kutlugh Turkan.
 * 3) Toghai, a basqaq who was Satilmish's nephew, arrived at Fars in 1320.
 * 4) Amir Chupan (died in 1327), with whom she had three sons:
 * 5) * Siukshah
 * 6) * Yagi Basti
 * 7) * Nowruz

Abu Said promised to marry her to Ghiyath-uddin ibn Rukn-uddin, the Kartid ruler of Herat, but Baghdad Khatun prevented this move.

Legacy
She was mentioned in the works of the historian Wassaf, who praised her for being charitable. She also founded the Madrasa-i Shahi (Royal College) in Shiraz.