Kutlushah

Kutlushah, Kutlusha or Qutlughshah (Mongolian: Кутлугшах, Persian: قتلغشاه, Armenian: Խութլուշահը or Cotlesse in Frank sources), was a general under the Mongol Ilkhanate ruler Ghazan at the end the 13th century.

He was particularly active in the Christian country of Georgia and especially during the Mongol invasion of Syria, until his ignominious defeat in 1303 led to his banishment.

However, he couldn't engage in military matters due to his illness in the winter of 1289, but joined Ghazan's expedition against Nawruz in the spring.

Seeing this, Ghazan appointed Kutlushah as his deputy in Khorasan and proceeded to Azerbaijan to meet Gaykhatu in person, but ilkhan repeatedly denied to see him.

Kutlushah was forced to come back from Arran and won a victory against him, on 27 April 1299 near Erzinjan, causing Sulamish to flee to Mamluk Egypt.

However, after Qutlughshah's report, Zanjani was arrested and executed by Qutluqshah himself on 30 April 1298 with this brother Qutb al-Din by cutting him in half.In 1300 Ghazan had promised a major invasion of Syria.

According to the medieval historian Templar of Tyre: "That year [1300], a message came to Cyprus from Ghazan, king of the Tatars, saying that he would come during the winter, and that he wished that the Franks join him in Armenia (...) Amalric of Lusignan, Constable of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, arrived in November (...) and brought with him 300 knights, and as many or more of the Templars and Hospitallers (...) In February a great admiral of the Tatars, named Cotlesser ([Kutlushah]), came to Antioch with 60,000 horsemen, and requested the visit of the king of Armenia, who came with Guy of Ibelin, Count of Jaffa, and John, lord of Giblet.

"Kutlushah was given another princess of royal house on 7 August 1301, this time El Qutlugh Khatun, daughter of Gaykhatu, following death of Öljai Timur.

[14] However Kutlushah, along with another Mongol general Mulay, were defeated with the Armenians at Homs on March 30, 1303, and at the decisive Battle of Shaqhab, south of Damas, on April 21, 1303.

Departing from Khalkhal, he succeeded subduing Fuman and Gaskareh[18] whose ruled Dabbaj sent presents to Kutlushah's subordinate Amir Pulad Qiya.

Pulad Qiya was taken out of expedition and was replaced by Shiba'uchi, who was defeated during resistance from local armies from Tulim, Rasht and Shaft.

According to an anecdote, before his execution, Gilak ruler Rikabzen told him "Wasn't it him who delivered you from wearing chokha, drinking kumis and ayran and working in hard jobs to robe of honor, tasbih and fur-coat, fed you sweets and sugar, made you amir ulus of the country of Iran?

[22] He criticized Islam again in 1307, during the reign of Öljaitü:[23] What is this that we have done, abandoning the new Yassa and yosun of Genghis Khan, and taking up the ancient religion of the Arabs, which is divided into seventy-odd parts?

Let us return to the Yasa and yosun of Genghis Khan!He was described as "friend to Christians" by Stephen Orbelian in History of the Province of Syunik.